Chattanooga 9, Furman 3
Chattanooga 7, Furman 5
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Opening the Southern Conference schedule, junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) registered seven RBI in the two games leading the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team to a sweep over Furman 9-3 and 7-5. Waters went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a double in an afternoon where it drizzled throughout both games and pushed the start time back two hours.
"I wanted to be there for my team to help them score because the game was close," said Waters on hitting her first home run to put Chattanooga up 2-1 in game two. "I was just thinking, 'See the ball, hit the ball.' to be honest. Hitting [as a pitcher] just makes me work harder, so when I do get chances I can do something positive for the team."
Senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) and junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up victories in the circle as Chattanooga improved to 14-7 on the season and 2-0 in the SoCon. In the first game, Irwin recorded her fourth save of the season.
Also doing well at the plate was senior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.), who recorded four hits and drove in a run, while sophomore Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills,Calif.) went 3-for-6 with a double, home run and scored four times.
The three-game series with the Paladins wraps up with a 2 p.m. contest on Sunday. The Lady Mocs continue a six-game home stand on Tuesday when they host Tennessee Tech at 5 p.m.
Game One: Chattanooga 9, Furman 3
The UTC softball team used a four-run first inning and never looked back in a 9-3 victory over Furman in game one at Frost Stadium. Traxler registered the second home run of her career, a two-run shot capping the scoring in the first.
With the first SoCon victory, Chattanooga improved to 13-7, while Furman fell to 2-4 on the season.
Loudermilk started for the Lady Mocs and went 5.1 innings striking out four and surrendering two earned runs. Closer Irwin came on with the tying run on deck and received her fourth save of the season striking out three.
To open the game for the Lady Mocs, Stiles singled to the second baseman after the ball went off the pitcher's glove. After stealing her ninth base of the season, Stiles advanced to third on a fly out by senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
A passed ball brought Stiles in to score the first run of the game. The Lady Mocs took a 2-0 lead when senior Brittany Eason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) doubled into the right field gap plating junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.). Traxler hit her second career home run that landed just over the left field fence putting Chattanooga up 4-0.
After a quite third inning for Chattanooga, senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) drilled a ball high off the left field fence with the wind blowing in for a double. A Baker line drive into the right center field gap scored the fifth Lady Mocs run.
Sophomore Jenni Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) was hit by a Hannah Bradley pitch and junior Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.) pinch ran scoring on a freshman Kasey Tydinco (Fairfield, Calif.) single through the right side increasing the lead to 6-0 for UTC.
The Paladins scored their first run in the sixth with a single that was knocked down by third baseman Baker on a ball that would have gone down the left field line. A fielding error by the shortstop led to two more Furman runs, but the Lady Mocs still had a 6-3 advantage.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Stiles slapped a ball up the middle to score Traxler from third. Waters drove the first pitch she saw into centerfield scoring two runs bringing the Lady Mocs lead to 9-3.
Three pitchers, Lana Mackey, Hannah Bradley and Stephanie Mihaly, saw the circle for Furman with Mackey striking out four batters. Morgan Huey had an RBI single and went 2-for-3, while Mackey plated a runner on an error, all in the sixth.
Game Two: Chattanooga 7, Furman 5
Chattanooga used a three-run rally in the sixth after giving up the lead in the top half of the inning to register a 7-5 victory. Waters started the game in the circle, but her bat was the most impressive driving in five runs with two home runs and double.
After giving up one run in the second, Waters pitched well striking out six in 5.1 innings, but the Paladins used three singles in the sixth to chase the junior. Irwin came on to pitch and recorded her first victory of the season.
Furman's Stephanie Field led off the second game with a triple to right center and eventually scored the on a routine groundout to the shortstop.
Following a couple of scoreless innings, Waters helped her own cause with an opposite field two-run homer to right center putting the Lady Mocs up 2-1 in the fourth. Traxler singled through the left side prior to Water's first home run on her second career hit.
