Softball Southern Conference

Saturday Softball Recaps

North Carolina 10, Chattanooga 0 
CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team dropped a 10-0 decision after five innings to North Carolina on a windy Saturday morning at Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Invitational in Clermont, Fla. It was a day after the Lady Mocs opened the season with two victories and proved that the young team still has a lot to learn on the season.

Chattanooga faced Tar Heel-ace Lori Spingnola in the circle who kept the Lady Mocs off balance for the majority of the game notching 12 strikeouts in the complete-game three-hit victory.

Senior Michelle Fuzzard and freshman Taylor Deason combined in the circle to register four strikeouts, giving up five earned runs.

The Lady Mocs totaled three hits on a double by junior second baseman Sara Poteat in the third and singles in consecutive innings by junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco and senior catcher Vivian Morimoto. Seven base runners were stranded including the bases loaded in the fourth and two runners each in the first and fifth, showing that a couple more base hits could have opened the game up for Chattanooga.

With the wind blowing 15-20 miles per hour and gusts approaching 40 to left field, North Carolina spent no time in using the wind to its advantaged as Kelli Wheelers, Ali Foulks and Logan Foulks blasted back-to-back-to-back home runs. The first and last barely cleared the fence as the wind pushed the high-fly balls over it.

After the round trippers, Fuzzard settled down allowing just a single before retiring the side with a strikeout and two groundouts. 

Chattanooga drew back-to-back walks to start the game, but was unable to move the runners as Spingola fanned the side.

Both teams would go down quickly until the third as Poteat finessed a pitch over the glove of the third baseman and alertly took second as the ball barely left the infield. She was stranded though as Fuzzard was plunked with a pitch before North Carolina retired the side.

Blowing the game wide-open were the Tar Heels to start the fourth as it plated five runs on three hits and an error as the Lady Mocs had a couple of mental miscues that were capitalized upon. Deason entered during the frame and had an opportunity to learn in the circle by pitching to an experience team.

Leading off the bottom-half was Tydingco with a single into center field and after freshman right fielder Nicole Osterman walked, it appeared like the Lady Mocs had an opportunity for a big inning. Consecutive strikeouts by Spingola changed that around, but sophomore pinch hitter Stephanie Rieck drew a walk to load that bases before the fame ended.

Padding the lead was North Carolina in the fifth with two runs to extend the advantage to 10-0.

The Lady Mocs were able to put a runner on-base as a throwing error by the shortstop enabled Fuzzard to reach first. Sophomore Layne Rainey came in to pinch run for her and advanced to second on a Morimoto single down the right field line. Chattanooga was unable to move the runners to third before the Tar Heels ended the game.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team scattered eight hits on a chilly night in Clermont, Fla., at Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Invitational, but fell to UCF (4-0), 6-2 in a game that was closer than the score indicates. Junior second baseman Sara Poteat and freshman third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts each tallied two hits to lead the Lady Mocs (2-2) including a double by Roberts.

The story of the game was the pitching of UCF freshman Mackenzie Audus, who threw a complete game and fanned 10. Senior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard went the distance tossing six innings, striking out three, and giving up four earned runs, but the back-breaker for the Lady Mocs turned out to be a three-run sixth for the Knights.

Adding to the hit total for Chattanooga were senior designated player Vivian Morimoto junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco, freshman catcher Natalie Powers and Fuzzard. Powers and Morimoto tallied one RBI each during the contest.

The Lady Mocs started off on the right foot following a tough loss to North Carolina to open the day as Poteat beat-out an infield bunt single to third. She took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single to center by Fuzzard. A sacrifice fly by Morimoto, who popped up a pitch to the first baseman, was able to bring home the speedy Poteat providing an early 1-0 lead.

With Fuzzard in the circle, Kahley Novak drew a leadoff walk for the Knights and immediately stole second as the throw from Powers was a second late. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Novak scored on a groundout to second to knot the game at one. The Knights added another as Natalie Land singled to center, which was followed by another single by Marissa Menendez, but the throw from short was off target allowing Land to score, 2-1.

With two outs in the second, Roberts saw the infield playing deep and dropped a bunt down to second that she beat-out for an infield single.

