Chattanooga 8, Tennessee State 0 (6)
Chattanooga 7, Butler 6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Senior Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) had a career 4-for-4 day against Butler, while tying the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team's all-time home run record held by Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) with 25. The Lady Mocs recorded an 8-0 win against Tennessee State in six innings before posting a 7-6 victory over Butler in Nashville, Tenn. at The Play It Again Sports Austin Peay Classic. Junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) belted three home runs on the day including a career-high two against the Bulldogs.
Against Butler, Upchurch set a career high in hits with two singles, a double and home run. The Madison, Tenn., native hit a double in her final at bat in the first game against Tennessee State.
Pitchers senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) and junior Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each earned a win for Chattanooga, while junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) recorded a save against Butler.
The Lady Mocs resume play in the three-day event Saturday when they face Butler and Austin Peay starting at 1 p.m. in Clarkesville, Tenn. A matchup with Northern Iowa concludes the event for Chattanooga.
Game One: Chattanooga 8, Tennessee State 0 (6 innings)
The offense came alive for the UTC softball team against Tennessee State scoring eight runs in six innings to record an 8-0 victory. Senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Baker hit home runs over the center field fence.
Chattanooga improved to 3-2 with the win over Tennessee State, while the Tigers fell to 0-2 on the season.
Pitching for Chattanooga was senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.), who recorded six strikeouts and two hits in four scoreless innings of work to notch her second win. Junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) came in relief pitching two innings and striking out four Tigers.
The Lady Mocs struck first against the Tigers when Baker scored on a wild pitch in the second inning. Baker reached base on a single down the left field line and advanced to third on a passed ball and wild pitch.
In the bottom of the third, Chattanooga exploded for four runs. Junior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) started the scoring by launching the second home run of her career over the center field fence to put Chattanooga up, 2-0.
The scoring continued when senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.) knocked in Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.), who reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, with a single into center field. A two-run long ball to center by Baker brought the Lady Mocs run total to five in the game. It was the 20th career home run for the East Ridge, Tenn., native bring her one away from a tie for sixth all-time on the UTC chart.
Chattanooga pushed across two more runs in the fourth, when Lauren Flores (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.) scored on a double by Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) down the left field line and later scored on a put out to the second baseman.
Senior Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) started the sixth with a double that one hopped the right field fence, the first hit of the season for the fifth-year player. After a walk to pinch hitter junior Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.), freshman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) pinch ran for Upchurch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blosser giving the designated home team the victory.
The first hit of the contest was recorded by Christy Hill, a groundball that died just infront of the shortstop, Traxler, while Bridget Metzer notched a double to center to begin the third for Tennessee State.
Game Two: Chattanooga 7, Butler 6
Back-to-back homeruns by Baker and Upchurch helped the UTC softball team build a 7-0 lead and hold on during a Butler rally in the seventh for a 7-6 victory. The home run by Upchurch put her into a tie for first in the career rankings with Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) at 25, while Baker blasted two over the fence at Tiger Field.
With the victory, Chattanooga is now 4-2 on the season, while the Bulldogs dropped to 1-1. The Bulldogs and Lady Mocs meet again Saturday in Clarkesville, Tenn. with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. (EST).
For the first time this season, Fuzzard took the mound for Chattanooga and was impressive striking out eight in four innings without giving up a run.
Along with tying the home run record, Upchurch went an impressive 4-for-4 to break her career-high for hits. Baker drove in four runs, tying her career-high, all courtesy of the long ball.
After a scoreless first inning, Upchurch drilled a double off the top of the fence in center field and scored on a double to left center by Poteat putting Chattanooga up 1-0.
In the third inning after the Bulldogs retired the first two batters, Baker drilled a home run to center and Upchurch followed in the next at bat with another blast to left center.
The balls continued to fly out of Tiger Field as Baker sent a pitch deep over the left field fence with two runners on for her second of the game and third of the day. It was the first time that Baker had a multiple home run game and now has 22 in her career moving up to sixth all-time.
Freshman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) started the first game of her career at first base with Fuzzard getting the start in the circle. Also, Jenni Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) got the starting nod at designated player for the Lady Mocs.
The Bulldogs struck for two runs off junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) in the sixth with a single and sacrifice fly. Jenny Esparza went two-for-three for the Bulldogs recording an RBI, 7-2.
