Furman 2, Georgia Tech 1; Georgia Tech 9, Furman 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Lana Mackey tossed a complete game, allowing only one run, and Stephanie Cushing delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to lift Furman to a season opening 2-1 victory over Georgia Tech and doubleheader split with the Yellow Jackets on Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium. The Yellow Jackets salvaged the split with a 9-1 win in game two.
With game one tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Jessie Homesley drew a one-out walk and moved to second on Katie Michaels’ bunt single. After Meredith Mielke popped out to left, Stephanie Field loaded the bases with a base on balls before Stephanie Cushing singled up past shortstop Kelsi Wesseman to score Homesley for the winning run.
Furman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Brythe Blankenship’s bases loaded walk to force in Mielke. The Jackets answered in the fourth loading the bases with a walk and two infield singles. Kate Kuzma then drew a bases loaded walk from Mackey to drive in pinch runner Kelly Eppinger with Georgia Tech’s only run of the game.
Mackey (1-0) limited the Jackets to one run on four hits while walking five and fanning one in seven innings. Field went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks in her collegiate debut while Blankenship drew two walks and drove in a run.
Tiffany Johnson (1-1) suffered the loss for Georgia Tech after allowing two runs on four hits in 6.2 innings. She walked seven and struck out four batters.
The win marked Furman’s first against the Yellow Jackets since the 2002 season opener.
In game two, Georgia Tech (3-1) pounded out nine runs on 12 hits and pitchers Kristen Adkins and Jessica Coan held Furman without an earned run over seven innings to give the Jackets a 9-1 victory.
Kuzma homered to open the scoring in the second inning and Georgia Tech pushed the lead to 2-0 on a double steal. Johnson, Blair Shimandle and Christy Jones stretched the lead to 5-0 in the third on three RBI, infield singles.
After the teams traded a run in the sixth, Whitney Haller laced a bases loaded double to right-center to drive in three runs and up the lead to 9-1.
Shimandle totaled three hits while Jones and Kuzma notched two safeties apiece. Adkins improved to 2-0 in the circle scattering four hits while fanning two in five innings of work.
Freshman Hannah Bradley (0-1) suffered the loss for Furman. She allowed five runs on seven hits in three innings. Bradley walked four and struck out two Yellow Jackets.
Furman, 1-1, travels to Auburn, Ala., on Friday to begin play in the Auburn Tiger Invitational. The Paladins open the three-day tournament with an 11 a.m. contest against Eastern Kentucky.
UNC Greensboro 1, Minnesota 0
TAMPA, Fla. ? Whitney Sirois’ two-out double in the top of the seventh scored Laura Olenderski with the only run UNC Greensboro pitcher Hannah Angel would need as the Spartans beat Minnesota 1-0 on Sunday to wrap up competition at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament.
The shutout was the first of the year for Angel (2-0), who allowed just six hits and a walk in seven innings of work. She struck out three.
With the squads locked in a tight pitchers’ duel, UNCG (2-3) finally scratched across a run in the top of the seventh. Kaitlin Merkt singled up the middle to lead things off ? marking the third straight inning the Spartans’ leadoff reached ? and Olenderski came in to pinch-run. After a strikeout and a Jordan Jewett sacrifice to get Olenderski to second, Sirois stroked a single to left to bring Olenderski around.
Minnesota pitcher Alissa Koch (0-1) fielded a groundout herself to escape further damage.
Needing just three outs in the bottom half of the frame to lock up her first shutout of the season, Angel was up to the task, retiring Shannon Stemper on a liner to second and pinch-hitter Mallory Mitchell on a flyout to left. Pinch-hitter Katie Dalen singled to center to give the Gophers (3-2) life, but Angel got Tina Watts to fly out to second to end the game.
The Spartans had been threatening often late in the game, but hadn’t been able to plate a run, wasting leadoff doubles in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Akiyama got things going in the fifth with a double to left, and Jewett sacrificed pinch-runner Katie Stripling to third. Koch worked out of trouble, though, inducing groundouts from the next two batters to escape the jam.