Adding a run in the second was UCF as an error put Land on base and was called safe on a bang-bang play at second on a stolen base attempt. She later scored as Farrah Sullivan doubled to center pushing the UCF lead to 3-1.

Chattanooga notched singles in the fourth and fifth by Tydingco up the middle and Poteat to third base, respectively.

Fuzzard was able to limit the damage in the fifth, stranding a runner on third base after notching a strikeout to retire the side.

A two-out rally looked possible in the sixth as Morimoto split the gap in right to put a runner in scoring position. Tydingco then drilled a pitch that appears to be destined to land over the fence in straight-away center, but the wind kept the knocked the ball down allowing center fielder Venessa Perez to make the catch at the top of the fence.

After the stellar defensive play, the Knights struck for three runs on the sixth as Perez singled through the right side and Tawny Swan found a hole in left to put two runners on. Allie Jest cleared the bases with a triple to the fence and later scored on a ground out to third, 6-1.

Back-to-back strikeouts started the inning for the Lady Mocs in their last at bat before Roberts drove a pitch over the right fielder's head for a double. Powers followed it up with an RBI single through the right side, but the threat ended with a ground out to second.

Samford 8, South Dakota 7 (8 innings)
Iona 1, Samford 0
DELAND, Fla. ---- The Samford softball squad played in two very contrasting games on Saturday, winning a high-scoring 8-7 decision against South Dakota in extra innings and falling 1-0 to Iona in a pitcher’s duel.  The Bulldogs are now 2-1 on the season, while South Dakota falls to 0-3 and Iona gets their first win of the season.
 
Game One – Samford 8, South Dakota 7 (8 innings)
 
If early game struggles were a concern against South Dakota on Friday, the Bulldogs certainly made up for it Saturday, bursting out an early 7-3 lead, including a six-run second inning.  The Coyotes didn’t let it faze them however, as they fought back to score four in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.  Madeline Baker scored off a wild pitch in the top of the eighth and starting pitcher Robyn Harmon stranded a runner at third in the bottom half to secure the 8-7 win.
 
The offense was very balanced Saturday, as eight of the nine Bulldogs in the starting lineup earned a hit.  Harmon and Nicole Bobrowski went a combined 4-9, earning two RBI each.  On the mound, Harmon pitched the full eight innings to earn the win, giving up six earned runs and ten hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
 
In the top of the first, it was Samford who struck first, with Abby Adams making her first career hit count, blasting an RBI double down the right field line to bring Kayla Shaffer home from second.  The Coyotes answered in the bottom half of the inning though, as a wild pitch with two runners in scoring position brought Lindsey Boyd in from third.
 
The Samford offense had a huge second inning, as they batted around the whole order, manufacturing six runs with four hits and smart base-running to take advantage of walks.  With two outs in the inning, Shaffer got the scoring run started, hitting an RBI double in the left field gap bringing Casey Clark home and advancing Madison Dickey to third.  With runners at the corners, Harmon knocked a single back up the middle, advancing to second on a failed putout at home which allowed both runs to score.  With Harmon at second, South Dakota walked two consecutive batters to load the bases up for Bobrowski.  South Dakota brought in a new pitcher, Paige Policky, to try and pitch them out of the jam.  

Bobrowski had other ideas, as she put a single back up the middle, scoring two and advancing to second to put two runners in scoring position.  Rachel Bickert, who led off the inning with a walk, followed with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Adams from third and moving Bobrowski to second.  A strikeout ended the scoring surge, but the Bulldogs found themselves up 7-1 early.
 
South Dakota would put a dent in the lead throughout the middle portions of the game, scoring one run in both the third and fifth innings.  In the third, a leadoff double followed by a single put runners at the corners.  After a lineout, Katie Dinning reached on a fielder’s choice at first, with the runner at second out but the runner at third crossing home for the run.  
 
In the fifth, the Coyotes would take advantage of a Samford error, as Katelyn Wudel scored from third with the bases loaded and one out off an errant throw from second base.  On the mound, Harmon limited the damage, forcing the next batter to ground into a double play and end the scoring threat. 
 
The South Dakota offense came alive with the back against the wall, putting together a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.  With two outs, Dinning doubled to the right field gap, advancing the runner at first all the way to third.  With two runners in scoring position, Alexa Rudeen added her own 2RBI double and Morgan Hancock followed with a two-run homer, clearing the bases and tying the game up at 7-7.
 
