Appalachian State 4, Western Carolina 2; Appalachian State 5, Western Carolina 1
CULLOWHEE, N.C. ? Western Carolina softball was swept 4-2, 5-1 by Appalachian State, in Southern Conference doubleheader action, Wednesday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts fall to 10-25 and 6-9 in the Southern Conference while the Mountaineers improve to 19-23 and 11-9 in the SoCon.
Freshman shortstop Chelsea Schaffer extended her hitting streak to 12-straight in the two games. She had a pair of hits in the first game, and was in danger of ending her streak in the second game, after a 0-3 performance heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Schaffer got her first hit in the second game, and also picked up an RBI, to break up Appalachian State’s Kayla Richardson’s attempt at a shutout.
Senior pitcher Lauren Ross, who along with fellow seniors Stephanie Beatty, Mollie Fowler and Beth Hauser were honored on senior day, got the start in the first game. She had a strong performance, tossing a complete game allowing four runs on four hits and striking out five. However, Appalachian State got clutch hitting and runs to take the first contest.
The Mountaineers posted two runs in the second inning thanks to a two RBI single by Andrea McIntyre. In the third inning, Appalachian State tacked on a third run off an RBI single by Michelle Lighton.
Western Carolina cut the Appalachian State to just one run when the Catamounts scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Ross singled up the middle and Keri Burnside followed with a single past third base. With two outs, Danielle Reese hit a long fly ball to center field, and it appeared the Mountaineers Sarah Rappe had the third out in her glove, but the ball dribbled out and it allowed Ross and Burnside to score.
The Mountaineers tacked on a single run in the top of the seventh thanks to McIntyre’s second RBI single to ice the game.
Ross falls to 6-8 on the year. Schaffer and Burnside were the only Catamounts to have multiple hit performances as the duo each had two. Mountaineer pitcher Ashley Stubbs picked up the win and improves to 7-10.
After tossing eight innings in the single game on Tuesday, freshman lefty hurler Katie King got the call to the mound for the second game against Appalachian State on Wednesday. She pitched three scoreless innings before Appalachian State exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth inning. The scoring frenzy began with Katie Boyd’s lead off homerun over the left centerfield wall; it was Boyd’s 13th homerun of the season. It was also the only homerun hit in the series.
King did not allow another run in the remainder of the game. She ended the contest allowing eight hits, four earned runs and striking out four, falling to 4-11 on the year. Richardson improves to 10-13 on the year.
The Catamounts had just four hits in the game and two were from sophomore second baseman Amber Hawkins. Schaffer and Kristen Gay also had hits in the game.
Western Carolina heads on the road for a Southern Conference road series with Samford Saturday and Sunday. First pitch, in the doubleheader Saturday, begins at 1 p.m.
Memphis 2, Samford 1; Samford 2, Memphis 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team split its midweek doubleheader with Memphis Wednesday night. The Bulldogs fell to the Tigers in the first game, 2-1, before winning the second game, 2-1.
After two scoreless innings on both sides, Samford (13-23) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Kristy Lawrence brought in Kylie Harmon on a single to right-center field. Memphis (20-22) answered back with two runs of its own in the top of the fourth when Lelani Bernardino doubled with the bases loaded to bring in Leandra Hines and Alyssa Palmieri.
Both pitchers then pitched four shutout innings as the Tigers walked away with the 2-1 win.
Amanda Barrs (2-12) started in the circle for the Bulldogs, giving up two unearned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five. She was relieved in the bottom of the fourth by freshman Robyn Harmon who pitched three and one-third shutout innings, giving up two hits.
Vanessa Valle (7-8) pitched a complete seven-inning game for the Tigers, striking out five and giving up just one earned run on three hits.
Kylie Harmon led the Bulldogs, going 1-for-2 at the plate while Katie England and Lawrence went 1-for-3. Hines, Bernardino and Tori Gross all went 2-for-3 for the Tigers.
Samford jumped out to a 1-0 lead again in the second game, but this time it was in the first inning. With the bases loaded, Kimberly Bossom walked England to move the runners around and bring in Aaren Fisher.
Stephanie Royall (8-8) pitched three shutout innings before Memphis tied the game up in the fourth. With two on base, Maddie McKinley stepped up to bat and reached on a fielder’s choice which brought in Gross for the tying run.
The Bulldogs moved back on top in the bottom of the fifth, however, when Robyn Harmon singled to second base with the bases loaded. Amy Gonzalez scored while the Bulldogs moved around the bases, but Memphis was able to get out of the inning after England popped up to second base.
