College of Charleston 6, Western Carolina 0

College of Charleston 8, Western Carolina 0

 

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team shut out Western Carolina, 8-0 and 6-0, in an emotional Senior Day twinbill held Saturday afternoon at Patriots Point.

Five seniors were honored prior to the opening pitch including starting pitcher Alexa Datko, first baseman Katie Nutaitis, catcher Katie Pesature, shortstop Hillary Stringer and centerfielder Kristi Woodall.

Datko led the Cougars (31-17, 10-9 SoCon) to her eighth shutout of the season and improved to 16-6 in the circle with four strikeouts and allowing only three hits in seven innings in game one of the doubleheader versus the Catamounts (18-30, 3-17 SoCon). With the victory, CofC turned in its sixth all-time 30-win season, its first since posting a 33-33 mark in 2008.

Nutaitis and Stringer combined for three of the team's six runs in game one, while Pesature, Woodall and Stringer each had one run in the 8-0 mercy-rule win over WCU in game two. CofC has now won seven of its last eight contests.

"I thought we came out and played solid," CofC head coach Shelly Hoerner said. "Senior Day was pretty emotional, but we came out to play ball. Alexa (Datko) did a great job pitching the first game and set the tone. We took advantage of some of their mistakes, which is important. Overall, we hit the ball pretty well, played together as a team, and got two wins, which is what matters."

The Cougars will close out the WCU series tomorrow at 1 p.m. (ET) at Patriots Point. A live pay-per-view video webcast of the game will be available on CofCSports.tv and free live scoring at: www.CofCSports.com.

GAME #1: CofC 6, Western Carolina 0

After a scoreless two and a half innings, CofC got on the scoreboard first on an RBI double by freshman shortstop Lizzy Vaughn which drove home Katie Nutaitis for the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third.

The Cougars scored three more runs in the fourth with two outs and two runners on as sophomore outfielder Kristy Giragosian drilled a base hit up the middle on a full-count pitch from WCU's Katie King to make it 3-0. Hillary Stringer followed with an RBI single to bring in Giragosian.

The Catamounts couldn't find an offensive answer against Alexa Datko who pitched a complete game with no walks and four strikeouts on Senior Day. CofC increased its lead with runs by Vaughn courtesy of an RBI single to right field from Katie Pesature in the fifth and Stringer in the sixth unearned.

GAME #2: CofC 8, Western Carolina 0

The Cougars once again capitalized on four Western Carolina errors, stole five bases and had a three-run fourth inning in an eight-run rule shutout of the Catamounts in game two.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Saylor was credited with the win and struck out four WCU batters to raise her record to 11-8 in the circle. Meanwhile, junior outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) led CofC with a three RBI outing including a two-run homer in the first and a single in an error-prone second inning by the Catamounts. It marked her fifth home run of the season.

WCU managed only three hits in the ballgame, but couldn't convert it into runs as the Cougar defense, which turned in their 17th double play of the season in game one, made 15 putouts behind five each from Katie Pesature and Katie Nutaitis.

 

UNCG 12, Samford 4

UNCG 4, Samford 1

 

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Raeanne Hanks picked up a win and a save in the circle and Alex Emeterio and Kaitlin Merkt combined to go 11-for-14 at the plate as UNCG swept its first Southern Conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday, topping Samford 12-4 and 4-1.

UNCG (23-27, 9-11 SoCon) had its offense firing on all cylinders in game one, pounding out 12 hits – seven of them for extra bases – in the mercy rule romp. Merkt and Jordan Jewett had three hits each in the contest.

Jewett got things going with a two-run double in the first inning, and UNCG seemed to blow the game open with four runs in the second, highlighted by Heather Robb's home run off the scoreboard in right center. Emeterio added an RBI single and Merkt had a two-run single to make it 6-0 after two innings.

The Bulldogs (11-36, 7-13 SoCon) answered with three runs in the third to get the margin back to a more manageable three runs, with Lakan Smith hitting a two-run single and Allison Reynolds drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Samford inched even closer in the fourth as Brianna Chambers hit a mammoth homer off the top of the scoreboard to make it a 6-4 game.

UNCG reclaimed the momentum and control of the game in the bottom of the fifth, however, scoring five runs on Katelyn Bedwell's RBI triple, an RBI groundout by Kayla Hensley and a three-run homer by April Langley.

The Spartans put the run rule into effect the following inning on another RBI double by Jewett.

Merkt was 3-for-3 with two RBI and Jewett was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI for the Spartans. Emeterio was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Chambers paced the Bulldogs' offense, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored.

Cory Mattson (12-12) picked up the win for UNCG, allowing four runs on nine hits in four innings. Hanks earned her first career save with two innings of scoreless relief. She struck out four of the eight batters she faced.

Robyn Harmon (1-11) was rocked for 12 runs, all earned, on 11 hits in 5-plus innings for the Bulldogs.

Game two was a much more competitive affair, with teams locked in a scoreless duel until the fourth inning.

Samford broke through for the first run of the contest in the top half of that frame, as Nicole Bobrowski hit a one-out solo homer down the left field line.