In the top of the eighth, Adams sacrificed Baker over, which allowed Baker to come home for what would be the game-winning run off a wild pitch to Bobrowski.  South Dakota followed the same game plan in the bottom half, sacrificing their runner over to third, but Harmon shut the batters down with back-to-back ground outs ending the game in Samford’s favor.
 
Game Two – Samford 0, Iona 1
Samford suffered its first loss of the young season in a pitcher’s duel against Iona.  Each team only produced four hits, with the difference being a solo home run in the top of the first inning for Iona.  Aldridge pitched a solid game, going the full seven innings but is still credited with the tough loss on her record.
 
With two outs in the top of the first, Iona’s Eileen McCann launched a solo home run to center field, which ultimately proved to be the difference in final score.  It was their only run and the only extra-base hit for either team.
 
In the third inning, Samford would put a runner in scoring position with Caroline Seay bunting over Rachel Bickert from first to put her at second with only one out.  Iona pitcher Sarah Jackson hit her spots however, as consecutive strikeouts ended the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, a leadoff walk and two throwing errors would load the bases for Rachel Bickert with two out, but more solid pitching from Jackson would force a strikeout and leave three stranded for the Bulldogs.
 
The Bulldogs looked to tie, if not earn the walk-off, in the seventh, as Dickey and Shaffer found themselves on first and second with two out.  A pop-up in foul territory to the third baseman ended the Bulldogs’ hope of a comeback however, securing the small-margin win for the Gaels.
 
Samford plays its fifth and final game of the weekend on Sunday, as they face off against Iona at 11 a.m.

Charleston Southern 12, Furman 4 (6 innings)
Charleston, S.C. – Charleston Southern pounded out 14 hits, including a 3-for-5 effort from Jana Matthews, en route to a 12-4, six-inning victory over Furman in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday to complete the three-game series sweep of the Paladins.

The Buccaneers, who improved to 3-0 on the season, sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs on five hits in the first inning.  Jessica Brock added a two-run single in the third frame and Stephanie Sbardella blasted a two-run home run as part of a three-run frame in the fourth to extend the Charleston Southern lead to 9-0.

Furman managed a four-spot of its own in the top half of the fifth inning.  Junior Emily Boyer opened the frame with a walk and freshman Hope Smith followed with her first collegiate hit, a single to left field.  After a pop up to first, Nikki Legg singled to load the bases and freshman Taylor Jenkins drilled a two-run double to right field to cut the margin to 9-2.  With two outs, senior Jessie Homesley lined a single up the middle to score two more runs but was thrown out trying to reach second to end the threat.

Charleston Southern finished off the game by mercy rule with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Linzy Rother walked before Melissa Adams and Megan Lombard reached on singles to load the bases.  Rother scored on a groundout by Brock ahead of Matthews two-run single to trigger the eight-run mercy rule.

Morgan Dowdy (2-0) tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits to secure the victory for the Buccaneers.  Brock went 2-for-4 with four RBI while Kristin Kelleher, Courtney Konyk and Adams each collected two hits.

Furman starter Lauren Collier (0-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in just two innings of work.  Paladins pitchers surrendered 14 hits, eight walks and hit three batters in the loss.

Jenkins went 2-for-3 with two RBI to pace the Paladins at the plate.

Charleston Southern claimed game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, 8-0, in five innings.

Furman (0-3) will travel to 23rd-ranked Georgia Tech for a doubleheader on February 15, at 3 p.m. before opening its home schedule with a twinbill versus Big South Conference member Gardner-Webb on February 18, at Pepsi Stadium.

Buffalo 6, UNCG 3
Saint Louis 1, UNCG 0
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UNCG dropped two games Saturday at the Wingate by Wyndham Opening Weekend Tournament, falling victim to some shaky defense in a 6-3 loss to Buffalo and coming out on the wrong end of a pitching duel in a 1-0 loss to Saint Louis at Jacksonville University’s JU Softball Complex.
 
Junior first baseman Eileen Horsmon hit her second home run in as many days to give UNCG (0-4) a brief 3-2 lead in game one against Buffalo, but the Bulls (2-1) rallied for the win.
 
Buffalo jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, with Holly Luciano hitting an RBI double and Caitlin Dekker knocking an RBI single after an error allowed Alexis Curtiss to reach earlier in the inning. Both runs were unearned.
 
UNCG got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, with Aisha Figueroa getting hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and become the Spartans’ first runner of the day. After Figueroa stole second and Tatiana Alcala walked, Horsmon launched a shot out to left field to put UNCG up 3-2.
 
Katelyn Bedwell drew a walk to knock Buffalo starter Tori Speckman from the game, but after walking Heather Robb, Holly Johnson got three straight outs to escape further damage.
 
The Bulls got all three runs back in the bottom of the frame, with all three of them again unearned. With two on and two out, Karly Nevez reached on an error, allowing Alyssa Ward to score the tying run. Curtiss followed with a two-run single to bring in Nevez and Tori Pettiness with the go-ahead runs. A Kristin Waldron walk knocked UNCG starter Cory Mattson from the game, but reliever Erica Navarette got a popup to end the inning.
 
The Spartans tried to rally the following inning, with Kiah Ruffin hitting a leadoff single and Alcala getting hit by a pitch with one out. Johnson worked out of the jam, however, inducing a pair of flyouts to second baseman Sammi Gallardo.
 
Buffalo added an insurance run in the sixth inning on Curtiss’ RBI single.
 
Down to its last chance, UNCG again seemed to get a rally going, but again stranded a pair of runners. Walks to Ashley Reetz and Figueroa put runners at first and second with one out, and a wild pitch moved both runners over. Johnson again wriggled off the hook, getting a lineout and a groundout to end the game.
 
Horsmon (1-for-3, three RBI) and Ruffin (1-for-3) had UNCG’s lone hits in the contest. Curtiss was 2-for-3 with three RBI to pace the Bulls at the plate. Luciano and Pettiness had two hits each.
 
Johnson (1-0) earned the win, allowing just one hit and three walks in four innings of relief. Speckman took the no-decision despite retiring the first nine batters in order. She was charged with three earned runs on one hit and two walks in three innings.
 
Mattson (0-2) took the tough loss, allowing five runs, all unearned, on six hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings of work. Navarette allowed an earned run on three hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
 
The freshman made her first career start in the afternoon game, limiting Saint Louis to just four hits and an unearned run. Navarette (0-1) struck out seven and walked just one.
 
The Billikens (1-2) scored the game’s only run in the top of the second inning. After a one-out single from Rachel Faletto, Erin Harcar reached on an error with two outs to keep the inning alive. Another UNCG error allowed Faletto to come around for what would prove to be the winning run.
 
UNCG couldn’t get the timely hit it needed to push a run across. In the bottom of the first, Figueroa led off with a single and stole second base. A sacrifice moved her to third and a walk to Horsmon put runners on the corners with one out, but Saint Louis starter Julian Austin (1-0) struck out the next two batters.
 
The Spartans stranded a pair of runners again in the second inning, failing to take advantage of consecutive hits by Dominique Madruga and Reetz to lead off the inning.
 
UNCG also stranded single runners in the fifth and sixth innings.
 
Navarette worked out of a jam in the third inning, nailing Kelly Flanagan at the plate to end the inning after a Jessica Van Nostrand single.
 
Navarette retired 12 of 14 batters the rest of the way, allowing only a single to Kelsey Biggs in the sixth inning and a walk to Harcar in the seventh. Harcar stole her way to third base, but Navarette struck out Laura Bohning and Kerri Dockins to end the inning.
 
Austin retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh, getting three straight groundouts to second base. She allowed just four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
 
Figueroa finished the game 2-for-4 with a stolen base to lead UNCG at the plate.
 
UNCG wraps up play in the Opening Weekend Tournament against Virginia Tech at 11:15 Sunday. 

Elon 15, North Carolina Central 6
Elon 8, Georgetown 0
ELON, N.C. – The Elon University softball teams added two more wins today, Feb. 11, in the second day of the Elon Invitational. The Phoenix (3-0) rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat North Carolina Central (1-2), 15-6, and sweep Georgetown (1-1), 8-0.
 
Sisters Caitlin O’Shea (1-0) and Erin O’Shea (2-0) recorded the wins for the Phoenix, combining for eight strikeouts.
 
Camille Hill and Carleigh Nester both finished the day with five hits. Hill scored a total of six runs and two RBI, while Nester crossed the plate three times and knocked in three more for the maroon and gold.
 
Game 1
After falling behind 3-0 to the Eagles in the top of the first, the Phoenix stormed back to score nine runs off seven hits in the bottom of the inning. A double up the middle by Kaitlyn Piazzolla drove in both Hill and Nester, who reached base on a walk and a single. Three batters later, Danielle Lafferty took a 1-1 pitch from NCCU’s Bianka Molina and hit it over the left field fence for a three-run shot and gave the Phoenix a 5-0 lead. After Hill singled to left to score Morgan Wright from second, Tomeka Watson sent the first pitch in her second at bat of the inning to right field for a single to that scored Lauren Oldham from third and Hill from first. Watson would score to make it a six-run game for the maroon and gold, 9-3, going into the second.
 
Oldham added another run for the Phoenix in the second inning after doubling to left field to score Johanna Spencer. Spencer had reached base earlier on a walk in the first at bat of the inning.
 
The Eagles answered in the third with two runs off a home run by Sarah Kaiser to cut the lead to five, 10-5.
 
Nester and Spencer both drove in runs in the third, while Spencer also scored on a throwing error by Eagles’ catcher Searls, to move the score to a 13-5 Elon lead.
 
N.C. Central scored one more run in the fourth, while the Phoenix added three in the bottom of the same inning. Watson, who relieved C. O’Shea in the top of the fifth, ended the game by striking out Searls on a 2-2 pitch, giving Elon the 15-6 win.
 
Nester went four-for-four at the plate against the Eagles, scoring two runs and knocking in two more. Lafferty’s home run gave her three RBI, while Watson also brought in three runs for the Phoenix.
 
C. O’Shea pitched four innings in her collegiate debut, giving up four earned runs on six hits and striking out two. Watson faced a total of four batters and recorded two strikeouts.
 
Game 2
E. O’Shea started the game against the Hoyas by striking out two of the four batters she faced in the first inning. Elon then went on offense and knocked in three runs off four hits. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch by Georgetown’s Hannah Slovacek scored Hill and moved Nester and Watson to second and third. With two outs, Cyra Cottrell was walked to once again load the bases as Spencer came to the plate. Spencer singled up the middle to drive in Watson and Nester and put the Phoenix up 3-0.
 
In the second, singles by both Hill and Watson put runners on for Nester, who hit a sacrifice bunt to score Hill and advance Watson to third. Piazzolla then singled up the middle on the first pitch to score Watson and give Elon a 5-0 lead.
 
With two on, two out and down 2-0 in the count, Hill got her third hit of the game by sending Lauren O’Leary’s pitch, who replaced Slovacek, up the middle for a single that scored one run and advanced another to second. Watson then hit a double to left center on a full count to bring in two runs and make it an 8-0 advantage.
 
E. O’Shea retired the batters in order in the fourth with three straight strikeouts and then retired the side in the fifth to end the game in favor of the Phoenix, 8-0, and give her six strikeouts in the shutout.
 
Both Hill and Watson went three for three in the game, with Hill scoring three runs and one RBI and Watson scoring two runs and bringing in two more. Spencer also recorded two RBI against the Hoyas.
 
Elon will play its final game of the Elon Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 12, at 2:30 p.m. as the Phoenix face N.C. Central once again at East Field.

Longwood 11, Western Carolina 10
Western Carolina 5, ETSU 4
PANTHERVILLE, Ga. – Western Carolina softball (1-1) opened the 2012 season spitting a pair of games at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic. The Catamounts fell to Longwood 11-10 then bounced back to defeat ETSU, 5-4.

The Catamounts opened the season, and the tournament, against Longwood. The game turned into a slugfest with Longwood posting 16 hits and the Catamounts pounding out 12. 

A bunt single by Amelia Griffin and a double to left field, with one out, started the first inning for Western Carolina. Kelly Braman’s bunt single RBI scored the Catamounts first run of the game when Griffin touched home plate.

Senior lefty hurler Katie King got into a jam early in the bottom of the first inning. Longwood got three runs on four hits to take the lead. 

Pace’s two out single RBI cut the Longwood lead to two, 4-2, after Megan Crowe singled, stole second and scored off Pace’s single.

In the bottom of the second, King was replaced on the mound by Amber Steinhardt who gave up three runs on three hits. With no outs, Steindart was replaced by freshman Jordan Garrett, who also gave up a run. Longwood had four runs on four hits in the second. 

Trailing 7-2 to start the third inning, Western Carolina cut the Longwood lead to three by tacking on a pair of runs. Shemekia Scotton opened the inning with a double down the left field line. Senior outfielder Erin Foster followed with an RBI triple to score Scotton. Foster scored when Megan Taylor ground out to the short stop for an RBI. 

Garrett and Western Carolina held Longwood scoreless, for the first time in the game in the bottom of the third inning. The scoreless third for Longwood in the third allowed WCU to capitalize in the top of the fourth.

Longwood committed three errors, and allowed just one hit, to allow Western Carolina to tie the game at seven. A second consecutive scoreless inning by Longwood kept the score tied at seven.

In the fifth inning, Pace struck for Western Carolina in a big way. With two outs, junior Jordan Fulton got her first hit of the season, a single past third base. After Fulton stole second, Griffin singled, to keep the inning alive, and push Fulton to third. Pace followed with a three RBI homerun to left field, giving WCU a 10-7 advantage.

Longwood cut the Catamount lead to two, adding a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Western Carolina continued to lead 10-8.

Western Carolina failed to score in the top of the sixth inning opening the door for Longwood. Back-to-back homeruns Longwood tied the game at 10. 

For the second straight inning, Western Carolina failed to score and again Longwood took advantage. Megan Baltzell hit a walk-off homerun, to lead off the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for Longwood.

Pace led Western Carolina in the game going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run. Griffin scored three runs and also had three hits. Scotton and Foster each had a pair of hits.

After taking the loss earlier in the day, against Longwood, freshman Garrett not only got her first win in a Catamount uniform, she also picked up her first win. Garrett went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on six hits and struck out six. 

Pace continued with the hot bat, getting Western Carolina on the board early. She hit a homerun over the left field wall to give WCU an early 1-0 lead. ETSU answered in the bottom of the first, tying the game off a Catamount error, allowing Jackie Baird to score.

After a scoreless second inning, Western Carolina was on top again, and again all thanks to Pace’s bat. With one out, sophomore Amelia Griffin drew a walk, and Pace homered for the second time in the game, a two RBI shot to centerfield.

The Catamounts tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth, giving them a 5-1 lead. Senior centerfielder Erin Foster earned a walk and promptly stole second. Megan Crowe reached on a Buccaneer miscue pushing Foster to third, and the bases were loaded when Megan Taylor singled to the shortstop. Sophomore designated player Morgan Wyatt hit a two RBI single, plating Foster and Crowe.

ETSU scored a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning to pull within one run, 5-4, entering the seventh inning. 

Western Carolina had a chance to get an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Pace picked up her third hit of the game to open seventh and moved to second on a ground out by Kelly Braman. A double by Shemekia Scotton put runners on second and third. However, the Catamounts failed to capitalize and ETSU had one half inning to try and tie the game or take the lead.

Junior pitcher Amber Steinhardt, who came into the game in the sixth inning to relieve Garrett, got two quick outs to start the bottom of the seventh, and ETSU was down to its last out. The Buccaneers Sam Lower gave ETSU a little life when she got a single to left field. Steinhardt forced Jackie Baird to ground out to end the inning and the game.

Pace ended the game 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Scotton had a pair of runs in the game.

Western Carolina completes action by facing host Georgia State at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The four teams will then go into bracket play with the third and fourth seeded teams playing each other and then the first and second seed facing off. 

Appalachian State 17, Alabama State 8
AUBURN, Ala. – In an offensive explosion of 15 hits helps Appalachian State University softball to a 17-8 win over Alabama State on Saturday at the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn.

The Mountaineer’s (1-1) senior Megan Rembielak led off the game with double to right field.  Junior Allie Cashion blasted a two-out home run to give ASU a 2-0 after a half of an inning.

