Chattanooga 2, Northern Iowa 1
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team came back to beat Northern Iowa, 2-1, in the championship game of the Austin Peay Classic. Sophomore Jenny Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) came up with a tie score, 1-1, in the sixth to drive in the game-winning run, while senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) struck out 16 Panthers and only gave up one unearned run on three hits. Chattanooga had seven hits on the afternoon as senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) had a single and junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) had two singles giving the Lady Mocs speed on the bases.
Coming into the contest, both teams were undefeated at the three-day tournament. Chattanooga improved its win streak to seven after dropping the first two games of the season to ranked opponents and the Panthers fell to 8-2 on the season.
"It is my job to come in and knock the run in, so that is what I was trying to do," said Martin. "Put the ball in play and make something happen. I came up to the plate, got my timing down and waited for a pitch that I could hit."
After junior Lauren Flores (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.) drove in the game-tying run with one away in the six, Martin came to the plate as a pinch hitter and delivered a single into center field scoring senior Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.).
"I felt like the Coach E [Shaina Erwin] did a good job at keeping the hitters off balance and I hit my spots better than I have," said Loudermilk. "I definitely have a lot to work on after missing a few key spots that almost hurt us. We had to buckle down and focus [after the fluky Northern Iowa run]. We are going to be in these types of position a lot and it is nothing new."
Loudermilk was flawless through the first three innings striking out all nine UNI hitters in order, but they used a bunt single and a slapped ball through the left side to put a runner in scoring position.
An errant throw into the Panther dugout after a fly to center put the home team up, 1-0. The senior settled down after that play to retire the side in order in two of the final three innings, only giving up one hit.
An error by Northern Iowa opened the door for Chattanooga when junior Stiles hit one through the legs of the first baseman with one out. Senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.) beat out an infield bunt and Fuzzard moved the runners to scoring position with two outs, but Chattanooga left those runners on base.
It took six innings and six runners left on bas before the Lady Mocs finally came through in the clutch when it mattered the most. Flores came up and executed a textbook suicide squeeze bunt scoring freshman pinch runner Kasey Tydinco (Fairfield, Calif.), to knot the score at one.
Martin was then asked to pinch hit with two runners on and singled to center driving in senior Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) as the game winning run. The inning was setup due to a throwing error by the shortstop that sent the ball into right field allowing Tydingco to reach third and Upchurch reach on a fielder's choice advancing to second on the throw to third.
More damage could have been done by Chattanooga as it left the bases loaded, but took a 2-1 lead into the bottom half of the inning. The Lady Mocs defense and pitching closed the door on Northern Iowa in the final two frames to take their third come from behind victory.
Elon 2, Georgetown 1
Elon 5, Rider 1
ELON, N.C. - The Elon softball team continued its winning ways with a 2-1 decision over Georgetown and a 5-1 victory over Rider on the final day of the Elon Invitational. The Phoenix improved to a perfect 6-0 on the season. The Phoenix had four players register at least two hits, including Jackie Gonzalez who led the charge, going 3-for-6 with a triple and an RBI. Emerald Graham scored twice and belted Elon's only home run of the day.
Elon pitchers Erin O'Shea and Lauren Taylor each improved to 2-0 on the year. Taylor picked up the complete-game win against Georgetown, allowing just one run on four hits. O'Shea earned the victory over Rider after giving up one run on five hits in seven innings in the circle. Each pitcher racked up four strikeouts.
Game One - Elon 2, Georgetown 1
It was a game of pitching and defense in Elon's first game of the day as neither Georgetown nor Elon was able to get on the board in the opening two innings. The Phoenix looked to strike in the bottom of the first as Gonzalez and Tomeka Watson earned back-to-back singles. The pair moved into scoring position, but Georgetown's Jennifer Connell struck out the final two Phoenix batters.
Elon plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Ashlee Crewe greeted the inning with a double to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Shelton. With two outs, Watson hit a RBI single to right field that scored Crewe. Watson would not advance farther than third as Graham ended the inning with a fly out to right field.
The bats were quiet over the next two innings, as the teams combined for just four hits before Georgetown got on the board in the top of the sixth. Shikara Lowe was the first Hoya to reach when she drew a walk. She tied the game, 1-1, on a throwing error by Elon's Danielle Lafferty. Taylor retired the final batter to end the inning with one runner left on base.
With the score knotted 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Graham belted a home run that gave Elon a 2-1 lead. The Phoenix retired the side in the top of the seventh to get the win.
Connell fell to 1-1 on the season after allowing two runs on eight hits in six innings of work.