UNCG again got off to a good start in the sixth, with Brittany Ausley hitting a double to center. Lyndsay Mouse sacrificed her to third, giving the Spartans a runner at third with one out for the second straight inning. But Koch again wriggled off the hook, getting a foulout and a groundout to keep things scoreless.
Minnesota’s best scoring chances came in the third and sixth innings.
After Brianna Sudenga’s one-out single in the third, Angel fielded Colleen Conway’s grounder and tried to get Sudenga at second, but her throwing error allowed Sudenga to reach. A groundout advanced both runners, but Angel got Malisa Barnes to fly out to center to escape unscathed.
In the sixth, Conway led off with a single to center, and Barnes reached on an infield single one out later to put runners on first and second. The Spartans avoided damage with an unusual double play however, as shortstop Merkt bobbled a Natalie Neal popup before coming up with the catch next to the second base bag. Conway, meanwhile, strayed a little too far from second while Merkt bobbled the ball, and Merkt beat her to the bag for the unassisted double play to end the inning.
Five different players accounted for UNCG’s five hits, with Sirois, Akiyama and Ausley hitting doubles and Merkt and Gabel getting singles.
Conway had the only multi-hit game of the contest, going for 2-for-3. Barnes, Sudenga, Dalen and Neal also had singles for the Gophers, who did not record an extra base hit.
Koch allowed just one earned run on five hits and walk, striking out seven in seven innings to take the hard-luck loss.
The win over Minnesota was the Spartans’ first-ever over the Gophers, who UNCG has now met in early season tournaments in each of the last three seasons. UNCG’s win was also its first over a Big Ten school since beating Michigan State on consecutive days at the Elon Invitational in 2002.
UNCG returns to action next weekend at The Green and White Tournament, hosted by head coach Jennifer Herzig’s alma mater, Charlotte. The Spartans will face UNC Wilmington and the host 49ers on Friday, then play Army on Saturday before pool play begins.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro 1, Minnesota 0 (Feb 08, 2009 at Tampa, Fla.)
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 1 - 1 5 1 (2-3)
Minnesota........... 000 000 0 - 0 6 0 (3-2)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Hannah Angel. Minnesota - Alissa Koch.
Win-Hannah Angel(2-0) Loss-Alissa Koch(0-1) T-2:30 A-0
Chattanooga 5, Virginia Tech 4; Tennessee Tech 3, Chattanooga 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga softball team (4-2) is developing quite a flair for the dramatics. In the final day of the Chattanooga Challenge the Lady Mocs stunned Virginia Tech (2-3), 5-4, pulling off an improbable rally in their first game of the afternoon. In its second game the team dropped a 3-1 decision at the hands of Tennessee Tech (3-2).
Chattanooga’s contest with the Hokies seemed like it would be a second straight loss for the Lady Mocs as the UTC remained stymied by VT pitcher Kenzie Roark. In the third inning Virginia Tech was able to finally rough up pitcher Michelle Fuzzard with three runs off four hits.
The score would remain at 3-0 until the top of the seventh when Virginia Tech added another run with a Richelle McGarva single. That would not be the only scoring in the game’s final inning as the Lady Mocs began to set up another thrilling finish.
The bottom half of the seventh would begin with a leadoff infield single by Lynleigh Hurndon. Jessica Traxler would be next at the plate and hit what would seem to be a routine grounder to the pitcher. Roark however made an errant throw to second base and all runners were safe.
A Jenni Martin walk brought Brittany Eason to plate, who, like Traxler, would reach on a Roark error, which scored the Lady Mocs’ first run. Lyndsey Stiles continued her monster weekend with an RBI single to centerfield, bringing in Traxler. The next batter, Lauren Flores, would then reach on a hit-by-pitch to bring UTC within one.
The next batter would be Michelle Fuzzard and the sophomore gave Chattanooga its second walk-off victory of the season with a deep double to right center, bringing in Kristin Holloway and Kaiti Kelley.
