Furman 5, Gardner-Webb 1
Furman 9, Gardner-Webb 8
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Sophomore Jessie Homesley belted her first career home run in game one and delivered a walk-off single in the eighth inning of game two as Furman completed a 5-1, 9-8 doubleheader sweep of Gardner-Webb in non-conference softball action on Wednesday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Furman, winners of four straight games, improved to 9-11 on the season. Gardner-Webb slipped to 11-20.
With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the eighth inning of game one, Homesley chopped a base-hit through the left side of the infield to plate international tiebreaker runner Sidney Vlass to give the Paladins a 9-8 victory.
In the top half of the frame, Lana Mackey struck out leadoff hitter Jane Savage before issuing a walk to Christa Fullwood. McKenzie Morenus followed by lifting a pop to shallow right-center. Stephanie Field, racing in from center field, made a diving grab and the Paladins threw to second where tiebreaker runner Melody Harrell was ruled to have left the base early.
Field, who went 3-for-4 in game two with a walk, opened the bottom of the eighth with a bunt single and Katie Michaels was intentionally walked setting up Homesley's game-ending heroics.
Gardner-Webb had opened an early lead posting four runs in the top half of the second inning against Paladin starter Hannah Bradley. Michelle Primm and Harrell put the Lady Bulldogs ahead with RBI singles before GWU plated a run on an error and a sacrifice fly.
Furman answered back with a seven-run bottom of the fifth. Alyssa Williams and relief pitcher Kayla Suskauer set the table with singles and Field drove in Williams with a one-out base-hit. After Michaels reached on a bunt single, Homesley lined a bases clearing double to right-center to even the contest at 4-4. The Acworth, Ga., native came around to score when Morgan Hughey reached base on an error and Williams followed a Brythe Blankenship single with a two-run single to up the lead to 7-4.
Following an RBI single by Hughey in the sixth that gave the Paladins an 8-4 advantage, Gardner-Webb scored four runs off of Furman reliever Lana Mackey to knot the contest at 8-8. Mandy Ward laced a two-run double into the gap and Kelsey Witter followed with a two-run homer to left-center to power the Lady Bulldogs' rally.
Mackey (6-6) took the win despite allowing four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings. Suskauer worked four scoreless innings of relief surrendering just three hits and fanning two batters. Field and William each went 3-for-4 to pace the Paladins 14-hit outburst while Michaels, Homesley and Blankenship registered two hits apiece. Homesley batted in four runs.
Reliever Alison Coffey (0-1) suffered the loss for Gardner-Webb. She allowed four runs, one earned, on seven hits in 2.2 innings of work. Fullwood, Ward, Witter and Primm each totaled a pair of safeties for the Lady Bulldogs.
In game one, Mackey tossed a complete-game, four-hitter while Homesley and Hughey hammered home runs to lift the Paladins to a 5-1 win.
Mackey fanned nine batters and did not issue a walk while allowing just one unearned run over seven innings to take the victory.
Homesley put Furman ahead with her first career roundtripper in the first and Alex Bimonte upped the margin to 2-0 with an RBI double in the second inning. Hughey lined a homer off of the left field foul pole in the third to stretch the lead to 5-0.
Gardner-Webb starter Christine Murray (6-9) allowed four earned runs over 2.1 innings to take the loss.
Furman continues its homestand hosting Appalachian State in a three-game Southern Conference series April 2-3, at Pepsi Stadium. Friday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. with a single game slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Most Furman home games and selected road contests will be available via GameTracker. Fans can follow Furman action by logging onto www.furmanpaladins.com and following the links on the athletics schedule or by surfing to the Furman softball page.
Elon 6, North Carolina A&T 3
Elon 10, North Carolina A&T 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Elon softball team picked up a pair of non-conference wins over North Carolina A&T on Wednesday afternoon. The Phoenix won the first game 6-3, before defeating the Aggies 10-0 in five innings in the second game of the doubleheader. Elon is now 22-7, while N.C. A&T dropped to 9-15.
Game One - Elon 6, North Carolina A&T 3
Erin O'Shea went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and three runs scored and picked up the win in the circle as the Phoenix handed North Carolina A&T a 6-3 loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader.
O'Shea (11-2) threw 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits. She also struck out eight batters and walked three. Pam DelPizzo also saw time in the circle, giving up two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work.
In the top of the second, O'Shea recorded a one-out single and moved to second on a fielder's choice by Ashlee Crewe. With two away, Danielle Lafferty roped a double to right center, that scored O'Shea and gave the Phoenix a 1-0 lead.
A&T answered with a home run in the bottom of the second off the bat of Jesse Larson that tied the game, 1-1.
The score was not knotted for long, as Elon put up four runs, all of which came with two outs, in the top of the third inning. A&T pitcher Sasha Philpot issued a pair of two-out walks to Emerald Graham and Kaitlyn Piazzolla. With runners at first and second, O'Shea laced a 3-2 pitch to shallow center field, scoring Graham. A bases-loaded walk to Caitlin McGowan drove in another Elon run, making it a 3-1 game. With the bases still loaded, Lafferty singled scoring Crewe and O'Shea and out the Phoenix up 5-1.