Game Two - Elon 5, Rider 1
Elon used a three-run second inning to take a 3-0 lead over Rider in the final game of the two-day tournament. Graham drew a walk to open the inning and then stole second. Lafferty used an infield single to put runners at the corners. Graham crossed the plate on a wild pitch for Elon's first run of the game. A fielder's choice allowed Caitlin McGowan to score Lafferty from third to put Elon up 2-0. The third and final run of the inning came on an RBI single through the left side by Gonzalez. Elon was unable to take advantage of a bases loaded situation as the final batter was retired.
Rider put up a run in the top of the fourth. Ally Melia drew a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. She crossed home when Candice Harris singled through the left side that made it a 3-1 game.
Elon added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. DelPizzo belted a two-out double to center that scored Taylor and Morgan Wright and allowed Elon to jump out to a 5-1 lead. She was stranded at third after Rachael Matreale struck out the final Phoenix batter.
Rider recorded two hits in its final half-inning. Brittany Eckett looked to get things started in the top of the seventh with a one-out double to right. Following a fly out, Alyssa Paul singled up the middle that put runners at the corners. The Broncs were unable to get a run across home plate as the final batter hit into a fielder's choice.
Matreale suffered the loss and fell to 0-2 on the season after allowing five runs on six hits in six innings in the circle. She also struck out five batters.
Elon will take on IUPUI in a three-game series that begins Saturday, February 27 at 1 p.m. The teams will play a double-header on Saturday with the second game slated for a 3 p.m. start. The series will wrap up on Sunday, February 28 at 1 p.m.
UNC Greensboro 4, Delaware 0
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - UNC Greensboro starter Cory Mattson tossed her second career shutout and the Spartans got RBI doubles from Whitney Sirois and Brittany Ausley and another pinch-hit home run from Katie Stripling in a 4-0 win over Delaware in the Carolina Classic consolation game Sunday afternoon. The win was the 100th of UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig's career.
Mattson (1-2) allowed just seven hits and two walks in picking up her first win of the season. She struck out five.
UNCG (2-6) got on the board in the fourth inning when Emily Akiyama singled just inside the right field line and Sirois doubled to the gap in right center. After Jordan Jewett sacrificed Sirois to the third, Ausley followed with a double off the fence down the left field line to make it a 2-0 Spartan lead.
That's where the score stayed until the seventh, when Stripling added some more late-game heroics to her early season resume. Freshman Eileen Horsmon hit a two-out single to center, then Stripling hit a towering drive out down the left field line for her second pinch-hit, two-out, seventh-inning home run of the season. She also had one against Virginia Tech last weekend at the Jacksonville University Tournament, and had a pinch-hit single with two down in the seventh against St. Joseph's on Saturday.
Mattson made the lead stand, but Delaware (1-3) did make it interesting in the bottom half of the seventh. Mattson retired the first two batters of the inning on groundouts, but Jenny Richards singled to center and Lindsay Novak singled off Kaitlin Merkt's glove at short to put runners on first and second.
Mattson recovered nicely, striking out Michelle Grap looking to nail down Herzig's 100th win.
The Blue Hens didn't get a runner to third base in the contest, which saw UNCG play some solid defense. In the first inning, first baseman Alex Emeterio made a nice diving effort on a popped up sacrifice bunt attempt, but couldn't hang on when she hit the ground. Not giving up on the play, Emeterio rolled over and threw to second from her backside, nailing the lead runner.
Sirois gunned down Cecile Egan trying to steal second in the second inning, with her throw to Merkt easily beating Egan for the second out.
UNCG also turned a double play in the third, with Novak popping up another sacrifice attempt that Mattson charged in to catch. The sophomore quickly fired over to first, doubling off Richards to end the frame.
Mattson, who also pitched 9 strong innings Saturday against St. Joe's but took the hard-luck loss, earned a spot on the Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team.
Ausley was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the contest, joining Mattson on the all-tournament team. Ausley also had two hits against Delaware on Friday.
Richards was 3-for-4 for the Blue Hens on Sunday, while Egan was 2-for-3.
Amanda Stacevicz (0-2) took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in 7 innings of work. She struck out four.
UNCG returns to action Friday when it hosts the UNCG Spartan Classic. Cleveland State takes on Sacred Heart at 11 a.m., followed by Cleveland State vs. Niagara at 1 p.m. UNCG will take on Sacred Heart at 3:30 p.m. and Niagara at 5:30 p.m.