The Lady Mocs ended the contest with six hits, with Stiles, Fuzzard and Hurndon having two apiece as UTC improved to 4-1. Kaity Holloway (2-1) notched her second victory of the season, pitching 4.1 innings of relief and allowing one run and three hits.
In the final game of the tournament, the Lady Mocs were hurt by the long ball as two Golden Eagle home runs gave Tennessee Tech the 3-1 victory. Kandice Irwin (2-1) received her first loss of the season, giving up three earned runs and struck out six.
The big blow to UTC came in the fourth as Whitney Cummings sent a two-run shot to right-centerfield, giving TTU the first runs of the game. Holly Thomas would tack on the Golden Eagles other run with a home run down the leftfield line in the sixth.
In the bottom half, the Mocs would stage a rally as Tiffany Baker recorded a one out double to right-center. Toni Hutchison singled to advance pinch-runner Della Harrison to third. Jenni Martin would step back up to the plate and came through in the clutch again, lining a single into left field to put UTC on the board.
Chattanooga was unable to duplicate its first game heroics however, falling just short, 3-1.
The team also had three players named to the Chattanooga Challenge All-Tournament team as Michelle Fuzzard, Tiffany Baker and Kandice Irwin received the honors. Both Baker and Fuzzard hit over .470 and combined for 11 RBI on the weekend. Irwin finished the tourney 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA.
The team will now travel to the Valley of the Sun to take on the reigning national champion Arizona State Sun Devils on Thursday at 8 p.m. (ET). The Lady Mocs will then remain in Tempe, Ariz., to play in the Littlewood Classic, hosted by ASU. UTC will play a stacked field in Kent State, Arizona State, Illinois State, Idaho State and Iowa. Chattanooga’s next home game will be on Feb. 27 as the team hosts the annual Frost Classic. The Lady Mocs will play Dayton and Princeton, with the first game scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. from Jim Frost Stadium.
2009 Chattanooga Challenge All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player: Ashlan Williams, Troy
P-Williams, Troy
P-Kandice Irwin, UTC
IF-Michelle Fuzzard, UTC
IF-Tiffany Baker, UTC
IF-Karlie Love, Campbell
IF-Amanda Miller, Campbell
IF-Whitney Cummings, TTU
OF-Heidi Johnson, Troy
OF-Tasha Elmore, Troy
OF-Holly Thomas, TTU
DP-Jenna Rhodes, VT
Western Kentucky 4, Samford 3; Arkansas 6, Samford 2
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ---- The Samford University softball team went 0-2 on the final day of the Southern Miss Invitational as they fell to Western Kentucky, 4-3, and Arkansas, 6-2, on Sunday. The Bulldogs put together a two-run fifth inning in each game to help get them back in the game but the Hilltoppers’ defense and the Lady Razorbacks’ offense were too much for Samford to overcome. The losses are the first for the Bulldogs on the season.
Against Western Kentucky Sunday morning, Samford (3-2) scored one run in the second inning to tie the game at one run a piece before Western Kentucky took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs brought in two runs, though, in the bottom of the fifth inning when Amanda Barrs doubled to right center field to bring in Katie England and Jessica Owens, both of whom were put in position by a WKU fielding error.
The Bulldogs saw extra innings for the second day in a row when Western Kentucky scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the score at three and then kept Samford from scoring in the bottom of that inning to send it to an eighth inning. The Hilltoppers did that once more to take a 4-3 lead and walk away with the victory.
Arkansas dominated the first three innings of the afternoon match-up with the Bulldogs. The Lady Razorbacks put one run on the board in the first and two in the second and third before Samford finally scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Lady Razorbacks were plagued with errors in the fifth inning which allowed Samford to bring in two runs. Owens led off in the inning and walked before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Amy Gonzalez struck out swinging but advanced to first base on a passed ball then got to second on an error by the catcher. Meanwhile, Owens advanced to third to set up a potential scoring opportunity.
Katie England was up next and reached base on a fielder’s choice before advancing to second on the throw. That brought in Owens while Gonzalez went to third. Kristy Lawrence walked and with runners on first and third, Kylie Harmon moved the runners around on a fielder’s choice and Gonzalez came home to score Samford’s second run. However, that would be it for the Bulldogs.
