Western Carolina 11, Mars Hill 2
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Freshman hurler Amber Steinhardt hit a game-high two homeruns, and picked up a win on the mound, in Western Carolina softball's (8-35) 11-2 win over Mars Hill (26-14) Tuesday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The second game of the doubleheader was called in the first inning due to heavy rains blanketing the area.
The Catamounts scored runs in three of the five innings, including six runs in the second inning, to secure the win. Steinhardt tossed two scoreless innings before giving up a pair of runs in the second inning, a two-run homerun by Ashley Seawall, to break up the shutout.
Freshman Jordan Fulton opened the bottom of the first inning with a single up the middle and stole second. With one out, Haley Pace walked and she and Fulton pulled off a double steal to put runners in scoring position. Fulton now has 14 stolen bases this season, which is the single-season record, and is currently tied for third in career stolen bases. Colby Liles grounded out, but it allowed Fulton to score the first run of the game. With two outs Steinhardt hit the first of two home runs in the game, when she sent a shot over the left field wall, for the two-RBI long ball.
In the Catamounts' biggest inning of the game, Robyn Burnette opened the bottom of the second with a single and proceeded to steal second. Fulton reached first on a Mars Hill error and Burnette and Fulton scored off a two-RBI single by Shemekia Scotten. Liles drew a one-out walk to set up Steinhardt's second home run of the game, a three-RBI shot over the left field wall. Missy Wills followed with a double and after Kristen Gay reached on an error, Wills went home on the ensuing miscue. The game was halted in the second inning, after Western Carolina scored its sixth run, when heavy rains hit the area. After it resumed, Reese drew a walk was caught stealing and then Burnette struck out to end the inning.
After giving up the two runs in the third inning, Western Carolina got the two runs back in the bottom of the third. Fulton singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Scotten and then advanced to third. Pace followed with a single and advanced to second on a Mars Hill error, and moved to third. Fulton scored on the play. Sitting at third, Pace went home on a wild pitch by Lions' relief pitcher Taylor Morris.
Steinhardt went five innings allowing two runs, on two hits and struck out two. She improves to 5-12 on the season. At the plate, she went 2-for-3, with two homeruns, two runs scored and a game-high five RBI. Fulton also had two hits in the game.
Western Carolina hosts its final mid-week game of the season Thursday when it hosts Winston-Salem State. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.
Georgia Southern 8, Kennesaw State 6
Kennesaw State 2, Georgia Southern 1
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Softball team split a non-conference double-header at Kennesaw State Tuesday (April 20), taking game one 8-6, before falling 2-1 in game two.
Senior Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) went 4-for-4 in the first game against the Owls, including a two-RBI single in the top of the seventh inning. Two batters later, Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) hit a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield to push the lead to 8-5.
The Owls put a scare into the Eagles, loading the bases and scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Megen Smith came on in relief, allowing just one hit, an RBI-single, before retiring the final three batters for her first save of the season. Kaitlynn Szczepanski (Chesapeake, Va.) improved to 2-1, earning the win in relief of Brianna Streetmon (Winder Ga.). The freshman worked one inning, allowing two runs, one earned.
The Eagles struck first in game one with a solo home run by sophomore catcher Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) down the left field line in the top of the third inning. The Owls answered with a two-run home run by Kelsey Kulk in the bottom of the fourth.
Georgia Southern took the lead right back, plating a pair of runs in the top of the fifth when Nina Iduate reached on a throwing error by Owl third-baseman Karlie Gillam, allowing Hanna Ennis and Williams to score.
After the Owls tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Smith singled and scored on an error, giving the Eagles a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Kennesaw State scored two in the bottom half before the Eagles exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh for the win.
Jessica Cross (13-8) was charged with the loss for the Owls, allowing eight runs, two earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
In the second game, the Owls scored first in the bottom of the first inning. The Eagles tied the game in the top of the third with an RBI-single by Smith. Kennesaw State scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the third with an RBI-double by Cross, taking a 2-1 advantage.
Smith (5-12) was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Abbey Meixel (9-8) earned the win for the Owls, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.
Side was 5-for-7 on the day, driving in two runs and scoring one, and Smith finished 2-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. Williams went 2-for-3 with three walks and a home run.
The Eagles return Saturday to host College of Charleston. The first game of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. That game can be heard, locally, on 91.9 FM, The Buzz, with announcers Daniel Sallerson and Drew Cheshire. Live Stats will be available on www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com in the schedule tab at the bottom of the homepage. Fans may also follow the score, posted every half inning, via Twitter at www.twitter.com/GSScores.
North Carolina 6, Appalachian State 2
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Allie Cashion hit a two-run single but it was not enough as Appalachian State University softball fell to North Carolina 6-2 Tuesday night at Anderson Stadium.
ASU fell behind early 6-0, but battled back in the top of the sixth. Michelle Gorzelle led off the inning with a bunt single and Sarah Rappe followed with another infield single. UNC pitcher Amber Johnson retired the next two batters, but Cashion ripped an 0-2 pitch up the middle to score Rappe and Megan Rembielak.
UNC grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Danielle Spaulding hit a solo homer over the left center field fence. Christine Knauer led off the game for UNC with a single, but was thrown out stealing by Michelle Lighton. It is just the third time Knauer was thrown out all season and the ninth thrown out by Lighton.
The Tar Heels took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, Stephanie Murad led off with a home run to left center and Constance Orr added an RBI single for the three-run lead.
Murad increased North Carolina's lead with her second homer of the day, a three-run shot that just cleared the fence in straightaway center field.
Lighton registered ASU's first hit of the contest in the fifth inning with a hard shot back to Johnson that she couldn't handle.
Spaulding earned her 17th win of the season, not allowing a hit in four innings while Johnson earned the save, pitching the final three, allowing four hits and the two runs.
Appalachian returns home this weekend as they host Chattanooga in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.