Chattanooga 9, UNC Greensboro 2
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Freshman pitcher Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) struck out a career-high seven batters and pitched a complete game while going 2-for-4 with a homerun and two RBIs as Chattanooga (19-14, 3-0) swept UNC Greensboro (9-18, 0-3) Saturday afternoon with a 9-2 victory at Jim Frost Stadium.
After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, the Lady Mocs wasted no time in getting on the board in their half of the inning. Following a fly out, three straight singles and a sacrifice fly from freshman catcher Katie Blevins (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) put UTC ahead 1-0.
A walk to junior outfielder Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) reloaded the bases for senior outfielder Ashlan Clarkson (Chickamauga, Ga.) who proceeded to single home two runs before a pair of errors made it 5-0.
The score would stay that way until the third inning, when the Spartans advanced freshman outfielder Kristen Gabel to third base on an error and wild pitch. Senior outfielder Mary Greenway then tripled right field for the game's first hit and drove home Gabel to make it 5-1.
UNCG would add another solo run in the top of the sixth inning when a two-out double from junior catcher Leslie Furness and a pair of wild pitches made it 5-2. That would be all the Spartans would get as freshman pitcher Kaitlin Holloway (Chickamauga, Ga.) entered in relief and closed out the inning.
Chattanooga then erupted in their half of the sixth with four runs on four hits, including a massive two-run homerun by Fuzzard, to make it 9-2. Freshman outfielder Lauren Flores (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.) added a sac fly for an RBI while Upchurch singled home a run to push her season total to 20 RBIs.
Holloway then proceeded to shutdown UNC Greensboro in the seventh to collect the first save of her career. Fuzzard went 5.2 innings, allowing only three hits, two runs, one earned, and struck out a career-high seven batters to move to even her record at 2-2 on the season. Sophomore Amber Harrell took the loss for the Spartans as she went three innings and gave up five runs to drop to 6-9 on the year.
At the plate, Fuzzard led the way with a 2-for-4 outing with two runs, two RBIs and her fifth homerun of the season. That shot slammed off of the scoreboard in centerfield and places her second on the team behind fellow freshman Katie Blevins who has 11 on the season. Blevins registered a sac fly to pusher her team-leading RBI total to 29 while Upchurch went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Clarkson finished the day at 1-for-2 with a run and season-high two RBIs and junior third baseman Toni Hutchison (Madison, Tenn.) added a hit and two runs.
Chattanooga takes the field again on Wednesday, March 26 when they travel Nashville, Tenn. for a non-conference double-header with Tennessee State. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. UNC Greensboro visits Liberty for a doubleheader Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Georgia Southern 11, Furman 2
Greenville, S.C. -- Georgia Southern scored 11 runs on 12 hits, including a six-run fourth inning, en route to an 11-2 victory over Furman in the finale of the opening Southern Conference series for both teams Sunday at Pepsi Stadium. The Eagles claimed the series victory two games to one.
Robyne Siliga went 2-for-2 with a double, three-run homer and four RBI to lift the Eagles to the series win. Nina Iduate added three hits and two runs.
The Eagles jumped ahead in the top of the first inning as Siliga lined a double to right-center to plate Aubrey Tweatt. Furman evened the game at 1-1 in the second as Lana Mackey scored from first on Kate Termini’s double down the left field line.
After taking a 2-1 lead in the third on a throwing error, GSU posted six runs on six hits and two Paladin errors in the fourth. Amanda Hall opened the inning with a double and scored when Sam Russo’s single to left field was misplayed. Michelle Beasley lined an RBI single to center and scored when Tweatt’s sacrifice bunt was thrown away. Following an Iduate single, Siliga hammered a three-run homer to left-center to up the lead to 8-1 and chase Mackey from the circle.
Mackey pulled a run back with a solo shot to center to open the bottom of the fourth, but the Eagles stretched the lead to 11-2 in the six on Side’s RBI single and relief pitcher Kristan Glover’s two-run double.
Glover (2-5) captured the victory for Georgia Southern pitching three shutout innings of relief while allowing just three hits. Mackey (7-9) suffered the loss for the Paladins giving up six earned runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work.