The Aggies looked to threaten in the bottom of the third inning after loading the bases on a base hit and a pair of walks. O'Shea pitched her way out of the jam by striking out Jasmine Parks for the final out of the inning.
O'Shea opened the top of the fifth inning with a double to deep centerfield. She was left stranded as the Aggies turned a double play to end the threat.
North Carolina A&T scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. An Elon error and a single put runners at the corners. A passed ball allowed Ryanne Hill to score and cut the Phoenix lead to 5-2. A RBI-single by Bianca Wade made it a 5-3 game. Lafferty made a running grab at short to end the inning with two runners aboard.
The Phoenix added a run of insurance in the top of the seventh inning with a RBI-double off the bat of Lafferty that made it a 6-3 game. O'Shea retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win for the Phoenix.
Philpot suffered the loss to fall to 5-8 on the year. She hurled a complete game, giving up six runs on nine hits and seven walks.
Game Two - Elon 10, N.C. A&T 0 (Five Innings)
Elon wasted no time getting on the board in the second game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jackie Gonzalez started the inning with an infield single and moved to third on a stolen base and a fielder's choice. With one away, Graham tripled to center field and plated Gonzalez for Elon's first run of the game. O'Shea followed with a single that allowed Graham to cross home plate, giving Elon a 2-0 lead.
Lafferty led off the top of the second inning with a single through the left side. She made it a 3-0 game when Gonzalez roped a triple to right field.
Elon took a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Graham was hit by a pitch to open the inning. She scored one batter later when O'Shea belted a double to right center. After moving to third on a throwing error by A&T centerfielder Wade, O'Shea crossed the plate on a passed ball and gave the Phoenix a 5-0 lead.
Back-to-back home runs by Watson and Graham highlighted a five-run fourth inning for the Phoenix. Watson sent her home run over the left field wall just before Graham drove the first pitch she saw to straightaway center. O'Shea and DelPizzzo followed the round-trippers with a single and a double that put runners at second and third. O'Shea scored Elon's eighth run of the game on a passed ball. With two away, Lauren Taylor lifted a 1-0 pitch to left field for a two-run double that made it a 10-0 game
Elon's Taylor (9-3) allowed just one hit, while striking out five batters in the complete-game shutout.
Jasmine Luper fell to 4-8 on the season. She allowed 10 runs, seven of them earned, on 11 hits and four walks.
The Phoenix will be back in action on Friday evening at 5 p.m. when it returns to Southern Conference action to face UNC Greensboro in Greensboro, N.C.
Chattanooga 5, Georgia State 1
Georgia State 2, Chattanooga 0
ATLANTA, Ga. - Junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) swung her way to the top of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball home run list at 27 by hitting two in the 5-1 game two victory. The Lady Mocs banged out 11 hits in the second game, but only came up with four in the first game as they fell 2-0 to the Panthers.
The two home runs was the second time that Baker has done that feat this season drilling two against Butler on Feb. 19. She passed Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) and Laci Upchurch (2006-10), who each hit 25 long balls in their career.
"It's over with," said Baker about the record that she and former teammate Upchurch have been chasing. "It's finally over and now I get to set my own record. I saw the ball really well in the first game and was making good contact, but I was unable to get anything going. In the second game, I was just trying to get on base and started something because we were really struggling to get hits."
Another milestone was broken for Chattanooga as junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up her eighth save of the season passing Amy Robertson (1998). The eight saves also ties the Southern Conference record held by Maureen Flynn from UNC Greensboro back in 2002. Irwin also has tied teammate Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) with 10 career saves.
"I am excited, but I want to just keep moving on and want our team to make progress and get better," said Irwin. "I want to see us succeed in the Southern Conference. I am not really worried about the saves or wins. I want the team to keep winning."
Chattanooga's record now stands at 23-9 after the split, while Georgia State ended tonight's action at 21-11 on the season.
The Lady Mocs return to Frost Stadium on Friday at 6 p.m. to start a series with Western Carolina. The three-game set wraps up on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Catamounts beginning at Noon. Prior to the double header with Western Carolina, fans have an opportunity to discuss Lady Mocs softball with assistant coach Brad Irwin during "Breakfast with Coach" starting at 8:30 a.m. from Wally's Restaurant off McCallie Ave.
Game One: Georgia State 2, Chattanooga 0
The UTC softball team dropped its opening contest of the day at Georgia State, 2-0. The Lady Mocs could only muster three hits on the Panthers' starter Heather Lowry in a complete game at Bob Heck Field.
Loudermilk took the loss for Chattanooga in a four hitter striking out four.
Picking up hits for Chattanooga was senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.), junior Lauren Flores (Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.), senior Lynleigh Hurndon (McDonough, Ga.) and Baker. Hurndon stretched her hitting streak to five dating back to a hit in the second game against Eastern Illinois.
