Elon 14, Belmont 6
ATHENS, Ga. - A nine-run seventh inning lifted the Elon softball team to a 14-6, come-from-behind victory over the Belmont Bruins in the final game of the Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga. The Phoenix went 2-2 at the tournament and improved to 10-3 on the season. Belmont dropped to 1-13.
After taking a 5-4 lead on a two-run home run by Kaitlyn Piazzolla in the top of the fifth, Elon added nine runs of insurance in the top of the seventh that gave the Phoenix a 14-4 advantage. During the offensive explosion, Belmont pitchers issued four wild pitches that resulted in four Phoenix runs. Emerald Graham scored twice on wild pitches, including the first run of the inning that put Elon on top 6-4. The next two runs were scored after Hannah Shelton doubled to center field, scoring Piazzolla and Carly MacDougall, who pinch-ran for Caitlin McGowan. With two away and runners at the corners, Tomeka Watson reached on a fielding error that allowed Shelton to cross the plate extending Elon's lead to 9-4.
New Belmont pitcher Julie Harmon issued a pair of wild pitches and walked a batter that allowed Jackie Gonzalez and Watson to score Elon's 10th and 11th runs. The 12th run of the game was scored after Piazzolla hit a two-out single to second base that scored Danielle Lafferty. Graham crossed the plate for the second time on a wild pitch to extend Elon's edge to 13-4. With the bases loaded, Ashlee Crewe walked to drive in final Phoenix run, resulting in a 14-4 lead.
Belmont tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits that made it a 14-6 game. It was not enough, as Dawn Thorni stranded two runners with a groundout to the pitcher that ended the game.
The Bruins jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. A double by Brooke Babington and a walk to Ashley Smith put runners at the corners. With one out, Ashley Byers cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field.
Elon began its comeback in the top of the second after Graham singled to center field and later swiped second. McGowan made it a 3-1 game with a groundout to second that scored Graham.
The Phoenix cut into the lead further, making it a one-run game in the top of the third inning. With one out, Gonzalez singled and moved to second on a Watson groundout back to the circle. With two away, Lafferty pushed Gonzalez home with a single, making it a 3-2 game.
After giving up the round tripper in the top of the first, Elon pitcher Lauren Taylor settled in to retire the next six Belmont batters in order, registering three strikeouts along the way. In the bottom of the third, Taylor's dominating streak came to an end when she surrendered a walk and gave up a single that allowed the Bruins a two-run cushion, 4-2.
In the top of the fourth, an error and a wild pitch allowed Erin O'Shea to make her way to second. With two away, Shelton used a RBI single through the left side to plate O'Shea and make it a 4-3 game.
Taylor improved to 4-1 on the season after pitching a complete game. She allowed six runs on eight hits and five walks. She also fanned a career-best nine batters.
Devon Schmidt fell to 1-6 on the season, allowing five runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits in five innings in the circle. She also registered seven strikeouts. Byers threw two innings of relief, giving up seven runs, three earned, on four hits and three walks. Harmon closed out the game, surrendering two runs on seven hits and three walks.
Elon will return to action on Wednesday, March 10, when it returns to East Field for a doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with the second following at approximately 4 p.m.
Samford 3, Idaho State 2
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Samford softball team rounded out play in the Arizona State Wilson/Demarini Invitational Sunday with a 3-2 win over Idaho State. Katie England's sixth inning home run broke a 2-2 tie and sent the Bulldogs home on a winning note. Samford moves to 7-8 on the season while Idaho State falls to 2-9.
After holding the Bengals to one hit in the top of the first inning, Samford came out and grabbed a quick 2-0 lead when Robyn Harmon scored on a fielder's choice by England. With two outs and runners on second and third, Amy Gonzalez scored on a ground out to third base by Alex Adams to give the Bulldogs a two-run advantage.
After a three-up three-down inning for both teams in the second, Idaho State got on the board on a two-out double in the top of the third. The Bengals held Samford scoreless for the next three innings before tying the score at two on lead-off home run in the sixth inning.
However, Samford answered back and took the lead on England's second homer of the tournament and of the season. The Bulldogs were able to hold ISU scoreless in the top of the seventh to hang on for the win.
Harmon (2-2) pitched her second-straight complete game, giving up just two earned runs on 10 hits while striking out three batters. She was also 1-for-3 at the plate with one run on the day. Gonzalez and England also were 1-for-3 for the Bulldogs with one run. England also recorded two RBI.
"(Robyn) Harmon pitched well," Samford Head Coach Beanie Ketcham said. "They had 10 hits but weren't able to string anything together. Offensively, we jumped on them early but their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off balance after that. But (Katie) England came up with that big home run in the sixth to give us the lead and we were able to hang on for the win."
Kandis Clesson took the loss for the Bengals, giving up three earned runs on three hits. She walked two batters and struck out six in six inning of play. Desirae Hoffman was a perfect 4-for-4 for the Bengals at the plate. She and Megan Miller scored both of ISU's runs while Miller was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Taylor Marchione and Erin Olander went 2-for-3 and Marchione recorded one RBI.