Samford 2, Miami (OH) 1
Samford 4, Miami (OH) 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team improved its record to 4-2 Sunday as it swept a doubleheader from Miami (Ohio) in its home opener. Alex Adams' first career home run shut the door for the Bulldogs in the first game while strong pitching in the second game by Amanda Barrs and Robyn Harmon secured the win in game two.
"It was good to get back-to-back wins," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "The biggest thing for us today was that the pitchers stepped up. I think we got three really solid performances from our pitchers today and that is key for us. We struggled a little on defense today with Amanda Jordan out but we did what we had to do to win."
It was a battle between two good teams at Bulldog Field on Sunday - the Bulldogs who made a run in the Southern Conference Tournament last season, and the Redhawks who won the MAC last season and went to the NCAA Tournament.
In game one, Miami got on the board straight out of the gate in the first inning before Samford tied the game at one in the bottom of the inning. The Redhawks scored on an error by second baseman Rachael Reeves while Katie England brought in Amy Gonzalez on a groundout to the shortstop.
The Bulldogs and Redhawks played five and a half scoreless innings before Alex Adams came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out. The redshirt freshman catcher secured the win for the Bulldogs with her first hit of the game and her first career walk-off home run to center field. The Bulldogs won, 2-1.
"That was a big hit for us by Alex," Ketcham said. "Obviously, it was a real confidence booster. She's been hitting the ball really well for us. She didn't really have particularly good at-bats during her first two, so we knew she was due. She is capable of hitting the ball like that every time, so if we can keep her healthy, she is going to continue to contribute."
Stephanie Royall (2-0) grabbed her second win of the season as she pitched six and two-thirds innings against Miami in game one. She gave up only one earned run on two hits and struck out five batters while walking three.
Jessica Simpson (0-1) took the loss for the Redhawks, giving up two runs on four hits in six and two-thirds innings. She struck out four batters.
In game two, the Bulldogs scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the fourth after three and a half scoreless innings. Aaren Fisher brought in the first run for the Bulldogs as she doubled with the bases loaded. Then with two outs on the board, Reeves singled and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder which brought home Fisher and Adams.
With Samford up 3-0, Miami changed pitchers, but the Bulldogs were not finished. Brianna Chambers singled through the left side and brought in Reeves before the Redhawks finally retired the Bulldogs for the inning.
At the top of the fifth, Miami scored on an error by second base but Samford's stellar pitching kept the Redhawks from doing anymore damage.
Amanda Barrs (1-1) grabbed the win for the Bulldogs while pitching four complete innings. She gave up just six hits and the only run was unearned. She also struck out three batters while only walking two. Harmon finished out the game, giving up just one hit while striking out one batter.
"Overall, I'm pleased," Ketcham said. "We didn't really hit the ball as well as we could've today, but we had solid pitching and played good enough defense to win. We did what we had to do, so we'll take it."
The Bulldogs will be back in action this Friday as they host the Magic City Classic. Samford will play its first game of the three-day tournament at 5:45 p.m., against Alabama State. ASU will play in the first two contests on Friday versus Nicholls State and Troy beginning at 11 a.m. and 1:15 p .m.
Samford will play one game on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.
For a look at the full schedule of the Magic City Classic, check out the Bulldogs' schedule page at www.samfordsports.com.
McNeese State 1, Appalachian State 0
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Caitlin Wainright (Greenville, N.C./East Carolina) pitched another gem but Appalachian State University softball was unable to score, falling to McNeese State 1-0 in the Blues City Classic.
McNeese scored the game's only run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Heather Mosser delivered a one-out single and was replaced by pinch runner, Holly Lawrence. After a sacrifice bunt to move Lawrence to second, Tiffany Denham hit a single up the middle and Lawrence just beat the throw up to give McNeese the win.
Appalachian's best chance to get on the board was in the first inning. Sarah Rappe (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) led off with a single and Megan Rembielak (Advance, N.C./Bishop McGuinness) reached on an error. Allie Cashion (Waxhaw, N.C./Weddington) walked to load the bases, but MSU pitcher Meagan Bond got the final two batters out to end the inning.
In the fifth, Rappe hit a one-out double but was unable to advance any further.
Rappe led ASU with two hits on the day, including her first double of the season. Despite the loss, Wainright was solid on the mound, allowing just six hits and the one run, with three strikeouts.
Mosser and Denham had two hits apiece to lead the McNeese offensive attack. Bond earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game, giving up four hits and striking out five.
Appalachian is back in action next weekend when they compete in the North Carolina A&T Invitational in Greensboro.