The Lady Hornets (0-4) responded with a run of their own in the first frame on a RBI triple from Meagan Dixon.

Appalachian increased its lead to 3-1 on a RBI single to the shortstop by Rembielak.

In the third-inning, sophomore Caroline Williams earned a lead off walk and Cashion reached on a fielding error.  Caroline Rogers recorded her first collegiate home run to give the Apps a 6-1 lead.  Freshman Sarah Warnock doubled to center and would score on a RBI single from senior Lindsay Whitlock to increase the Black and Gold’s lead to 7-1.

Alabama State cut its deficit to 7-4 on three errors in the bottom of the third.

Both teams tagged three-runs (10-7) on a combined one hit, four walks, two hit by pitch and three errors in the fourth-inning.

In fifth Rembielak led off the inning with a walk.  Cashion singled to left field and Rembielak scored on a fielding error by the left fielder to give ASU an 11-7 cushion.

The Lady Hornets scored their final run of the contest on a pair of passed ball in the bottom of the fifth.

The Mountaineers put the game out of reach with a six-run sixth-inning.  Williams highlighted the top of the frame with a three-run home run.

Senior Caitlin Wainwright struck out Alabama State’s Yvette Ducoing and forced a pair of groundouts to end the game. Wainright pitched three innings in relief with no earned runs and two strikeouts.

Freshman Caroline Wainwright made her first career start with three innings of work and five strikeouts.

Rembielak ended her day with three hits, three runs, two RBIs and two walks.  Whitlock’s three hits was a career-best, while Cashion tallied a career-best four runs.  

Appalachians’ game versus Wright State has been postponed till tomorrow at 2 p.m. (CT) and the match-up against Auburn has been pushed back to 4 p.m. (CT) on Sunday to wrap-up the Tiger Invitational.

Marshall 4, Georgia Southern 1 (8 innings)
Georgia Southern 10, George Mason 1
CONWAY, S.C.--Georgia Southern Softball logged its second-consecutive split in day two of the Coastal Carolina Kickin’ Chicken Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles opened the afternoon with a 4-1 extra innings loss to Marshall before downing George Mason 10-1 to close the evening. Georgia Southern closes the weekend against Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

-- GAME ONE –
Georgia Southern opened the second day of the 2012 season against Marshall for the second time in as many days. Marshall scored a run in the first inning via small ball, but the Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the first by taking advantage of two fielding errors by the Herd. Jorie Walker who led the game off, came home off a sacrifice fly by Marie Fogle to tie the game 1-1.

That, however, would be the last of the scoring until the eighth inning when the international tiebreaker rule was invoked. Marshall scored off an Eagle error to take a 2-1 lead with no outs in the frame. The Thundering Herd would go on to post three runs in the eighth to take the 4-1 victory for the second-straight day.

Sophomore Sarah Purvis went the distance for the Eagles in the circle, scattering seven Marshall hits over the eight innings of work. Just two of the four runs allowed were credited as earned. She took the loss as Marshall held the Eagles to just two hits in the game.

-- GAME TWO –
Saturday’s second game was a different affair all together with the Eagle offense pounding out 13 hits to down GMU 10-1 in seven innings. Sophomore Kourtny Thomas went yard for the second time this weekend in the second inning with a solo job.

Georgia Southern tacked on two more runs in the third inning off a two RBI single by Fogle. She finished the day with three RBIs while going 2-for-6 overall. The Patriots fired back in the bottom of the third with a solo home run of their own with two outs. The hit was just the third allowed by starting pitcher Allie Miles. She would go four full innings allowing just the one run to earn her first victory of the season and improve to 1-1 in 2012.

The Eagles scored three more in the fourth with two crossing on Tabby Douberley’s second home run of the season. Freshman Lexi Allen plated Alexa Lewis later in the frame for Allen’s first career RBI. She got the start at designated player and hit leadoff for the Eagles.

Andrea Tarashuk pushed across another run in the fifth inning, driving Tyler Sampson in to score for a 7-1 lead. In the seventh, Georgia Southern added three more runs off three hits to cap off the 10-1 victory.

Georgia Southern closes out the Coastal Carolina Kickin’ Chicken Classic with one game on Sunday, facing tournament host Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m.