College of Charleston 8, South Carolina State 0
College of Charleston 12, South Carolina State 1
ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) and redshirt-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) each had three-RBI games as the College of Charleston (11-16, 1-4) pounded out a combined 25 hits and scored 20 runs in a double-header sweep at South Carolina State (3-21, 0-0 MEAC) on Tuesday, March 30. The Cougars claimed both games in five innings, earning an 8-0 win in the first game before notching a 12-1 victory in the nightcap.
In Game 1, after threating in the first inning with two of runners on base, the College of Charleston broke through in the second with a pair of runs. Redshirt-junior catcher Katie Pesature (Brewster, N.Y.) reached on a two-base error to lead off the inning and then scored on a single by junior first baseman Katie Nutaitis (Vienna, Va.) on the next play to make it 1-0.
She would then come around to score on a single through the left side by junior shortstop Hillary Stringer (Summerville, S.C.) for a two-run lead. The Cougars would add to that lead the following inning as they put up another run on a sacrifice fly by Pesature and made it 4-0 on an RBI single by Nutaitis. They would nearly equal their production for the entire game in the next frame alone.
Senior designated hitter Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) led off the fourth with a walk and advanced to second on a single by sophomore first baseman Kelley Dillon (Hanahan, S.C.). That set the stage for Pesature, who launched a three-run homerun over the left centerfield fence to push the lead to 7-0.
A two-out single by pinch hitter Ashton Jarrett (Hanahan, S.C.) in the fifth inning, followed by a steal and a wild pitch gave CofC a runner on third with a chance to go ahead by eight runs. After freshman outfielder Kristy Giragosian (Charlotte, N.C.) reached on a walk, the Cougars took an 8-0 lead as Jarrett scored on a double steal. In the bottom of seventh, the Bulldogs Denitia Carter reached on a two out, two-base error and then stole third before Alexa Datko polished off the complete game shutout with a strikeout.
Senior catcher Channell Thompson went 2-for-2 while Carter and junior outfielder Tonya Giles rounded out S.C. State's offense with one hit a piece. Freshman pitcher Arinze Lee allowed all eight runs and walked six to drop to 0-6 on the season.
Katie Pesature led the College of Charleston's offensive attack with a 1-for-2, two run, four RBI performance, including her third homerun of the season, while Nutaitis had the only other two RBIs as part of a 2-for-3, two run outing. Kristie Shifflett and Kristi Woodall each added to their on-base percentages with a pair of walks each.
In the nightcap, the Cougars wasted no time as they totaled more runs in the first inning than they had in all of Game 1. CofC batted around, reaching the fourth batter in their lineup, as they scored nine runs on nine hits to take a 9-0 lead. Amber Shifflett highlighted the inning with a bases clearing triple that scored three runs while her sister Kristie Shifflett had an RBI and managed a double and a single in the frame.
Kristi Woodall drove in a pair of runs in separate at bats with a single and sacrifice fly and sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Stringer and freshman catcher Courtney Clark (Tampa, Fla.) each added an RBI each.
South Carolina State scratched a run in the second inning as freshman first baseman Shannon Baity reached on an error and then eventually scored on a double steal to make it 9-1. The Cougars would regain their nine-run lead in the fourth as Dillon led off with a single, stole second and the scored on a single to center by sophomore outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) to make it 10-1. They would round out their offense in the fifth as Woodall singled home a run and Dillon ripped an RBI double to reach the final margin of 12-1.
Thompson and Sonya Giles had the only hits for S.C. State while Raven Johnson pitched all five innings and 17 hits, 12 runs and one walk to fall to 3-15.
For the Cougars, Kristi Woodall went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored while Amber Shifflett finished 2-for-2 with two runs, three RBIs and a stolen base. Kristie Shifflett went 2-for-3 with a double, run and an RBI and Dillon finished at 2-for-4 with a double, run and RBI. Katie Nutaitis and Katie Forbes each went 2-for-3 with a run scored while Forbes added an RBI. Courtney Clark chipped in with two RBIs and Lonergan capped the offensive production with a RBI and a run scored.
Freshman pitcher Stephanie Saylors (Easley, S.C.) pitched a complete game two-hitter, allowing only an unearned run, and struck out a career-high eight batters to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The College of Charleston returns to Southern Conference action when they host Samford this weekend at Patriots Point. In order to accommodate the Easter holiday, the Cougars will play the first two games on Friday, April 2 beginning at 3 p.m. and conclude the set with a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, April 3.
NOTES
Game 1 marked the College of Charleston's fifth straight shutout of South Carolina State while the two victories extended their win streak in the series to 18 straight games.
Georgia Southern 5, Jacksonville 3
Georgia Southern 4, Jacksonville 2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Georgia Southern Softball team (19-12, 6-2 SoCon) swept the Dolphins of Jacksonville University on Tuesday as the Eagles won Game 1, 5-3, and Game 2, 4-2. GSU broke out the long ball as four home runs went over the fence in the two games. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) had two home runs, one in each game, while Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) and Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) each had one in game two. Smith leads both the Eagles and the Southern Conference with 11 home runs.
