College of Charleston 5, Appalachian State 4
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Senior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) pitched a complete game and sophomore outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the College of Charleston (19-19, 7-7) earned a 5-4 victory over Appalachian State (22-19, 7-10) in the finale of a Southern Conference softball series on Sunday, April 18.
The College of Charleston got off to a strong start as Mesko set down the first three Mountaineer batters by strikeout in the first inning. The Cougars' hitters then took over in the bottom of the inning as redshirt-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) led off with a single to left and then scored on a deep double to right center field by junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.). She would then come around to score on an errant throw from second base to make it 2-0.
Appalachian State would get on the board in the second inning with a single and a steal from McKenzie Phillips and an RBI double from freshman designated hitter Meghan Smith. It would remain 2-1 until the third inning when CofC pushed across three runs on three straight hits to make it 5-1. Katie Forbes and redshirt-junior catcher Katie Pesature (Brewster, N.Y.) each produced RBI singles while sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) doubled and scored on an error.
The Mountaineers would narrow that margin in the sixth as they used five singles, three with two outs, to score three runs and close to within 5-4. With runners on first and second and two outs though, Mesko struck out junior third baseman Katie Boyd, the Mountaineers offensive leader, to end the threat.
That would be the only chance at tying the game they would get as Mesko and the Cougars' defense buckled down and retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the 5-4 victory. In that frame, junior shortstop Hillary Stringer (Summerville, S.C.) helped keep Appalachian State from getting a runner on with one out as she made a running over the shoulder catch into left center. Mesko then induced a week pop up to second to end the game.
Sophomore shortstop Megan Rembielak led Appalachian State with a 2-for-3, one RBI day while Meghan Smith and sophomore outfielder Michelle Gorzelle each went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Junior outfielder Sarah Rappe added the only RBI of the day for the Mountaineers and Phillips finished 2-for-4 with a run and a steal. Junior pitcher Hannah Dow started and went 2.1 innings, allowing all five runs, to take the loss and fall to 5-8 on the year.
Forbes 2-for-3, one RBI outing led the College of Charleston while Woodall and Pesature each added an RBI. Terri Mesko earned her fifth straight win to improve to 10-7 as she threw her ninth straight complete in her last nine starts. She struck out five and walked two batters on the day while working around 10 hits.
The College of Charleston travels to Charleston Southern for a non-conference double-header on Wednesday, April 21. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. in Ladson, S.C.
UNC Greensboro 17, Western Carolina 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the second straight day, UNC Greensboro posted the largest Southern Conference victory in school history, pounding out 14 hits in a five-inning, 17-1 win over Western Carolina on Sunday to clinch the series.
Alex Emeterio, Eileen Horsmon and Kaitlin Merkt had three hits each and Whitney Sirois hit a three-run home run in the first inning as the Spartans (19-22, 8-6 SoCon) cruised to the win.
UNCG jumped all over Western Carolina starter Amber Steinhardt, scoring six runs in the first. Brittany Ausley and Emeterio came in on a Horsmon single and a WCU error and Heather Robb drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Sirois belted a drive out to left field to blow the game open early.
The Spartans added another run in the second on another RBI single from Horsmon, then scored four in the third inning to put the game in mercy-rule territory. Merkt and Ausley had RBI doubles in the fourth, while Emeterio added a run-scoring single.
UNCG made it a record-setting day in the fourth inning, plating six more runs for the most lopsided SoCon win in school history, supplanting Saturday's 15-1 win over the Catamounts (7-35, 2-15 SoCon). Pinch-hitter Kayla Hensley had a two-run single in the frame, but the big blow was Merkt's monster homer, a two-run shot that hit the top of the scoreboard in right center on the way down.
The homer was Merkt's sixth of the season, matching the career high she set last year.
Western avoided the shutout in the top of the fifth, getting a two-out RBI single from Colby Liles that scored Jordan Fulton.
Amber Harrell (8-10) picked up the win for UNCG, allowing one run on five hits and two walks in five innings. A day after becoming the Spartans' career strikeout leader, Harrell whiffed six to run her career total to 577.
Steinhardt fell to 4-12 on the season, allowing 10 runs - just three of which were earned - off seven hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. The freshman did lead the Catamounts at the plate with a 2-for-3 showing.
Ausley reached base four times for the Spartans, scoring each time.
The win, coupled with Georgia Southern's 7-2 loss at Samford, ties UNCG for third in the league standings with idle Furman. The top four teams in the league advance to the SoCon tournament May 13-14.
UNCG's 17 runs, 14 hits and four stolen bases were all season highs. In all, 16 of UNCG's 17 available players got into the game.
The Spartans return to action Thursday when they host crosstown rival North Carolina A&T for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
Chattanooga 6, Elon 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team came out firing using a six-run fifth inning to knock off Elon. Junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) held the Phoenix hitters off balance all game throwing a complete game one hitter.
Waters also provided some insure for the Lady Mocs hitting a clutch three-run home run that gave the home team a 6-0 lead in the fifth. Freshman Kasey Tyindgco (Fairfield, Calif.) was started the rally in the inning with a triple down the right field line.
"Elon is a really good offensive team," said head coach Frank Reed. "But you see what you can do with good pitching on an offensive team. Nikki (Waters) held them to one hit, shut down the big hitters and hit her spots. Our offense was dominant today because the pitchers for Elon, who hit their spots yesterday couldn't hit the same ones today."
