UNCG 9, Appalachian State 4
Appalachian State 8, UNCG 0
BOONE, N.C. – UNCG hit three home runs, highlighted by Heather Robb’s grand slam to take a 9-4 win over Appalachian State in game two of Saturday’s Southern Conference doubleheader. The Mountaineers won game one 8-0 in six innings.
After being shut out in game one, UNCG (6-14, 1-1 SoCon) brought out the bats in game two.
Freshman Tatiana Alcala put the Spartans on the board in the second inning, following Robb’s two-out single with her first career home run, a shot to right field that made it 2-0. Appalachian State (10-8, 1-1 SoCon) grabbed the lead on Michelle Lighton’s bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third, but Katelyn Bedwell put UNCG back on top with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth.
The homer was Bedwell’s sixth of the season, putting her in the team lead and extending her career high.
The Mountaineers pulled within a run in the bottom half of the frame on Caroline Williams’ pinch-hit RBI single, but Robb put the game out of reach with her grand slam in the top of the seventh.
After Alex Emeterio reached on a catcher’s interference and Aubrey Baldwin reached on a fielder’s choice, Caitlin Wainright got a popup and a groundout. Robb then followed with second homer of the season, a shot out to left to make it a 9-4 game.
UNCG freshman Erica Navarette (2-5) picked up the win, allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks in the complete-game effort. She struck out five.
Caroline Wainright (4-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk in five innings.
Robb and Alcala had two hits each to lead the Spartans in the contest, while Sarah Warnock and Meghan Smith had two hits each to pace App.
Game one was a different story for the Spartans, as Emeterio’s two singles were the only thing that stood between Caitlin Wainright (5-4) and perfection.
Emeterio led off the game with a single before Wainright retired the next 17 batters in order. Emeterio’s single in the top of the sixth was her only other blemish in the contest.
The Apps took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Allie Cashion’s RBI double and a UNCG error. ASU made it 3-0 when Smith stole home in the third inning then blew it open with a four-run fourth. Cashion hit a three-run homer in the frame, immediately followed by a solo shot from Caroline Rogers.
App put the mercy rule into effect in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Warnock scored on a UNCG error. Rogers was credited with an RBI on the play.
Cory Mattson (4-7) took the loss for UNCG, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits and six walks in four innings.
The series wraps up Sunday with a single game at noon.
Georgia Southern 2, Samford 1
Georgia Southern 6, Samford 3
BIRMINGHAM. Ala. – Georgia Southern Softball opened Southern Conference play with a pair of victories over Samford on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Field. GSU won the opener 2-1 behind 14 strikeouts from Sarah Purvis. In the second game, GSU rallied from an early deficit to take a 6-3 win, pounding out 12 hits in the contest.
-GAME ONE-
The Eagles (12-7, 2-0 SoCon) drew first blood in the first frame with a two out rally. Andrea Tasashuk produced the last of three-straight singles that scored Marie Fogle from third base. The run gave GSU an early 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Tabby Douberley’s two-out single through the right side pushed pinch runner Breanna McLendon in to score the Eagles second run of the game. McLendon rounded third and slid into the Samford (4-15, 0-2 SoCon) catcher who had received the relay throw in time, but was unable to hold on to the ball.
The Bulldogs got to starting pitcher Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a run following a leadoff single. The tying run would reach second base, but Purvis would strikeout the final batter for her 14th strikeout of the game and a 2-1 Georgia Southern victory.
Purvis improved to 6-3 with the win and has tallied 30 strikeouts over the last two appearances. She allowed just four hits and the one run while not walking a Samford batter.
-GAME TWO-
The Eagles opened up game two with another dose of two-out lightning. Tarashuk dropped a Texas Leaguer into centerfield, allowing Hanna Ennis to scamper home for an early 1-0 Georgia Southern advantage.
Samford answered in the second inning as Misha Aldridge poked a home run over the fence in centerfield. The two-run homer gave the Bulldogs a 2-1lead, their first advantage of the series. It was also the first time the Eagles had trailed since February 26th, a span of nearly two weeks.
Ennis nearly leveled the scores on the second pitch in the third frame, hitting a mammoth ball to left field. The ball looked destined to bounce off the scoreboard until the Bulldog outfielder hauled in the dying ball which was held up by the wind.
In the fourth inning, the Eagles validated a leadoff single by Savannah Coon with an RBI double from Douberley. The run brought the teams level at 2-2 with Douberley stranded on second base to end the inning.
Samford scored again in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, but the Eagles answered again in the fifth inning. An RBI single by Mackenzie Williams scored pinch runner McLendon and put Fogle on third base before Williams was caught in a rundown. Fogle, however, was stranded at third to end the inning as the game was tied 3-3.
An inning later, Kaitlyn Johnson crushed her first career home run to left field giving the Eagles a 4-3 lead. It was the first home run of the day for the Eagles who have now hit 12 team home runs.
Georgia Southern tacked on insurance runs in the seventh when Tarashuk logged her third RBI of the game on a single down the line to right to score Ennis. A double to the wall by Coon allowed Tarashuk to beat the relay throw for a 6-3 Eagle advantage.
