Furman 3, Georgia Southern 1; Georgia Southern 5, Furman 3
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern softball team (24-23, 13-10) split Saturday's doubleheader with Furman (21-26, 11-11) in a tale of two third innings. The Paladins took game one 3-1 after scoring all three runs in the third inning. The Eagles scored four of their five runs in the third to win game two 5-3.
Game One
A three-run third inning proved key in the Eagles' 3-1 loss in game one.
Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) pitched well and did not allow a run outside of the third inning. The sophomore pitcher allowed only four hits and one earned run, but was the hard luck loser in game one.
Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) and Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) bot had multi-hit games with two hits each.
After allowing only one base runner in the first two innings Streetmon got into trouble in the third inning. Jessie Homesley was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Katie Michaels’ base hit. The Eagles cut the lead runner down at third on a fielder's choice and were in position to do so again on Abby Roberstson grounder to the pitcher but a fielding error loaded the bases. Stephanie Cushing plated two of the runners with a triple before Field was gunned down at the plate. Morgan Hughey drove in the third run of the inning with a base hit to center.
Streetmon retired the side in order in the next three innings keeping the Paladins in check.
showed off her wheels picking up an infield single with one out in the sixth inning. Amanda Hall (Haddock, Ga.) moved her to second with a base knock to left. Siliga tagged up and moved to third on Sam Russo's (Snellville, Ga.) fly out to right, putting runners on the corners with two outs. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) had a long at-bat but popped up for the final out of the inning.
The Eagles attempted a seventh inning rally and scored a run on a error and two hits. Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) singled with one out and reached third on Iduate's bloop double to left. An fielding error on a ground ball hit by Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) plate Ennis. Siliga was caught looking at the plate for the final out of the game.
Game Two
The Eagles rebounded in game two and won 5-3 to split Saturday's doubleheader.
GSU scored four runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead in game two. Idaute led off with a base hit past the diving glove of the second baseman and advanced to second on a fielding error. Siliga plated both runners with a double off the outstretched glove of Termini. Hall drove in Siliga with a single. Smith kept the rally going with a one-out double plating Hall.
The Eagles added another run in the fourth inning. Ennis led off with a base hit. Iduate singled through right side. Ennis took third on the play and Iduate moved into second on the throw to third. Fogle hit a ground ball to first on a squeeze play at the plate and both runners were safe.
Kristan Glover (Evans, Ga.) got the start and pitched four plus innings allowing three runs on eight hits in her seventh win of the season. Smith earned her fourth save of the season allowing no hits in almost three innings.
The Paladins cut the lead to two scoring a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Kate Michaels singled and advanced to second on a base hit by Abby Robertson. Cushing added the third straight single loading the bases. Morgan Hughey doubled to center plating two runs. Smith came on in relief and got two quick outs to end the inning.
Furman got on the board first scoring a run on a hard chopper over the head of Siliga in the second inning. Kate Termini started the two out rally with a base hit that just dropped in down the first base line. Meredith Mielke followed with a base hit to right before Katie Michaels walked to load the bases. Stephanie Field drove in the lone run with a RBI base hit.
The Eagles threatened to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. Smith singled with one out, but was retired on a fielder's choice. Ennis singled moving Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) to second, but Michelle Beasley (Metter, Ga.) fouled out to end the threat.
The Furman series continues tomorrow at 1 p.m. inside the confines of Eagle Field.
College of Charleston 4, Chattanooga 2; Chattanooga 7, College of Charleston 4
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? A 2-for-3, two RBI day from senior shortstop Christal Kotchman (Seminole, Fla.) and a solid 3.1 innings of relief from senior pitcher Shannon Howard (Carmichael, Calif.) helped led the College of Charleston (22-24, 13-9) to a split of the first two games against Chattanooga (26-21, 15-4) in their Southern Conference series on May 2 in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The Cougars claimed a 4-2 victory in Game 1 before seeing a seventh inning rally fall short in a 7-4 loss in the second game.
GAME 1
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 4, CHATTANOOGA 2
Charleston got on the board first in Game 1 as they notched a pair of runs in the second inning behind timely hitting and a solid eye at the plate. Junior catcher Amanda Maurer (Haubstadt, Ind.) collected the first of her three singles with runners on first and third to give CofC a 1-0 lead. Following a walk to sophomore outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) to load the bases, Christal Kotchman took four straight balls to force in a run and push the lead to 2-0.
