Wichita State 4, Chattanooga 2
Chattanooga 9, Kentucky 6 (10 inn.)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Freshman right fielder Lauren Flores (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.) belted a walk-off grand slam deep to left field in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead Chattanooga (2-2) to a 9-6 victory over Kentucky (2-2) in the nightcap of the Chattanooga Shootout Sunday afternoon at Jim Frost Stadium.
Trailing 6-5 entering the bottom of the 10th inning, the Lady Mocs advanced their tie-breaking runner to third base and collected back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out before Flores connected on a 2-2 pitch to give Chattanooga a 9-6 victory over Kentucky, their first since 2001.
After three scoreless innings to begin the game, both teams pushed across a run in their half of the fourth inning before sophomore outfielder Destinee Mordecai drove a solo shot down the left field line to make it 2-1 Kentucky the following inning. The Wildcats did not let up, manufacturing two more runs in the sixth for a 4-1 advantage.
At that point the Lady Mocs' offense finally came to life, pounding Kentucky pitching for four runs on six hits to take a 5-4 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning. That rally featured a double by junior third baseman Toni Hutchison (Madison, Tenn.) followed by freshman pitcher Michelle Fuzzard's (Huntington Beach, Calif.) first career home run. A triple later in the inning by freshman outfielder Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) and a single by senior centerfielder Tara Tembey (Folsom, Calif.) drove in two more runs to cap the rally and put the pressure on the Wildcats.
UK was up to the challenge, however, taking advantage of a three-base error with one out before freshman catcher Megan Yocke's single up the middle tied the score at 5-5.
In the eighth inning, both teams advanced their tie-breaking runner to third base but were unable to break the deadlock. In the ninth, UTC withstood the Wildcats advancing their runner to third but went 1-2-3 in their half of the inning to send it to the 10th inning. Freshman centerfielder Meagan Aull immediately advanced to third on a wild pitch and was then driven home by sophomore shortstop Molly Johnson's double to left to give Kentucky a 6-5 lead and set the stage for a tremendous Chattanooga comeback.
freshman pitcher Kaitlin Holloway (Chickamauga, Ga.) pitched 4.2 innings of relief, striking out six, to collect her first collegiate victory, while sophomore pitcher Amber Matousek took the loss for the Wildcats to drop her record to 1-1 on the season. Johnson fueled the offense for Kentucky as she posted a 4-for-5 day with two runs and an RBI.
In addition to Flores grand performance late in the game for the Lady Mocs, Fuzzard went 2-for-3 with two runs and delivered her first career home run while junior outfielder Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) went 2-for-4 with two runs and a key RBI. Tembey also added a 2-for-5 day with a run batted in.
Chattanooga was not so fortunate in the day's earlier game, however, as it was Wichita State that turned the tables on the Lady Mocs late in that game.
The Shockers made a first inning run stand up until the bottom of the fifth inning when a Fuzzard single drove in the tying run. Neither team was able to break the tie until the top of the seventh when Wichita State scored three runs on four hits and an error to pull ahead 4-1.
Chattanooga rallied in the bottom of the inning as Hutchison drove sophomore catcher Brittany Eason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) home from second to make it 4-2 but that would be as close as the Lady Mocs would get. Senior pitcher Ashly Bright then closed out the complete game victory with a pair of outs.
Bright finished the night with 11 strikeouts and evened her record at 1-1 while sophomore pitcher Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) took the loss for the Lady Mocs, dropping her to 0-1. In her 6.2 innings, Loudermilk collected her 12th double-digit strikeout performance as she recorded 10.
Offensively, senior outfielder Katie McGeeney paced the Wildcats with a 2-for-3 day with two runs while senior shortstop Britnee Barnett and freshman catcher Heather Gerritse each drove in a run.
For Chattanooga, Fuzzard had the only RBI on her fifth inning single, while Eason and Hutchison each added a hit and a run. Tembey accounted for the Lady Mocs only other hit on the day.
The Lady Mocs return to action when they make their first road trip, traveling to Lipscomb for a 3 p.m. double-header on Tuesday, February 12.
