College of Charleston 2, Syracuse 0
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- Two sixth-inning runs led the College of Charleston softball team to a 2-0 shutout over Syracuse in game six of the CofC Classic Saturday afternoon at Patriots Point.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 10-21 on the season and face Binghamton in game seven of the Classic. The Orange fall to 6-16 and return Sunday, March 16, at 10 a.m. to play Binghamton.
The game remained scoreless through five-and-a-half innings until Kristie Shifflett and Shannon Howard put the Cougars on the board. Howard led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single to left and Shifflett reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, sophomore Brittany Small hit a triple to right center to score the only two runs of the game. The two were the sixth and seventh of the season for the Chesapeake, Va., native. Charleston had four team hits in the effort. Harmon, Howard and Katie Nutaitis added the remaining three.
Terri Mesko (4-10) pitched a complete game with on strikeout, allowing only eight hits. Brittany Gardner (3-4) pitched through six innings for the Orange striking out three Cougar batters.
Boston University 6, Chattanooga 4
CLEARWATER, Fla. ? Junior Melissa Dubay and freshman Melanie Delgado each had two hits and two RBIs as Boston University (7-9) posted a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Chattanooga (15-13) in the completion of a halted game Saturday afternoon at the USF Under Armour Showcase at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.
After holding the Terriers scoreless in the first inning of a game that began on Friday, March 14, the Lady Mocs took advantage of an error and a walk to put runners on second an third with one out in the first inning. Freshman catcher Katie Blevins (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) then singled to left center to drive home the first Chattanooga run before another single, this one by junior outfielder Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.), made the score 3-0 UTC before a double-play ended the barrage
With two outs in the top of the second inning and a runner on second, Boston rallied behind an RBI double by Delgado and a single by sophomore right fielder Rachel Moeller to close to within 3-2 before Chattanooga got out of the inning. Played in a steady down pour, the game was suspended at that point and resumed at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.
Boston continued their hot hitting into the second day as they tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third behind a lead-off double by junior outfielder Shayne Lotito, a sacrifice bunt and a Dubay double down the right field line. The score would stay that way until the top of the sixth inning when another lead-off double and sacrifice bunt allowed the Terriers to take a 4-3 lead on a Delgado single.
Boston's fifth double of the day, this one from freshman outfielder April Setterlund, stretched the lead to 5-3 while a seventh inning Dubay homerun made it 6-4.
Chattanooga rallied in the bottom half of the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out behind a pair of singles and a walk. The Lady Mocs inched closer when Blevins reached on a fielders choice to make it 6-4 but would get no closer as the Terriers got a force at second to secure the two run victory, 6-4.
Dubay went 2-for-4 with a homerun, double, run, two RBIs while Delgado finished with 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs for Boston. Junior infielder Brooke Hudson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Setterlund accounted for the other Terrier RBI.
For Chattanooga, Blevins and Upchurch each drove in two runs while senior shortstop Tara Tembey (Folsom, Calif.) went 2-for-4 with a run and freshman first baseman Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) finished at 2-for-3 on the afternoon. Junior third baseman Toni Hutchison (Madison, Tenn.) went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Junior pitcher Cassidi Hardy collected the win for the Terriers to move to 4-2 on the season while sophomore pitcher Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) suffered the defeat in relief to fall to 6-5 in 2008. It is her first loss in her last five decisions.
The Lady Mocs close out the day's action when they host Liberty at 4:30 p.m. Chattanooga holds a 5-0 all-time mark against the Flames.
Furman-Charlotte Softball Game Suspended, Winthrop Invitational Schedule Adjusted For Sunday
Rock Hill, S.C. -- Lightning in the Rock Hill, S.C., area forced the suspension of Furman’s softball game against Charlotte in the top of the third inning on Saturday afternoon at the Winthrop/adidas Invitational.
With severe weather expected for much of the day on Saturday, the two teams will resume play at 10 a.m. Sunday before Furman concludes tournament action versus Memphis at 11 a.m.
The Paladins and 49ers will pick up their game scoreless in the top of the third with one out and Charlotte at bat. Furman is 2-0 in tournament play after rallying past Vermont 6-3 and blasting Gardner-Webb 13-3 on Friday afternoon.
Elon 5, Michigan State 4 (9 inn.)
DELAND, FLA.- Hitless through six innings, the Elon softball team rallied to a 5-4, extra inning victory over Michigan State at the Stetson Spring Classic in DeLand, Fla. Along the way, senior catcher Debbie Zeigler tied the school record for career-RBI at 112.
Elon is now 10-8 after the win, which was the first win against head coach Patti Raduenz’s alma mater. Elon is now 1-3 against the Spartans. Michigan State falls to 10-11.
