Chattanooga 1, Tennessee State 0
Chattanooga 8, Tennessee State 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Sophomore pitcher Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) pitched a complete game shutout and junior third baseman Toni Hutchison (Madison, Tenn.) went 4-for-8 with five RBIs and two-run home run as Chattanooga (21-14) swept a double-header from Tennessee State (10-18, 4-4 OVC), 1-0 and 8-1, Wednesday evening at Tiger Field in Nashville, Tenn.
Following a pair of scoreless innings in Game 1, Chattanooga loaded the bases in the top of the third inning on a single, fielder's choice and a walk. At that point, junior third baseman Toni Hutchison (Madison, Tenn.) drove home sophomore shortstop Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) from third on a fielders choice to give UTC a 1-0 advantage.
It was a lead that the Lady Mocs would not relinquish as Loudermilk continued her dominance, allowing Tennessee State only one hit as she issued her third complete game shutout and struck out eight batters to improve to 9-6 on the season. She did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and faced only one batter over the minimum as she did not allow a walk or hit a batter. Lauren Weber pitched six solid innings, allowing only the one run for the Tigers as she fell to 1-1 on the season.
Of Chattanooga's five hits, senior shortstop Tara Tembey (Folsom, Calif.), freshman first baseman Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and freshman catcher Katie Blevins (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) each delivered doubles while Hutchison and Blosser each added singles. The lone TSU hit was a fourth inning double from sophomore infielder Tamara Perkins.
After another two scoreless innings to start the nightcap, Chattanooga's bats came alive with two outs in the top of the third as freshman outfielder Lauren Flores (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.) doubled to left and freshman first baseman Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) singled her home for a 1-0 lead.
Toni Hutchison then proceeded to belt her fourth homerun of the season with a towering drive out to left field to make it a 3-0 UTC lead. Blevins then followed with a sharp single through the left side before the Tigers clawed their way out of the inning.
A Hutchison single to right with two outs in the fifth set the stage for another two out rally as Blevins then drove her 12th homerun of the season over the centerfield fence, some 220 feet away from home plate, to stretch the Chattanooga lead to 5-0. The Lady Mocs would add two more runs the following inning as Hutchison doubled to left center to make it 7-0.
TSU got on the board in the bottom of the inning as junior outfielder Christy Hill singled up the middle to close to 7-1. That would be as close as they would get as Chattanooga added an insurance run in the seventh inning when senior outfielder Ashlan Clarkson (Chickamauga, Ga.) tripled with one out and was driven in by a single from redshirt-freshman infielder Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) to reach the final margin of 8-1.
Freshman pitcher Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) then proceeded to strike out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out the game with a career-high tying nine strikeouts and secure her eighth win of the season. Irwin did not allow a hit over the first four innings of the game and surrendered only four hits and the one run over seven innings. Senior pitcher Amanda Vaught went 4.2 innings and allowed eight hits and five runs to take the loss for Tennessee State and fall to 9-12 on the season.
Hutchison led the way offensively for the Lady Mocs as she finished 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs and two runs scored while Clarkson also went 3-for-4, notching her first career triple. For Hutchison, the three hits ties a career-high set against Georgia Tech on February 28, 2007 while Clarkson has tallied three hits on three previous occasions, the most recent against Furman on May 6, 2006.
Katie Blevins posted a 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs and a run scored as she blasted her 12th home run of the season while junior outfielder Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) went 2-for-4. The 12 home runs place Blevins two home runs away from tying the Chattanooga single season mark set by Angela Brewer (2000-01) in 2001.
The Lady Mocs return to action this weekend when they host the Catamounts of Western Carolina in a three-game series beginning on Saturday, March 29. First pitch for the double-header is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale will be a 1 p.m. start.
NOTES
With the wins today, Chattanooga has extended its winning streak to a season-high five games ... entering today's double-header Katie Blevins ranked fourth in the nation in homeruns per game with a 0.42 per game average, seventh in slugging percentage at .868 and 16 in RBIs per game with a 1.12 average ... Brooke Loudermilk ranked 32nd in the nation in strikeouts per game with an average of nine and is 24th in the nation with 2 saves...as a team, Chattanooga ranks 10th in the country in overall fielding percentage at .978 and trails #1 Georgia (.985) by only .007 of a percentage.