The Eagles started the day with a double from Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.). Caitlin Hart (McDonough, Ga.), who pinch ran for Russo, advanced to third on a groundout by Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, NJ). Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) brought Hart in on a bunt single to first base.
After giving up the tying run in the bottom of the fourth, 1-1, Georgia Southern started off the fifth with Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) reaching base on a fielder's choice. Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.) singled up the middle to put runners at first and second. Smith hit her first home run, picked up three RBIs and gave Eagles a 4-1 lead.
The Dolphins would add two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to get within one run, 4-3 Eagles. Russo hit her second double of the game to right field to lead off the sixth and Ennis singled through the left side to bring Russo in to score to add the GSU lead, 5-3.
Preseason Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) (13-4) earned the win in Game 1. Streetmon went seven innings, struck out eight Dolphin batters while giving up only four hits and two earned runs.
In Game 2, Georgia Southern continued with a singeing offense. Southern Conference Player of the Week Jenny Side hit a home run to left field in the second inning, her third in the last five games, to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. In the third, Smith hit another home run for a 2-0 margin.
Two innings later, Kayla Brooks (Jonesboro, Ga.) singled up the middle and Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) singled in the infield to put Eagles on first and second base. Burnett singled up the middle to bring in Brooks and the Eagles had a 3-0 advantage. In the sixth inning, Ennis hit her first home run of the season to extend the Eagles lead to 4-0.
Jacksonville would attempt to make a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, plating two runs, but the Dolphins couldn't draw any closer. Eagles' pitcher Smith (5-7) finished for a complete game, allowing two earned runs off five hits with two strikeouts.
Ennis had her best day of the season, going 4-6 (.667) with a home run and three runs batted in. Between Ennis and Smith, the two Eagles accounted for seven of the nine runs scored.
Georgia Southern returns to action on Monday, April 5th for a single game at eighth-ranked Georgia. First pitch is at 5 p.m. Fans will be able to follow live stats for that game by clicking on the "live stats" link on the schedule at the bottom of the GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website.
Mercer 5, Samford 0
Samford 1, Mercer 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Junior shortstop Amanda Jordan's walk-off bunt single in the bottom of the seventh inning against Mercer Tuesday gave the Samford softball team a 1-0 win and snapped a five-game losing streak for the Bulldogs. The two teams played a doubleheader at Bulldog Field with Mercer winning game one by a score of 5-0.
Samford (10-19) fell in the first game, 5-0, after Mercer put up five runs in the top of the seventh inning. The loss was the fifth in a row for Samford at home. The Bulldogs answered back with their own late-game tiebreaker to win the second game, 1-0.
"It certainly felt good to win one," Samford Head Coach Beanie Ketcham said. "It feels like a big monkey off our back and it was a nice way to win it in terms of execution."
The first game was scoreless until Mercer finally got on the board in the seventh inning. With one out, pinch-hitter Allison Jones singled up the middle with runners on first and second and then advanced to second on the throw to drive in Sara Stukes for the first run of the game. Amanda Santa Maria was then walked to load the bases but the next batter reached on a fielder's choice as Lilli Luke was thrown out trying to score.
With two outs, Kristin Marko singled to drive in the runners on second and third before Emi Sherrill hit a two-run single to clear the bases. The Bears took a 5-0 lead and would go on to win by that score after retiring the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning.
Amy Gonzalez led the Bulldogs going 2-for-3 at the plate while Amanda Barrs had Samford's third hit. Stephanie Royall started the game, striking out five batters while giving up just two hits in four innings before being relieved by Barrs. Barrs (1-12) gave up the five runs on three hits in just two and two-thirds innings of play to take the loss. Royall then stepped back into the game to record the last out.
Five Bears had one hit each while Marko and Sherrill each recorded two RBI. Jenni Holtz (12-9) pitched a complete game, giving up just three hits while recording 11 strikeouts.
The second game started like the first, going six and one-half innings with no runs scored. Then Barrs led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left field. Katie England laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Barrs to third before the Mercer pitcher intentionally walked Alex Adams for the third time of the night. Amanda Jordan then drove Barrs in on a bunt to give the Bulldogs the win, 1-0.
Stukes led Mercer in the second game going 2-for-3 at the plate while four other Bears each recorded a hit. Kari Chambers (4-2) pitched six complete innings, giving up just one earned run on two hits while striking out seven batters.
Fisher, Barrs and Jordan each had a hit for the Bulldogs in the second game. Emily Waters (1-0) threw a complete game in her first collegiate pitching experience and her first pitch was a strike. She gave up six hits, walked one batter and struck out one.
"Emily threw a great game," Ketcham said. "She was very poised and very composed. She just did a nice job and the defense played well behind her. We didn't hit the ball particularly well but we executed when it counted. Sometimes that's all it takes."
"Overall I was pleased. I was frustrated in the first game. We had too many strikeouts, but we are scratching and fighting right now for anything we can get so we will take it."
The Bulldogs will be back on the road this weekend as they head to the College of Charleston to jump back into conference play. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday that will begin at 2 p.m., before wrapping up the series on Saturday with a single game at 12 p.m.