Michigan State got things going early, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Nicosia singled to reach first and then stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Weigle executed a sacrifice bunt perfectly to move Nicosia to third. A single by Mejia scored Nicosia. The final two batters were retired to end the inning.
The bats were quiet until the third inning when the Spartan offense erupted for three runs off a three-run shot to right field by Bianca Mejia. Jessica Bracamonte got things going, drawing a walk from Elon pitcher Melanie Helterbran with one out. She then stole second and advanced to third after Nikki Nicosia laid down a bunt single that put runners at the corners. With two outs and runners at second a third, Mejia took a 0-1 pitch over the right field wall to give Michigan State a 4-0 lead.
Elon was hitless through six innings, until Tracey Dahlen singled to the shortstop in the bottom of the seventh. Helterbran followed suit, taking the first pitch through the left side. Hannah Shelton came in to run for Helterbran and advanced to second on a passed ball. Zeigler tied the school record when she drove in Dahlen from third on a sacrifice. Shelton scored on the next play when Rebecca Rijavec singled to the shortstop to make it a 4-2 game. Pam DelPizzo reached on fielding error that also advanced Rijavec to second. Jackie Gonzalez, who came into the game to pinch run for DelPizzo, and Rijavec scored off a single by Caitlin McGowan to tie the game at four and send it into extra innings.
Neither team could get a run across in the eighth inning. In the top of the ninth, Michigan State advanced Fox to third off a wild pitch. She would not score however, as the next two batters were retired.
Elon took a 5-4 lead and the game in the bottom of the ninth when Dahlen laid down a bunt to reach first and advance Patti Weber to third. Helterbran took the first pitch through the left side to score Weber.
Helterbran improved to 4-3 with the win after allowing four runs off of five hits while striking out two in her nine inning complete game. Picking up the loss for Michigan State was Megan Hair who drops to 2-1 this season.
College of Charleston 3, Binghamton 2
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- The College of Charleston went 2-for-2 on the day when it topped Binghamton, 3-2 in game seven of the CofC softball Classic Saturday evening at Patriots Point.
The Cougars improve their record to 11-21. The Bearcats fall to 2-10 and go on to face St. John's in the day two nightcap.
"We definitely came with a different attitude today," said CofC Head Coach Shelly Hoerner. "We played better, but we still have a lot of work to do."
Sandy Meadows put the Bearcats on the board in the first inning, but CofC would respond with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third. Freshman Alex Williams had her ninth hit of the season when she single through the left side. The Stockbridge, Ga., native stole second and then advance to third off a sacrifice bunt by Christal Kotchman. Tiffany Harmon reached base with a single to shortstop and went on to steal second. Kristi Woodall singled to second to bring Williams in, Harmon scored on a throwing error by the second baseman. The Cougars ended the inning up 2-1.
Charleston added an insurance run when Kristie Shifflett scored off a Linzi Bereitschaft triple in the bottom of the sixth.
Woodall led the offense. The Huntersville, N.C., native went 2-for-3 on the day with one RBI. Harmon, Shifflett, Bereitschaft and Williams added four more hits for the Cougars.
Charleston plays Binghamton in a rematch Sunday at noon on the final day of the tournament.
Georgia Southern 6, George Mason 0
Long Island 4, Georgia Southern 3
CLEARWATER, Fla. --- The Georgia Southern softball team split two games Saturday at the Under Armour Showcase hosted by South Florida. The Eagles defeated George Mason 6-0 in a game continued from Friday and lost 4-3 to Long Island in the nightcap.
GSU moves to 18-14 on the season.
Sophomore Kristan Glover (Evans, Ga.) lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh against George Mason after getting plenty of support from junior Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) and sophomore Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) who each hit a two-run homer.
Side and Siliga’s round-trippers in the first and third innings, respectively, staked Glover to an early lead. Glover (2-5) struck out six and walked three to get her first shutout of the season and 10th overall for the team, four shy of the school record.
Side added a third RBI on a sacrifice fly. Siliga and sophomore Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) each went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Long Island and Georgia Southern traded two-run rallies in the sixth and seventh innings with LIU getting the final word on a two-out, two-run single.
GSU’s single run in the bottom of the first held up until the LIU half of the sixth. Three walks loaded the bases with two outs for Mariesha Marker who doubled home two to take the lead.
It didn’t last long as the Eagles responded with two runs of their own on a two-out single by freshman Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.).
The Blackbirds loaded the bases again in the seventh with two outs on a double and two more walks. Vanessa Mejia answered the call with a single through the right side to put Long Island back on top.
Senior Melissa Laliberte (Cobourg, Ontario, Canada) started for Georgia Southern and gave up two runs on five hits and nine walks. Smith (7-4) pitched the seventh and took the loss.
GSU faces Ball State Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Sam Houston State at 11:30 a.m.
