Elon 8, UNCG 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Elon softball team closed out a three-game series with commanding 8-0 victory in five innings at UNCG today, March 18. The series win improves the Phoenix to 5-1 in Southern Conference play (16-5 overall), while the Spartans fall to 9-18 on the season and 3-3 in the SoCon.
Erin O’Shea (9-3) pitched the fourth complete-game shutout of the season, giving up only two hits and striking out three. The loss went to UNCG’s Cory Mattson (6-10) who went two innings and allowed five runs, three unearned, off five hits. Erica Navarette pitched three innings in relief for the Spartans, allowing three runs off two hits.
Danielle Lafferty went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs in the game. Carleigh Nester knocked in two runs, while five other Phoenix combined for five hits in the game.
The Phoenix got things going immediately with one run in the top of the first. Tomeka Watson hit a one-out single through the left side and then stole second before McKenzie Carter drew a walk to put two on for E. O’Shea in the cleanup spot. E. O’Shea doubled to left field to score Watson and give Elon a 1-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.
Johanna Spencer drew a leadoff walk to get the second inning started for the maroon and gold. She advanced to second off a single to the shortstop by Lafferty. Morgan Wright then reached on a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases with Lafferty safe at second and Spencer safe at third after a muffed throw by UNCG shortstop Heather Robb. Lauren Oldham hit a single up the middle to push Spencer across the plate and leave all the bases occupied with a 3-0 Elon lead. Lafferty then scored as Nester drew a walk off a full count from Mattson to put the Phoenix up by four. With two outs, Carter singled to right to score Nester to give the maroon and gold a 5-0 lead after two innings.
Navarette replaced Mattson in the circle for the Spartans to start the third inning. The Phoenix scored another run for a 6-0 advantage on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop by Nester that sent Cyra Cottrell across the plate from third. Cottrell was hit by a pitch at the beginning of the inning, advanced to second on a bunt by Spencer and moved to third on a wild pitch.
The fifth inning started off with a double to left field by Spencer, who was replaced by Charyssa Parent as a pinch runner. A bunt single to first by Lafferty moved Parent to third, while Lafferty then stole second. With two outs, Nester reached on a fielding error by UNCG first baseman Eileen Horsmon that scored both Parent and Lafferty for an eight-run lead.
The Phoenix was able to close out the game in bottom of the fifth to end the game early with the 8-0 victory.
Elon will return home to East Field next weekend for a SoCon series against Samford. The Phoenix and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 1 p.m. with the final game scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 25.
Illinois 4, Chattanooga 0
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team and Illinois played five scoreless innings as a pitching duel ensued between freshman pitcher Taylor Deason and Jackie Guy before the Fighting Illini scored a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh in the 4-0 win. Junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco and freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis notched the two hits for the Lady Mocs.
The hurler, Deason, for Chattanooga went the distance in tossing a complete-game and gave up seven hits, while striking out five.
Following a line out by Poteat, Willis singled to the second baseman up the middle before being erased on a fielder's choice.
Deason with the help of the Lady Mocs defense quickly shut down the Illinois offense through the first four innings with only one runner reaching base.
In the fourth, both teams threatened to score the first run as each squad laid down successful sacrifice bunts and deep fly balls in the outfield to move runners to third before the defense was able to retire the side.
In the sixth, Alex Booker singled through the left side to start off the frame before Deason notched a strikeout and ground out. Meredith Hackett hit a high fly ball down the left field line that cleared the fence for her fourth home run of the season.
Illinois continued to pressure Chattanooga in the seventh as four-straight singles scored one run before a walk extended the Fighting Illini lead to 4-0.
In ther last at bat, the Lady Mocs were able to get a base runner as Tydingco singled to center, but the team was unable to cut into the opponent's lead.
Illinois pitcher, Guy, tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout along with five strikeouts. Booker notched two hits for Illinois, while Hackett blasted a home run.
Chattanooga returns to Southern Conference action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Appalachian State beginning at 1 p.m.
Georgia Southern 3, Western Carolina 2
STATESBORO, Ga. – Mackenzie Williams delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to give Georgia Southern Softball a 3-2 win over Western Carolina, sweeping the weekend series at Eagle Field. Each team scored two runs in the first, but it was Williams’ hit that gave GSU the run it needed to move to 17-10 overall and 6-0 in SoCon play. Western Carolina falls to 9-16 and 0-3 in the SoCon.