East Carolina 4, UNC Greensboro 1
East Carolina 6, UNC Greensboro 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro got solo home runs from Kaitlin Merkt in both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday but East Carolina pulled off the sweep, winning game one 4-1 and game two 6-3.
Merkt's fifth-inning homer in game one cut ECU's lead in half to make it a 2-1 game before the Pirates (17-12) plated two more runs in the top of the sixth inning for some insurance.
ECU went ahead 2-0 in the third on Charina Sumner's two-run homer to left center. After Merkt's blast to left made it a one-run game, Kaui Tom hit a towering drive out to left center in the sixth to restore the Pirates' two-run lead.
ECU added another run on Marina Gusman-Brown's double and a UNCG error later in the inning.
UNCG (13-17) get never get its offense in gear against East Carolina starter Toni Paisley, who picked up the win in both games.
Jordan Jewett's double to the gap in left center with one out in the fourth marked UNCG's first hit of the day. Merkt's home run was the only other safety for the Spartans, who had just two base-runners in the contest.
Paisley was sharp throughout, striking out 12 and allowing just the two hits and no walks in 7 innings of work in game one.
Despite tossing a three-hitter, Cory Mattson (7-8) took the loss for the Spartans, allowing four runs (three earned). She walked four and struck out five.
Game two saw UNCG draw first blood on Eileen Horsmon's solo home run to right with one out in the second inning.
The Pirates had an answer in the top half of the third, however, getting an RBI single from Christina Merrida to tie the game.
ECU took a lead it would not relinquish in the fourth, batting around and plating three runs. Tom and Sissy Jimenez sandwiched RBI doubles around an RBI fielder's choice from Christen Aona to make it a 4-1 game.
UNCG would get a run back in the bottom of the inning, getting back-to-back singles from Alex Emeterio and Merkt and a walk from Horsmon to load the bases with no one out and knock ECU starter Faith Sutton from the game.
Paisley came in and struck out the first two batters she faced before Whitney Sirois singled through the left side to plate Emeterio. Paisley would strike out the next batter to limit the damage and close the book on Sutton.
The Pirates got a couple of insurance runs in the top of the sixth, with Vanessa Moreno and Gusman-Brown hitting back-to-back home runs to make it 6-2.
Merkt led off the bottom half of the frame with her second homer of the day - and fourth in the last seven games - to draw the Spartans within three runs. UNCG would get no closer, however, as ECU completed the sweep.
Brittany Ausley finished the game 2-for-4, with a third-inning double and a seventh-inning single. Merkt was 2-for-3 with a single and a home run.
For Merkt, it was the second time in her career she had hit two homers on the same day. She also did so against Mount St. Mary's and Delaware State on Feb. 23, 2008.
Gusman-Brown and Sumner finished with two hits each for ECU in game two.
Paisley worked 4 innings of relief to pick up the win, allowing one run on three hits, striking out seven. Sutton allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in 3 innings of work.
All three UNCG pitchers saw action in game two, with Amber Harrell (4-8) taking the loss after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Freshman Raeanne Hanks worked 1 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs in five hits and a walk, while Mattson allowed just two hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The Spartans return to action and Southern Conference play Friday when they host Elon for a single game at 5 p.m.
Georgia State 8, Western Carolina 1
Georgia State 5, Western Carolina 0
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. - Western Carolina softball (4-23) dropped a doubleheader at Georgia State (20-10) 8-1, 5-0 Tuesday at Bob Heck Field.
The Catamounts had six hits in the first game, but could only punch across one runner. In the top of the sixth inning, Chelsea Schaffer led off with a single to left field, her second hit of the game, and scored when Colby Liles ground out to the shortstop.
Sophomore pitcher Katie King is continuing to look for her first win of the season, taking the decision in the first game and falling to 0-14 on the season. She went three innings, allowing five runs, two earned, on five hits and struck out five. In the fourth inning, King was replaced by Bekah Burkett who closed out the game.
Georgia State had three runs in the second, two in the fourth and three in the sixth. The Panthers had eight hits in the game and the Catamounts committed five errors.
The second game started off with a bang for Georgia State, with the Panthers' Lauren Jones hitting a two-out, two run, homerun over the centerfield wall. Her long ball also plated Audrey Mason.
Panther pitcher Alana Thomas retired the first eight Catamount batters she faced, before left fielder Kristen Gay broke up Thomas' no-hitter. Gay hit a frozen rope to right field and motored to third base, for her third triple of the season. The hit by Gray ended a four-game hitting drought for the senior.
Thomas, however, kept her shutout intact, as she didn't allow a Western Carolina runner past first base the rest of the game. The Catamounts did pick up four more hits in the game, two coming from junior Amber Hawkins.
As for Georgia State, after Jones' homerun, the Panthers posted a run in the fifth and two in the sixth, to get the win. Freshman Catamount pitcher Amber Steinhardt got the call to the mound in the second game, and took the loss. She falls to 3-6 on the season, allowing five runs, four earned, on 10 hits and striking out four.
The Catamounts will travel to Chattanooga on Friday and Saturday for a three-game series with the Mocs. The single game is slated for 6 p.m. Friday with the doubleheader is set to begin at noon Saturday.