NOTES
The 9-6 victory over Kentucky is tied for the third longest ball game in Lady Mocs history at 10 innings ? it is the 16th such occurrence dating back to the program's first year ... the longest game by inning was a 2-1 defeat to Appalachian State that went 12 innings on March 29, 2003 ... time of the Kentucky game was 3:12 ...Tembey went 8-for-16 over the weekend's four games ... first-year Lady Mocs Michelle Fuzzard and Tiffany Baker each drilled the first home runs of their careers and were instrumental in the two Chattanooga victories.
Georgia 4, College of Charleston 0
Athens, Ga. - In the final game of the UGA Red and Black Showcase, the College of Charleston softball team fell to host Georgia 4-0 under the lights.
The Cougars (0-6) will host a doubleheader against Campbell at 4:00 p.m. in their home opener Tues., Feb., 12, at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The Lady Bulldogs recorded six hits on the campaign and improved their record to 5-1 on the season.
Charleston tallied four hits on the day. Tiffany Harmon, a junior outfielder, went two-for-three to bring her average to .400 on the season. Kristie Shifflett and Linzi Bereischaft added the other two hits for the Cougars.
Bereitschaft, a freshman from Fenton, Mo., put out six UGA batters in the stellar defensive effort that saw a total of 21 put-outs by CofC. Sophomore Terri Mesko (0-3) pitched through seven innings striking out five batters and recording five earned runs.
After the home opener, Charleston will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to play in the Cox Communications Classic hosted by Florida. Game one is Fri., Feb. 15, at 1:00 p.m. against Stetson.
Elon 26, Savannah State 0
Elon, N.C.- A leadoff homerun by Rebecca Rijavec and three-run homeruns by Melanie Helterbran and Brandi Jones sparked the Phoenix softball team to a 26-0 victory over the Savannah State Tigers Sunday, Feb. 10 at East Field
With the win, the Phoenix improve to 3-0 on the season, with pitcher Carol Lilley earning the win. Taking the loss for the Tigers, who fall to 0-5 was Tiffany Ward.
Savannah State began the game with a single through the right side by centerfielder Jeria Arthur. Jessalyn Ross reached first on a fielder’s choice, as Arthur was out at third. Ross was caught stealing for the second out of the inning. Ashley Pierce struck out looking to end the inning for the Tigers. Rijavec leadoff homerun was the first of seven runs scored by Elon in the first inning. A double by senior Patti Weber ( scored Caitlin McGowen and Allison Hartman to give the Phoenix a 3-0 lead. Debbie Zeigler doubled to the shortstop, allowing Weber to score. The double was followed by a single by DelPizzo that scored Brandi Jones and Zeigler. McGowen singled down the left field line that sent DelPizzo home for the final run of the first.
SSU’s hitting woes continued in the second as the Tigers went 0-3 at the plate with two strikeouts and a popup to the pitcher. Elon’s offense exploded in the the second inning as the Phoenix collected 13 runs off 11 hits. A single by Hartman began the Phoenix hit parade, who stole second and advanced to third on a Savannah State throwing error. Helterbran scored the first two runs after a single. A Jones double was followed by a single by Zeigler that scored the third run of the inning. A fielding error by the rightfielder allowed Jones to score. Rijavec recorded the first out of the inning after flying out to left field. McGowen singled up the middle to allow Zeigler to score from second. Hartman tripled down the left field line to give the Phoenix their next three runs. A walk by Weber forced SSU to go to their bullpen. Helterbran greeted the reliever with a three-run shot to left field. A single to centerfield by McGowen scored the final two runs of the inning for the Phoenix as Jamie Rao ended the inning with a groundout to the pitcher.
Savannah State opened the third with a strike out by Alexis Caron. Tionja Simmons grounded to second, which was followed by a strikeout by Rachel West. A three-run homerun to centerfield by Jones, who was a double away from hitting the cycle, highlighted the third inning for Elon. The homerun was followed by a double from Zeigler and a walk by Hannah Shelton. McGowen lined out to second base to end the inning.