Western Carolina struck first in the opening frame, taking advantage of a Georgia Southern fielding miscue to plate two runs off two hits for an early 2-0 lead. Both hits were hard hit liners down the right field line, but it was Kelly Bramen’s two-RBI single that did the most damage.
The Eagles answered in the bottom of the first with runs of their own. After a pair of opening strikeouts, Marie Fogle singled through the right side and stole second base. On the next play, the WCU third baseman sailed a throw over the first baseman’s head, allowing Fogle to score easily. Andrea Tarashuk hit a double off the wall in right to score Mackenzie Williams and tie the game, 2-2.
Georgia Southern’s defense was up to the challenge, setting a new season-high for double plays in a game, turning three in the first four innings, all to end the respective frames.
Both team went scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when the posted a run to win the game. Alexa Lewis worked a leadoff walk and reached third on a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball to left. Williams delivered the knockout blow with a double to the wall in centerfield, allowing Lewis to score easily and give GSU the 3-2 victory.
Freshman Brooke Red went the distance for the Eagles to pick up her seventh win of the season and second of the series. She scattered two hits and was charged with one earned run, that coming in the first inning.
The Eagles go back on the road next weekend for a three-game series at Kennesaw State. Play begins on Saturday afternoon, March 24th, at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader.
Appalachian State 1, Furman 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Wainright sisters combined to toss a five-hit shutout and lead Appalachian State University to a 1-0 victory over Furman in the rubber match of the three-game Southern Conference series on Sunday at Pepsi Stadium.
The Mountaineers improve to 12-10 overall and 3-3 in SoCon play as the Paladins fall to 8-17 overall and 1-5 in league play. Apps earned thier second-straight series victory over FU and their first series win in Greenvillle since 2008.
Freshman Caroline Wainwright hurled 5.2 innings and scattered five hits to up her record to 5-3 in the circle before senior Caitlin Wainwright tossed 1.1 innings of perfect relief to pick up her first save of the campaign and tied the school record with Teri Fister with four career saves.
The Mountaineers scored the only run of the game in the top of the first. Megan Rembielak, who tallied two hits in the series finale, reached on a one-out bunt single and scored from first when Meghan Smith followed with a triple into the right-center field gap.
Furman starter Lakyn Shull took the loss to fall to 4-5 and allowed only five hits while walking two and fanning four batters in seven innings.
The Mountaineers return to action on Tuesday at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone versus USC Upstate for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.
College of Charleston 6, Samford 2
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston softball team won its fifth consecutive game as the Cougars completed a Southern Conference series sweep of Samford with a 6-2 win at Patriots Point in a rain-delayed marathon Sunday series finale.
The game was delayed for four hours and 53 minutes due to inclement weather and lightning in the area.
Stephanie Saylors pitched the entirety and worked well out of jams causing Samford to strand eight base runners.
Lizzy Vaughn’s three-run home run capped off a five-run sixth inning for the Cougars which sprung them to victory.
Mackenzie Maples continued hitting the ball hard and was 3-for-3 on the day.
Kristy Giragosian singled and was hit by a pitch to extend her reaching-base streak to 11 games.
Samford struck first after Madison Dickey doubled to the wall in leftfield and Alex Adams singled back up the middle to score her.
CofC equalized the score in the bottom half of the first when Bulldog starter Shelby Scott struggled to find her control early on. After she walked a batter and hit two, Amanda Lonergan delivered a sacrifice fly which sent the Samford centerfielder crashing into the wall to make the catch.
The Bulldogs took the lead back in the third when they loaded the bases on three infield singles and Adams picked up a second RBI with a groundout to shortstop.
Right after the top of the third inning ended, the players were called off the field to wait out the lightning storm. The Cougars stayed sharp and watched game film through the delay which paid off as they were the sharper team to emerge from the delay.
The offense clicked in the sixth with singles for Giragosian and Maples followed by back-to-back squeeze-bunt executions by Hope Klicker and Ashton Jarrett to put CofC on top, 2-1. Klicker and Jarrett were both safe on their bunt plays to put themselves on base for Vaughn who delivered her towering shot to dead center and pushed the score to the eventual-final 6-2 count.
The Cougars rallied from behind to win all three games against Samford over the weekend.
CofC stays home for a midweek doubleheader against Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, March 21 starting at 4 p.m.