The Bulldogs are back at home next weekend, March 13-14, as they open up Southern Conference play at home. Samford will play host to Appalachian State for doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Both days begin at 1 p.m. CST.
Jacksonville State 4, UNC Greensboro 2
UNC Greensboro 4, Tennessee Tech 1
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - UNC Greensboro split on its final day of action at the Buzz Classic, falling 4-2 to Jacksonville State before taking a 4-1 win over Tennessee Tech on Sunday. Pitcher Cory Mattson was named to the All-Tournament Team.
UNCG (7-11) finished 11th at the 22-team tournament, going 3-2 over three days.
Mattson went 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA at the tournament, improving her record to 4-4 with the win over the Golden Eagles (8-7) on Sunday.
The sophomore from Everett, Wash., allowed just one run on four hits and five walks, matching her career high with 10 strikeouts.
UNCG's offense did the rest. After leaving the bases loaded in the first, the Spartans broke through in the bottom of the third inning. Jordan Jewett stroked a one-out single down the left field line, and Alex Emeterio followed with an infield single. A fielder's choice erased Emeterio at second, but Kristen Gabel hit a two-run double to left center to bring in Jewett and Eileen Horsmon.
TTU got a run back in the fifth on Stacey Butts' RBI single, but UNCG answered with a pair in the bottom half of the frame on Horsmon's two-out, two-run home run.
Emeterio finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, while Horsmon was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. Gabel was also 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.
Mattson recorded six of her first seven outs via strikeout, including striking out the side in the first.
Cladia Harke (0-3) took the loss for TTU, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks in 4 innings.
In the first game of the afternoon, senior pitcher Amber Harrell tossed a two-hitter, but Jacksonville State took advantage of seven walks and a timely home run for the win.
With the score tied at 2 in the sixth inning, Samantha Rich hit a leadoff home run for what would prove to be the winning run. The Gamecocks would add an insurance run on Tess Echols' sacrifice fly.
UNCG jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on freshman Heather Robb's first career home run, but Jacksonville State went ahead with two runs in the bottom of the third.
After retiring the first two batters, Harrell (2-6) walked four of the next five, with Nikki Prier and Kaycee Crow drawing bases-loaded walks to plate JSU's first runs of the day.
The Spartans evened the score in the top of the fourth, with Robb reaching on a two-base error and going to third on a Kaitlin Merkt single. Robb came in on Whitney Sirois' fielder's choice sacrifice bunt.
JSU's only other hit besides the Rich home run was Chrissy O'Neal's single in the third.
Six different players accounted UNCG's six hits. Robb was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Ashley Eliasson (3-6) picked up the win for TTU, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks in 7 innings. She struck out seven.
Three of the runs charged to Harrell were earned. She struck out four, leaving her eight strikeouts shy of becoming just the second player in school history to record 500 for her career.
The Spartans return to action next weekend when they host Georgia Southern to open Southern Conference play. The squads will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Providence 7, College of Charleston 2
ORLANDO, Fla. - Redshirt-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) went 1-for-1 with an RBI, walk and ninth stolen base of the season as the College of Charleston (6-12) dropped a 7-2 decision to Providence (4-11) in non-conference softball action in their final game of the UCF Invitational from Orlando, Fla.
The Friars wasted no time as they scored four runs on four hits in the first inning, two of which were RBI doubles by sophomore first baseman Jen Abrams and senior shortstop Jenna Garcia, to take a commanding 4-0 lead. An RBI single in the second by Abrams following a Huber steal then made it 5-0.
A lead-off single and a pair of walks then loaded the bases with no outs for the College of Charleston in the home half of the inning. After a line out to first base, freshman shortstop Erica Kaufman (Berkeley, S.C.) drew a walk to force in a run and Amber Shifflett brought home a second run with a sacrifice fly to center field, making the score 5-2.
That would be as close as they would get though, as Providence added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore left fielder Megan McCann led off the inning with a single before coming around to score on a triple by Huber. Abrams then singled her home on the next play to make it 7-2.
The Friars then bore down and allowed only one hit over the next three innings before CofC notched a pair of singles at the start of the seventh inning. It would be all they would get however their Big East foe closed out the five-run win.
Sophomore Alicia Grosso earned the victory for Providence following a six inning, two-run, six strikeout performance while Jen Abrams fueled the offense with a 3-for-4 day that included a run and three RBIs. Jenna Garcia added a 2-for-3, one run, one RBI performance and Michelle Huber was 1-for-4 with an RBI but added three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.
For the Cougars, Amber Shifflett led the way with a 1-for-1, one RBI outing that included a walk and her ninth steal of the year. She is now 9-for-9 on the base paths this season and 49-for-50 since the 2006 season. Kaufman added the other RBI with her bases loaded walk. Junior pitcher Kasie Meeks (Manchester, Tenn.) took the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season.
The College of Charleston will be back in action on Sunday, March 14 when they host Coastal Carolina in a double-header at Patriots Point. First pitch of Game 1 is slated for 1 p.m.
NOTES
Amber Shifflett's only caught stealing since 2006 occurred in the final game of last season when UNC Greensboro's Brittany Sirois gunned her down on her only attempt in the Southern Conference Tournament game on May 7, 2009.