After Waters retired the side in the fifth, Baker singled to right and Traxler followed with a double to right. With two runners on, Waters plated both runners with a double to right center extending the Chattanooga lead to 4-1.
The Paladins responded with a four-run inning in the sixth, three singles loaded the bases and Loudermilk relieved Waters. The Locust Grove, Ga., native was unable to stop the bleeding as Furman was ready for the pitching change and a throwing error and single tied the game at four. Irwin came in after two batters and retired the side with a strikeout and ground out.
To lead off the six for Chattanooga, Kelley beat out an infield single to short, then the pitcher threw a sacrifice bunt over the second baseman's head into right center field scoring Kelley and Blosser advanced to third knotting the score at five. After a wild pitch put Chattanooga ontop, Waters nailed a pitch over the bleachers in left field for her second home run of the game to put the Lady Mocs on top for good, 7-5.
The seventh ended as early as it started with Irwin retiring the side to pick up her first win of the season.
Furman's Katie Michael went 3-for-3 in the contest, while Lana Mackey drove in a run and struckout five in a relief effort.
Elon 13, Western Carolina 1
Elon 15, Western Carolina 0
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Elon softball team powered its way to a pair of wins over Southern Conference foe Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Cullowhee, N.C. Elon followed a 13-1, six-inning win in game one with a 15-0, five-inning shutout in game two. The Phoenix is now 13-4 on the season and 2-0 in SoCon play. Western Carolina drops to 3-14 overall and 0-2 in league play.
Elon hammered out 29 hits over two games, including 18 in the second contest of the day. Of those 18 hits, four of them were home runs, including a grand slam by Ashlee Crewe, a three-run blast and a solo shot by Danielle Lafferty and a solo home run by Emerald Graham. In all, Elon had six round-trippers on the day, as Pam DelPizzo and Crewe each recorded one in the first game.
Game One - Elon 13, Western Carolina 1
Western Carolina struck first in game one, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo home run by Chelsea Schaffer.
Elon answered with a home run off the bat of DelPizzo in the top of the second to knot the score at 1-1.
The Phoenix used a four-run third inning to jump out to a 5-1 lead. Tomeka Watson reached on a Catamount error and made her way home after Western's Katie King issued three straight walks. A pair of errors scored Graham and Lafferty and made it a 4-1 game. A single by Erin O'Shea plated Elon's final run of the inning on a RBI-single to centerfield.
Elon hurler O'Shea's streak of not allowing a base runner in six at-bats came to an end in the bottom of the third when Danielle Reese reached on a Phoenix error and Schafer walked. The two were stranded as O'Shea settled in and retired the final two batters of the inning.
A Catamount fielding error and a RBI-groundout to second base by Hannah Shelton allowed DelPizzo to score Elon's sixth run of the game, putting it up 6-1, in the top of the fifth inning.
Western threatened to cut into Elon's lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Fulton and Schaffer recorded back-to-back singles that put runners at first and second. With two outs, Amber Steinhardt was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases. The runners were left stranded as O'Shea got the final batter to groundout to second, ending the threat.
The Phoenix scored seven runs on seven hits in the top of the sixth inning to seal the 13-1 win. Kaitlyn Piazzolla drew a walk to open the inning and rounded the bases on a sacrifice bunt and an error to make it a 7-1 game. Caitlin McGowan gave Elon an 8-1 lead on a RBI-single up the middle that scored Graham from third. With one away and runners at the corners, Crewe drove the 1-1 pitch over the leftfield wall that put the Phoenix up 11-1. Elon added two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Watson and a RBI-single by Piazzolla.
Western added two hits in the bottom of sixth, but was unable to push a run across as Fulton was tagged out at second base for the final out of the game.
O'Shea improved to 5-1 on the year with the complete game win. She allowed just one run on six hits in six innings of work. She also struck out two and walked two batters.
