UNC Greensboro 2, Liberty 1; UNC Greensboro 3, Liberty 1
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro junior Amber Harrell struck out nine batters in game two to become just the fourth pitcher in school history to reach 400 career strikeouts as the Spartans swept a doubleheader from Liberty on Wednesday, 2-1 and 3-1.
Freshmen Alex Emeterio and Jordan Jewett had three hits each in the sweep, while Lyndsay Mouse had two hits and scored two runs in game two.
Harrell (6-12), who entered play Wednesday with 396 strikeouts to her credit, wasted little time reaching the milestone, striking out two batters in both the first and second innings of the 3-1 game two win. She whiffed the Flames’ Danielle Howard swinging to end the top of the second inning to move achieve the historic mark and move into fourth in UNCG history in career Ks. She passed Christine Hornak, who had 399 from 1997-98.
Harrell allowed just an earned run on four hits and two walks in picking up the win, and benefitted from stellar defense behind her all day. After hitting a batter with two outs in the third inning, junior catcher Whitney Sirois caught Cassie Hendrix trying to steal second to end the inning. Harrell also helped her own cause in the top of the fourth, starting a 1-6-3 double play to negate a leadoff walk.
Liberty senior Sarah Ellis (11-21), Harrell’s counterpart, also turned in a dominant performance, allowing just three runs on five hits and no walks in six innings. After allowing a one-out triple to Mouse in the bottom of the first, Ellis retired 15 straight Spartan batters. The first in that string, however, was an RBI groundout by Jewett, staking Harrell to an early 1-0 lead.
The Flames (19-33) tied the contest in the top of the sixth, as J’nae Jefferson reached on a passed ball after striking out. Kelly Strickland followed with a double to deep right center to score Jefferson and tie the game at 1.
The Spartans (21-29) quickly answered in the bottom half, as sophomore Katie Stripling, making her first start of the season in the field, singled sharply through the left side with one out to stop Ellis’ streak of dominance. Stripling was erased on a fielder’s choice, but Mouse followed with a double down the left field line to plate Brittany Ausley with the go-ahead run.
Jewett hustled out an infield hit to keep the inning alive, and Mouse never stopped running from second, scoring an insurance run that would give the Spartans a bit of peace of mind in the top of the seventh.
Liberty’s first two batters reached to lead off the inning, as Amber DePasquale singled off Harrell’s glove and Howard was hit by a pitch. Harrell struck out Jenna Eatmon looking for out No. 1, and DePasquale was erased at third on a fielder’s choice. Fittingly, Harrell then struck out Hendrix to end the game.
Mouse was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple in the game, scoring a run and driving in another. Jewett was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Game one’s performance was just as impressive for the Spartans, as senior Hannah Angel allowed just one run on four hits and a walk in evening her record at 12-12. Emeterio and Jewett were the heroes at the plate in game one, as the rookie duo combined to go 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
With two outs in the third inning, Emeterio singled to left to score Ausley, who reached on an infield single, to put the Spartans up 1-0.
The Flames answered quickly, knotting things at 1 in the fourth. After Angel was perfect through three innings, Hendrix dropped in a bloop single behind second for Liberty’s first hit of the day to lead off the fourth. Hendrix stole second to get into scoring position, and was able to score on Jefferson’s bunt single.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the fifth, when Jewett got things going with a two-out single up the middle. Emeterio followed with a double to right center, scoring Jewett with what would prove to be the winning run.
Angel got a little help from batterymate Leslie Furness to make the lead stand, as Furness gunned down Jefferson trying to steal to end the sixth inning. Angel then worked around a one-out single in the seventh ? with Mouse making an outstanding snag on a sharp line drive to her left for the second out ? to nail down the win and snap UNCG’s seven-game losing streak.
Tiffani Smith (8-12) took the loss for Liberty, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. She struck out eight.
Hendrix was 2-for-3 with a run for the Flames while Jefferson and Beth Bennett had Liberty’s other two hits. Jewett was 2-for-2 with a run and Emeterio was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Ausley, Angel and Kayla Hensley accounted for UNCG’s other three hits.
The Spartans conclude a seven-game homestand with a doubleheader against Virginia Tech on Thursday at 5 p.m. The contests are the final home games of the season for UNCG, which heads up Interstate 40 to take on Elon for a three-game set this weekend to end the regular season.
No. 8 Georgia 3, Georgia Southern 2 (8 innings)
ATHENS,Ga. - The Georgia Southern softball team (23-22) took No. 8 Georgia (37-9) to extra innings, but a walk-off double by Ashley Pauly gave the Bulldogs a 3-2 win.
Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) threw a career high 158 pitches and kept the UGA bats in check all game. The Sophomore pitcher allowed just five hits, struck out seven and allowed just three runs in almost eight innings of work.
Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) worked a ten pitch at-bat in the first inning and after numerous long fly balls smacked a base hit off the pitcher's glove giving the Eagles a one out base runner. Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) followed with a full-count walk, but Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Bulldogs took advantage of a lead off walk in the bottom half of the first inning and scored an early run. Taylor Schlopy led off with a walk and stole second before a throwing error on Ashley Pauly's sacrifice bunt allowed her to score.
Streetmon worked her way out of a jam in the second inning after a sacrifice bunt moved two runners into scoring position with only one out. Streetmon struck out Maya Branch on three pitches and got Taylor Schlopy to ground out to end the inning.
GSU tied the game on an Amanda Hall (Haddock, Ga.) RBI single in the fourth inning. Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) drove a ball over the head of Tess Echols in right field and off the wall for a double. Hall followed with a base hit to center scoring Russo from second. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) walked to put a runner in scoring position. A fielder's choice cut Hall down at third, but a failed double play attempt allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Sarah McCloud got out of the jam by striking out Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) to end the inning.
Christie Hamilton came on to pitch for UGA in the top of the fifth. Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) sent Hamilton's first pitch over the wall in straight away center giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
The Bulldogs retied the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning. UGA loaded the bases on a full count walk by Tori Moody. Jennie Auger drove a ball to center that Hall made a diving catch for, but the pinch runner, Brittney Hubbard, tagged up and scored from third on the play. Streetmon recorded a pair of strike outs to leave runners on base.
The game headed to the 8th inning with neither team being able to score in the seventh. Lisaira Daniels reached on a fielder's choice and promptly stole second base. Fogle robbed an extra base hit away from Taylor Schlopy, but Ashley Pauly scored the winning run on a walk-off double.
Softball will host their final regular season series this weekend as they take on the Furman Paladins.
Radford 6, Elon 5
RADFORD, VA. - The Elon Phoenix rallied twice, fighting through eight innings with the 2009 Big South Champion Radford Highlanders, as it stepped out of conference play for the final non-league game of the season. A two-run, late-inning rally was not enough to push the Phoenix past Radford as it fell 6-5. Rain delayed the start of the game, forcing the teams to play a single game instead of the scheduled double-header.
Elon is now 14-29 on the season while Radford improves to 35-12.
Brandi Jones led the team with three RBI on two hits. In addition, Patti Weber garnered two hits for the Phoenix.
Radford opened up to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Kristen Shifflett singled and later scored on a single through the right side by Michelle Beall.
In the top of the second, Jaimie Rao singled to left field, but would be called out at second on a fielder’s choice that put Erin O’Shea at first. O’Shea moved into scoring position following a walk by Caitlin McGowan. A fielding error by Radford’s shortstop allowed Elon to plate O’Shea to tie the game at one and put Hannah Shelton on first. Jones drove in McGowan for the go ahead run on a two-out single to left field to give Elon a 2-1 lead.
Leigh Godfrey opened the bottom of the third with a single through the right side. With one out, Sarah Himan singled up the middle to advance Godfrey to third. Nichole Beall followed with a walk to load the bases. The Highlanders knotted the score a two when Michelle Beall singled to left field to score Godfrey. Elon’s O’Shea pitched out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout of Shannon Keefe and a fly out by Jenn Everhart.
Radford added two runs in the bottom of the fourth when Godfrey reached on a fielding error by Elon. She moved to third on a two-out double by Shifflett. Himan followed with a triple down the right field line that allowed both runners to score, giving Radford a 4-2 lead.
Shelton opened the top of the fifth inning with a walk following a pitching change by Radford. With two outs, Weber roped a single up the middle to score Shelton from second to cut the Highlander lead to 4-3. Following the single, Melanie Helterbran was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. The pair was able to do any more damage as the final batter was retired.
The Highlanders tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth inning following a single by Keefe and a walk by Hope Creasy. The pair moved up and a double steal, but a throwing error by the catcher allowed Keefe to score an unearned run to bring the score to 5-3.
Rao began the Elon’s second rally in the top of the sixth inning with a walk. She was out one play later after O’Shea grounded into a double play. Lauren Taylor and Shelton drew back-to-back walks to bring Jones to the plate. Once in the box, she belted a double to left center, scoring both Taylor and Shelton to tie the game at five.
Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, O’Shea was placed at second following the international tie-breaker rule. Noting her performance at the plate, Chelsea Kelley intentionally walked Jones to put a runner at first and second. The final Phoenix hitter struck out, leaving the pair stranded going into the bottom of the eighth.
Radford plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, sealing the game 6-5 for the Phoenix. Creasy was placed on second, immediately being replaced by pinch runner Kristy Brewer. Lauren Williams reached on a Phoenix throwing error following a sacrifice bunt. Brewer advanced to third on the sacrifice, scoring the game-winner on the error.
The Phoenix closes out its regular season this weekend at East Field against UNC Greensboro. Game one of Saturday’s double header will begin at 1 p.m with the second game to follow at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday’s game will begin at 1 p.m. Elon will celebrate the careers of seniors Jones, Helterbran, Weber and Rao.
