Elon 4, Furman 0
Furman 3, Elon 2
ELON, N.C. - Senior Lana Mackey tossed a three-hit shutout to lead Furman to a 4-0 victory over Elon in game one and doubleheader split with the Phoenix in Southern Conference softball action Saturday afternoon at East Field. Elon held on to top Furman in game two, 3-2.
Furman moved to 13-16 overall and 8-5 in SoCon play. The Phoenix dropped to 25-11 overall and 10-4 in the league.
Mackey fanned 12 batters and issued just one walk to shut out the Phoenix in game one and improve to 10-6 in the circle.
Leadoff hitter Stephanie Field got the Paladins on the board in the top of the third inning with a solo homer to right field, her second of the season. With one out in the fifth, Taylor Beam, Field and Katie Michaels all singled to load the bases ahead of Jessie's Homesley's two-run single into left-center. Mackey followed with a single through the left side to up the lead to 4-0.
Field and Mackey each collected two hits in the win as Furman out hit the Phoenix 7-3.
Starter Erin O'Shea suffered the loss for Elon to fall to 11-4. She allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings of work.
In game two, Elon starter Lauren Taylor tossed a complete game and worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the top of the seventh to give the Phoenix a split.
Hannah Bradley singled, Field walked and Michaels reached on a bunt single to load the bases for Furman with one out in the final frame, but Taylor got Homesley to hit into a fielder's choice and Morgan Hughey to groundout to end the threat.
After Furman took a 1-0 lead on Mackey's towering home run to right-center in the second inning, Emerald Graham belted a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the third to put Elon ahead 2-1. Furman knotted the game on Bradley's bases loaded RBI single in the fourth before Elon rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
O'Shea doubled into the right-center field gap to chase Bradley from the game. Mackey came on and allowed a bloop single to Kaitlyn Piazzolla before Caitlin McGowan singled to score O'Shea and give the Phoenix the lead.
Bradley (0-5) suffered the loss allowing three runs on eight hits in five-plus innings of work. She collected two hits at the plate while Michaels went 3-for-4.
O'Shea (12-4) limited Furman to a pair of runs on 10 hits while walking one batter and striking out four. Four Phoenix registered two hits in game two.
The Paladins and Phoenix conclude their three-game Southern Conference series with a single game on Sunday afternoon at East Field. First Pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Appalachian State 3, UNC Greensboro 2
UNC Greensboro 4, Appalachian State 2 (8)
BOONE, N.C. - Senior Emily Akiyama's two-run double capped a two-out rally in the top of the eighth inning as UNC Greensboro won game two of a Southern Conference doubleheader against Appalachian State on Saturday, 4-2, to salvage the split. The Mountaineers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh in game one for a 3-2 win.
UNCG (16-21, 5-5 SoCon) was twice down to its last strike in game two, but got clutch at-bats in the eighth for the win. Tied at 2 with two out, freshman Eileen Horsmon got the rally going with a single to right field. Kaitlin Merkt then worked the count full before singling through the left side, bringing up Akiyama.
The Kirkland, Wash., senior delivered, falling behind 0-2 before lacing a double to right to bring in Horsmon and Merkt for the go-ahead runs.
UNCG starter Cory Mattson finished the job in the bottom of the eighth, working around a one-out Spartans error to nail down her career-high ninth win of the season.
Appalachian State (19-16, 6-7 SoCon) led twice in the game, but saw the Spartans rally both times. The Apps jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning, with McKenzie Phillips and Michelle Lighton hitting back-to-back two-out singles to put the Mountaineers on the board.
The Spartans tied the game in their next at-bat, as Akiyama's sacrifice fly scored Alex Emeterio. The Apps got the run back in the bottom half of the fourth, however, again getting the job done with two outs. Sarah Rappe, Megan Rembielak and Katie Boyd strung together back-to-back-to-back singles with two down to make it 2-1 in ASU's favor.
UNCG would tie it at 2 in the fifth on Emeterio's double and Merkt's RBI single.