Stetson 2, Elon 1
DELAND, FLA.- The Elon softball team fell to the tournament host Stetson Hatters 2-1 in the final game of the day at the Stetson Spring Classic in DeLand, Fla.
Elon falls to 10-9 on the season, while Stetons improves to 22-9. Picking up the win for the Hatters was Amanda Lindsey who is now 12-6. Carol Lilley took the loss for the Phoenix and is now 2-4.
The Hatters got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Lindsay Wightman drew a leadoff walk. Andrea Migliori then doubled to center and advanced Wightman to third. Wightman scored after Leonor Carreno singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw.
Elon would answer to tie the game at one in the third inning after Brandi Jones opened the inning with a double to right field. She advanced to third after Patti Weber grounded out to the first baseman. Tracey Dahlen singled to drive in the tying run. Dahlen went to second on a wild pitch but would not cross home as the next batter grounded out.
The score would not be knotted long as Stetson’s Wightman would score the game-winning run, her second run of the evening. Wightman reached on a walk and took advantage of a fielding error to advanced to second. She reached third following another Phoenix error and scored off a sacrifice fly by Amanda Bailey.
Elon looked to threaten in the top of the fourth when they took advantage of three consecutive Stetson errors to load the bases with two outs. The Phoenix were unable to push across a run as Jaimie Rao would foul out to the catcher.
The Phoenix were unable to mount a comeback as the team was hitless through the final three innings.
Elon finishes play at the Stetson Spring Classic tomorrow at 11 a.m. when they square off against Michigan State for the second time this weekend.
Chattanooga 3, Liberty 2 (10 inn.)
CLEARWATER, Fla. ? Freshman pitcher Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) pitched four scoreless innings of relief, striking out eight, and sophomore catcher Lynleigh Hurndon (McDonough, Ga.) drove home the game-winning run in the 10th inning as Chattanooga (16-13) defeated Liberty (2-17-1) 3-2 Saturday afternoon in the USF Under Armour Showcase at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.
Liberty got on the board early, making use of a lead-off single to left field and a walk to put runners at first and second. Junior Beth Bennett then singled up the middle to give the Flames a 1-0 lead before Chattanooga retired the next two batters to end the inning.
After a 1-2-3 second inning, Bennett struck again in the third as she singled to right center with a runner on second to increase Liberty's lead to 2-0 after three innings. The score would stay that way until the sixth inning when Chattanooga's bats finally came to life.
Senior shortstop Tara Tembey (Folsom, Calif.) led off the inning with a single to right and went to second on an error by the right fielder before freshman pitcher Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) rapped a double to the right center-field gap to score her and make it 2-1. After freshman Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.) pinch ran for Fuzzard, junior third baseman Toni Hutchison (Madison, Tenn.) singled her home to tie the score at 2-2 before a bang-bang double play ended the inning.
Irwin entered the game in relief for the Lady Mocs in the top of the seventh and was masterful as she struck out the side and she threw four scoreless innings to keep the game tied. Chattanooga's offense was not able to get anything going until the tenth inning when freshman infielder Kristin Holloway (Chickamauga, Ga.) reached on an error by third base to put runners on first and third with no one out.
Following an intentional walk to redshirt-freshman infielder Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) to load the bases, Hurndon came to the plate and drove a pitch over the second baseman's head to bring home the game-winning run and give Chattanooga a 3-2 victory in 10 innings.
Bennett lead the way for the Flames as she went 2-for-4 with two RBIs while junior pitcher Sarah Ellis pitched three innings and gave up the game-winning hit to fall to 1-8 on the season. Sophomore pitcher Dana Wheeler started and went six innings, striking out four and allowing two earned runs to register a no-decision.
Michelle Fuzzard went 2-for-4 for Chattanooga with an RBI to raise her team-leading average to .418 while junior outfielder Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) finished at 2-for-4 with a run scored. Toni Hutchison went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Lynleigh Hurndon connected for her game-winning RBI to round out the offensive attack for the Lady Mocs.
In the pitching circle, Kandice Irwin pitched four scoreless innings of relief and struck out eight batters to move to pick up the win and move to 7-5 on the season while Fuzzard started and went six innings, striking out three and allowing only two earned runs.
Chattanooga wraps up the USF Under Armour Showcase tomorrow morning when they face Penn State at 9:30 a.m.
NOTES
Chattanooga is 2-0 this season in 10 inning games ... the Lady Mocs also defeated Kentucky 9-6 in 10 innings on February 10 on Lauren Flores' walk-off grandslam ... Chattanooga is now 6-0 all-time against Liberty.
Western Carolina Doubleheader with Florida Gulf Coast Cancelled
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball's doubleheader with Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Catamounts return to action Sunday against Appalachian State in its first Southern Conference games of the season. The doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m.