King fell to 0-7 on the year. She allowed five runs, one of which was earned, on four hits in 2.1 innings in the circle. Fulton and Chere Monday combined for 3.2 innings of relief, giving up eight runs on seven hits and three walks.
Game Two - Elon 15, Western Carolina 0
A pair of six-run innings allowed the Phoenix to earn a 15-0, five-inning shutout over Western Carolina in the second game of the doubleheader.
Holding a 2-0 lead following an RBI-single by Piazzolla and a sacrifice fly by Lafferty, Elon made it a 6-0 game on a grand slam off the bat of Crewe. During the inning, the Phoenix registered out six hits, including a pair of singles by Jackie Gonzalez and Watson.
The Phoenix tacked on six more runs in the top of the second inning. Watson reached on an infield single and made it to third following a stole base and a single by Piazzolla. Watson later scored Elon's seventh run of the game after Graham singled to third. With no one out and runners in scoring position, Lafferty belted a bases-clearing, three-run blast that gave the Phoenix a 10-0 edge. A double by McGowan and single by Crewe put runners on. McGowan scored on a Catamount error, while Crewe rounded the bases on a RBI-single by Shelton, making it a 12-0 game.
Lafferty drove a 3-0 pitch over the outfield wall in the top of the third, resulting a 13-0 game. A walk to Morgan Wright and a double by DelPizzo put two runners on, but both were left stranded as the final two outs of the inning were recorded.
Western picked up just its second hit of the game in the bottom of the third inning after Jordan Fulton singled. New Elon hurler Kari Pervell struck out the next two batters and recorded the final out on a groundout, ending the threat of a WCU run.
The Elon offensive display continued in the top of the fourth inning. Watson singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ashley Myers. With one away, Graham picked up Elon's fourth round-tripper of the game, a solo shot to left center, making it a 15-0 game.
Elon's Lauren Taylor got the win to improve to 6-1, allowing just one hit in two innings of work. Pervell allowed just three its in three innings of relief. She also struck out two batters.
WCU's Steinhardt suffered the loss to fall to 2-4 on the season. She allowed 10 runs on 10 hits in one inning in the circle. Also seeing action was Monday and Bekah Burkett. The duo combined for five runs on nine hits in four innings of relief.
Elon and Western Carolina will be back in action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Georgia Southern 4, UNC Greensboro 1 (8)
UNC Greensboro 3, Georgia Southern 2
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Amber Harrell struck out her 500th career batter in game one and Jordan Jewett hit her first career home run in game two to rally UNC Greensboro to the win as the Spartans split a doubleheader with Georgia Southern to open Southern Conference play on Saturday. The Eagles won the first game 4-1 in 8 innings, while UNCG picked up a 3-2 win in game two.
Georgia Southern (12-9, 1-1 SoCon) scored three unearned runs in the top of the eighth to take the win in game one. The Eagles took advantage of three hits, a pair of errors and a wild pitch with a runner on third in the frame to win their SoCon opener.
UNCG (8-12, 1-1 SoCon) had led 1-0 in the game, with Kaitlin Merkt knocking in pinch-runner Laura Olenderski from third in the fourth. Merkt hit a grounder to short and Nina Iduate tried to get Olenderski at the plate, but Olenderski slid around the tag to give the Spartans the lead.
GSU tied it in the top of the sixth inning, when Kelly Burnett hit a leadoff home run to left center, her first of the season.
UNCG couldn't push across a run over the next two innings, sending the game to extras.
Megen Smith, whose double got the eighth-inning rally started, was 2-for-4 with a run scored to pace Georgia Southern at the plate. Four different players accounted for UNCG's four hits.
Harrell entered play Saturday needing eight strikeouts to reach the 500-strikeout plateau and got exactly that, striking out Georgia Southern's last two batters in the top of the eighth inning, including the final one looking.