No. 15 Louisville 10, College of Charleston 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Facing one of their toughest opponents of the season, the College of Charleston (3-4) dropped a 10-2 decision to No. 15 Louisville (9-2) in the final game of the 2010 C of C Cougar Classic on Sunday, February 21.
The Cardinals got on the board in the second inning as they loaded the bases and pushed across a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. After getting out of the inning, the Cougars rallied to load the bases in the bottom half of the third inning. Red-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) led off the inning with her second walk and junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) followed with a bunt single.
Senior designated hitter Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) then laced an RBI single to make it 2-1 before the Cougars tied the game with a single by sophomore outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.). Louisville responded quickly in the top of the fourth as they loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single before exploding for six runs behind three hits and an error to take an 8-2 lead.
U of L added two more runs the following inning with an RBI double from senior catcher Melissa Roth and an RBI single from senior outfielder Vanessa James to push the lead to 10-2. Freshman pitcher Chelsea Leonard then shut down the Cougars in order in the bottom of the fifth to lock up the victory and improve to 3-0 on the season.
Roth and junior third baseman Chelsea Bemis each had two RBIs to lead Louisville while freshman outfielder Jennifer Esteban went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. James, junior shortstop Colby Wherry and freshmen Alicja Wolny and Jordan Trimble all added an RBI a piece and sophomore Kristin Austin finished with a 2-for-4, two run day.
For the College of Charleston, Kristie Shifflett's 1-for-2, one RBI day paced the Cougars while Forbes added the only other RBI with a 1-for-2 performance. Amber Shifflett scored one of the runs and drew a pair of walks and Woodall went 1-for-3 with the other run.
Junior Alexa Datko (San Diego, Calif.) took the loss to drop to 1-2 for CofC while senior Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) started and went two innings to get a no-decision.
The College of Charleston returns to the field for a double-header with Charleston Southern on Tuesday, February 23 at Patriots Point. First pitch of Game 1 is slated for 4 p.m. with the second game to follow at approximately 6 p.m.
Lipscomb 4, Georgia Southern 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - Lipscomb pitcher Whitney Kiihnl (4-0) continued her domination of opposing batters in the championship game of the Eagle Classic. She entered the game allowing only three hits in her previous three appearances in the tournament. The Eagles struggled to find an answer to Kiihnl's pitching until Kelly Burnett's (Boynton Beach, Fla.) single in the top of the sixth inning broke up Kiihnl's no hitter for the second straight game against Lipscomb.
Lipscomb scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to open the scoring off a Vanessa Medina two-run home run. The Lady Bison would extend their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third off two back-to-back solo home runs by Kellie Sirus and Abby Keese
The Eagles would attempt to rally in the seventh inning. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) would single to center field and then Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) came aboard on a walk. Both runners would advance on a sacrifice by Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, NJ). However, the Eagles would be unable to plate the runners and would fall 4-0.
In the consolation game of the 2010 Eagle Classic, Oakland (1-4) defeated Binghamton (2-3) 4-2. Oakland would strike first, scoring two runs in the fourth inning. However, Binghamton would answer with one run in the bottom of the fifth and then plating the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning off a passed ball by Oakland catcher Leah DiCristofaro. Oakland would score the winning runs in the top of the eighth off a throwing error by Binghamton shortstop Briana Andrews.
Georgia Southern returns to action on Wednesday February 24th at Eagle Field as it takes on Georgia State in a doubleheader schedule for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Eagles' home games can be heard locally on 91.9 The Buzz with announcers Daniel Sallerson and Drew Cheshire.
Winthrop 8, Western Carolina 1
ATHENS, Ga. - Western Carolina softball (0-4) dropped its final game, 8-1 to Winthrop, Sunday at the Black and Red Showcase, hosted by the University of Georgia.
Winthrop pitcher Megan Evans was working on a one-hit shutout going into the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Catamounts were able to plate a run. Freshman Colby Liles singled to right field, for the Catamount's second hit of the game, and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Eagles and advanced to third. After fellow freshman Haley Pace drew a walk and stole second, Liles scored off an RBI ground out by Amber Steinhardt.
Steinhardt got the start on the mound for Western Carolina and took the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season. She went 4.1 innings giving up six runs on eight hits and struck out one. Bekah Burkett and Chere Monday closed out the game.
The Catamounts had just two hits in the game, with the second coming from junior Amber Hawkins. With a .444 batting average, to start the season, Hawkins has gotten a hit in all four, and has two doubles, two RBI and scored two runs.
Western Carolina returns to action on February 27 at the North Carolina Central University Tournament. The Catamounts open the season with Delaware and host North Carolina Central Saturday.