The victory was important for Chattanooga (33-12, 13-2 SoCon) as they lead Elon (30-12, 13-5 SoCon) by three games in the loss column in the Southern Conference standings. Chattanooga has three more series remaining at Appalachian State, at UNC Greensboro and home to College of Charleston, while Elon host Samford and travels to Georgia Southern before a bye week.
In the circle, Waters continued her dominance in the SoCon notching her fifth victory in conference and 10th overall, while striking out three. The only blemish came on a leadoff single to start the seventh.
"My curve and screwball was working well today because they were jamming Elon," said Waters. "My changeup was working well today, too."
Leading off the contest for Chattanooga was junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) drawing a walk and then senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled through the left side to put a runner in scoring position with one down, but the squad was unable to take the early lead.
It took four innings of one-hit ball with Blosser registering the only single for both teams, but the Lady Mocs would bat around the order in the fifth. A leadoff single to center by junior Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.), who was pinch run for by sophomore Kristin Holloway (Chickamauga, Ga.), put pressure on the Phoenix.
With an out that moved Holloway to second, freshman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) came through with a triple down the right field line as she eluded the tag by third baseman Caitlin McGowan scoring the first run of the contest. Junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) beat out an infield single, then stole second on the next pitch putting two runners in scoring position.
A two-RBI single to right by senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.), who reached second on a throwing error by the right fielder, put Chattanooga on top 3-0.
After an intentional walk with first base open to junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.), Waters made Elon pay with a three-run homer that curled around the left field foul pole. It was the sixth home run of the season for the Soddy Daisy, Tenn., native.
"Hitting the homerun felt good," said Waters. "She threw me a pitch near the middle-inside part of the plate that appeared to be a mistake. I didn't see how close it was to the foul-pole though. I just saw it go up when I hit it and I thought it was fair."
Chattanooga could have added another in the sixth after a leadoff walk to Traxler and infield single by Stiles, but they would end up being stranded.
Tomeka Watson broke up the no-hit bid by Waters in the seventh with a leadoff single up the middle as the blooper fell just behind second. The Phoenix would then draw a walk, but two fly outs put a quick end to the rally. Elon would load the bases as a 3-2 pitch from Waters fell low, but the hurler got the final out of the contest on a fly ball to junior Lauren Flores (Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.) in left.
The Lady Mocs are back in action next weekend traveling to Appalachian State for a three-game series beginning on Saturday. A doubleheader between the two squads begins at 1 p.m., while the finale on Sunday has a first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Samford 7, Georgia Southern 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team captured its first Southern Conference series win Sunday with a 7-2 victory over Georgia Southern. The win was Samford's second-straight and improves the Bulldogs to 13-26 overall and 3-11 in league play. The Eagles fall to 21-21 overall and 7-7 in SoCon play.
"We are ecstatic," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "I'm just very proud of them. Up until now, it just seemed like there was just one thing that wouldn't go our way - either we couldn't get a big hit or we pitch a three-hitter but we make one bad pitch that costs us the whole game. So, it just really feels good to win two close games and be in the third one. I just think it's about getting over that mental hump and knowing that you can do it."
After three scoreless innings and only four hits between the two teams, Samford sparked an offensive burst that resulted in three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aaren Fisher led off the inning with a swinging strikeout before Katie England reached base on a walk. Alex Adams was then hit by a pitch to reach and was subbed for by Madeline Baker.
With two on and one out, Amanda Barrs laid down a bunt to move the runners into scoring position and then Amanda Jordan hit a two-out single up the middle to drive in the first run. Kayla Shaffer followed with a single of her own deep down the left field line to drive in Jordan and Baker as the Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead.
Georgia Southern responded in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 3-2 on a two-run home run by Megen Smith with one out. However, Kayla Burris replaced Barrs in the pitcher's circle and the Bulldogs retired the Eagles on a fly out and a swinging strikeout after two walks.
The Bulldogs added two more runs to their score in the bottom of the fifth when Fisher hit a one-out two-run homer to left-center field. Samford then extended its lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning on a bunt single and a fielder's choice.
Jordan and Barrs led the Bulldogs at the plate against the Eagles on Sunday. Jordan went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI while Barrs was 2-for-2 with one run scored. Fisher, Shaffer, Reeves and Kimbrell also each had a hit for the Bulldogs and Gonzalez and Reeves were credited with one RBI while Shaffer had two.
Barrs pitched 4.1 innings before being taken out after giving up the two-run homer by Smith. She gave up just two earned runs on six hits while striking out three batters and walking two. Burris pitched the final 2.2 innings and gave up just one hit while walking two batters and striking out three.
Nina Iduate led the Eagles, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Five other Georgia Southern players had one hit while Burnett and Smith scored the two runs on Smith's homer.
Brianna Streetmon (15-9) pitched 4.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits. She walked one batter and struck out two before being replaced by Megen Smith in the fifth inning. Smith pitched 1.2 innings and gave up one earned run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Samford is back in action Wednesday when it plays host to cross-town rival UAB at 6 p.m. while baseball takes on UAB at the same time. The games are in conjunction with the Samford Crawfish Boil for faculty, staff and students. The Bulldogs will then wrap up the eight-game homestand on Thursday with a doubleheader against Mississippi Valley State (4 p.m.) and Jackson State (6:30 p.m.).