East Tennessee State 2, Western Carolina 0; ETSU 10, WCU 7
CULLOWHEE, N.C. ? Western Carolina softball (11-33) dropped a pair of games to East Tennessee State (27-24), 2-0, 10-7, in the Catamounts final regular season games of the year.
Freshman lefty hurler Katie King tossed a solid complete game, in the first contest of the doubleheader, but Western Carolina left nine runners on base and couldn’t push a player across the plate. King takes the loss and falls to 5-17 allowing 10 hits, one earned run and striking out four.
East Tennessee State scored a run in the top of the first inning off an RBI single by Trisha Massenzo. The Bucs scored their second run in the top of the fifth off a Western Carolina miscue.
Catamounts Danielle Reese and Katie each had a pair of hits in the game. It was King’s second and third hits of her career.
The second game was a run-fest with a total of 17 runs between the two teams after just two in the first game of the twin bill. ETSU had 17 hits and Western Carolina had 11 in the contest.
Western Carolina scored in the bottom of the first. Kristen Gay led off the inning with a single up the middle, stole second and then advanced to third off a wild pitch. An RBI single by Chelsea Schaffer, through the left side, scored Gay.
ETSU answered in the top of the second, with a lone run, to tie the game. The Bucs took the lead with their second run of the game in the top of the third.
The Catamounts posted three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 advantage. With one out, Gay started the scoring rally again with her second single of the game. Reese followed with a single to left field and Schaffer hit her second RBI single to again score Gay. Stephanie Beatty followed with a two RBI homerun over the centerfield wall.
ETSU pulled within run with a single run in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Western Carolina struck again with three runs to go up 7-3. For the third time, Gay started a rally with a single and Reese followed with a single to centerfield. Schaffer notched her third RBI of the game scoring Gay off a single to right field and Reese also scored off an ETSU miscue. Keri Burnside’s RBI single plated Schaffer for the third run of the inning.
In the next two innings, ETSU scored seven unanswered runs to take the lead and the win.
Freshman Megan Taylor started the game and went four innings before being replaced by Chere Monday. Taylor came back into the game in the top of the seventh but it was Monday who picked up the loss. Monday falls to 0-3 on the season.
Schaffer led the Catamounts going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Gay also had three hits and scored two runs. Reese and Burnside had two hits apiece.
The Catamounts will be back in action at the Southern Conference Tournament held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Western Carolina will begin play in the tournament on May 6.
Mercer 6, Samford 3
MERCER, Ga. ---- The Samford softball team fell, 6-3, in its first meeting of a three-game series with Mercer Wednesday night. The Bulldogs and Bears will play a doubleheader on Thursday to close out the series.
Samford (18-26, 10-14 SoCon) was led by Aaren Fisher who went 2-for-2 with one RBI on the evening. Kylie Harmon also had two hits in four appearances at the plate with one RBI as well. Robyn Harmon drove in Samford’s third run while going 1-for-3 at the plate. Jessica Owens was also 1-for-3 on the evening.
Stephanie Royall (8-9) took the loss for the Bulldogs after giving up six runs in the first two and one-third innings. Robyn Harmon came on in relief in the bottom of the third, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up just two hits while striking out one batter and walking one. Kayla Burris pitched the last inning for Samford.
Mercer (36-16, 14-6 A-Sun) was led by Stacey Condra who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Amanda Santa Maria went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate while Holly Oglesbee went 1-for-4 and Jena Ellis was 1-for-2, each with an RBI. Allison Jones was also 1-for-4 while Emi Sherrill was 1-for-1.
Lacey Richardson (14-7) earned the win for the Bears, pitching 4.2 innings while striking out five batters and giving up just one earned run on three hits. Richardson came on in relief of Jenni Holtz who started for Mercer at the pitcher’s circle. Holtz struck out three batters but gave up two earned runs on three hits and walked one.
Mercer took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Bears plated their first run when Royall hit Brandy Keeter with the bases loaded to walk in Ashlei Alig. Oglesbee then singled up the middle to drive in Santa Maria before Condra was walked in to score the Bears’ third run.
Samford answered back and cut the lead to one as they scored two in the top of the third. Whitney Terry led off the inning with a walk before stealing second base and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Jordan. Kylie Harmon singled up the middle to bring Terry home and Robyn Harmon followed that up with a triple to right field to bring her older sister around the bases to score the Bulldogs’ second run.
The Bears added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Mercer went on a two-out rally to take a 6-2 lead. With two runners on Condra stepped up and doubled to drive in Santa Maria and Cassy Neilson who were on first and second, respectively. Sherrill followed with another double to drive in Condra before the Bulldogs made a pitching change and Oglesbee grounded out to end the inning.
The Bulldogs tacked one more run in the top of the fourth Fisher singled down the right field line to bring home Owens who was on second base. Robyn Harmon and Burris combined for three more scoreless innings at the circle while Mercer retained its three-point lead and went on to win, 6-3.
Thursday doubleheader is slated to begin at 3 p.m. at Sikes Field.