After a fielder choice brought in one run in the seventh, Butler cut into the Chattanooga lead even more when Bridgett Paine belted a three-run home run to right center to make the deficit one. The Lady Mocs retired the next two batters in order as Irwin earned the save.
Game Notes:
- Laci Upchurch tied Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) with 25 home runs with a long ball against Butler. She also posted a career-high four hits agaisnt the Bulldogs.
- Tiffany Baker's three home runs gives her 22 in her career moving to a tie for fifth all-time on the career charts with Jessica Brown (1995-97). Bake set her career high with four RBI against Butler.
-The home run by Tia Blosser was the second of her career. She hit the only other long ball as a freshman against Georgia Southern on May 9, 2007.
Chattanooga plays its home opener Feb. 26 in the Frost Classic against Rutgers and Kansas starting a 3 p.m. from Frost Stadium. The Lady Mocs welcome 15 teams into the Scenic City for the annual three-day event and continue action against Kentucky and Georgetown on Saturday. The tournament concludes for Chattanooga on Sunday with a matchup against Miami (Ohio).
Appalachian State 1, Indiana State 0
Memphis 5, Appalachian State 2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Caitlin Wainright (Greenville, N.C./East Carolina) pitched a complete game, striking out seven and Allie Cashion (Waxhaw, N.C./Weddington) drove in the game's only run to give Appalachian State University softball a 1-0 win over Indiana State in the season-opener. ASU dropped their second game of the day to Memphis, 5-2.
In the bottom of the fifth inning versus ISU, Katie Boyd worked a two-out walk to bring up Cashion who hit a gapper to right-center to bring in Boyd with the winning run.
Wainright held the Sycamores in check the majority of the game, scattering just four hits. The Sycamores' best chance came in the third when Stephanie Robinson reached on an error and Alyssa Doyle was hit by a pitch. Wainright got the next batter to ground into a fielder's choice, and Alyssa Marcum singled to center but Sarah Rappe (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) threw out Doyle at home to end the threat.
Appalachian had a chance to take the lead in the fourth when Hannah Dow (Mattoon, Ill./Heartland CC) led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the Apps were unable to bring her home.
Boyd went 1-for-2 in the opener with a walk and stolen base while Cashion had a walk to go along with her game-winning hit. Wainright pitched the first ever opening-day shutout for ASU.
MacKenzie Connelly had three of Indiana State's four hits. Meagan McCurdy pitched a complete game in the circle, allowing four hits and struck out eight.
In the second game, Boyd hit a two-run homer but ASU had six errors and fell to the University of Memphis 5-2.
The Mountaineers grabbed the lead in the third inning. Megan Rembielak (Advance, N.C./Bishop McGuinness) led off with a walk and Boyd followed with a towering shot over the scoreboard in right-center field to give ASU the lead.
ASU pitcher Dow was cruising until the fifth inning, when the Tigers scored all five of its runs, aided by four ASU errors in the inning. Heather Mott and Leigh Rowan had the big hits in the hitting with each having an RBI double.
Dow suffered the loss, going 4.1 innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out five with no walks. Carly Hummel earned the win for Memphis, pitching the final three innings in relief striking out seven and did not allow a hit.
"I was very proud of the way we played and the effort that we gave today, ASU head coach Amy Herrington said. "We played well defensively today except for one inning, ran the bases well and pitched well. Our hitters need to be more aggressive tomorrow, but we're excited with the way the day went."
Appalachian takes on IPFW tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. and Southeast Missouri State at 9:15 p.m.
Akron 2, College of Charleston 0
College of Charleston 9, Wagner 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team (1-3) got into the win column as they split a pair of games on the first day of the C of C Cougar Classic. The Cougars fell to Akron, 2-0, in a game that featured only three hits and defeated Wagner in the night cap, 9-2, behind a seven-run second inning and a grand slam by junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.).
In the first game, red-shirt senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) had the only hit of the game for CofC, a hard liner to the right side, and junior pitcher Alexa Datko (San Diego, Calif.) pitched seven strong innings, allowing only two runs and two hits to take the hard luck loss and fall to 0-1.
After a scoreless first inning in the night cap against the Seahawks, the College of Charleston exploded for seven runs in the second inning that was highlighted by a homerun to center by senior third baseman Amanda Maurer (Haubstadt, Ind.) and Woodall's grand slam off the flag pole beyond centerfield.
