Samford 5, South Alabama 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Two home runs in the fifth inning provided Samford with enough cushion to propel them to a 5-3 victory over South Alabama Thursday, snapping the Jaguar’s seven-game win streak. Samford moves to 5-17 on the season while South Alabama falls to 15-7.
In addition to hitting a two-run homer, Misha Aldridge started in the circle for Samford and pitched a complete game to earn the win and move her record to 3-9. The Jaguars’ Katy Neal took the loss, as she falls to 4-2. Samford’s other home run came courtesy of Madison Dickey, her third long ball and sixth RBI in the last three games.
The teams were scoreless through two innings, until South Alabama knocked an RBI single in the top of the third to go up 1-0. Pitching remained dominant until the bottom of the fifth, when Julianne Surane hit an infield single and Robyn Harmon drew a walk, putting two runners on. Dickey cleared the bases with a long home run to straightaway center field, giving Samford the 3-1 lead. Alex Adams reached as she was hit by a pitch and Aldridge blasted an opposite-field home run to right center, bringing in two to stretch the lead to 5-1.
Samford was looking to close out the game in the top of the seventh, but South Alabama wouldn’t go down quietly. With two out, the Jaguar hitter dropped a bunt for a single and another single to left field put two on. A walk loaded the bases, setting up a two-run double into center field to draw the Jaguars within two, down 5-3 with the potential tying run in scoring position. Shortstop Abby Adams closed the game out by ranging to her left, reaching across her body for the ground ball and rocketing a ball to first base to secure the win.
Samford plays its second conference series this weekend, heading to the College of Charleston for a three-game series beginning Saturday, March 17 with a 1 p.m. double-header.
Charlotte 2, Furman 1
Charlotte 6, Furman 1
Greenville, S.C. – Charlotte scored a run on a Furman error in the top of the eighth inning in game two to grab a 2-1 victory and claim a doubleheader sweep of the Paladins in non-conference softball action on Thursday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Game 1
In the opening game, Charlotte starter Katie Watkins limited Furman to just one run on four hits in a complete-game outing and Briana Gwaltney went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI as the 49ers downed the Paladins, 6-1.
Watkins fanned five Paladins and issued just one walk while improving to 4-6 in the circle.
After Furman took a first-inning lead when Nikki Legg sprinted home on a wild pitch, Charlotte answered with two runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth. Kalie Lang started a two-out rally with a single in the fourth and moved to second on Chelsea Stamey’s base on balls. Lindsey Holloman and pinch hitter Chelsea Ingersoll followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give the 49ers a 2-1 lead. Charlotte doubled its lead the following inning as Alex Rogers drew a leadoff walk and scored on Jackie Kleinsmith’s single to center field.
The 49ers put the game away with three insurance runs in the seventh off of reliever Shelby Parker. Gwaltney delivered the big blow with a two-run double.
Sophomore Lauren Collier suffered the loss for Furman after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings of work. The Maineville, Ohio, native walked four and struck out just one while falling to 1-5.
Game 2
Charlotte’s Lexi Betancourt tossed a complete-game in the night cap to lead the 49ers to a 2-1, extra-inning victory over the Paladins.
In the eighth, Gwaltney, on second base via the international tiebreaker rule, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Lang. Holloman lined out to Collier in right field and Gwaltney elected not to attempt to score, but Collier’s throw was not cut off and skipped to the back stop allowing the Charlotte left fielder to race home with the go-ahead run.
Betancourt fanned Emily Boyer to start the bottom of the eighth before Lakyn Shull lined into a double play to end the game.
Shull (4-4) was the tough-luck loser for Furman after allowing just one earned run on six hits in eight innings. She issued five walks while striking out six batters.
Betancourt (8-5) scattered nine hits and struck out four Paladins to earn the victory.
Kleinsmith collected two hits for Charlotte while Legg, Jessie Homesley and Stephanie Spain each tallied a pair of base hits for Furman.
Furman continues its homestand on Saturday when it opens a three-game Southern Conference series versus Appalachian State with a 1 p.m. twinbill at Pepsi Stadium. The series finale is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.