Western Carolina 2, Delaware 0
Western Carolina 7, Coastal Carolina 3
CONWAY, S.C. - Sophomore catcher Haley Pace hit a grand-slam, in the top of the seventh inning, to lead Western Carolina softball (12-6) to a day two sweep at the Coastal Softball Tournament, defeating Delaware 2-0 (3-8) and downing host Coastal Carolina (12-6) 7-3.
After enjoying back-to-back shutouts, defeating Delaware 1-0 and 2-0 on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, Western Carolina had a battle on the mound and at the plate with host Coastal Carolina. It all came down to the seventh inning with the game tied at three.
A lead-off walk by Robyn Burnette, a one out walk by Amelia Griffin and a single by Jordan Fulton loaded the bases for the Catamounts. Pace hit a grand-slam, sending a shot over the left field wall, to not only pick up four RBI in the game, but give Western Carolina a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Coastal Carolina looked to still have life when Sarah Maples hit a two out single to left field and advanced to second on a Catamount miscue. Western Carolina pitcher Amber Steinhardt forced Jazmin Daigle to ground out for the final out of the inning and earn the win.
Steinhardt improves to 6-2 on the mound, tossing her second consecutive complete game of the tournament. She allowed two earned runs, seven hits and struck out three.
The Chanticleer got on the board first scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning. Sarah Maples scored on a fielding error by Western Carolina for Coastal Carolina's 1-0 lead.
Western Carolina answered in a big way, in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-1 advantage. Morgan Wyatt led off with a single and motored to third thanks to a double by fellow freshman Kelly Braman. The pair scored off a single two RBI by Shemekia Scotton. An RBI single by Burnette sent Scotton home for the third run of the inning.
The Catamounts were held scoreless for the next four innings allowing the Chanticleer to chip away at the WCU lead. Coastal Carolina's Brooke Donovan hit a homerun in the third inning to trim the Western Carolina lead to 3-2 and Courtney Howell scored on a ground out by Michelle Evans to tie the game.
Braman, Fulton and Scotton each had multiple hits in the game. Braman led the group going 3-for-4.
In the first game of the day, junior lefty hurler Katie King tossed a four hit shutout in the 2-0 win over Delaware. She had two strikeouts and gave up just one walk.
Western Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. Pace hit her first homerun of the day, against Delaware, a rocket over the left field wall, the same spot she would hit her game-winning grand-slam in the second game of the day against Coastal Carolina.
The Catamounts posted an insurance run in the sixth inning. Fulton and Wyatt earned back-to-back one out walks to set up the score. Pinch hitter Braman hit a ground out to the short-stop allowing Fulton to score.
Delaware had a rally chance in the top of the sixth inning after King gave up a single to the lead off hitter. She forced three straight ground outs to end the Delaware threat.
Western Carolina is scheduled to play Towson at 10 a.m. in the final day of the Coastal Carolina Tournament. However, the threat of heavy rains looks to force the cancellation of the last day of play. Updates on the status of the game will be posted on Sunday.
Radford 4, College of Charleston 1
College of Charleston 5, Maine 0
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The College of Charleston softball team split its pair of games on the second day of the University of South Florida Under Armour Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Saturday.
The Cougars (13-6) succumbed to a two-inning, four-run push in a 4-1 loss in the morning game to Radford but bounced back to beat Maine, 5-0.
"You have to give credit to Radford this morning," said head coach Shelly Hoerner. "They hit the ball and defended well enough to win the game.
"I'm extremely happy with our turn around in the second game, though. The girls didn't get down after the loss and stayed focused throughout the day. Our bats got hot and we defended well to come away with the positive result."
GAME ONE: CofC: 1, Radford: 4
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the third inning but Radford plated four between the fourth and fifth to get past CofC.
In the third inning, Carly Corthell beat out an infield single to extend the inning to Katie Forbes who doubled to the right-centerfield fence to plate Corthell as the game's first run.
The Highlanders tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Nichole Beall homered to left field. Two batters later, Kristi Woodall kept the game tied with a dazzling catch in center field in which she robbed the Highlanders of a second home run and crashed through the fence, holding onto the ball to ensure the out.
Radford successfully moved ahead the following inning, however, when they scored three runs on three hits and one Cougar miscue to move ahead 4-1, the eventual final.
GAME TWO: CofC: 5, Maine: 0
The Cougars rebounded in the second of the game with a strong all-around performance to take down Maine, 5-0. The Cougars plated runs in the third and seventh and got a complete-game outing from Alexa Datko to pull out the win. Datko allowed just three hits and struck out four.
The game was a pitchers' duel until the third inning when Kristy Giragosian legged out an infield single and advanced to second on a well-executed sacrifice bunt from Corthell. Lizzy Vaughn then triple down the right-field line to score the game's first run. Katie Forbes followed up with a double down the third-base line to put CofC on top 2-0 and scored later in the inning on a passed ball.
Corthell started off the seventh with a double to straight-away center and made it to third on Vaughn's bunt single. With runners on second and third, Amanda Lonergan singled to the shortstop for an RBI and Vaughn scored later on a wild pitch to cap off the 5-0 win.
NEXT UP:
The Cougars conclude the Invitational with a game against Western Michigan at noon on Sunday.
Louisiana-Monroe 10, Georgia Southern 5
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Georgia Southern Softball dropped a 10-5 decision to Louisiana-Monroe in its opener at the Tennessee Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. The Warhawks scored five runs with two outs in the top of the sixth to pull away from the Eagles. Junior Marie Fogle went three for four at the plate while driving in two run to lead the Georgia Southern offense. In the day's finale, No. 7 Tennessee took the 8-0 win at Lee Softball Stadium.
Louisiana-Monroe's (11-9) Janel Salanoa hit a two-run home run in the first inning with two outs to give the Warhawks an early 2-0 lead. Georgia Southern (7-11) rebounded in the bottom of the first. Fogle led off with a double to the gap in right and scored when sophomore Andrea Tarashuk executed a perfect squeeze play to draw the Eagles within one run, 2-1. After Fogle reached base, Jorie Walker dropped a bunt single to advance Fogle, putting runners on the corners. Walker stole second on the first pitch to Megen Smith, but did not score.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second when Hanna Ennis opened the frame with a single and was moved to second by a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Burnett. Junior Mackenzie Williams walked and a one-out sacrifice bunt by Bethany Crenshaw put runners on second and third. Fogle ripped a two-out triple down the left field line to clear the bases and two RBIs.
The Warhawks took the lead back in the third when Brianna Love singled to lead off the frame. Roxane Cassel would score Love on a double down the left field line. Another single by Katie Girardi put Louisiana-Monroe back on top 4-3. A single by Elise West extended the lead to 5-3.
Ennis led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to right field. With one out, Williams smashed a home run to centerfield to score Ennis. Williams' third long ball of the season brought Enis home and tied the game, 5-5.
Louisiana-Monroe grabbed the lead again when pitcher Allie Miles walked in the go-ahead run with the bases loaded in the sixth. Smith relieved Miles in the circle, but the Warhawks got another walk for a 7-5 lead. With the bases still loaded, Melissa Rivera's three-run double provided Louisiana-Monroe the deciding 10-5 lead.
Tennessee, with the Southeastern Conference's top batting average, used a mix of doubles, a home run and a pair of Eagle errors in the second inning to race out to a 6-0 lead. The Lady Vols extended their lead to 7-0 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Raven Chavanne that scored Ashley Andrews.
Tennessee's Katherine Dotson homered in the fourth inning to right field for the game's final margin, 8-0. The Eagles could only muster two hits in the wet conditions.
Georgia Southern concludes play in the 2011 Tennessee Classic with an exhibition game against the Dutch National Team at 11 a.m. before playing its final game against Tennessee at 1 p.m. The Eagles return home to the friendly confines of Eagle Field after their 16-game road trip on Wednesday March 16th for a doubleheader against Mercer. Game times are scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m.
Tennessee 6, Furman 4
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's Shelby Burchell belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to propel the seventh-ranked Lady Vols past Furman, 6-4, in college softball action on Saturday afternoon at the Tennessee Classic at Lee Stadium.
The Lady Vols improved to 17-2 on the season with their ninth straight win while Furman slipped to 2-10.
With two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the sixth, Kat Dotson laced a triple to center field to keep the inning alive and Burchell followed by belting the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her sixth homer of the season. Ellen Renfroe, who entered the game in relief of her sister Ivy Renfroe, retired all six batters she faced to improve to 10-1 in the circle.
Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Emily Boyer opened the frame with a double to right field and scored on Nikki Legg's RBI double. Tennessee answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Dotson blasted a solo homer and, following a single by Burchell, Lauren Gibson doubled into the gap to put the Lady Vols ahead 2-1.
After Ivy Renfroe entered in relief to end a bases loaded threat for Furman in the top of the fourth, Dotson delivered a two-out, two-run base hit to up Tennessee's lead to 4-1. Renfroe ran into trouble in the top of the fifth, however, as Furman mounted a rally. With two outs and a runner on, Lauren Collier singled and Jessie Homesley followed with a three-run clout to left field to even the game at 4-4.
Dotson went 4-for-4 with a triple, homer and four RBI to ignite the Tennessee offense while Burchell added two hits in a pair of RBI. Gibson collected three hits and drove in a run.