Senior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) pitched a strong game as she did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when Wagner narrowed the margin to 7-2. On the game, she pitched seven innings and allowed only four hits and two runs while striking out seven batters. The Cougars added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI triple from senior third baseman Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) and a sacrifice fly from freshman Stephanie Saylors (Easley, S.C.).
On the night, Woodall went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs, all on her grand slam, while Maurer and Amber and Kristie Shifflett, Saylors and freshman outfielder Kristy Giragosian each added an RBI. Sophomore third baseman Kelley Dillon (Hanahan, S.C.) capped off the offensive performance as she went a career-high 3-for-4 against Wagner.
The College of Charleston is back in action tomorrow morning as they face James Madison at 11 a.m. and Wagner at 1:30 p.m. on the second day of the C of C Cougar Classic.
Georgia Southern 8, Oakland 0
Binghamton 6, Georgia Southern 4
STATESBORO, Ga. - Junior pitcher Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) threw four scoreless innings and gave up only one hit as the Eagles defeated Oakland 8-0 in the 2010 season opener. Georgia Southern played two games today as part of the 2010 Georgia Southern Eagle Classic. Sophomore Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) hit the first home run for Georgia Southern going 2-3 with two runs batted in and scoring two runs.
The Eagles started the game with three runs in the first, including Fogle's home run to drive in senior Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.). Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) reached on an error and stole second to get in scoring position. Senior third baseman Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) drove in the third run of the inning.
Fogle started the third with a single and stole second, advancing to third on a sacrifice by Smith. Sam Russo's (Snellville, Ga.) single to right field brought Fogle home for the Eagles' run in the third. The four-run fourth inning began with Hanna Ennis' (Snellville, Ga.) single to right center. She advanced to second on an error on the second baseman. Kaitlynn Szczepanski (Chesapeake, Va.) drove in Ennis for her first career RBI as an Eagle. Both Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Iduate would score in the inning on separate passed balls. Fogle then drove Szczepanski to close the scoring for the game in accordance with the run rule.
In the second game, Georgia Southern picked up where it left off, getting Fogle on base with a single up the middle. She promptly stole second and was then driven home by Iduate. The Eagle would then tie the game in the bottom of the fifth as Russo's sacrifice fly to right drive home Iduate. The Eagles would then again answer the Lady Bison swapping runs in the eighth inning as Mackenzie William's (Baxley, Ga.) sacrifice fly to center drove home Smith. However, the Eagles would be unable to rally again in the bottom of the 10th as they fell to Binghamton 6-4.
In the opening game of the Eagle Classic, Lipscomb used a three-run first inning and a four- run fifth inning to defeat Oakland. Lipscomb defeated Oakland 8-0 after five innings with the NCAA run rule.
In the second game of the day, Lipscomb defeated Binghamton 5-4. Lipscomb jumped out early on Binghamton before watching its lead evaporate in the sixth inning. Binghamton's Courtney Billington scored on a fielding error off a Christen Campbell line drive to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Oakland meets Binghamton at 10 am. Saturday and the Eagles will play Lipscomb at noon. Bracket play begins at 2 p.m. with the number-4 seed meeting the number-1 seed. At 4 p.m., the number-3 and number-2 seeds will take the field.
Georgia Southern home games are broadcast by The Buzz, 91.9 locally, with Daniel Sallerson and Drew Cheshire calling all the action.
Delaware 8, UNC Greensboro 7
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - UNC Greensboro rallied from a 7-1 deficit to tie it late, but Delaware pinch-runner Samantha Pettie slid in just under Whitney Sirois' tag on a play at the plate as the Blue Hens won it in the bottom of the seventh Friday at the Carolina Classic, 8-7.
With the game knotted at 7 and two out in the bottom of the seventh, Delaware (1-0) got a one-out single and a two-out walk to bring nine-hole hitter Bertie Lake to the plate. UNCG pitcher Raeanne Hanks (1-1) got ahead of Lake 0-2 on a pair of called strikes, but Lake deposited her third pitch into shallow right.
Pettie motored around third and headed for home, beating right fielder Jordan Jewett's throw by just an eyelash to give the Blue Hens the win.
UNCG (1-4) trailed 7-1 after two innings, but took advantage of some timely hitting and a porous Delaware defense to knot things up at 7 in the sixth.
