Elon 5, Dayton 0
Elon 15, Morgan State 2
ELON, N.C.- The Elon University softball team continued their hot start to the season Saturday afternoon, Feb. 19, at East Field in the Elon Invitational earning a 5-0 victory over the Dayton Flyers and a 15-2 victory over the Morgan State Bears.
The Phoenix (6-1) received a complete-game shutout from Lauren Taylor against Dayton in game one before exploding for 12 runs in the first two innings of action in game two against MSU.
Game 1
Taylor continued her dominating start to the season, hurling a six hit shutout. Taylor moved to 4-0 on the year and earned her second win of the weekend after tallying seven strikeouts and not allowing Dayton to reach third base until the final inning.
After a quiet first two innings, Elon finally got going in the third and put three runs on the board. Hannah Shelton registered the Phoenix's first hit the game with a single up the middle before Tomeka Watson followed with an infield single. After a Dayton misue in the field advanced both runners up one base, Jackie Gonzalez tripled down the left field line that cleared the bases and gave the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. The maroon and gold tacked on one more in third and an additional run in the fourth to go ahead 4-0.
After Emerald Graham began the fifth inning with a leadoff single, Erin O'Shea singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Piazzolla brought home Graham with a RBI groundout to the pitcher to eventually give the Phoenix a 5-0 lead, one it would not relinquish in the final two innings.
The Flyers (0-2) did not touch third base until seventh when they put runners on the corners with two outs, but Taylor squandered Dayton's best scoring opportunity by getting a called third strike for the final out of the game.
Gonzalez led the way offensively for the Phoenix after going 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Game 2
Elon got ahead early and never looked back in the second game after putting up a five-spot in their first at bat. Elon loaded the bases with no outs after the first three batters reached base. Graham drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right that allowed each runner to advance a base. Carleigh Nester followed with a two-run double to left center and DelPizzo then singled to put runners at the corners. Morgan Wright doubled down the left field line to drive in two more runs for the Phoenix that opened up a 5-0 advantage.
Morgan State (4-4) countered in the second with one run after Lydia Rodriguez started the inning with a walk and eventually came into score on a RBI single by Shareday Christina to get on the board. The Bears went on to load the bases later in the inning, but could not plate any more additional runs and Elon's four-run lead remained intact.
Elon came right back and stayed hot in the second to break the game open with eight runs on six hits. Elon batted through the entire lineup for the second consecutive inning and sent thirteen hitters to the plate. The Phoenix loaded the bases on a Watson single, an error on the shortstop, and a walk to Graham. Nester then came up with the big blow of the inning on a three-run double to right center pushing her RBI total for the game to five. A walk by DelPizzo following the Nester double set up the second big hit of the inning off the bat of Morgan Wright with a three-run home run over the left field fence. Elon tacked on two more runs before ending the inning increasing the maroon and gold advantage to 13-1.
In her next at bat, Wright smashed her second home run of the game and sixth RBI with a solo shot over the left field fence in the third to make it 14-1.
Wright and Nester led the way offensively for the Phoenix, accounting for 11 of Elon's 15 RBI. Wright went 3-for-3 with two homers, while Nester went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles.
Kari Pervell (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Phoenix after pitching three innings allowing one run on four hits. Pam DelPizzo started for Elon and gave up one run on two hits in two innings of work.
The Phoenix look to increase their winning streak to five games and wrap up the Elon Invitational tomorrow afternoon with a game against Dayton at 2:30 p.m.
UNCG 3, St. Francis (Pa.) 1
UNCG 8, St. Francis (Pa.) 6
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - UNCG swept a pair of games from St. Francis (Pa.) at Charlotte's First Pitch Classic on Saturday, 3-1 and 8-6, to advance to Sunday's championship game.
The Spartans (5-4) rallied past the Red Flash (1-3) in both contests. UNCG will face Eastern Kentucky in the title game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
In game one, St. Francis jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, as Kaitlin Andler knocked in Karlie Miller with an unearned run
The Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a lead they would not relinquish. Alex Emeterio led off with a single, and Kaitlin Merkt followed with a triple to bring her home. One out later, Katelyn Bedwell singled to knock in Merkt with the go-ahead run.
UNCG added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, with Jordan Jewett hitting an RBI single to bring in Merkt, who doubled to lead off the inning.
Freshman Josie Felix picked up her second straight win to improve to 2-0 on the season, allowing just one unearned run on seven hits in 7 innings. She did not walk a batter and struck out two.
Michelle Spisak (0-1) took the loss for the Red Flash, allowing two runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
Merkt, Bedwell and Jewett had two hits each in the contest. Andler and Jasa Mitchell had two hits each for St. John's.
UNCG finished 2-1 in pool play to grab the second seed in the tournament, while St. Francis finished as the third seed, meaning the two would meet again later in the afternoon in bracket play.
St. Francis carried a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth in the second game, but the Spartans exploded for six runs in the inning before even recording an out to reclaim the lead. Heather Robb hit an RBI triple to bring in the first run of the inning, and pinch-hitter Katie Stripling hit an RBI double to pull UNCG within a run. A Kristen Gable single and an Aisha Figueroa walk loaded the bases for senior April Langley, who laced a bases-clearing triple to break the game open. Emeterio followed with an RBI single to make it a six-run frame and put UNCG up 8-5.
The Red Flash got a solo home run from Taylor Darnielle to lead off the seventh, but reliever Raeanne Hanks worked around a one-out walk after that to nail down the win.
UNCG held a 1-0 lead in game two after one inning, as Figueroa led off with a single and came in on Merkt's RBI single.
The Red Flash struck for three runs in the third to take the lead, taking advantage of a walk, a wild pitch and two errors in the inning.
St. Francis made it 4-1 game on Paige Smith's RBI single in the fourth, but the Spartans got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on Merkt's sacrifice fly.
Langley finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI, while Merkt was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Robb was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Figueroa was 1-for-1 with two runs, a walk and a sacrifice.
Hanks worked 3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk to improve to 2-1 on the season. Starter Cory Mattson allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks in 4 innings.
Michelle Andrews (0-1) took the loss for the Red Flash, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in an inning pitched. Starter Megan Layne allowed six runs on eight hits and four walks in 5 innings.
With the sweep, the Spartans earned a date in the title game against fourth-seeded Eastern Kentucky, which beat Charlotte twice on Saturday. UNCG downed EKU 10-1 in 5 innings on Friday.
Chattanooga 4, South Alabama 2
Chattanooga 4, UT Martin 3 (8 innings)
MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team picked up two more wins on Saturday with victories at South Alabama, 4-2, and against UT Martin, 4-3, in eight innings at the South Alabama Mardi Gras Tournament. Pitching was the story of the day as junior Michelle Fuzzard picked up the win with 5.2 innings against the Jaguars, while senior Nikki Waters threw a complete game and struck out seven against the SkyHawks in the nightcap.
Junior pinch hitter Vivian Morimoto recorded a game-tying homerun against UT Martin to send the game to extras and Fuzzard drove in senior Lyndsey Stiles with a sacrifice fly to right for the game-winning RBI.
In the first game, Fuzzard and sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco connected on leadoff home runs to left center in the third and fifth innings, respectively.
Sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat paced the Lady Mocs going 3-for-6 and scored two runs against UT Martin.
Game One: Chattanooga 4, South Alabama 2
Chattanooga posted a 4-2 win over the host Jaguars on Saturday. Fuzzard pitched 5.2 innings and reentered in the seventh to record the final two outs, while also helping her cause with a solo home run to left center.
With two hits, senior third baseman Tiffany Baker paced the Lady Mocs. Tydingco also connected on a home run, while senior outfielder Della Harrison registered an RBI double.
In the second, sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco drew a leadoff walk and scored on Della Harrison's double to left center off the wall. Harrison advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman catcher Natalie Powers. Senior Lyndsey Stiles singled to center and stole her second base of the game, sixth overall this season.
Leading off the third inning, Fuzzard drilled a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left center that cleared the scoreboard at Jaguar Stadium. The homer was the first for Fuzzard since the 2009 SoCon Tournament, a walk off home run against Samford on May 8.
Tydingco stepped up to begin the fifth inning and connected on the first pitch for an opposite field home run to left center. It was the second home run in as many games for the Fairfield, Calif., native.
The Jaguars responded in the sixth as reliever Irwin came into finish the contest. Stevens led it off with a bloop double just fair down the left field line. Then, Fowler and Hopkins recorded infield singles as Steven came across the plate. An alert play by Irwin erased the lead runner on a fielder's choice. Then, Moss singled to right field to cut the deficit to two, 4-2.
In the seventh, South Alabama continued to see the ball well off Irwin and used to straight singled to knock her out of the game. The Knoxville, Tenn., native finished with 1.1 innings pitched, two earned runs.
The starter for the Lady Mocs in Fuzzard returned and fanned the next two hitters to preserve the victory for Chattanooga.
Game Two: Chattanooga 4, UT Martin 3 (8 innings)
The heroics were provided by Morimoto in the bottom of the seventh as she hit a 1-2 pitch just over the fence to the left of center to send the game into extras tied at three. Fuzzard drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly as the Lady Mocs held the SkyHawks in the top half in recording a 4-3 victory.
Going the distance with an eight inning complete game was Waters, who struck out seven on the night. All three runs came off the bat of Jenny Bain, a mistake by the Soddy Daisy, Tenn., native that left the yard. The only hits that UT Martin managed were in the three-run fourth, besides that the senior was perfect.
With a three-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth, Poteat starts the inning off with an infield bunt single to third. Following two outs, Tydingco hits a liner in the left center gap for an RBI double.
In the sixth, Chattanooga would cut into the lead again as Poteat began the inning on first after being hit by a pitch. She stole second for the second time in the game. Then, Baker doubled to right center as Poteat advanced to third. Delivering again was Tydingco with a sacrifice fly for her second RBI of the contest.
After Waters downed the SkyHawks in order in the seventh, head coach Frank Reed went to his bench with two pinch hitters in sophomore Jenni Martin and Morimoto. Martin was unsuccessful to lead off the inning, but Morimoto had Reed's back and hit a home run that just cleared the glove of the centerfielder to knot the score at three. It was the first Division I home run for the junior college transfer from Miami Dade.
With a runner on second to start the eight, UT Martin sacrificed her to third and Waters used a ground out to short and fly ball to right in retiring the side.
During the bottom half of the frame, Stiles was placed on second and a perfectly placed bunt single by Poteat allowed her to reach third. Fuzzard ended the game with a sacrifice fly to right.
Morgan Lewis also pitched a complete game for UT Marting and recorded a game-high eight strikeouts.
The Lady Mocs concluded the South Alabama Mardi Gras Tournament on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. (E.S.T) against Southeastern Louisiana.
College of Charleston 3, East Tennessee State 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team picked up its second win of the season on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over East Tennessee State University in the second day of the CofC Cougar Classic at Patriots Point.
The Cougars (2-3) picked up three early runs and got quality defense as well as a shut-down pitching outing from Stephanie Saylors to earn the victory. Saylors went the distance in the contest and held the Bucs to seven hits. Saylors struck out five batters and walked just one en route to her first victory of the season (1-2).
CofC got on the board in the bottom of the first when Carly Corthell led off by beating out an infield single and stealing second to put herself in scoring position. Corthell moved up to third on a groundout and later scored after Kristi Woodall flew out to deep left and the threat of Corthell's speed forced a hurried, errant throw from the left fielder.
In the second, the Cougars loaded the bases and Hillary Stringer drew an RBI walk. Corthell earned an RBI as well when her sacrifice fly scored Katie Forbes to extend the lead.
The 3-0 lead held until the Bucs strung together a couple hits in the sixth to plate a run but Saylors minimized the damage to preserve the complete-game win.
The Cougars return to action Sunday afternoon and conclude the Classic with a game against Towson at approximately 2 p.m. followed immediately by a game against Morehead State.
Appalachian State 4, Lipscomb 0
Memphis 1, Appalachian State 0
ATLANTA, Ga. - Appalachian State University softball (1-7) picked up its first win of the season against Lipscomb, 4-0, but was edged by Memphis, 1-0 on the first day of the Georgia State Panther Invitational Saturday afternoon at Bob Heck Field in Atlanta, Ga.
The Mountaineers rode a complete game, one-hit shutout thrown by senior pitcher Hannah Dow to earn the decision over Lipscomb. The game was Dow's six complete game of her ASU career and fourth shutout.
Appalachian struck first in the game, getting a single run in the first. Senior Katie Boyd was hit by a pitch by freshman JJ Nelson to begin the inning and advanced to second on her third stolen base of the season. Sophomore Meghan Smith grounded out to Nelson, allowing Boyd to move over to third and Boyd eventually scored on an illegal pitch to sophomore Allie Cashion.
ASU exploded for three more decisive runs in the top of the sixth inning after not scoring for four innings. Junior Megan Rembielak grounded out to third base to start the frame, but sophomore Hayley Grabner singled down the left field line and advanced to second on a throwing error by left fielder Mackenzie Tucker. After Boyd lined out to center field for the second out of the inning, senior Sarah Rappe singled to shortstop, allowing Grabner to move over to third. Smith doubled down the left field line, permitting Grabner and Rappe to become Smith's third and fourth RBIs of the season. Cashion picked up the Mountaineers' second extra-base hit of the inning in the next at bat, doubling to centerfield, bringing around Smith for the third run of the inning. Dow ended the Appalachian inning, grounding out to third base.
Dow was rolling on all cylinders going into the final frame, having not allowed a hit the whole game. Dow had a runners reach in the first by walk and fielders' choice and in the fifth and sixth via errors. She got Vanessa Medina to strike out swinging to begin the inning. Haley Elliot then earned the first hit of the game by doubling down the left field line. Caroline Mason then hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game, giving the Mountaineers their first victory of the season.
Dow ended the game with four strikeouts and one walk.
In the second game of the afternoon, sophomore Louise Gibson was pitted against reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Carly Hummel and did not back down, notching her second complete game of the season in the 1-0 loss.
Gibson allowed the first of four total hits in the first inning to Maddie McKinley, singling to left field. Kailey Kassner drew a walk in the next at bat, but neither was allowed to cross the plate.
Hummel came out solid and struck out the top of ASU's lineup for three of her eight total strikeouts. Neither team would have a runner until the third when Alysssa Palmieri walked to begin the inning. Lelani Bernardino hit into a fielders' choice and Heather Mott lined out for the second out of the inning. Bernardino swiped second, but McKinley struck out swinging to end the inning, making her stolen base obsolete.
The Tigers made more noise in the fifth, but only yielded a hit and a runner left on base.
In ASU's half of the fifth, Cashion singled down the left field line to start the inning, but Dow hit into a double play, erasing Cashion. Junior Michelle Lighton struck out swinging to end the frame, leaving the game scoreless heading into the sixth.
Mott got ahold of a Gibson pitch and tripled down the right field line to begin the sixth. McKinley singled through the left side of the field, allowing Mott to plate the first run of the game. Kassner lined out to second base for the first out of the inning. McKinley stole second, but the next two Tigers got out to end the inning.
Rembielak singled in the bottom of the sixth and that would be the only baserunner from there on out for the Mountaineers as they fell to the Tigers.
Gibson only allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out six Tigers in the battle.
Appalachian is back in action tomorrow against host-Georgia State. First pitch from Bob Heck Field is at 12:15 p.m.
Georgia Southern 2, Middle Tennessee State 0
Kentucky 9, Georgia Southern 1
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Georgia Southern Softball defeated Middle Tennessee State 2-0 on Saturday morning at JoAnne Graf Field before falling to Kentucky 9-1 in the opener of bracket play in the 2011 Florida State Garnet and Gold Tournament. The Eagles found run support in an unlikely place in the day's opener when senior pinch hitter Bethany Crenshaw recorded her first career hit and drove in the game's second run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Georgia Southern (4-5) jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the Middle Tennessee State when Mackenzie Williams stole second. The Blue Raiders' catcher, Natalie Ysais, skipped her throw into centerfield, allowing Megen Smith, who had singled earlier in the inning, to trot home for the game's opening run.
Eagle pitcher Brianna Streetmon improved to 3-2 on the season after tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just two hits and fanned three. Streetmon was assisted in the pitcher's circle by several highlight-reel defensive plays by the left side of the Eagle infield. Sophomore third baseman Andrea Tarashuk assisted on four putouts and junior shortstop Jorie Walker made six throws across the diamond for outs. In all, Streetmon induced 13 groundouts in the game.
In the nightcap of Day 2, Kentucky dropped Georgia Southern 9-1. The Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Wildcats' batter Samantha DeMartine singled to plate Meagan Aull. The Eagles would respond in the top half of the third inning. Jorie Walker singled to lead off the inning. Alexa Lewis doubled to the right field wall to put two runners in scoring position. Kelly Burnett singled to bring home Walker and tie to game at 1-1.
The Wildcats would respond in the bottom of the third when Megan Yocke homered to left field to rebuild their lead to 3-1. Following a double to center, Brittany Cervantes homered off the scoreboard in centerfield to extend the Kentucky lead to 5-1.
Cervantes would homer again in the fifth, hitting a solo shot to right centerfield and giving Kentucky a 6-1 lead through five innings. A double in the sixth by Aull scored two runs to extend Wildcats lead to 8-1. A wild pitch on ball four to Cervantes allowed Aull to score the final run of the game.
Georgia Southern concludes play in the tournament in the consolation game at 10 a.m. against Middle Tennessee State.
Western Carolina 1, McNeese State 0
Southern Miss 4, Western Carolina 2
AUBURN, Ala. - Western Carolina softball (7-2) split day two action at the Tiger Invitational, hosted by Auburn University, defeating McNeese State 1-0 and falling to Southern Mississippi 4-2.
Sophomore pitcher Amber Steinhardt threw a gem against McNeese State. She tossed her first complete game shutout of the season and improves to 4-0. Steinhardt held the Cowgirls to just one hit heading into the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, with the Catamounts clinging to a 1-0 lead, Steinhardt gave up a pair of one out hits that looked to spark a McNeese State rally. After Kim Kennedy and Kelsey McClain picked up singles for the Cowgirls, Western Carolina dashed McNeese State's hopes, when Steinhardt forced a pair of ground outs to earn the win.
Western Carolina strung together four hits in the game against the Cowgirls.
The Catamounts lone run came in the fourth inning when sophomore Jordan Fulton led off with a single, the first WCU hit of the game. Fulton advanced to second on a McNeese State fielding error. With one out, Haley Pace singled to centerfield, and moved to second on the throw, pushing Fulton to third base. McNeese State's second error of the inning not only allowed Erin Foster to reach first, but accounted for the Catamounts only run in the game, when Fulton scored.
Pace was the only player, from both teams, to post multiple hits, going 2-for3. Fulton and Shemekia Scotton also had hits for WCU.
Western Carolina shutout a McNeese State team that posted an 8-0 win over Western Illinois on Friday. The same Western Illinois team which shutout the Catamounts 6-0.
The second game of the day for Western Carolina was a true battle.
A scoreless first inning morphed into a two-run inning for Southern Mississippi in the top of the second inning.
Junior pitcher Katie King got the start in the second game of the day. In the second frame, she allowed one hit, a a two run homerun by Golden Eagle Christina Roosmalen for the Golden Eagle's 2-0 lead.
Western Carolina began to chip away at Southern Miss' two run lead. In the bottom of the third inning, the Catamounts moved to within one run. Amelia Griffin led off with a single, an after a sacrifice bunt Fulton, moved to second base. With two outs, Robyn Burnette hit an RBI single to centerfield scoring Griffin.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Catamounts tied up the ball game at two. Erin Foster opened the inning with a single and scored thanks to an RBI double by Morgan Waytt.
Southern Miss took the lead with a run in the sixth inning and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
King took the loss on the mound and falls to 3-2. She went six innings allowing three earned runs, eight hits and had four strikeouts.. Amber Steinhardt replaced King in the seventh inning and allowed one hit.
Griffin was 2-for-3 in the game and scored a run.
Western Carolina closes out the Tiger Invitational on Sunday playing host Auburn at 3 p.m.
Gardner-Webb 6, Furman 5
Gardner-Webb 3, Furman 2
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Gardner-Webb capitalized on Furman miscues to sweep the Paladins 6-5 and 3-2 in non-conference softball action on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
The pair of losses dropped Furman to 0-6 on the season while the Bulldogs improved to 2-2 with their first victories of the 2011 campaign.
In game one, the Runnin' Bulldogs used a six-run second inning and weathered a late Furman offensive surge to hold on for the 6-5 win.
In the second inning, catcher McKenzie Morenus led off the inning with a single up the middle, while shortstop Morgan Baker followed with a four-pitch base on balls. With runners on first and second, Michelle Primm reached base safely on a fielder's choice, loading the bases with no outs.
After Kelsey Witter drew a walk to force in Morenus from third, centerfielder Melinda Dulkowski singled through the right side to plate both Baker and Primm to put the Runnin' Bulldogs up 3-0.
With two runners in scoring position, designated player Emily Bowman picked up a bunt single to reload the bases for the home team.
GWU's next three runs in the inning came by way of a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice and a force out, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 6-0 lead.
Furman got on the board in the fifth as the Jessie Homesley delivered a two-out RBI single to cut the GWU lead to five at 6-1.
In the sixth, Furman's Stephanie Spain led off the inning with a double down the left field line. After a ground out, a GWU error allowed Nikki Legg to reach base safely and move Spain to third base with one out. Furman's Spain would then score on a pass ball to cut the GWU lead to 6-2.
After a strikeout, Hannah Pace doubled to left field to plate two, both of which were unearned runs. The Paladins added another unearned run off a Lauren Collier RBI single to get within one of the Runnin' Bulldogs at 6-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Furman was able to load the bases with no outs by way of two GWU fielding errors and a hit by pitch, putting the pressure on the home team in the top of the seventh. Gardner-Webb, however, answered as Alyssa Gutierrez was able to get pitch hitter Alex Bimonte to line into a double play. Stephanie Field grounded out to end the threat and close the game.
Cindy Boomhower (1-1) picked up the win, as she allowed five runs, one of which was earned, on nine hits while striking out two in 5.2 innings of work. Gutierrez (1) picked up her first career save, holding Furman scoreless over the final 1.1 innings of the game.
Lauren Collier (0-3) was handed the loss, as she gave up six runs on only five hits over six innings of action.
For GWU at the plate, Dulkowski was 2-2 with two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base, while Savage was 1-3 with an RBI.
Offensively in game one, Furman was led by Katie Michaels and Spain, who were both 2-4 for the game, and Pace who was 1-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
In game two, Gardner-Webb battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth and take a 3-2 home win over Furman.
Furman took an early 2-0 lead with an RBI single to right center by Collier in the first and an RBI single up the middle by Bimonte in the second.
Despite putting runners on in both the second and the third, GWU finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits and a Furman error.
In the fourth, Meenaghan reached base on a throwing error to start off the inning. After Meenaghan stole second, Jordyn Arrowood then singled and eventually moved up to second to put two runners in scoring position with no outs.
GWU's Savage then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Meenaghan and move Arrowood up to third.
After a Morenus walk and failed stolen base attempt, Baker then singled through the left side to plate Arrowood and tie the score up at 2-2. Baker than advanced to second on a wild pitch just before Lindsea Hutchinson belted a single to left to score Baker from second and give the Runnin' Bulldogs its first lead of the game at 3-2.
That was all GWU would need as freshman Jessica Childers (1-1) shut down the Paladins the rest of the way, picking up her first career win. Childers went the distance, allowing only two runs on five hits, while striking out six Furman hitters.
Furman's Collier (0-4) suffered her second loss of the day, this time in relief, surrendering one run on five hits over the final 2.2 innings of the contest.
Baker was 2-2 with an RBI, a run scored and two base-on-balls, while Meenaghan was 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
For Furman, Morgan Hughey was 2-3 with a run scored, while Bimonte (1-2) and Collier (1-3) each had an RBI in the loss.
Furman continues its search for win No. 1 when the Paladins host Oakland for a doubleheader on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pepsi Stadium.
North Florida 3, Samford 2
Troy 4, Samford 1
TROY, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its final two games in the Quality Inn Classic Saturday to North Florida and Troy. The Bulldogs fell to North Florida, 3-2, in the first game of the day before dropping the afternoon contest to Troy, 4-1, to round out tournament play.
Samford scored right out of the gate against North Florida when Nicole Bobrowski singled with two runners on base to score Aaren Fisher from third. The Ospreys answered back, though, in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run home run by Jackie Reese.
The Bulldogs and the Ospreys then played three quick, scoreless innings before UNF extended its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth with another home run by Reese. Samford cut the lead to 3-2 when Alex Adams got a base hit with two runners on to score Julianne Surane, but the Ospreys would record the final two outs before Samford could plate another run.
Brianna Chambers led the Bulldogs against the Ospreys, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Adams followed with a 2-for-4 performance along with Surane who went 2-for-3. Bobrowski, Whitney Terry, Allison Reynolds and Arica Dykes each had a hit while Adams and Bobrowski had Samford's two RBI.
Bobrowski (1-1) pitched a complete game giving up three earned runs on six hits while recording four strikeouts.
Reese led the Ospreys, going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. Brittany Hendrix also went 2-for-2 at the plate while Caroline Torre and Mariah Reynolds each had a hit.
Cortney Radke pitched a complete game and gave up two earned runs on 11 hits while striking out five batters.
In the afternoon game, Troy scored quickly in the bottom of the first inning when Nikki Hollett hit a two-out home run to center field. The Trojans added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hollett singled through the left side to score runners from second and third base.
Samford finally got on board in the top of the sixth inning. Amanda Jordan got a base hit with one out in the inning and then stole second base to get in scoring position. She advanced to third base when Kayla Burris grounded out to second base and then scored on a passed ball.
Troy extended its lead to 4-1 in the bottom the sixth inning when Kacie McAllister bunted to score Kortney Cooper from third base. The Trojans held Samford scoreless in the top of the seventh and would walk away with the 4-1 win.
Jordan led the Bulldogs against the Trojans with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate while also scoring a run. Julianne Surane was the only other Bulldog to get on the board as she had two hits against Troy.
Kayla Burris (1-3) pitched a complete game, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Hollett led the Trojans, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run. Taylor Smart and Hayden Gann each went 2-for-3 while Michelle Hewett, Randi Ashworth, Sarah Shields and Kacie McAllister each had a hit as well.
Haley Hutchins (2-1) also pitched a complete game. She gave up just one run on four hits with six strikeouts and five walks.
Samford and Troy will play a bonus game Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.