The Spartans found an answer in the bottom of the fifth, striking for three runs on six hits. Langley and Aisha Figueroa led off the frame with infield singles, and Emeterio knocked in Langley with a single to center. Merkt followed with a single to bring in Figueroa, while Samford center fielder Kayla Shaffer nipped Emeterio at the plate to prevent another run from scoring on the play. Jewett followed with her third double of the afternoon, and when the throw from the outfield was cut off to try to nail Jewett at second, Merkt raced home for the Spartans' third run of the inning.

UNCG added an insurance run an inning later on Emeterio's RBI single.

UNCG had 13 hits in game two, but only one of them went for extra bases. Emeterio was 4-for-4 with two RBI, while Figueroa was 3-for-4 with two runs and three infield singles. Merkt was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Robb was 2-for-3.

Chambers again led Samford at the dish, going 2-for-3. Bobrowski was also 2-for-3.

Hanks (6-3) picked up the win with three innings of one-hit relief, again striking out four. Josie Felix took the no-decision after allowing one run on four hits in four innings.

Bobrowski (2-9) allowed four runs on 13 hits in six innings.

All told, UNCG banged out 25 hits in the doubleheader, while the Spartans' 2-5 hitters – Figueroa, Emeterio, Merkt and Jewett – were a combined 19-for-30 on the day.

UNCG, winner of four straight after Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of North Carolina A&T, will try to close out its first SoCon series sweep of the season Sunday in the Senior Day finale at 1 p.m. The Spartans will honor Merkt, Langley, Hensley, Katie Stripling and Kristen Gabel prior to the contest.

 

Chattanooga 8, Georgia Southern 0

 

CHATTTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team defeated Georgia Southern 8-0 in five innings on Saturday evening at Frost Stadium. Senior third baseman Tiffany Baker hit her 14th home run of the year to tie the Lady Mocs single-season home run record that she also tied in 2010.

The win improved Chattanooga's record to 33-12 overall and 15-3 in conference play. The Eagles fell to 28-25 on the season and 16-6 in the Southern Conference.

Junior catcher Vivian Morimoto, sophomores second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) and first baseman Kasey Tydingco and Baker all recorded two hits to pace the team, while Baker registered a team-high three RBI.

In the circle, junior Michelle Fuzzard pitched a complete game three-hit shutout. She also struck out one in her seventh complete game and third shutout of the season.

Georgia Southern threatened in the top of the first with a hit by Marie Fogle, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.

After a walk to Mackenzie Williams, freshman catcher Natalie Powers threw down to second as Fogle took too big of a lead. Junior shortstop Jessica Traxler took the throw and forced the base runner into a run down. Traxler then tagged the runner out after faking a throw to Baker to end the frame.

In the bottom-half, senior centerfielder Lyndsey Stiles lead off by reaching on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second on the play. Poteat followed by getting hit by a pitch to put two runners on base.

A wild pitch then allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. Baker brought home the first run of the game with a bloop single over the first baseman. Morimoto used a sacrifice fly to center field, which allowed Baker to advance to second on the throw home.

Tydingco fouled off six straight pitches before doubling over the centerfielder's head that one-hopped the fence. The double brought home Baker to push the Lady Mocs lead to 3-0 after one inning.

In the second, Traxler started the inning for the Lady Mocs by reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop. After a fielder's choice by Flores, Stiles beat out a chopper to the right side of the infield. The bases were then loaded when Poteat beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt for a hit. A wild pitch from the Eagles allowed Flores to score and give Chattanooga a four run lead.

The third inning began with Morimoto getting an infield single after the ball took a weird hop before reaching the shortstop. Tydingco followed drawing a four-pitch walk.

Traxler laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. An infield single by Flores drove in another run for the Lady Mocs and increased the advantage to 5-0.

A single up the middle by Poteat started the fourth for Chattanooga. Two batters later, Baker blasted the ball over the right center field fence and into the bleachers for her team leading 14th home run on the year. She extender her SoCon and UTC all-time home run record to 46.

Morimoto followed with a single up the middle. After the second pitching change by Georgia Southern, Tydingco singled to left center field off Megan Smith.

Senior right fielder Della Harrison hit a single to left center field that the left fielder misjudged on an attempted diving catch. The hit scored Morimoto, who had to hold up to see if the ball would be caught and pushed the lead to 8-0.

In the circle for Georgia Southern, Brianna Streetmon started but lasted only one inning and was pulled after facing one batter in the second. Streetmon gave up two hits and four runs, all of them unearned.

Allie Miles pitched 2.1 innings in relief while striking out three and allowing seven hits and four earned runs. Megan Smith threw the final 0.2 innings in which she gave up two hits and struck out a single batter.

At the plate, the Eagles were lead by Kelly Burnett, Fogle and Williams each recording one hit.

Tomorrow the two teams finish up the series with a doubleheader beginning at noon at Frost Stadium. The softball team will also be honoring the team's six seniors prior to the game at 11:50 AM.

The team is going to be collecting donations and clothing at the entrance to the stadium. Everything collected will go to the American Red Cross to help out the victims of the severe weather that came through the area on April 27

 

Elon 5, Radford 1

Elon 11, Radford 10

 

ELON, N.C. – For the second straight weekend, the Elon University softball team needed a walk-off in the seventh inning to secure a win, as the Phoenix battled back from a three-run deficit in game two to register a thrilling 11-10 victory over Radford at East Field on Saturday, April 30, to take both games against the Highlanders.

 

Following a 5-1 win in game one, Elon trailed 10-7 going into the seventh inning of game two. The first five Elon batters reached base safely via hit or walk, until Pam DelPizzo delivered a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right to score pinch runner Lauren Oldham to lift the maroon and gold to victory over the team that ended its season a year ago in the NCAA Softball Championship.

 

Elon improves to 26-22 with the pair of wins, while the Big South Conference leading Highlanders fall to 34-17. Elon has won its last seven games at East Field.

 

Game 1

 

Elon struck first in the second inning with a pair of runs, as the Phoenix put runners on second and third after a DelPizzo sac bunt moved over Emerald Graham and Kaitlyn Piazzolla, who reached base via error and a single earlier in the inning. Camille Hill came through with a key two-run single up the middle to help the Phoenix take a 2-0 lead.

 

But Radford cut the deficit in half in their next at-bat to make it a 2-1 game. After a runner reached second on a throwing error, Nicole Beall doubled to center to limit Elon to a one-run edge.

 

But the Phoenix answered with a pair of round-trippers in the third to extend its lead. Carleigh Nester belted a two-run bomb over the fence in center to plate Jackie Gonzalez, who singled earlier in the inning.  Nester’s homer was followed by a solo shot from Graham, which gave the Phoenix a 5-1 lead – all starting pitcher Erin O’Shea would need.

 

O’Shea (10-11) hurled four scoreless innings after the third and earned the victory. She went seven strong innings in the circle allowing one run, none earned, on three hits while striking out eight.

 

Nester and Hill both went 2-for-3 and registered two RBI each to lead the offensive attack for the Phoenix.

 

Game 2

 

Radford responded in game two by getting on the scoreboard right way in the second game with three runs. Kristen Shifflett and Nicole Beal started off with back-to-back doubles that pushed across the first run. Following a walk to put runners on the corners, Michelle Beal singled up the middle to bring home the second run and put runners on the corners again. A sacrifice fly by Vicki Madden scored the third run to give the Highlanders a 3-0 lead.

 

Elon limited the deficit to just one run in the bottom of the third after Gonzalez and Nester recorded back-to-back singles to give the Phoenix momentum. Caitlin McGowan bunted the duo over to second and third to give Elon runners in scoring position. With two outs, Graham came through with a clutch two-run double to right-center to cut the deficit and make it a 3-2 game.

 

But the Highlanders quickly responded with three runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 advantage. Shifflett hit a solo shot to left and after a walk to the next batter, Cunningham came up with a two-run homer to silence the Elon faithful at East Field.

 

Elon looked to rally in the fifth when they put runners on first and second with one down on singles by Tomeka Watson and Graham before DelPizzo doubled down the left field line to push across one run. Following a walk to Hill to load the bases, Danielle Lafferty brought home another run on a sacrifice fly to left to limit Radford to a two-run lead, 6-4.

 

Radford added to its lead in the sixth after Cunningham and Keefe singled to start the inning and moved into scoring position on a fielder’s choice.  Hutchens then drove in two runs on a fielder’s choice that allowed both runs to score.

 

But the persistence of the Phoenix paid off, as a three-run sixth, led by a three-run homer to center by Graham, made it an 8-6 game headed into the final inning of play.

 

But the Radford offense added a pair of runs in the seventh to make it 10-7. The Highlanders put runners at first and second before Cunningham doubled to allow the run to score.  After loading the bases again, Radford saw another run cross the plate via walk to take a three-run lead headed into the seventh.

 

Down three in the final inning, Lafferty and Gonzalez led off with back-to-back singles to give the Phoenix hope. Nester made it a 10-8 game after belting an RBI single through the ride side to pull Elon closer. Radford gave Elon its next run to make it a 10-9 game after a bases loaded walk to Watson following an error on a McGowan sacrifice bunt. Another fielding miscue from the Highlanders made it a 10-all game after Piazzolla hit a chopper to second base, which was bobbled by Beall. DelPizzo secured the come-from-behind win following a Graham fly out, as her sac fly scored Oldham to give Elon its seventh straight win at East Field.

 

DelPizzo (2-2) earned the win in relief for the Phoenix after going 3.1 innings allowing three earned runs.

 

Graham went 4-for-8 with six RBI on the day including two homers. Five of the six RBI came in the second game.

 

Nester finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 at the dish four runs scored, one double and one homer to go along with three RBI.

 

Elon closes out the regular season at home next weekend when it welcomes Triad rival UNC Greensboro to East Field, May 7-8. The Phoenix will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, May 8, as the team honors seniors Hannah Shelton, Jackie Gonzalez, Pam DelPizzo, Lauren Taylor, Emerald Graham and Caitlin McGowan.