Abby Robertson and Meredith Mielke each collected two hits for Furman. Mackey went 1-for-1 with two walks and two runs.
Furman dropped to 11-13 overall and 1-2 in the SoCon. Georgia Southern upped its record to 20-17 overall and 2-1 in the league.
Furman steps out of the SoCon to face Georgia Tech in a non-conference doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Atlanta, Ga. Georgia Southern travels to Florida State for a 4 p.m. twinbill on Wednesday.
College of Charleston 7, Appalachian State 5
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team broke open a 1-0 game with a six-run fourth inning, and survived a late game rally to take the eventual 7-5 win over the Appalachian State Mountaineers in front of 173 fans at Patriots Point Field in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Charleston, which steps out of league play to host a doubleheader against Charleston Southern Wednesday, Mar. 26th at 5:00 p.m., wins its seventh straight to go to 16-21 overall and 3-0 in the Southern Conference. The Mountaineers fall to 4-21 and 3-3 in the league.
The fourth inning started with Terri Mesko scoring on a fielder's choice by Kristal Kotchman. Kristi Woodall's two-out, three-run double to left center put the Cougars up 5-0. Charleston added two more runs in the inning to take a 7-0 lead.
The Mountaineers added two runs in each of the next two innings, and one in the seventh to cut the margin to 7-5, but their rally fell short when Tiffany Harmon caught a line drive down the left field line to end the game.
Woodall led the Cougars offensively going 1-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored. Kristie Shifflett also chipped in going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Mesko (7-10) struck out five in five innings of work to get her second win of the weekend. Shannon Howard picked up her first save of the year in relief.
Kayla Richardson (3-9) took the loss for Appalachian State, who hosts UNC Greensboro in a three-game series beginning Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m.
Elon 6, Western Carolina 1
Elon 7, Western Carolina 5
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina was swept by Southern Conference foe Elon 6-1, 7-5 Saturday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts fall to 6-19 and 0-5 in the SoCon while the Phoenix improves to 13-9 and 2-0 in the SoCon.
Western Carolina miscues assisted Elon in the victory in game one. In the top of the second inning the Phoenix got on the scoreboard with two runs. Melanie Helterbran led off the inning with a single and pinch runner for Helterbran scored off an RBI single by Caitlin McGowen. Brandi Jones reached on a Catamount error which allowed McGowen to score.
The game was still close until the fifth inning. Catamount pitcher Lauren Ross allowed two walks to start the inning and Elon also capitalized on two Western Carolina errors to add four runs and lead 6-0.
Western Carolina avoided the shutout by scoring one run in the sixth inning. Heather Pritchard led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a ground out by Stephanie Beatty. Pritchard scored when Ross hit a shot to center field that was just shy of a homerun but Ross did collect an RBI double.
Ross took the loss in the game tossing a solid game for Western Carolina despite the loss. She allowed four hits, three earned runs and fanned a season-high seven batters falling to 1-9 on the season. Michelle Tating replaced Ross in the fifth inning and allowed one hit struck out three.
Western Carolina left 10 runners on base, had four hits and committed three errors in the game.
Elon scored in every inning but one in the second game and ended the game with 12 hits to assure the doubleheader sweep. The Phoenix had a single run in five of the innings and two in of the third inning.
Western Carolina did avoid a shutout. With one out in the fourth inning, Pritchard drew a walk, and after Ashley Steinel ground out, Beatty and Ross drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Pinch hitter Mollie Fowler got a two RBI double to scored Pritchard and Beatty.
The Catamounts attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring three runs. Reese hit a lead-off single up the middle and scored off an RBI double by Amber Hawkins. Ashley Steinel's RBI single through the right side scored Hawkins. Beatty continued the inning with a single to right field and Ross hit a single passed the third base to scored pinch runner Casey Camp. With runners on first and second, and two outs, freshman Rachel Drawdy struck out looking to end the Catamount threat.
Tating takes the loss in the second game. She falls to 4-4 on the season. Reese, Hawkins and Ross each had two hits in the game.
The Catamounts complete their series with Elon on Sunday. The single game is set for 1 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex.