Elon 6, Winthrop 3
Elon 8, Winthrop 6 (9)
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Tomeka Watson belted a pair of home runs as the Elon softball team snapped a five-game skid with a pair of wins against non-conference foe Winthrop. The Phoenix took the first game 6-3 before winning the second contest 8-6 in extra innings. Elon also set a new Division I program record with 35 wins. The Phoenix finished the regular season with an overall record of 35-19. Winthrop fell to 25-27 on the season.
Jackie Gonzalez went 4-for-6 with two runs and a pair of RBI. Emerald Graham finished with three hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
Elon will be back in action on Thursday in the first round of the Southern Conference tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Game One - Elon 6, Winthrop 3
Trailing 3-2 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Watson belted a solo home run over the left field wall that tied the game at three. Gonzalez followed with a single up the middle and moved to second when Caitlin McGowan walked. With runners at first and second, Graham hit a stand-up double to left field that scored Gonzalez and put Elon on top 4-3. Kaitlyn Piazzolla came through with a two-run single that gave the Phoenix insurance as it headed into the bottom of the seventh with a 6-3 lead.
Winthrop registered just one hit in the bottom of the final frame, allowing Elon to come away with the 6-3, come-from-behind win. Gonzalez was responsible for the final three outs for Elon, catching a pair of pop ups and a ground out that ended the game.
Erin O'Shea picked up the complete-game win after allowing three runs on 10 hits and one walk. She also struck out six batters as she moved to 16-8 on the year.
Cari Woolridge fell to 14-14 after giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks. She also struck out five batters.
Winthrop took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after Lauren Levin recorded a two-run home run to left field that scored Chelsey Schoenfeldt, who led the inning off with a single. Lenny Stoddart followed with a double down the left field line but was left stranded as Hannah Shelton robbed Teja Durante of a hit with an inning-ending diving grab in shallow right field.
Elon answered with two runs in the top of the third. A walk to Watson followed a fielder's choice that put runners at second and third for the Phoenix. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move into scoring position with one away for Gonzalez. Once at the plate, she hit a one-hopper up the middle that scored Lauren Taylor and Watson and tied the game at two.
Winthrop took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on three hits. Ashlee Revell got things started with a single to center field and moved to second on a single by Levin. Stoddart drove in the run with a single down the left field line. O'Shea caught Durante looking to end the inning with two runners aboard.
Game Two - Elon 8, Winthrop 6 (Nine Innings)
The Phoenix broke a 5-5 tie, which had stood for three innings, with two doubles and triple in the top of the ninth inning that sealed the 8-6 victory. Pam DelPizzo got the extra-base hit parade going with a one-out double that scored Graham from third. Shelton followed two batters later with a run-scoring triple to deep left center that put Elon up 7-5. Elon added a run of insurance when Taylor doubled to right center field that scored Shelton and gave Elon an 8-5 lead.
The Phoenix held on to the lead despite giving up a RBI-double in the bottom of the frame to come away with an 8-6 win.
Elon jumped out to a 3-0 lead with two outs in the top of the third inning. Gonzalez got the inning started with a single to third base. A hit batsman put runners at second and third and brought Graham to the plate. Once there, she singled to center field to score Gonzalez with the first run of the game. Piazzolla followed with a sharply hit, two-run double to center field that gave Elon a 3-0 edge.
A walk and a pair of infield singles allowed the Eagles to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Pearl Coleshill sent two runners home on a chopper through the right side that cut the lead to one, 3-2. Winthrop tied the game at three one play later after Taylor Wright hit a RBI-single to right field. A throwing error by the Phoenix gave the Eagles a 4-3 advantage, but new pitcher Lauren Taylor got the final two batters to ground out to end the inning.
Elon went back on top in the top of the fourth inning after Watson hit her second home run of the day. Her two-run shot to left center put Elon up 5-4 and came after Ashlee Crewe opened the inning with a double off the left field wall. Gonzalez and McGowan put together a pair of singles, but couldn't cross the plate as the final batter lined out to short.
A RBI-single by Levin in the bottom of the fifth inning tied the game at four. Colesill scored on the play after she singled to short. Taylor got Stoddart to strike out swinging to end the inning with a pair of runners on.
Elon had a chance to break the 5-5 tie in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, producing three hits and leaving four base runners stranded. The Eagles also had their chances, but couldn't push a runner across in either of the final two innings, sending the game into extra innings.
Taylor moved to 15-8 on the year after throwing 6.2 innings in relief. She gave up just two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits. She struck out four batters and walked two. DelPizzo got the start and lasted 2.1 innings but did not factor in the decision. She gave up four runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out two batters.
Ashleigh Jackson dropped to 1-4 on the year after throwing 5.1 innings in relief. She surrendered three runs on six hits and a pair of walks. Megan Evans allowed fie runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings in the circle.
Chattanooga 1, College of Charleston 0 (8)
College of Charleston 4, Chattanooga 3
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.), junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) combined to throw a no hitter as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team scored the only run of game one in the eighth inning against the College of Charleston. It was a different story in game two as the Lady Mocs left 10 runners on base after recording nine hits in a 4-3 loss to the Cougars at Frost Stadium.