The Spartans' 3-6 hitters - Emeterio, Horsmon, Merkt and Akiyama - combined for six of UNCG's seven hits and all four RBI in the game. Akiyama had three RBI, while Horsmon and Merkt had two hits each.
Michelle Gorzelle went 2-for-4 to lead the Apps at the plate in game two.
Mattson (9-10) allowed two runs on eight hits and five walks in eight innings, striking out eight.
Frannie Seader (5-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief. Starter Caitlin Wainwright allowed a run on one hit and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Just like in game two, game one saw the teams tied at 2 heading to the bottom of the seventh. UNCG starter Amber Harrell struck out Hannah Dow to lead off the inning, but Dow reached first on a wild pitch. A sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Hayley Grabner to second, and Rappe's single moved Grabner to third.
Harrell induced a flyout to left from Rembielak for the second out of the inning, but Grabner was able to score on left fielder Brittany Ausley's throwing error, giving the Mountaineers the walk-off win.
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, with Ausley rapping a one-out double and Emeterio bringing her in with an RBI single.
The Apps took their first lead of the game in the bottom half of the inning, with Allie Cashion's two-run single driving in Rappe and Rembielak, who each reached on infield singles.
UNCG tied it in the top of the fourth inning, stringing together three straight hits at the bottom of the order. Senior Whitney Sirois delivered a single to right to drive in Akiyama with the tying run.
The game would stay tied until the decisive seventh, thanks in large part to an outstanding defensive play by UNCG right fielder Laura Olenderski in the sixth.
With the bases loaded and one out, Gorzelle lifted a fly ball to right that Olenderski was able to put away. Boyd tried to tag up from third, but Olenderski gunned down the SoCon's Preseason Player of the Year at the plate for the inning-ending double play.
Ausley was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for UNCG, while Emeterio and Sirois were both 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Rappe and Rembielak were both 2-for-4 with a run scored to pace App.
Harrell (5-10) was saddled with the loss for the Spartans, allowing three runs - two earned - on seven hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. She struck out six.
Seader picked up the win with three innings of scoreless, two-hit relief. She struck out five. Dow worked the first four innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out three.
The rubber game of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m. UNCG will be looking for its first series win over App since the 2003 season.
Chattanooga 5, Georgia Southern 3
Chattanooga 1, Georgia Southern 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team took two key Southern Conference games against Georgia Southern at Eagle Field on Saturday. The Lady Mocs scored five unanswered runs in the first game to overcome a three-run first inning deficit. In game two, junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) blasted a solo home run, which was the only run that junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) needed for the victory.
"When you spot someone three runs and your number one pitcher struggles," said head coach Frank Reed. "I would have never thought that Brooke would have lasted as long as she did. I never thought that we would have battled back, but nobody really stressed anymore than I did. When we got that one run [in the fourth], I thought that we could crawl back into it and the kids found a way. We got some timely hits, but had some opportunities early. We were able to slam the door, when we brought Kandice [Irwin] in."
Chattanooga improved its record to 30-9 on the year and 11-0 in the SoCon, while Georgia Southern fell to 20-16 and 6-4 in conference play as 562 spectators watched the doubleheader.
In two save situations, junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) registered her 10th and 11th saves on the season. She notched a three-inning save in game one, while retiring the final batter in the second game for her seventh strikeout of the day.
The first victory of the day went to senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.), who fought hard after giving up three runs in the first to pitch four innings and strikeout three. Waters fanned two in her 6.2 innings of work.
Driving in the runs for Chattanooga was senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) with a two-RBI double in game one, while sophomore Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.), junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) and Blosser each recorded three hits on the day.
The Lady Mocs conclude the series tomorrow with a single game beginning at 1 p.m. with live statistics and audio available on GoMocs.com. Chattanooga returns to Frost Stadium on Wednesday for a doubleheader against UAB with the first pitch set for 5 p.m.