Gonzalez and Robyn Harmon both went 1-for-2 while Stephanie Royall pitched her seventh complete game of the season. Royall struck out two while giving up only one earned run on four hits.
After Bossom walked three batters in the first inning, including walking the Bulldogs’ first run in, she was relieved by Vanessa Walle who pitched four innings while striking out two batters and giving up just one run on three hits. Valle finished the game recording just one walk.
Samford will be back at home this weekend, April 17-18, when it plays host to Western Carolina to continue an eight-game homestand. The Bulldogs and Catamounts will meet in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. before closing out the series with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Charleston Southern 3, Georgia Southern 2; Georgia Southern 5, Charleston Southern 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern softball team (20-18) split Wednesday's doubleheader with Charleston Southern (21-26). The third inning proved crucial in game one as the Buccaneers won 3-2, but the Eagles rebounded to win game two, 5-0.
Game One
Third inning errors proved costly in softball's 3-2 loss to Charleston Southern.
Kristan Glover (Evans, Ga.) got the start and allowed only one earned run on two hits in the three innings she pitched.
Georgia Southern held an early two-run lead after Amanda Hall's (Haddock, Ga.) first inning two-run home run.
The Buccaneers took the lead in the third inning using a pair of hits and two errors to score three runs. Melissa Adams led off with a base hit to center. Megan Lombard put runners on second and third with a double. A well executed suicide squeeze by Amy Trenkamp scored a run and forced a throwing error allowing the runners to advance a base. Megan Hall hit a shallow pop up behind the mound that Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) was unable to come up with to plate the second run of the inning. Gail Matsushima drove in Trenkamp on a sacrifice fly for the third run of the inning.
Hillary Martin (Cumming, Ga.) came on in relief and held CSU scoreless through the remaining four innings, giving the Eagles a chance to retake the lead. Martin pitched four scoreless innings and allowed only two hits in her first appearance since March 5th.
“Hillary was great and has been working hard in practice,” said head coach Maggie Johnson. “I think she is going to help us down the road.”
Sondra Vetter held Georgia Southern to just two hits after the third inning.
Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) gave the Eagles their best shot at tying the game in the fourth inning after she doubled off the wall in right, but Vetter induced a pop up from Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) to end the inning.
Vetter retired the side in order in the seventh to earn her 11th win of the year.
Game Two
Georgia Southern scored runs in the first, third and fifth innings to even the series with the Buccaneers.
The Eagles out hit Charleston Southern 10-3 and got multi-hit games from Iduate, Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) and Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) in the 5-0 win.
“We need to have consistent pitching, and I think we have been working towards that,” said Johnson. “I felt like all of our pitchers pitched well today, and that is what we need.”
Siliga rebounded after going hit less in game one and went three for three with two RBIs in game two.
“She has been struggling but has been putting in extra work in the cages,” said Johnson. “It is a big hole in the lineup when she is not hitting the ball hard. Today she had enough and made up her mind that she was going to go out there and do it.”
Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) and Smith combined for a three-hit shutout. Streetmon earned her 12th win after allowing only one hit through four innings. Smith earned her second save of the season after allowing two hits.
Georgia Southern used another first inning homer by Siliga to take an early lead. This time the third inning was kind, and the Eagles tacked on two more runs extending their lead to 3-0. Iduate and Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) laid down back-to-back bunt base hits to start the inning off. Siliga plated Iduate with a RBI base hit to center. Smith drove in the second run of the inning with a single to left.
Smith worked around a one-out double in the top half of the fifth inning. The sophomore pitcher struck out Giannini to start the inning before Lombard's double to right. Smith then struck out Tremkamp before getting Megan Hall to ground out to the mound.
Siliga led off the fifth inning with her third hit of game two. Caitlin Hart (McDonough, Ga.) came on to run for Siliga and reached second on a passed ball. Smith plated Hart with her second RBI single. “Megen is a gamer and is one of the players that absolutely hates to lose,” said Johnson. “She is going to do everything she can to win.” Russo added an opposite field home run, giving the Eagles a 5-0 lead.
Charleston Southern refused to go down quietly in the seventh inning. Drew led off the inning with a walk, but Smith recorded two quick outs on a strikeout and a pop up. Lombard added her second double, putting runners on second and third; but Smith induced a ground ball to first to end the game.
Softball returns to Southern Conference play Saturday at Eagle Field. First pitch against UNC Greensboro is set for 1 p.m.