Collier (1-7) suffered the loss for Furman allowing six runs on 12 hits in six innings in the circle. The freshman walked two batters and notched two strikeouts.
Seven Paladins contributed to Furman's eight-hit performance led by Stephanie Field's 2-for-4 effort. Homesley drove in three runs and added a sacrifice.
Furman concludes play in the Tennessee Classic when it plays a 5 p.m. exhibition contest against the Dutch National Team. The Paladins return home to host Charlotte in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday at Pepsi Stadium.
Binghamton 2, Elon 0
Stetson 2, Elon 0
DELAND, Fla. - The Elon University softball team (10-4) dropped back-to-back games for the first time of the season today, March 5, in the second day of the Stetson Invitational at Patricia Wilson Field, as the Phoenix dropped a pair of 2-0 decisions to Binghamton and Stetson.
Senior Caitlin McGowan went 3-for-4 in the two games for the Phoenix recording one double and drawing one walk. Sophomore Tomeka Watson's 12-game hitting streak came to an end as the sophomore was unsuccessful at the plate in Elon's two contests.
Game 1
After Lauren Taylor struck out the side in the first inning, the Bearcats got on the board in the top of the second after a solo homer over the fence in center from Demi Laney put Elon down 1-0. The Bearcats threatened again an inning later after putting two runners in scoring position, but Taylor managed to escape the inning and keep it a one-run contest.
Elon nearly broke the game open in the sixth after loading the bases with no outs, but Binghamton hurler Kristin Emerling got out of the inning without the Phoenix plating a runner.
The Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the seventh after an RBI single from Phillips scored King, putting the Phoenix further behind headed into the bottom half of the inning.
But unlike yesterday's thrilling finish, Elon was unable to pull off the comeback in the final inning, as Emerling retired the Phoenix in order to claim a 2-0 victory and hand Elon the loss.
Taylor (6-2) recorded just her second loss of the year after pitching the complete game, giving up one run on nine hits and striking out six. Binghamton's Emerling earned the complete-game shutout win, her first win of the year.
Game 2
After five and a half innings of scoreless softball, Stetson's Jill Semento sent a 2-0 pitch from Elon starter Erin O'Shea to left field for a two-run homer to score teammate Chrissy Morello, putting Phoenix down late.
Elon threatened to score its first runs of the day in the seventh after rookie Carleigh Nester led off the inning with a double to right center. After a sac bunt from Camille Hill advanced Nester to third, Danielle Lafferty drew a walk to load the bases late for the second straight game. But it would be for naught, as Stetson managed to get back-to-back force-outs at home and a pop up to end the threat and the game.
O'Shea (3-1) took the loss for the Phoenix, her first of the season, giving up only two runs off three hits and striking out nine of the 22 batters faced in six innings.
The Phoenix offense did not strike out once in game two, but the team stranded eight runners on base and registered just five hits.
The Phoenix will play in the consolation game of the Stetson Invitational tomorrow, March 6, against Tennessee State. The game will begin at 10 a.m.
Day Two of Buzz Classic Rained Out for UNCG
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The entire Saturday slate of the Buzz Classic has been rained out. UNCG will now play two games on Sunday instead of the originally scheduled one.
The Spartans were slated to take on Massachusetts and Connecticut on Saturday and UAB on Sunday. Now, UNCG will face UMass at 9 a.m. Sunday and UAB at 1:30 p.m. The Connecticut game is canceled and will not be made up.
Lady Mocs Softball Day Two at Bulldog Invitational Cancelled
ATHENS, Ga. - Due to inclement weather in the Athens, Ga., area on Saturday, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team's games against Campbell and James Madison have been cancelled. The Lady Mocs return to the diamond on Sunday with the same schedule battling Campbell and #1 Georgia with first pitch slated for 11 a.m.
This is the first game cancelled for the Lady Mocs since opening day of the 2010 campaign on Feb. 12 in Clermont, Fla. The tournament was reworked so each team could play four games and the only contest that was not played as originally scheduled was against Georgia.
The last rain delay for the Lady Mocs occured at Samford on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 with the contest being pushed back an hour.
On March 12-13, the Southern Rail Rivalry Series with Samford continues for Chattanooga with a three-game series. The Saturday doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and started the Southern Confernece schedule for the Lady Mocs, while first pitch on Sunday is 2 p.m.
Softball's Weekend At Combat Classic Cancelled
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team will not compete in the Tennessee Tech Combat Classic this weekend. Rainy weather and poor field conditions have forced tournament officials to cancel Saturday and Sunday's action.
On Friday, Samford's 10 a.m. Saturday matchup with Belmont was cancelled. The Bulldogs were also slated to take on Middle Tennessee State at 5 p.m. Saturday, and Louisville and North Carolina State on Sunday.
Replacement games are still to be determined.