UNC Greensboro 2, North Carolina A&T 0
UNC Greensboro 9, North Carolina A&T 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? The UNC Greensboro softball team picked up its third consecutive win with a doubleheader sweep of North Carolina A&T on Wednesday afternoon at UNCG Softball Stadium. UNCG took a 2-0 win in the early game and completed the sweep with a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
UNCG (12-19, 0-3 SoCon) got great production from leadoff hitter Mary Greenway. The senior outfielder was 4-of-6 from the plate with three runs scored and one RBI on the afternoon. She also tallied two stolen bases to push her season total to a perfect 24-of-24.
Mary Catherine Vercoe also had a good afternoon at the plate and was 2-of-4 with a home run, her second of the season. Sophomore Brittany Ausley was 2-of-7 from the plate with a double and a three-run home run to go with a team-high four RBI.
Amber Harrell and Hannah Angel each started one game of the doubleheader with both picking up wins. Harrell improved to 7-10 on the season after allowing no runs on three hits in 6.0 innings of work in the first game while Angel moved to 5-9 on the year with a win in the late game. In 4.0 innings of work she allowed two runs on five hits while striking out four. First baseman Vercoe also saw action in the pitchers circle in the night cap and twirled 3.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits.
The Spartans seemed to be in control from the outset of the afternoon and tallied 15 hits through the two games. The Spartans got on the board first in both games and in the first game took a 1-0 lead with a home run from Vercoe.
The Aggies had a chance to tie the game in the fourth inning. After placing a runner on base with a walk, A&T was able to move Brittney Hodges to third base with putout and a groundout but couldn’t plate her as they closed the inning with a pop out to second base. Yahamma White also had a chance in the fifth inning. After a triple she rounded third base but was out at home in a rundown.
The Spartans added another run in the sixth inning. Greenway hit a leadoff single and moved to second base with a ground out and came around the bases with a RBI double from Ausley.
The second game started much like the first with UNCG jumping out to the early 2-0 lead in the first inning but the Aggies found their bats and were able to cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the second. Tangela Conover opened the inning with a double and advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on an RBI single from Lillian Bullock.
That was as close as the game would get as the Spartans added three runs in the bottom of the second, courtesy of a three-run home run from Ausley to pull ahead 5-1 and never looked back. UNCG added three more runs in the fourth inning to take the commanding 8-1 lead. Kayla Hensley tallied the final score of the day in the fifth inning. The Durham, CA native, who was pinch running for third baseman Emily Akiyama, rounded the bases on a RBI single from Greenway.
North Carolina A&T would add two more runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings but the Spartans would take the sweep from their cross-town rival for the second consecutive season.
The Spartans continue Southern Conference action this weekend when they head to Boone, NC to take on Appalachian State. The series gets underway at 1 pm on Saturday with a doubleheader and concludes with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
Charleston Southern 3, College of Charleston 1
College of Charleston 4, Charleston Southern 0
Mt Pleasant, S.C. -- The College of Charleston softball team fell to Charleston Southern 3-1 before redeeming itself with a 4-0 shutout in a doubleheader at Patriots Point Field Wednesday evening.
The Cougars (17-22, 3-0) will travel to Statesboro, Ga., to take on Georgia Southern in Southern Conference action. The Buccaneers' record moves to 15-23 overall.
CofC and CSU recorded eight hits a piece in game one of the evening. The Buccaneers scored in the top of the first and added insurance in the third and fifth innings. Jill Shondel, Amy Trenkamp and Megan Hall scored runs for the Bucs.
Charleston responded in the second inning with a single run scored by freshman Linzi Bereitschaft. Outfielder Tiffany Harmon went 1-for-4 and had the team's only RBI in game one. Jamie Wellons (10-12) pitched through seven innings with eight hits from the Cougar batters.
Terri Mesko (7-11) pitched a complete game striking out 10 batters and allowing only eight hits in 29 at-bats with three earned runs.