That score would hold up until the top of the fourth inning when sophomore first baseman Michelle Fuzzard and sophomore second baseman Tiffany Baker each connected on towering solo home runs to left field in back-to-back at bats to tie the game at 2-2. The Cougars answered right back in the bottom of the inning as Maurer led off with another single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Senior outfielder Tiffany Harmon (Lynn Haven, Fla.) then singled to left center and stole second to put two runners at second and third with one out. Kotchman then came through again as she doubled to short right field to give Charleston a 3-2 lead. The score would stay that way until the sixth inning when another Maurer single and Woodall sac bunt put a runner on second base with one down. This time it was Harmon’s turn to shine on Senior Day as she tripled to left center to extend the lead to 4-2.
That would be all they would need as Howard wrapped up a solid relief outing by working around a pair of singles in the seventh inning to close out the two-run victory.
Freshman shortstop Jessica Traxler led the Lady Mocs with a 2-for-3 day while Fuzzard and Baker each had an RBI and scored a run on solo home runs. For Baker, it was her 11th of the season. In the pitching circle, Fuzzard started and went 1.1 innings in an emergency start, allowing two hits, two runs and a pair of walks before giving way to sophomore pitcher Kaity Holloway. She threw 4.2 innings and allowed the final two runs to take the loss, falling to 4-3 on the year.
For Charleston, Amanda Maurer produced a career-high 3-for-3, one RBI day while seniors Harmon and Kotchman led the way at the top of the order. Harmon went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and stole her team-leading 15th base while Kotchman finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and her ninth stolen base of the season.
Junior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) started and went 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, before Howard entered the circle in the fourth inning. She pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, surrendering just two hits and striking out four to earn the win and move to 6-11 on the season.
The victory extended the College of Charleston’s season-high win streak to five games.
GAME 2
CHATTANOOGA 7, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 4
In the nightcap, it was all Chattanooga for much of the game as the Lady Mocs used a five run third inning to take a commanding lead early on. Junior outfielder Kaiti Kelley laced a two-RBI double while Fuzzard and Traxler each singled home runs. Baker rounded out the offensive outburst with an RBI double.
UTC would add runs in the fourth and sixth innings when Fuzzard produced a pair of RBI singles in each frame to push their advantage to 7-0. That would change in the seventh as three straight singles to lead off the inning by the Cougars made it 7-1.
With runners on second and third and no outs, the Harmon struck again as she laced a single to center to score both runners and narrow the gap to 7-3. Charleston would get one more run on an RBI triple by redshirt junior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) before Chattanooga sealed the 7-4 victory.
Fuzzard led the way for Chattanooga with a 3-for-4, three RBI day and sophomore centerfielder Lyndsey Stiles went 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs and three stolen bases. Kelley added a pair of RBIs while Baker and Traxler each had one. In the circle, sophomore Kandice Irwin pitched six strong innings, allowing only two runs and striking out four to collect the win and improve to 8-10 on the season.
Amber Shifflett went 3-for-4 with her third triple of the season for the College of Charleston while freshman outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Woodall each finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Woodall added an RBI. Harmon accounted for the remainder of the offense with a pair of RBIs.
Freshman outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) started and pitched two innings before being chased from the game after allowing six hits and five runs. She took the loss, the first of her collegiate career, to fall to 2-1. Howard threw five innings of relief and held the Lady Mocs to five hits and two runs but did not factor in the decision.
The College of Charleston wraps up the series, and the regular season, tomorrow afternoon when they take on Chattanooga at 1:00 p.m. at Patriots Point Stadium.
UNC Greensboro 7, Elon 1; UNC Greensboro 4, Elon 3
ELON, N.C. - Melanie Helterbran, Brandi Jones, Jaimie Rao and Patti Weber were honored as the Phoenix took to the East Field against UNC Greensboro for games one and two of the final regular-season series of the season. The Phoenix fell 7-1 in game one before dropping the second game 4-3. With the losses, Elon falls to 14-31 overall that includes a 5-15 mark in conference play. The Spartans are now 24-30 overall and 9-11 in the Southern Conference.
The seniors were responsible for one run each, as Weber hit a game two home run and both Jones and Rao recorded one RBI each. Hannah Shelton went three-for-six and scored once.
Pitching set the tone early in game, as neither team was able to plate a run during the first two innings. UNC Greensboro struck first after Leslie Furness drew a bases loaded walk to put the Spartans up 1-0. Erin O’Shea pitched out of a bases loaded jam by getting Emily Akiyama to fly out to Jones in centerfield.
Jones recorded Elon’s first hit of the game with a two-out single to left field. She was caught stealing one play later for the final out of the inning.
UNCG used a three run fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Laura Olenderski scored the first run of the inning on a single through the left side by Jordan Jewett. M.C. Vercoe used a single to score Jewett to make it a 2-0 game. The Spartans took advantage of a Phoenix throwing error to score the final run of the inning. With runners at second and third, Helterbran, who came on in relief of O’Shea, retired the final two batters, including an inning ending strikeout of Furness.
In the bottom of the inning, Jacqueline Gonzalez and Weber laid down consectutive perfectly executed bunts to put runners at first and second. Following the trend, Helterbran moved the duo up on a sacrifice bunt. Rao sent a 1-2 pitch to deep centerfield, but Olenderski made the play to end the inning.
The Spartans added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Akiyama reached on an error to open the inning and advanced to third following a wild pitch and a passed ball. She crossed home plate after Lyndsey Mouse worked a 3-2 count to single through the left side, putting UNCG up 5-0.
Ashlee Crewe opened the bottom of the fifth with a double to left center. Crewe moved to third on a single by Shelton. With two outs, Gonzalez drew a walk to load the bases for Elon. Nothing came of the scenario, as Hannah Angel struck the final Phoenix batter to end the inning.
After a strikeout of Alex Emeterio in the top of the sixth, Vercoe was robbed of a hit after a stellar play by Elon shortstop Danielle Lafferty. Following a walk, Helterbran struck out the final batter to end the inning.
Helterbran was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth, that brought Kaitlyn Piazzolla to the plate where she belted a double to deep left center that allowed Elon to put runners at second and third. Helterbran scored Elon’s first run of the game on a single by Jaimie Rao to cut the lead to four at 5-1. Lafferty, who pinch ran for Piazzolla, look to score the second run of the inning, but was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice by O’Shea. A groundout ended the inning with two runners on.
Akiyama greeted the seventh inning with a home run to center field to allow the Spartans to retake a five-run lead at 6-1. The final Spartan run was scored by Olenderski on a single by Jewett. Lafferty made her second sterling play of the game, ending the UNCG seventh with a leaping grab at short.
Angel picked up the complete game win to improve to 13-12 on the season. She allowed just one run on eight hits, while striking out six and walking four batters. O’Shea fell to 6-10 on the season with the loss. In three innings in the circle, she allowed three runs on four hits. She also walked six and struck out three batters. Helterbran finished with a line of four runs, two of which were earned, on four hits in four innings of work. She also struck out five and walked one.
UNCG jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two. Ausley opened the game with a double to left field that was followed by a wild pitch that allowed Mouse to reach. Jewett then singled up the middle to score Ausley for the first run. Emeterio scored Jewett and Mouse one batter later with a single up the middle. After the shaky start, Elon starter Pam DelPizzo settled in to strikeout the final three batters in order to end the inning.
Helterbran was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the second inning, but would be thrown out at second as Rao reached on a fielder’s choice. The final batters struck out to end the chance of a Phoenix run.
UNCG took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Whitney Sirois hit an RBI-single to left field to score Jewett, who reached on a fielder’s choice. The Spartans loaded the bases on a walk to Kaitlin Merkt, DelPizzo was able to get Akiyama to hit back to the circle to end the threat.
Elon put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 4-2 game. Shelton put the first hit of the game on the board with an infield single. She scored one batter later after Jones sent a pitch into the left field corner for a stand=up double that allowed the Spartans a 5-2 lead. Gonzalez laid down a bunt that put runners at the corners. She then stole second, advancing to third on a throwing error by UNCG’s catcher that scored Jones for the second run of the game.
The offenses were quiet over the next two-and-a-half innings, with the pitchers allowing just two combined hits. Elon’s bats awakened in the bottom of the sixth inning as Piazzolla and Crewe hit back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second. DelPizzo followed the hits with a two-out walk to load the bases. Elon was unable to plate a run as the final batter struck out.
The Spartans threatened in the top of the seventh after a Jewett single was followed by a pair of walks that loaded the bases. Helterbran, who entered the circle at the start of the inning, struck Kayla Hensley out to get out of the jam and end the inning.