Villanova 3, Chattanooga 1
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team matched Villanova with five hits, but was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position as they fell, 3-1, leaving eight runners on base. Senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) went 2-for-2 and was intentionally walked in the early morning game at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
The Lady Mocs with the loss fell to 12-7 on the season and wrapped up the USF Under Armour Invitational with a 1-4 record, while the Wildcats improved to 5-10.
Getting the start for Chattanooga was senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.), who pitched well, but was relieved in the fifth after a run scored due to illegal pitches. Loudermilk recorded six strikeouts and only gave up one hit.
Junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) came in relief of Loudermilk and was unable to stop the Wildcats in the fifth as they plated another run and added an insurance run in the seventh on a wild pitch. Waters kept the Villanova batters off balance with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.
The Lady Mocs got on the board with a single by Blosser with junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Ten.) in scoring position to cut the deficit to 2-1. Stiles led off the inning with a single to left center followed by junior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.) singling to left. With runners on the corners, Chattanooga was unable to capitalize leaving its seventh runner on base.
After five illegal pitches were called early in the first inning, there were none called until a 3-0 pitch in the fifth, mainly because Loudermilk kept runners off the base paths. The first base umpire awarded the Wildcats first base with no outs. Then the next three balls to the plate were tabbed illegal plating the first run of the game.
Struggles continued for the Lady Mocs as Waters relieved Loudermilk and gave up a double with runners on first and second. The centerfielder Stiles made a great throw to the plate that beat the runner, Eason applied the tag and showed the ball the umpire, but the call was that the ball was bobbled when the runner contacted the catcher, so the run scored.
Villanova tacked on another run after two singles putting two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch by Waters on a 0-2 count with two outs gave the Wildcats a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh that Chattanooga was unable to overcome.
Molly Manning the pitcher from Villanova was called for one illegal pitch in the first inning, but overcame it to pitch a five-hit complete game striking out three.
Kennesaw State 10, Western Carolina 1
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Western Carolina softball (3-10) lost to Kennesaw State 10-1 Sunday, in the final day of the Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech.
Senior catcher Danielle Reese was named to the Buzz Classic All-Tournament Team. In five games, Reese averaged .200 at bat and also had three hits and picked up one double.
Western Carolina pitcher Chere Monday (1-2) started the game, lasting two innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Sophomore Katie King tossed four innings giving up five runs on seven hits and striking out two. Jordan Fulton tossed the final inning allowing two runs on one hit.
Kennesaw State scored in all but two innings in the seven inning game. The Catamounts avoided a shutout by scoring a run in the third inning. Sophomore Chelsea Schaffer hit the first home run for Western Carolina this season, hitting a shot over right center with two outs. Reese accounted for the second hit of the game for Western Carolina in the game.
Western Carolina returns to action on Tuesday traveling to USC Upstate. First pitch of the double header is set for 3:30 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman 2, Appalachian State 0
DELAND, Fla. - Cesley Tafoya hit a two-run double in the third and that was all the scoring as Bethune-Cookman beat Appalachian State University softball 2-0 Saturday morning at Stetson University.
With the loss, ASU falls to 9-6 on the year while the Wildcats improve to 8-13.
In the third, the first two batters reached on an error and a walk, and after a sacrifice bunt, Tafoya hit the first pitch she saw into center field for a double.
The Mountaineers' best chance to get on the board was in the fifth inning, when Allie Cashion reached on a one-out walk. Sheridan Phillips followed with a single and loaded the bases when Michelle Gorzelle reached on an error. B-C pitcher Chastity Sanders bounced back and induced a fielder's choice that got Cashion out at home and a ground ball to end the threat.
ASU managed just four hits, all singles from Katie Boyd, McKenzie Phillips, Sheridan Phillips and Sarah Rappe. Tafoya had two of the Wildcats' four hits.
Central Florida 4, Georgia Southern 3
ORLANDO, Fla. - Georgia Southern (10-7) dropped a heartbreaker in extra innings to the University of Central Florida 4-3 in the championship game of the UCF Tournament.
Georgia Southern carried over the momentum from the night before against Boston College in the first inning. Lowes Senior CLASS Award nominee Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) reached base on an infield single to the shortstop. Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) followed Iduate with a single of her own. With one out in the inning, Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.) doubled to right center and advanced to third on the throw home as the Golden Knights attempted to throw out Fogle, Iduate also scored on the play to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Jenny Side's (Loganville, Ga.) sacrifice fly to left field brought in Caitlin Hart (McDonough, Ga.), pinch running for Russo. The Eagles would tally three runs on three hits in the top of the first.
The Golden Knights would chip away at the Eagles lead over the middle innings. Central Florida scored one run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to force the game into extra innings. Georgia Southern would advance Iduate to third with one out in the top half of the eighth. However, they would be unable to drive in the go ahead run. The Golden Knights would load the bases before Vanessa Perez's game- winning single to left, which brought in Ashleigh Cole to rally to win their own Tournament.
Georgia Southern returns to action on Wednesday in a doubleheader against Charleston Southern at 2 p.m. in Charleston, SC.