Offensively, five Lady Mocs seniors Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.), Brittany Eason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.), junior Lauren Flores (Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.) and freshman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) registering multi-hit games on the afternoon with Blosser and Flores recording the only RBI in the doubleheader. Irwin recorded the victory in the first game to tally her 11th of the season, but was charged with her first loss of the season in game two.
Chattanooga improved to 38-14 overall and 18-4 in the Southern Conference, while College of Charleston rose its record to 23-26 and 9-12 in conference action.
On Sunday, the Lady Mocs will honor five seniors prior to the contest against the Cougars with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The festivities honoring seniors Lynleigh Hurndon (McDonough, Ga.), Blosser, Eason, Kelley and Loudermilk will begin at 1:50 p.m. from Frost Stadium.
Game One: Chattanooga 1, College of Charleston 0 (8 innings)
The UTC Softball team used a combined eight-inning no hitter from Loudermilk, Waters and Irwin to down College of Charleston, 1-0, at Frost Stadium. With Eason on second and two outs, Blosser connected on an opposite field single scoring the only run of the contest. Tydingco, Eason and Blosser each had two hits helping the Lady Mocs register seven on the afternoon.
It was the first time that three pitchers have combined to no hit an opponent in the program's history. The last time that a Lady Moc pitched a no hitter was in fact a perfect game thrown by Lacey Swarthout on March 19, 2005 against Appalachian State. On Feb. 25, 2001, Talya Trudell and Beth Alexander combined to throw a no hitter against Marshall.
Starting in the circle for Chattanooga was Loudermilk, who pitched three innings and struck out one. Waters came in relief as Chattanooga used a pitcher by committee and threw two innings and struck out the side in her final frame.
The Lady Mocs relief specialist Irwin came in during the sixth and registered three hitless innings as she picked up her 11th victory of the season.
Chattanooga's defense committed no errors as each of the four runners that reached base drew walks.
In the fourth inning, Tydingco singled down the left field line and Blosser followed it up with a double to left center. The Cougars choose to intentionally walk Baker to walk the bases loaded, but the Lady Mocs were unable to push the first run across the plate.
Over the next three innings, Chattanooga would be retired in order, but leading off the eighth, Eason singled to right center. With one out, Tydingco notched a base hit into right field and then Blosser went the other way with a single to right as coach Reed sent Eason to the plate. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native slide in safely as the throw was on line, but a second too late as the Lady Mocs won 1-0.
Game Two: Chattanooga, College of Charleston
The UTC softball team out-hit the College of Charleston in the second game registering nine hits in a 4-3 loss. Flores, Kelley and Stiles each had two base hits during the contest, but the Lady Mocs could not come through with runners in scoring position as they left 10 on base.
In the circle, Waters started for the Lady Mocs and threw 3.1 innings, while striking out five. Normally dominate, Irwin had one of her roughest outings in the second-half of season pitching just one innings and gave up four hits. Concluding the contest was Loudermilk, who pitched 2.2 innings and struck out five providing Chattanooga a chance at completing the comeback.
The pitching staff that was stellar in the first game could not find a rhythm in the second as the Cougars recorded eight hits and drew six walks leaving 11 runners on base.
After being no hit in game one, the Cougars notched their first hit in the third inning by Lonergan and Kristie Woodall, who reached after being hit by a pitch, scored the first run of the game.
The Lady Mocs responded with two runs of their own as junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) led off the bottom of the third with a walk. She stole second and advanced to third on a Tydingco bunt single. A wild pitch on the fourth ball of an intentional walk to Baker tied the contest at one. Flores put the Lady Mocs on top 2-1 with a single up the middle.
The scoring continued in the fourth as the College of Charleston loaded the bases with singles by Katie Forbes and Kristy Giragosian, while Amber Shifflett drew a walk. Woodall singled up the middle as the Cougars took the lead again, 3-2. The inning ended on an unconventional double play on a grounder to the pitcher, who threw it to first, then the ball went to third before it went around the horn back to Tydingco before tagging out the runner.
In the fourth, senior Lynleigh Hurndon (McDonough, Ga.) started off the frame with a single up the middle and sophomore Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) found a hole down the right field line. The Lady Mocs loaded the bases as Stiles beat out a single to second, but would end the inning by hitting into a double play leavng their seventh runner on base.
College of Charleston tallied another run as Lonergan doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a groundout in the fifth. Amanda Mauer singled up the middle to score the eventual game-winning run.
In the sixth, Kelley started off with a single to second and Hurndon walked before Stiles loaded the bases with an infield singles. Junior pinch runner Kristin Holloway (Chickamauga, Ga.) scored, when the second baseman was unable to come up with the throw from the catcher to get the Lady Mocs within a run at 4-3.
Chattanooga has clinched the No. 1 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament and hosts the event on May 13-14 at Frost Stadium. The Lady Mocs are slated to play their first game on May 13 at 1:30 p.m., while the first pitch for the tournament will be 11 a.m.