The Phoenix began a late-inning rally in the bottom of seventh with a two-out solo home run by Weber. The homer was her fourth of the season, making it the most home runs the senior has had in a season. The final batter was retired, sealing the Spartan 4-3 win.
Amber Harrell matched her career-best strikeouts with 12 as she improved to 8-12 on the season with the complete game win. She allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits. She also walked one batter. DelPizzo suffered the loss to fall to 4-12 on the season. She threw six innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and three walks. She also struck out five, tying her season best. Helterbran appeared in the circle for one inning, allowing just one hit. She also struck out two.
The teams will square off tomorrow afternoon in the final game of the series and of the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
UAB 4, Samford 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team fell in its final regular-season contest Saturday to cross-town rival UAB. The Blazers’ seventh inning three-run rally up-ended the Bulldogs, and UAB walked away with a 4-3 victory and its 20th win of the season. Both teams went into the game searching for their 20th win.
UAB (20-33) took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before Samford scored a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to jump ahead 2-1. Despite the Bulldogs’ strong pitching effort, UAB’s bats got hot when it counted as the Blazer’s scored three runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead. Samford added one more run in the bottom of the seventh but it would not be enough and UAB went on to win 4-3.
“I think we played well today,” Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. “I just waited too long to pull Robyn (Harmon) and that’s on me. I thought the pitchers did well. We threw strikes and only gave up four hits.”
The Samford pitching staff had a tremendous day giving up just four runs on four hits. Amanda Barrs started and ended the game for the Bulldogs, pitching 2.1 innings overall and striking out two batters while giving up just one earned run on two hits. In between Barrs’ two appearances in the game, the rest of the Bulldog pitching staff saw action in the circle as well. Stephanie Royall relieved Barrs at the top of the third inning and pitched two full innings before Kayla Burris pitched the fifth inning. Robyn Harmon came on in the sixth inning and struck out one in the sixth and one in the seventh before giving up the Blazers’ final three runs. Barrs then returned to the mound to try to get the final out.
Samford (19-28, 10-14 SoCon) was led by Barrs and Jessica Owens who both went 2-for-4 at the plate. Barrs also had two RBI and one home run which got the Bulldogs on the board in the fifth inning. The homer was her third of the season and the 15th of her career. Kylie Harmon was 2-for-3 with one run while Robyn Harmon and Amanda Jordan were 1-for-3 at the plate on the day.
Amber Torres (9-6) earned the win for the Blazers. After relieving Kayla Harris in the fifth inning, Torres gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits and struck out one batter. Although she gave up all three of Samford’s runs, her team helped her out on the offensive side by getting those last three runs in the seventh.
UAB was led by Laura Callaway who went 2-for-3 with one run. Martina Landrum and Harris combined for the Blazers’ other two hits as both were 1-for-3 while Harris had two RBI on the day.
The Blazers plated their first run in the top of the second inning when Callaway scored on a sacrifice fly by Cameron Skates to take a 1-0 lead. After three scoreless innings for the Bulldogs, Samford finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Barrs homered over the center field wall to tie the game.
Samford then took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Kristy Lawrence scored on a single by Jordan. Jordan advanced to second base on the throw by the right fielder but was thrown out at third base on an attempt to steal.
UAB responded in the top of the seventh with a three-run rally to go ahead, 4-2. Catherine Douglass led off with a walk and stole second while Amanda Allen struck out looking. With runners on the corners, Mandy Lowman came to the plate. Tiffany Smith, who pinch ran for Callaway, stole second before Lowman reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Douglass and advanced Smith to third. Donna Plath then pinch ran for Lowman. After Skates popped up, Harris doubled to center field to drive in Smith and Plath.
The Bulldogs could come up with only one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Kylie Harmon singled through first base and advanced to second on an error by the second baseman. Barrs then singled up the middle to score Harmon before Katie England popped up to end the inning.
Samford now turns its attention to the Southern Conference Tournament which begins Wednesday, May 6, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“The next couple of days will kind of be just sharp practices,” Ketcham said. “We are playing well. We are just going to try to stay sharp, and it’s now or never. I’m excited. I think we are going to play well.”
Brackets will not be finalized until after all teams finish regular-season play on Sunday, but the Bulldogs currently sit in sixth place in league standings.