Freshman Brooke Red picked up her fourth victory of the season against no losses, throwing 4.1 innings in relief. She struck out five while allowing four hits in the appearance. Allie Miles got the start for the Eagles and went two and a third innings, allowing a pair of runs off three hits with two strikeouts.
The Eagles close this weekend’s three-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT) from Bulldog Field.
Elon 9, Furman 1 (5 innings)
Elon 13, Furman 8
ELON, N.C. – The Elon softball team used 22 runs off 25 hits, including four home runs, to win both games of its doubleheader conference opener against Furman today, March 10, at East Field. The Phoenix is now 13-3 and 2-0 in the SoCon after winning the first game, 9-1, in five innings and the second, 13-8, as the Paladins fall to 7-12 (0-2 SoCon) on the season.
Game 1
Elon pitcher Erin O’Shea found herself in a tough situation early with the bases loaded and only one out in the top of the first. The senior struck out Lakyn Shull and Alex Bimonte to end Furman’s at bat with no runs.
Carleigh Nester scored Elon’s first run of the day off a fielder’s choice that allowed Kaitlyn Piazzolla to reach and left Cyra Cottrell safe at second after an error by Furman’s second baseman. Nester reached earlier on a single to center, followed by a single to left by E. O’Shea, while Cottrell was awarded a base after being hit by a pitch. With two outs and the bases loaded, Danielle Lafferty took her first offering from Shull to left field for a grand slam to put the Phoenix up 5-0.
Two innings later, Lafferty hit her second homer of the day, fourth of the season, to add three more runs to the scoreboard for the maroon and gold. E. O’Shea was waiting on second after drawing a walk and Piazzolla was on first after getting hit by Shull’s pitch as Lafferty came up to the plate. With two outs once again, Lafferty took a 2-2 pitch to center field for the three-run shot to give Elon an 8-0 edge.
In the bottom of the fourth, Camille Hill singled to left with one out and then stole second to bring Tomeka Watson to the plate. Watson grounded out to the pitcher for the second out of the inning but advanced Hill to third on the play. Nester then singled to left field to bring Hill across the plate and add one more run for the Phoenix.
Furman scored its one run of the game off a one-out solo home run to left field by Emily Boyer in the top of the fifth. E. O’Shea bounced back by striking out the final two batters of the game to give Elon the 9-1 victory.
E. O’Shea (7-1) pitched the complete game in win, giving up one run off four hits and struck out nine. Shull (4-2) also pitched the entire game allowing four earned runs off seven hits.
Lafferty went an impressive 2-for-2 with both hits going over the fence to record seven RBI. Nester was 2-for-3 in the game with one run and one RBI to her name.
Game 2
The Phoenix picked off where it left off in the first game, scoring three runs in the first. Hill started the bottom of the first with a leadoff single to left field. Watson then hit her second home run of the year to center for two runs. E. O’Shea, the next batter for the maroon and gold, hit Elon’s second homer of the game in as many batters to give the team a 3-0 lead after one inning.
The Paladins answered with two runs the next inning. Shull and Hannah Pace scored from third and second after a single by Nikki Legg and then an error by Elon pitcher Kari Pervell.
A single to center by Watson scored Johanna Spencer, who singled to start the inning, for another run to put the Phoenix up 4-2. After Lauren Collier replaced Hannah Bradley in the circle, Nester doubled to center to score Lauren Oldham from second. With Watson on third and Nester on second, E O’Shea singled to center to add two more scores for a 7-2 Elon edge.
E. O’Shea replaced Pervell at pitcher to start the third inning for Elon. Jessie Homesley scored off a single by Boyer after doubling to center to reach base. Furman added two more runs off a double to right field by Stephanie Spain. With two on and two outs, Legg tripled to push two runs across the plate and then scored on a throwing error by Cottrell. Caitlin O’Shea then replaced E. O’Shea at pitcher and recorded the final out of the inning as Furman took the lead, 8-7.
After a leadoff single and a steal of second base, Watson found herself at third after a single by Nester in the bottom of the fourth. Watson scored off a single by E. O’Shea, while Nester and E. O’Shea both scored a few plays later as Morgan Wright reached on a throwing error by Furman shortstop Taylor Jenkins, which put Elon back on top, 10-8.
Shelby Parker took over pitching from Collier for the Paladins in the bottom of the fifth. Hill singled to start the inning, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third off a sacrifice bunt by Watson. Hill then scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-8 for the maroon and gold. A single by Nester and a walk to E. O’Shea put two on for Cottrell, who doubled to center to score two runs and give the Phoenix the five-run edge, 13-8.
After pitching three scoreless innings for Elon, Karen Berna relieved C. O’Shea in the circle to preserve the win. Berna retired the batters in order, forcing three straight groundouts to end the game.
C. O’Shea (2-2) earned the win in the offensive battle after pitching 3.1 innings with no runs and only three hits in the 15 batters she faced. Collier (1-4) took the loss after going a combined 4.1 innings and allowing four runs off eight hits.
E. O’Shea went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and 4 RBI. Both Watson and Nester were 3-for-4 in the game and each scored three runs.
Elon will close out the three-game series against Furman at 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 11, at East Field.