UNC Greensboro 5, Samford 3
Samford 7, UNC Greensboro 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Kaitlin Merkt went 2-for-3 with three RBI as UNC Greensboro topped Samford in game one of a doubleheader Saturday, 5-3, to move within a win of clinching a berth in the Southern Conference Championship. The Bulldogs took a 7-1 win in game two to salvage the split.
A win in Sunday's series finale would secure a spot in the league tournament for the Spartans. UNCG could still make it to postseason play without a win, but would need Georgia Southern to take two of three from Furman this weekend. That series starts with a doubleheader Sunday.
Merkt delivered a two-run single in the top of the first inning of game one to put UNCG (25-27, 12-10 SoCon) on top early. Heather Robb led off the second inning with a solo home run, her fourth of the season, to make it 3-0.
Merkt followed suit in the fourth, leading off with her team-leading ninth homer of the season, extending her career high in that category. After Robb reached on a walk, she stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Whitney Sirois then hit a grounder to the left side to knock in Robb with the Spartans' fifth run of the day.
Laura Olenderski followed with a single to left, knocking starter Amanda Barrs from the game. Reliever Kayla Burris was simply dominant from that point on, as she retired the next 11 UNCG batters in order to finish the game.
The Bulldogs (18-31, 9-14 SoCon) picked up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fourth to get back in it. After loading the bases on a pair of errors and a walk, Anna Kimbrell battled back from an 0-2 count to work the count full - fouling off six pitches - before singling off third baseman Emily Akiyama's glove to drive in a run.
Starter Amber Harrell (13-13) got a strikeout for the first out of the inning, then retired Rachael Reeves on a sacrifice fly to right that brought in Amanda Jordan. UNCG would escape further trouble by defending the delayed double steal to perfection, nailing pinch-runner Madeline Baker at the plate to end the inning.
The Bulldogs added an unearned run in the sixth, taking advantage of a two-out error and a timely double from Kimbrell to put another run on the board.
Harrell evened her record on the season by allowing three unearned runs on five hits in seven innings. She struck out seven and walked two.
Barrs (4-15) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Game two saw UNCG take a 1-0 lead in the fourth. After Chelsea D'Ambrosio reached on an error to lead off, pinch-runner April alertly went to third on Emily Akiyama's sacrifice bunt. Robb then grounded out to first, allowing Langley to score.
The Bulldogs got the run back and then some in the bottom half, taking advantage of three hits and two UNCG errors to plate five runs.
With two runs already in, Aaren Fisher delivered a two-run triple. She then came in on a safety squeeze, just beating UNCG pitcher Cory Mattson's throw home.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the sixth on a two-run single from Barrs to put the game out of reach.
Mattson (10-13) took the loss, allowing five runs - none earned - on seven hits in four innings. Harrell worked the final two innings, allowing two runs on two hits in two innings.
Stephanie Royall picked up the win, improving to 8-8 on the year. She allowed an unearned run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Fisher was 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead Samford, while Kayla Shaffer was 2-for-3.
Sirois and Jordan Jewett had two hits each to pace the Spartans at the plate.
UNCG returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m. when it faces Samford in the regular-season finale for both squads.
Appalachian State 10, Western Carolina 2 (6)
BOONE, N.C. - Allie Cashion led Appalachian State University softball's 15-hit attack to defeat Western Carolina 10-2 in six innings on Saturday night.
Appalachian moves back to .500 at 25-25 on the year and can finish over .500 for the first time in school history with two wins tomorrow. Western falls to 10-41 on the year.
ASU scored nine runs in the first four innings to take control of the game. The Apps started the scoring in the first when Katie Boyd smoked a two-out double and Cashion knocked her in with an RBI single.
ASU added another run in the second when Michelle Lighton drove in Meghan Smith with a run scoring single. Appalachian tacked on two more in the third before exploding for five in the fourth. Meagan Squartino knocked in a run to begin the start the five-run fourth while McKenzie Phillips and Lighton delivered RBI singles, and Smith knocked in two with a single up the middle.
The Catamounts scored two runs in the fifth to keep the game going, but Cashion hammered the first pitch she saw in the sixth over the scoreboard in left center to end the game.
Cashion ended the day with her first career four-hit game, along with two RBI and three runs scored. With the two RBI, she reaches 40 on the year, joining Boyd as the only two Mountaineers to ever have 40 or more RBI in a season.
Smith added three hits while Phillips and Lighton had two hits apiece. The four through seven batters in the ASU lineup went a combined 11-for-13 with eight RBI and seven runs scored.
Amber Steinhardt led the WCU offense with two hits.
Caitlin Wainright earned the win, pitching three shutout innings, allowing just one hit and two strikeouts. Frannie Seader earned her first career save, finishing the ballgame.
Appalachian and Western Carolina are at it again tomorrow, as they will play a doubleheader at noon. ASU will recognize senior Meagan Squartino before the game.