After two-and-a-half scoreless innings in game two, the Cougars broke open the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the third. After smacking a single to right, Harmon scored on a CSU error. Shannon Howard scored the second run after reaching on a single to center. With runners on second and third, freshman Katie Nutaitis singled to center, driving Howard home.
Howard scored her second run of the game in the fifth inning. The junior pitcher smacked a single to center and added the Cougars' third run off a double to left by sophomore Kristie Shifflett. Charleston put the game away in the sixth when Harmon doubled to left to score Brittany Small for the fourth and final run of the game.
Harmon, a junior, led the offense in the night cap. The Lynn Haven, Fla., native went 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Shifflett, Nutaitis and Small each went 2-for-3. Nutaitis and Shifflett each had batted in one run.
The Cougars out-hit the Bucs 13-4 and committed zero errors in the evening's night cap. Howard (9-9) threw a complete game allowing only four hits through 21 batters with seven strikeouts. Jill Shondel (2-6) pitched through three innings with one strike out and eight hits. Sondra Vetter pitched three innings in relief with five strikeouts and two earned runs through 12 at-bats.
Game one of the Cougars' three-game series with Georgia Southern starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29.
Florida State 8, Georgia Southern 0 (6 inn.)
Florida State 4, Georgia Southern 3
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- The Georgia Southern softball team rebounded from a game one no-hitter to record eight hits in game two but was swept by Florida State Wednesday evening at JoAnne Graf Field.
The Eagles dropped the opener 8-0 in six innings and lost the nightcap 4-3 to drop to 20-19 on the season.
Three GSU players, sophomores Lindsey Hopkins (McDonough, Ga.) and Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.), and junior Amanda Hall (Haddock, Ga.) each had two hits in game two. Hopkins and Iduate also added a RBI single and Hall scored twice.
Hopkins tied the game at 1-1 in the third with an infield single to score Hall but the Seminoles came up with a run in their half of the third and added two more in the fourth.
The Eagles cut the deficit to 4-3 with two runs in the fifth. GSU loaded the bases with nobody out on a single and two walks. Hall crossed the plate on a wild pitch and Iduate followed with a single to score freshman Stephanie Peet (Lawrenceville, Ga.) but junior Michelle Beasley (Metter, Ga.) was cut down at the plate trying to score from second. But after a walk to junior Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) the rally ended with two ground outs.
GSU put two runners on in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to score.
Freshman Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) took the loss (8-6) after she allowed four earned runs and eight hits in six innings of work.
The opener was a 2-0 contest after five innings but the Seminoles ended it in the sixth with six runs, five unearned and all with two outs. Michelle Snyder and Carly Wynn each had a two-RBI single.
Senior Melissa Laliberte (Cobourg, Ontario, Canada) went the distance for Georgia Southern and allowed 10 hits and two earned runs. She walked four and struck out four and fell to 8-6.
FSU’s Tiffany McDonald fanned 11 and walked just one in recording the no-hitter.
The Eagles return to Southern Conference play this weekend when they host the College of Charleston for a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday.
Campbell 5, Elon 3
BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Campbell completed a two-game sweep of the Phoenix with a 5-3 victory in game two at the Eakes Athletic Complex in Buies Creek, N.C. Elon falls 14-12 with the loss while Campbell improves to 25-13.
Campbell got on the board first after Shayla Cullum led off with a single in the bottom of the second. The Camels drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Cullum crossed the plate on an error by the shortstop but that would be the only damage done as Katie Hinton grounded out to end the second inning with the Camels leading 1-0.
Elon answered with a run of its own in the top of the third to tie the game at one. With two outs, Tracey Dahlen singled then advanced to third with stolen base and an error on the catcher. Dahlen plated the run on a wild pitch from Lauren Stephan. Elon ended the inning with a groundout to the second baseman.
Amanda Littlejohn led off the bottom half of the third with a single that was followed by a walk by Karlie Love to put a runner in scoring position. Amanda Miller then singled to load the bases with one out. Littlejohn scored from third on a sacrifice fly Cullum to give the Camels a 2-1 lead. Brittany Stanley hit a RBI single to score Love for Campbell’s third run of the game. Lauren Stephan grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Campbell extended its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth after Littlejohn reached on a fielder’s choice. Love drove Littlejohn in with a two-run shot over the centerfield wall.