Chattanooga 11, College of Charleston 1 (5 innings)
Chattanooga 2, College of Charleston 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team swept its SoCon opener at Frost Stadium on Saturday registering an 11-1 five-inning victory and a 2-1 win against College of Charleston. Senior catcher Vivian Morimoto launched two home runs in game one, while classmate shortstop Jessica Traxler increased the Lady Mocs the lead to two during game two with a round tripper in the second.
Chattanooga improved to 13-8 on the season and 2-0 in the Southern Conference, and the Cougars fell to 10-10 and 0-2 in league play.
Recording two victories in the circle was freshman Taylor Deason with a combined seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work and increased her record to 9-4 on the season. Tossing three innings of the second game was senior designated player Michelle Fuzzard, who yielded four hits, an earned run and a strikeout.
Freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis, Fuzzard and Morimoto each generated two hits and drove in three runs in game one as the Lady Mocs tallied 10 hits.
The offense for Chattanooga was cooled down in game two as six players notched hits, while Fuzzard and Traxler each notched a RBI. College of Charleston was aided by three double plays, setting a program-record.
The Lady Mocs conclude the series against the Cougars on Sunday with a 2 p.m., contest at Frost Stadium. Check out the softball schedule page for mobile and computer live stats and a subscription-based video broadcast through MocsVision as the Voice of Lady Mocs Softball, Tyler Brown, has the call.
GAME ONE: Chattanooga 11, College of Charleston 1 (5 inn.)
A pitcher's duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference regarding strikeouts, Deason (60) and Stephanie Sailors (63), began in game one as both sides were quite through 2.5 innings.
In the third, Chattanooga adjusted to Sailors as freshman outfielder Nicole Osterman was clunked with a pitch and sophomore outfielder Layne Rainey advanced her to second with one out. Junior second baseman Sara Poteat reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.
Connecting on a two-RBI double to left center was Willis. Fuzzard stepped up and sent a 2-1 pitch just over the fence down the left field line, 4-0, for her third round tripper of the season.
Two batters later, Morimoto, launched a home run to left center to increase the lead to 5-0.
Leading off the fifth was Kelsey Hodgson with a solo shot to straight-away center, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
The scoring continued in the fourth as Osterman doubled to left and Rainey beat-out an infield single, putting runners on the corners. One run scored as Poteat reached on a muff by the first baseman on a throw from short. Willis then singled down the left field line, 7-1.
A double off the fence in right center by Fuzzard plated another run and driving in the runner from third was Tydingco with a groundout. Morimoto came up and blasted a homer to right, increasing the lead to 11-1. It was her second career-game with two homers, last occurring on April 4, 2011.
The Lady Mocs hurler, Deason, made quick work of the Cougars in the fifth, including two strikeouts, to secure the 11-2 win.
Pitching for the Cougars was the duo of Stephanie Sailors, who took the loss, and Kaitlyn Yerby as they combined for two strikeouts. The four hits were notched by Lizzy Vaughn, Kristy Giragosian, Allison Pedigo and Hodson.
GAME TWO: Chattanooga 2, College of Charleston 1
Chattanooga continued where it left off in the first game as Poteat led off the contest with an infield single to short. The Thomaston, Ga., native stole second, the 10th theft of the season, before Fuzzard drove her home with a single to right.
After College of Charleston stranded two runners for the second-straight inning, Traxler drove the first pitch over the fence in left and off the bleachers to extend the lead to 2-0. The Chino Hills, Calif., native now has three home runs on the season.
Recording the first double play of the game were the Lady Mocs in the third as Fuzzard caught a hard liner in the circle and threw the ball to first following a leadoff single by Ashton Jarrett.
The Cougars cut the lead to one in the fourth as Pedigo started it off with a double to right center. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third.
Following a hit by pitch and runners at the corners, Deason entered the contest as a pitcher for Fuzzard. The next play pinch runner Katie O'Brien takes off for second and Morimoto, the catcher, fakes a throw to second and is able to pickoff another pinch runner Jacquline Martinez at third for the second out.
Charleston rebounded after the situation with a clutch double to right center by Carly Corthell driving in the runner from second. Deason would induce a ground ball to end the frame.
In the bottom-half, Roberts singled to second and Traxler walked as the Lady Mocs were poised to add to their lead. The momentum ended as Osterman grounded in to a double play, third to first.
Willis was the first to reach base in the fifth on a single to short, then Fuzzard sent a ground ball to the second baseman as the shortstop turned the double play.
During the sixth, Giragosian singled up the middle before Pedigo moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two walks then loaded the bases with one out, but Deason notched a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.
Once again, the Lady Mocs appeared ready to score against as Tydingco led off the sixth with a single. The third double play by the Cougars, a program record, was then made as Morimoto hit a ball to the first baseman, who tagged the runner, and stepped on the bag.
Deason would be up to the task in the seventh with the pressure on as the Lady Mocs defense made three plays to end the game.
Pitchers Hope Kilcker and Jen Rosene each tossed three innings for the Cougars and combined for six strikeouts. Jarrett paced the team with a 3-for-4 performance as College of Charleston out-hit the Lady Mocs 7-6.