After drawing within 7-3 on a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth, the Spartans pulled even with a four-spot in the top of the sixth. Emily Akiyama got things going with a double down the left field line, and April Langley's single to center scored pinch-runner Laura Olenderski. Langley advanced to second on the throw home and took third on a wild pitch, and Kristen Gabel worked a one-out walk to put runners on the corners.
Senior Brittany Ausley hit her second double of the day to the gap in left center, scoring Langley. Gabel came in on a passed ball to draw UNCG within one, bringing Alex Emeterio to the plate with Ausley on third.
Emeterio hit a grounder to Blue Hens' second baseman Lindsay Novak that Novak bobbled, and Emeterio hustled down the line and slid headfirst into first base to beat Novak's throw. Ausley scored on the play, giving the Spartans new life.
Hanks retired the side in order in the bottom half of the inning on just eight pitches, but UNCG couldn't push across the go-ahead run in its half of the seventh.
The Blue Hens jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, when Michelle Grap hit a two-run home run down the left field line.
Delaware tacked on five more runs in the fifth to blow the game open. Jenny Richards' RBI single got the scoring started in the second frame, and Richards and Lake scored on Novak's bunt single that UNCG starter Amber Harrell threw away for a two-base error. After Grap drew a walk, Hanks came on in relief of Harrell. Amanda Stacevicz and Cecile Egan added RBI singles to close the book on Harrell.
The Spartans scored their first run in the top of the second, with Langley scoring from third on one of Delaware's five errors.
UNCG picked up two runs in the fourth inning without the benefit of a hit. A pair of walks and another Blue Hen error loaded the bases, and Sirois and Akiyama scored on Grap's second miscue of the inning.
Hanks took the hard-luck loss despite a solid effort out of the bullpen, as she allowed just one earned run on five hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings of work. Harrell surrendered seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks in an inning-plus of work, but UNCG's late rally took her off the hook for the loss.
Lake (1-0) picked up the win for the Blue Hens in relief, as she came on in the sixth and allowed three runs - one earned - on two hits and a walk. Anne Marie Pagano left with a 7-3 lead but took a no-decision. She allowed four runs - one earned - on three hits and five walks in 5-plus innings.
UNCG resumes play at the Carolina Classic on Saturday when will face St. Joseph's at 1:30 p.m. and tournament host North Carolina at 4 p.m.
Virginia Tech 14, Western Carolina 3
Bowling Green 10, Western Carolina 5
ATHENS, Ga. - Western Carolina softball (0-2) dropped a pair of games Friday in the opening day of the Black and Red Challenge hosted by the University of Georgia. The Catamounts fell to Virginia Tech 14-3 and Bowling Green State 10-5.
After giving up four unanswered runs in the first three innings against Virginia Tech, the Catamounts pulled within one run in the bottom of the third. After a bunt single and stealing second, Jordan Fulton scored off an RBI triple by senior Kristen Gay. Amber Hawkins doubled to left field to score Gay and then Hawkins moved into scoring position off a wild pitch. An RBI single by Shemkia Scotten scored Hawkins.
The Hookies pulled ahead and forced a shortened, five-inning game, scoring nine runs in the next two innings. Sophomore Katie King got the starting nod and dropped to 0-1 on the season, giving up 10 runs on 12 hits and striking out one. Freshman hurler Amber Steinhardt saw 0.2 innings of work, replacing King in the fifth inning, allowing four runs on five hits.
Fulton went 3-for-3 in the game and scored one run.
In the second game of the day, Western Carolina jumped on Bowling Green State early, scoring five runs in the top of the first. With one out, Gay got things started with a single to right field, and scored on an RBI triple by sophomore Chelsea Schaffer. Hawkins followed with her second RBI double of the day plating Schaffer. Freshman Colby Liles drew a walk, which led to an RBI single by Steinhardt. Liles and Steinhardt scored off a two RBI double by senior catcher Danielle Reese.
Western Carolina gave the starting nod to Steinhardt who tossed two scoreless innings, before Bowling Green State scored 10 unanswered runs. After getting five hits in the first inning, Western Carolina had just three hits in the final six innings of the game.
Steinhardt went 5.2 innings giving up nine runs on 10 hits and striking out three. Burkett faced one batter in the top of the seventh inning. Robyn Burnette went 2-for-3 in the game.
Western Carolina will face host Georgia at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.