In the second inning, the Panthers struck first after drawing two lead off walks and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. With two outs, Tiffany Bess came through driving both runners in with a double to right center.
Junior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) beat out a chopper to the third baseman for the first hit of the game for the Lady Mocs in the fourth. Blosser moved to third on Baker's single down the third base line. The Lady Mocs would leave a runner on third after a pop up to the catcher ended the third.
The best scoring opportunity for Chattanooga came in the fifth after a Flores single up the middle, Hurndon doubled down the left field line. Flores advanced to third and a high throw sent the runner home, but the Panthers recovered and gunned Flores out at home to conclude the inning.
Game Two: Chattanooga 5, Georgia State 1
In the second game against the Panthers, the Lady Mocs attacked as hitters compiling 11 hits and scoring five times as Baker lifted two home runs in the contest. Flores and Baker each went 3-for-3 during the nightcap for Chattanooga as it won 5-1.
Junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) toed the rubber for Chattanooga recording her sixth win of the season striking out two and allowing four hits.
Excelling as a reliever, Irwin came on strong in a 2-1 game and kept the Panthers off balance fanning four to earn her eight save of the season and setting the UTC all-time single season saves record.
"I think there is always pressure, especially if you come in and you are winning," said Irwin. "You have the pressure of wanting to keep the lead. I feel like I work better in those situations. And even if those aren't the circumstances, I like to put that pressure on myself to be better and to do well."
Baker took sole possession of the UTC career home run record with her 26th, a blast to left to begin the second inning for Chattanooga. She tied the record on March 27 against Samford with Ramirez (2002-05) and Upchurch (2006-10) at 25.
"Usually I struggle with lefties, but this season I have been hitting pretty good against them," said Baker. "I think I have been seeing the ball better off of lefthanders. The pitch I hit was just middle-in and I pulled it."
Continuing to rally the bats, Waters went the other way tripling down the right field line. It was the first of her career and only the second of the season for the Lady Mocs. Waters later scored when Flores hit a grounder to the shortstop, who threw high to the first baseman and Flores advanced to second.
Chattanooga has been just about perfect on suicide squeeze plays this season, but the second out of the inning came when Flores was picked off third after contact was not made on the bunt attempt.
The Panthers got on the board cutting the deficit to 2-1 on an error by the shortstop with two down and a runner on third. Cunningham scored as pinch hitter Paige Nowacki put the bat on the ball.
Baker once again started the offense for Chattanooga in the fourth with a leadoff double to left. She advanced on a single by Flores and scored on a sophomore Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) single through the left side putting Chattanooga up 3-1.
With two outs and a Blosser on second via a single in the fifth, Baker deposited her 27th career home run to right center as the Lady Mocs took a 5-1 advantage. It was the ninth round tripper for Baker this season.
"My second homerun came off of a really good at bat," said Baker. "I was proud of that at bat because I was taking pitches where they needed to go. Before I got up there, I had planned on trying to go to opposite field no matter what pitch she threw me. I have been pulling the ball too much and I needed to change it up."
East Tennessee State 3, Appalachian State 1
East Tennessee State 2, Appalachian State 1
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University softball was unable to get much going offensively, falling to East Tennessee State 3-1 and 2-1 Wednesday night at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
Appalachian (15-12) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth of the first game when Katie Boyd launched a home run over the center field fence onto the Sofield Indoor Building.
East Tennessee State (12-20) tied the score in the top of the second. Katie Henderson singled up the middle with one out and advanced to second on a ground out and scored on an ASU error.
The Buccaneers took the lead in the sixth when Sam Lower hit a two-run single through the left side.
ASU's best chance to regain the lead came in the third and fifth innings. Michelle Gorzelle hit a one-out double in the third and ASU loaded the bases when Megan Rembielak and Boyd reached on back-to-back walks, but Jessica Duncan got a strikeout to end the inning.
Hannah Dow led off the fifth with a single, but the Apps couldn't move her around any further.
Dow suffered the loss, going 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, but just one of them was earned.
Marissa Hardy earned the win in relief for ETSU, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
ETSU scored single runs in the second and the sixth and hung on to defeat ASU 2-1 in game two.
Mikayla Treadway got the Bucs' on the board in the second with a two-out RBI single that drove in Marlina Delisa.
Sam Lower gave ETSU a two-run lead with an RBI single in the sixth.
ASU fought back in the bottom half of the inning, started by walks to Boyd and Allie Cashion. McKenzie Phillips reached on an infield single and Boyd scored when Shelby Morris threw the ball away, allowing Cashion and Phillips to move up a base. Gorzelle followed with a bunt to Morris and was throw out at first and first baseman Arielle Garner threw out Cashion attempting to score from third.
The Mountaineers had a runner on base in every inning, but ETSU turned two double plays and left seven runners on base.
Caitlin Wainright threw her ninth complete game of the season, giving up seven hits and two runs, one earned.
Darci Gilbert earned the win, going four innings while Morris picked up the save.
Appalachian is back on the road this weekend, as they travel to Furman for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and a single game on Saturday.