Over the weekend, Owens led the Bulldogs in hitting with a .636 batting average. She went seven of eleven with five runs and one RBI. England rattled off the team’s first two homeruns on Saturday, one Central Arkansas and one against Southern Miss. She batted in six runs on the weekend and slugged an average of .571.
In the circle, Kayla Burris walked away with one win and one loss on the weekend. She pitched four complete innings, striking out six batters and giving up only one hit and one run. Stephanie Royall was the winning pitcher against Saturday night against Southern Miss. Royall pitched 12 and one-third innings over the weekend posting a 2.19 ERA and striking out five batters and walking three. She gave up 13 hits and four runs, three earned.
Samford is back in action Wednesday on the road when they take on in-state rival and former conference rival Jacksonville State. First pitch is at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs will then turn around and host its annual Bulldog Bash which begins Friday and will conclude on Sunday.
College of Charleston 2, South Carolina 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Senior shortstop Christal Kotchman (Seminole, Fla.) and freshman outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) drilled back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth inning to lead the College of Charleston (1-2) to a 2-1 victory over South Carolina (2-1) in a non-conference game Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The win is the first in program history over the Gamecocks.
“It’s a huge win for the program, especially after two losses yesterday” said Cougars head coach Shelly Hoerner. “It showed great determination to comeback from that and post a come-from-behind win today. I couldn’t be prouder of the team. We did the little things today and that made us successful”.
Following a pair of scoreless innings by both clubs, a lead off walk, sac bunt and a single at the start of the third inning, sophomore infielder Jill Semento drove in the first un of the game with a sacrifice fly, giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 advantage.
The score would stay that way over the next three innings as USC’s freshman pitcher Audrey Broyles allowed only two hits while Cougars senior pitcher Shannon Howard (Carmichael, Calif.) and junior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) combined to allow only a single and a double over that span.
With South Carolina threatening in the fifth inning following a lead off double and with runners on first and third, the Cougars brought in Mesko from the bullpen. She then struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam and kept the score at 1-0. That would prove to be pivotal as Charleston rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning.
In that inning, redshirt junior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) laid down a bunt base hit to get on base and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by her sister, junior third baseman Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) on the next play. Following a ground out to first, Kotchman then belted the first pitch she saw into the left centerfield gap to tie the game at 1-1.
Lonergan then drilled the first pitch she saw into straightaway dead centerfield for a double to drive in Kotchman and give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. That would be all they would need as Mesko was dominate, nailing two strikeouts and forcing a ground out in the seventh to give Charleston its first-ever victory over South Carolina.
“Lonergan has been swinging a very hot bat these first two games and I just had a good vibe with her at the plate today” added Hoerner. “Kristie [Shifflett] laying down that bunt was huge, especially being an RBI person and Kotchman really came through in the clutch”.
For the Gamecocks, sophomore outfielder Laura Mendes led the way with a 3-for-4 day while Semento provided the only USC run with her third-inning sac fly. Broyles and freshman utility Kandyce Redondo had the only other hits for South Carolina. Broyles went the distance, allowing seven hits, two runs and striking out one as she took the loss to drop to 1-1 on the year.
Kotchman and Lonergan provided the offense for Charleston as they both went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Kotchman added a run scored. Amber Shifflett finished 1-3 with the tying run while Kristie Shifflett was 1-2 with the key sac bunt in the sixth inning rally. Mesko pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless, hitless relief and struck out five as she picked up the win to move to 1-1 on the year. Howard went 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and one run while walking five batters.
The victory marks the first in nine games against South Carolina, dating back to February 21, 2004. The Gamecocks had won the previous eight games and had notched four shutouts.
“This is a big win and it took a team effort and a pitching staff to come up with it today”.
The College of Charleston will take the field next when they host the 2009 Cougar Classic from February 13-15 at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The Cougars will face a field that includes Akron, Syracuse, East Tennessee State, James Madison and Howard. Their first games will be at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. on the 13th when they take on the Zips and the Orange.