Game One: Chattanooga 5, Georgia Southern 3
The UTC softball team responded being down three in the first and a sacrifice fly by Baker put Chattanooga up 4-3 in the fifth for good as Loudermilk notched her conference leading 15th victory of the season and Irwin closed game number 10 this year.
In the circle, Loudermilk pitched four innings and used her experience to get through a rough first inning as the Eagles put up three runs on four hits. Irwin closed the door on Georgia Southern striking out six and only gave up two hits for her 10th save of the season.
At the top of the order, junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) beat out two singles and Blosser also registered two in the contest.
Leading off the game for Georgia Southern was Nina Iduate, who leads the Sothern Conference in batting average, with an infield single. Iduate scored on a double down the left field line by Megan Smith, who advanced to second on the throw.
The second run of the game came across following a Stephanie Russo single through the left side and advanced a base, while Tarashuck put the Eagles on top 3-0 via a sacrifice fly to left center.
After two scoreless innings, senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Blosser that was bobbled by the second baseman.
Another hit by pitch from pitcher Brianna Streetmon loaded the bases for Chattanooga. With two outs, Traxler hit a liner that went off a diving third baseman to score Blosser from third, but that was all the Lady Mocs would get in the fourth.
Freshman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) started the fifth by reaching on a hit by pitch and went to second on a wild pitch. Following a Stiles single to third and with speed on the bases, Kelley singled to the catcher loading the bases. This time a Blosser single to right would score two as the outfielder was unable to make a clean play.
The sore was knotted at three with Baker up and she delivered with a sacrifice fly in foul territory down the left field line scoring Kelley from third as the Lady Mocs took their first lead of the contest.
In the seventh, the Lady Mocs added an insurance run on a suicide squeeze by Waters scoring Blosser for a 5-3 advantage.
For the Eagles, Streetmon threw a complete game striking out three, while Iduate and Jenny Side each had two hits on the afternoon.
Game Two: Chattanooga 1, Georgia Southern 0
A solo home run by Baker, number 11 on the season, was all that the pitching duo of Waters and Irwin needed to post a 1-0 victory over the Eagles in Satesboro, Ga. Chattanooga would register seven hits during the contest as Baker and Traxler each had two.
"It was a low and inside pitch and not the typical home run [that I have hit]," said Baker. "I originally thought that it might have been too high."
Pitching for the Lady Mocs was Waters, who threw 6.2 innings and struck out two only yielding four hits. With a tough out in Iduate due up, Irwin came on for the save with two outs in the seventh and struck out Kayla Brooks for her 11th save of the season.
"The curveball and changeup were not as effective today," said Waters. "We did not throw them as much today and ended up sticking with the fast ball. They [Georgia Southern] were very aggressive at the plate swinging at first pitches allowing us to get some quick outs."
Through the first two innings, a pitching dual between Waters and Megen Smith ensued as all 12 hitters were retired in order.
Leading off the third, Traxler doubled to left center and Tydinco singled up the middle to put runner on the corners and one out, but a ground out and pop up ended the inning for Chattanooga.
"I felt really good today," said Traxler, who is breaking out of a mini-slump. "I just kept telling myself to see the ball and hit it hard. I was not too aggressive or anxious, so I just stayed back and went with the pitch."
The Eagles would have two base runners in the bottom of the inning at first and second thanks to a single and an error, but Waters retired the side on a groundout to the pitcher.
In the fourth inning with one out, Baker hit her 29th career home run to left centerfield to put the Lady Mocs on top 1-0.
From there, Waters never struggled only allowing one Eagle to reach base in each of the final four innings.
With the pressure on after an error by the shortstop on a bad hop from the dirt, coach Reed decided to go with his closer Irwin to retire the final batter with a strikeout.
For Georgia Southern, Iduate beat out two hits and Smith threw a complete game striking out six.
Western Carolina 7, College of Charleston 1
College of Charleston 7, Western Carolina 2
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Redshirt-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) ripped a pair of homeruns as the College of Charleston (14-18, 4-6) earned a double-header split with Western Carolina (5-31, 1-12) in the first two games of a Southern Conference softball series. CofC dropped a 7-1 decision in Game 1 before earning a 7-2 victory in the second game.