Elon rallied in the top of the seventh when Debbie Zeigler singled and advanced to second when Helterbran drew a walk. With runners on first and second Allison Hartman reached on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error allowed Zeigler to reach third. The second run of the game for Elon was scored by Zeigler after Rebecca Rijavec was hit by a pitch. Pam DelPizzo reached on a fielder’s choice and was replaced by pinch runner Brittany Waters. Caitlin McGowan came in to pinch hit and reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Hartman to narrow the Camel lead to 5-3. That would be as close as Elon would get as the final batter popped up to record the final out with two left on base.
Suffering the loss for Elon was DelPizzo who is now 4-5 on the year. She pitched 4.1 innings and allowed just two earned runs on six hits will striking out one and issuing five walks. Lauren Stephan improved to 11-9 with the complete game win. She allowed just one earned run off of five hits. She also walked one and struck out two.
Elon ends its road trip when it hosts the Furman Paladins in the first home conference series of the season. The Phoenix will play a double header Saturday with the first game slated to begin at 1 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m. The final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Live stats and full coverage of the game will be available at www.ElonPhoenix .com.
Campbell 10, Elon 2
BUIES CREEK, N.C. ? Campbell posted eight runs in the final two innings to defeat Elon 10-2 in six innings at Eakes Athletics Complex in Buies Creek, N.C. in non-conference softball action.
Elon falls to 14-11 on the season, but remains perfect in the SoCon with a 3-0 mark. Campbell improves to 24-13 on the season and are 1-3 in the Atlantic Sun.
Elon jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Tracey Dahlen singled on an infield hit and then advanced on a Patti Weber sacrifice bunt. She scored following an error on the catcher. The final two batters were retired on a strikeout and a groundout.
The bats were quiet over the next three innings as neither team could muster a hit until the fourth with the Camels took a 2-1 lead. In the bottom half of the fourth, Katie Hinton led off with a double but would not cross the plate as Allison Hartman would gun her down from leftfield on a double by Amanda Littlejohn. Littlejohn was waved home off a single by Karlie Love but would not score by way of being thrown out from centerfielder. Love advanced to second on a wild pitch, who was replaced by pinch runner Katie Woodcock who scored on an RBI single off the bat of Keeli Michael to tie the game at one. Michael scored the go-ahead run to give Campbell at 2-1 lead when Amanda Miller doubled.
The Phoenix would not be down long as they knotted the score at two in the top of the fifth. Debbie Zeigler started the inning with single and would advance to third following a single. Zeigler crossed the plate for the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Jaimie Rao. Pam DelPizzo singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. The runners advanced on a wild pitch by would be left stranded as the final batter popped up to record the final out of the inning.
Brittany Stanley led off the bottom half of the fifth with a single. Melissa Elks then took advantage of a miscue by the Phoenix to reach first. Courtney Quinn drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Hinton then singled to score the Camels’ third run of the game. Campbell took a 4-2 lead after Love drove in an RBI with a single with two outs. Amanda Miller then drove the ball to shallow center to extend the Camel lead to 6-2. Shayla Cullum drew a walk to load the bases for the second time of the inning. The hit-parade continued as a two-RBI single off the bat of Stanley gave Campbell an 8-2 lead. The final run of the inning was scored when Elks singled to score Cullum. The final out of the inning was recorded when pitcher Carol Lilley struck out Quinn with the Camels leading 9-2.
Helterbran reached base with two outs on an error by the shortstop and was replaced by pinch runner Hannah Shelton. She would be left stranded as Zeigler lined out to the shortstop. The game-winning run was scored after the first three batter singled. Miller singled to score the tenth and final run of the game.
Taking the loss was Helterbran (5-4) who allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five in four innings of work. Also on the mound for the Phoenix was Carol Lilley who allowed three earned runs on 10 hit while striking out two and walking two. Stanley improves to 13-4 with the win. She allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out five in the complete game win.
Elon ends its road trip when it hosts the Furman Paladins in the first home conference series of the season. The Phoenix will play a double header Saturday with the first game slated to begin at 1 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m. The final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Live stats and full coverage of the game will be available at www.ElonPhoenix .com.