Already second in school history in career strikeouts, she became just the second player to reach 500. She trails only career leader Vanessa Williams, now UNCG's pitching coach, who had 565 from 2004-07.
Harrell dropped to 2-7 on the season despite a solid outing that saw her allow just one earned run (four runs total) on seven hits and two walks in 8 innings of work.
Brianna Streetmon, the reigning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and this season's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, improved to 7-3 on the season, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk in 8 innings. She struck out six.
In game two, UNCG trailed 2-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth, but after Emily Akiyama's leadoff double, Jewett smacked a long drive off the scoreboard in right center for her first career bomb.
Cory Mattson, who entered the game in the top of the sixth, picked up the win, moving to 5-4 on the season with 2 innings of one-hit relief.
Just like in game one, UNCG drew first blood, getting an RBI single up the middle from Alex Emeterio for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Georgia Southern answered with two runs in the next inning to take the lead, finally getting to UNCG starter Raeanne Hanks. Hanks, who had worked around seven hits to that point, gave up back-to-back home runs to Sam Russo and Jenny Side to lead off the inning, knocking her from the game.
UNCG's sixth-inning rally took Hanks off the hook for the loss. The freshman went 5 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits. She struck out three and did not walk a batter.
Akiyama and Brittany Ausley had multi-hit games for the Spartans, with each going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Ausley reached base three times in the game, also drawing a walk.
Side was 3-for-3, falling a triple short of the cycle for the Eagles. Iduate was 2-for-4.
Smith (4-6) took the loss for GSU, allowing three runs on six hits and five walks. She struck out eight in 5 innings of work before giving way to Streetmon in the sixth. Streetmon retired the only three batters she faced in game two.
The rubber game of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
Appalachian State 5, Samford 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team was only able to get one game in Saturday of its scheduled doubleheader with Appalachian State on the opening weekend of Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs fell, 5-2, to the Mountaineers after four hours and five rain delays. The teams will play two games on Sunday starting at 12 p.m.
Samford (7-9, 0-1 SoCon) took a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the first after a lead-off double by Robyn Harmon set up a scoring opportunity. Amy Gonzalez then reached first base on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second on the throw while Harmon scored the run for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs held ASU scoreless for another inning before the Mountaineers tied the score in the top of the third. With two outs, Hayley Grabner was walked. Sarah Rappe then doubled to right center to bring in the run before Samford record the third out.
At the top of the fourth, the Mountaineers added two more runs on a two-run home run to take a 3-1 lead before Samford cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fifth. Harmon singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a ground out by Gonzalez. After a 20-minute rain delay, Katie England grounded out while Harmon advanced to third. Then Harmon scored on a passed ball.
The Mountaineers sealed the win added two more runs at the top of the seventh before retiring Samford in four batters, leaving on runner stranded.
For the Bulldogs, Harmon and Amanda Jordan each recorded two hits while Gonzalez had one. Harmon scored both of Samford runs while Gonzalez was credited with the Bulldogs' only RBI. Harmon also started the game in the pitcher's circle and took the loss for the Bulldogs, moving her overall record to 2-3. She pitched sixth and two-thirds innings, giving up just three earned runs and walking four batters while striking out four.
Six Mountaineers recorded one hit including Rappe, Grabner, Megan Rembielak, Michelle Lighton, Allie Cashion and Michelle Gorzelle. Rappe and Cashion each had two RBI while Louise Gibson, Cashion, Gorzelle, Grabner and Meghan Smith each had one run. Caitlin Wainright started the game for the Mountaineers and pitched two innings, recording two hits and two walks. Frannie Seader came on in the third inning and pitched the rest of the game, grabbing the win to move her to 4-0 on the season. Seader gave up just one run on three hits and struck out four batters while walking two.
The Bulldogs and Mountaineers will resume play with the second game of the series on Sunday at 12 p.m., followed by the series closer which will start approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the first game. A full recap and results will be available on www.samfordsports.com up the completion of both games.