After getting out of a first and third situation in the top of the first, the Catamounts took the early advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman outfielder Jordan Fulton led off the inning with a single, advanced on a sacrifice and then came around to score on a single by freshman catcher Haley Pace for the first run of the game. A hard single to right by freshman right fielder Amber Steinhardt then made it 2-0.
The Cougars laced a double for the second straight inning as redshirt-junior catcher Katie Pesature (Brewster, N.Y.) led off the frame with a shot off of the right field fence. After a pair of outs, she would come around to score on an errant throw from shortstop, narrowing the margin to 2-1.
Pesature would add her second consecutive double with a lined shot to the left centerfield gap in the fourth to put a runner in scoring position for CofC. She then advanced to third on her first steal of the season but would be stranded there as Western Carolina got the next two batters to end the threat.
It would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Catamounts scored four runs on five hits, three walks and a sacrifice fly. Following the offensive outburst, CofC threatened in the top of the sixth inning, putting runners on first and second with one out. A line drive out to right and a strikeout then got Western Carolina out of the inning.
Pace stretched the lead to 7-1 in the home half of the inning with a homerun to right center before sophomore pitcher Katie King closed out the six run victory with three straight outs in the top of the seventh inning.
Haley pace led the offensive attack for Western Carolina with a 3-for-4, three run, two RBI performance while freshman designated player Missy Wills finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Liles went 1-for-3 with two RBIs on a double and senior catcher Danielle Reese and Steinhardt each added an RBI. King went seven innings and allowed no earned runs to get the win and improve to 1-16.
Senior designated hitter Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) went for 2-for-3 with her tenth double of the season while Pesature finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and the only run of the game. Junior pitcher Alexa Datko (San Diego, Calif.) went 4.1 innings and allowed five runs to take the loss and drop to 4-8 on the season.
The College of Charleston wasted no time in taking a lead in the second game as Amber Shifflett belted a leadoff homerun over the right field fence for a 1-0 lead. Following a two out single in the second inning by junior shortstop Hillary Stringer (Summerville, S.C.), Shifflett would strike again as she ripped her second straight homerun over the right field fence for a 3-0 lead. It was the first time in her career that she had hit two homeruns in a game.
The Cougars would remain dialed in at the plate in the third inning as Kristie Shifflett walked to lead off the inning and scored on a two-run bomb by sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) that made it 5-0. That blast was her team leading fifth of the year and pushed her RBI total to 21.
In the fourth, Stringer singled to lead off the inning with her second single of the game. That set the stage again for Amber Shifflett who laced an RBI double to right centerfield to push the lead to 6-0. She would then come around to score on a sacrifice fly by her sister Kristie Shifflett to extend to a 7-0 lead.
Western Carolina got on the board in the sixth with a pair of RBI singles by Steinhardt and freshman first baseman Missy Wills to narrow the gap to 7-2. Senior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) then finished off the five-run victory with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh.
Steinhardt led the Catamounts with a 3-for-3 day that included two doubles and an RBI while Wills added the other WCU RBI. Freshman outfielder Bekah Burkett finished the day 1-for-2 with a run scored. Steinhardt started and went 2.1 innings, allowing five runs, to take the loss.
Amber Shifflett led the College of Charleston with a 3-for-4, four RBI, three run day that included a pair of homeruns. Amanda Lonergan added a pair of RBIs and a run scored while Stringer went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Kristie Shifflett rounded out the scoring with a run and an RBI. Terri Mesko threw her seventh straight complete game in as many starts and allowed only two runs and six hits while striking out seven to improve to 6-7.
The College of Charleston is back in action tomorrow afternoon for the third game of the series when they take on the Catamounts at 12 p.m.
NOTES
Terri Mesko recorded her 600th career strikeout against Danielle Reese in the second inning of Game 2.