College of Charleston 10, Coastal Carolina 5; Coastal Carolina 9, College of Charleston 5
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Senior shortstop Christal Kotchman (Seminole, Fla.) went 4-for-7 with five RBIs and three runs to lead a top of the order that contributed 13 of 15 runs as the College of Charleston (14-22, 6-8) split a double-header with Coastal Carolina (12-28) in a non-conference affair Wednesday, April 15 in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
GAME 1
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 10, COASTAL CAROLINA 5
The top of the order led the way for the Cougars as the 1-4 hitters combined to drive in eight of Charleston’s 10 runs in Game 1.
Senior shortstop Christal Kotchman (Seminole, Fla.) got the offense started early as she belted a two-run home run over the left field fence, her first of the season, to give CofC a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The Cougars would match that production the following inning as back-to-back walks and a sacrifice bunt from senior outfielder Tiffany Harmon (Lynn Haven, Fla.) put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out. With two outs, redshirt junior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) then laced a two-RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0.
Coastal Carolina got on the board in the top of the third inning as sophomore catcher Morgan Dodd doubled home a run and freshman shortstop Sarah Maples singled to short for a second run to close to within 4-2.
The Cougars responded in the home half of the inning with double by freshman shortstop Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) and an RBI triple by junior catcher Amanda Maurer (Haubstadt, Ind.) down the right field line. A double by sophomore outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) then drove in Maurer to make it 6-2.
It would stay that way until the fifth inning when Charleston put up three runs on a sacrifice fly, a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and a bases loaded walk to push the lead to 9-2. The Chanticleers would battle back from the brink of being run-ruled as they got out of the inning on a fielders’ choice before notching two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Back-to-back doubles and an RBI single narrowed the margin to 9-4.
CofC would add a run in the bottom of the inning while Coastal Carolina matched in the seventh before falling 10-5.
Senior second baseman Kelsey Riffel went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Chants while Maples and senior first baseman Brittany Birnbaum each finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Dodd and sophomore catcher Ashley Pisone had the only other RBIs for Coastal Carolina. In the pitching circle, freshman pitcher Ivy McCranie started and pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three runs, three hits and four walks to take the loss and fall to 1-5.
For Charleston Kotchman went 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs, highlighted by her first home run of the season, while Amber Shifflett finished 1-for-3 with a career-high tying three RBIs.
Maurer went 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI while Harmon, Woodall and junior third baseman Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) each added an RBI. Forbes finished 1-for-3 with a career-high three runs and Woodall drew a career-best three walks. That mark ties her for the third most in program history for a single game.
Senior pitcher Shannon Howard (Carmichael, Calif.) pitched a complete game, striking out seven to earn the win and move to 4-10 on the season.
GAME 2
COASTAL CAROLINA 9, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 5
Katie Forbes made her first collegiate pitching appearance in the second game as she started and went 5.1 innings, allowing only five hits over the first five innings.
With Charleston leading 2-0 as a result of a first inning two-run single by Kristie Shifflett, Coastal Carolina exploded offensively in the sixth inning. The Chanticleers scored five runs, all off of Forbes, on five hits and an error to pull ahead 5-2.
The Cougars responded with their own rally in the bottom of the inning as a pair of walks and another sac bunt from Tiffany Harmon put two runners in scoring position with two outs. Christal Kotchman then continued her hot hitting with a two-RBI double to right which was followed by an RBI single up the middle from Amber Shifflett to tie the game at 5-5.
It would not stay tied long as Coastal once again got their runs in bunches, this time with four on three hits in the top of the seventh inning to go ahead with a commanding 9-5 lead. That would be all the Chanticleers would need as Ivy McCranie retired the side on a ground out and a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the inning to close it out and collect her second win of the season and move to 2-5.
Maples posted a 3-for-4, two run, RBI performance to lead Coastal while Kelsey Riffel had another solid game, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Freshman first baseman Stacy Snelling also went 2-for-3 with an RBI while junior outfielder Alysaa Tornatore added two RBIs. Junior outfielder Mecaela Ballard contributed two RBIs on the evening. McCranie earned the win in relief of sophomore Katelin Edwards who started and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs.
Kotchman led the Cougars with a 2-for-4, two RBI, two run performance in the night cap while Kristie Shifflett added a pair of RBIs. Her sister, Amber, went 2-for-4 with a run, RBI and stolen base. That steal was the 32nd consecutive steal for Shifflett without getting caught dating back to March 19, 2006.
Freshman pitcher Stormie Henderson (Cottondale, Ala.) pitched one inning of relief, allowing two runs to take the loss and drop to 0-1.
The College of Charleston is back in action this weekend when they host Elon in a Southern Conference series April 18-19 at Patriots Point Stadium.