Arthur led-off the fourth with a single for the Tigers and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ross. Shamyra Adams grounded out to second to record the second out of the inning for SSU. Ward reached first on a walk, while Arthur advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Tiger threat was ended when Chere’ Chillis grounded out to the shortstop. The Phoenix scored three runs off of four hits in the fourth to seal the 26-0 victory. A single by Helterbran scored the first run of the inning after Rao doubled down the leftfield line. The single was followed by a double from Jones that advanced Helterbran to third. Helterbran and Jones scored on the next play, as Zeigler singled to right centerfield. A fly out to right center ended the inning.
Lilley struck out five and allowed just one hit in three innings of work to pick up the win. Schroeder, who came in to relieve Lilley, continued the success on the mound by striking out two and allowing one hit. For the Tigers, Ward gave up 17 runs (10 earned) off of 13 hits in 1.1 innings of work. Rachel West struck out one and allowed nine runs (six earned) and walked three in 2.2 innings.
Elon will travel to Coastal Carolina Feb. 16-17 where they will face Maryland and Coastal Carolina in a two-day tournament. The first game is set for 1:30 on Feb. 16 when the Phoenix will take on Maryland. Elon will face Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m. Full coverage of the game will be available at www.ElonPhoenix.com.
UNC Greensboro 6, Coastal Carolina 4
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ? The UNC Greensboro softball team rebounded from two losses on Saturday with a 6-4 win over Coastal Carolina to conclude action at the Best Western/Jacksonville University Tournament. UNCG ended its first tournament of the season with a 2-3 record.
Junior right-handed pitcher Hannah Angel was credited with the win and picked up her first win of the season and moves to 1-2 on the year. Sophomore Amber Harrell made her second start of the tournament and threw four innings of work, striking out five, before Angel came into the game in the fifth inning. Angel held the Chanticleers to one hit and no runs while striking out two batters.
Senior Mary Greenway was 4-of-5 from the plate and scored one run on the afternoon and had one RBI. Brittany Ausley was 3-of-5 on the afternoon with one run and one RBI.
UNCG (2-3) took the lead early, scoring on a home run from Lyndsay Mouse, her first of the season. Coastal would tie the game in the bottom of the first inning and with a leadoff triple from Laicole Walker who advanced home on a double from Verity Long-Droppert.
The Spartans would go ahead 4-1 with runs in the second and third inning including three hits in the third inning. Brittany Ausley led the third inning with a single and Leslie Furness reached on a Coastal Carolina error. Ausley rounded the bases on a single from Kaitlin Merkt and Furness was driven home on single from Whitney Miller.
Coastal Carolina used a three-run inning in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4 but Greenway scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Leading off the inning with a triple, Greenway scored on a double from Ausley. In the bottom of the inning the Chanticleers placed a runner on base on a throwing error from Angel but a line out and a pop up ended the scoring threat.
Kristen Gabel added an insurance run in the seventh. Miller led the inning with a single up the middle and Gabel, who pinch ran for Miller, crossed home plate with a triple from Katie Stripling. Angel closed the game on a high note sitting down two of the final three batters.
The Spartans return home to host the 2008 UNCG Spartan Classic Feb. 15-17. UNCG welcomes Cleveland State, Central Michigan, James Madison, Niagara and Maryland-Baltimore County to UNCG Softball Stadium for the three-day tournament.
No. 8 DePaul 4, College of Charleston 0
Athens, Ga. -- The College of Charleston softball team fell 4-0 to no. 8 DePaul in game 10 of the UGA Red and Black Showcase from UGA Softball Stadium this afternoon.
The loss drops the Cougars' record to 0-5 on the season. The Blue Demons improve to 4-2 after their final game of the tournament.
Freshman Alexa Datko led Charleston's offensive effort. The San Diego, Calif., native went two-for-three at the plate, bringing her season average to .500. Kristie Shifflett, Christal Kotchman and Brittany Small each added hits for a total of five on the game.
Second baseman Alex Williams paced the Cougar defense putting out six Blue Demon batters. Junior pitcher Shannon Howard (0-2) struck out three batters through six innings.
Charleston faces host Georgia in the final game of the Showcase at 4:00 Sunday afternoon at the UGA Softball Stadium.