Georgia Southern 6, Elon 5 (8)
Georgia Southern 4, Elon 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern took a pair of wins over Elon that couldn't be more different on Saturday afternoon at Eagle Field. Mackenzie Williams scored a walk-off double in the eighth inning to land a 6-5 win in the opener, while Allie Miles was up to her old tricks in the finale, tossing her third career one-hitter with nine strikeouts. The wins improve the Eagles to 34-17 and 18-2 in the Southern Conference.
Prior to Saturday's game, Georgia Southern honored its 2012 class of four seniors. Jorie Walker, Williams, Hanna Ennis and Marie Fogle were introduced to the crowd in the ceremony that also recognized Elon's Erin O'Shea, Kaitlyn Piazzolla and Danielle Laferty.
-GAME ONE-
The senior duo of Ennis and Fogle woke up the Georgia Southern bats in the first inning with a single-home run combo that gave GSU an early 2-0 lead. The Eagle offense mustered half of its total from the last four games combined (four runs) in just one inning of the series.
Elon took advantage of a Georgia Southern throwing error in the third, driving in Ali Ford from second on the Phoenix' first off starting pitcher Sarah Purvis. The Georgia Southern ace struck out five batters in the first trip through the Elon lineup and got out of the third with a 2-1 lead.
The Phoenix got a pair of runners aboard in the top of the sixth and cashed them in with a three-run home run, giving Elon a 4-2 advantage. In the bottom of the frame, a two-out single by pinch hitter Kaitlyn Johnson put a runner on base for Tabby Douberley. The Eagle first baseman laced a double to the gap in left to cut the lead to 4-3. Lexi Allen followed suit with a double to center the squirted out of the diving centerfielder's glove to tie the game at 4-4.
A second pitching change in the sixth inning brought Elon's starting pitcher, Erin O'Shea, back into the game with Allen on second. O'Shea walked Alexa Lewis to put two runners on base for Ennis. After nearly getting hit by a pitch, Ennis doubled up the middle to score the go-ahead run. Elon gave Fogle an intentional free pass, opting to pitch to Williams with the bases loaded. The Eagle backstop nearly beat out a ground ball to third as the Eagles took a 5-4 lead into the top of the seventh.
Elon got a run in the seventh when a leadoff hit by pitch came around to score on a bases loaded single with two outs in the inning. It tied the game 5-5 with the Eagles batting in the seventh. A one-out walk was all the Eagles would get in the bottom of the seventh as the game went to extra innings.
Georgia Southern opened the eighth inning with Allen reaching base on a throwing error by O'Shea. Allen dropped a bunt, which was fielded cleanly, but the underhand toss by O'Shea went over the second baseman's head, allowing Allen to reach second. After Lewis' failed sacrifice attempt, Ennis reached base on a one-out walk, but Fogle lined out to the pitcher. Williams came up big with two outs, driving in the winning run on a high fly ball to the warning track in right which found the dirt for a game-winning double, 6-5.
Purvis went the distance for the Eagles picking up the eight-inning complete game victory. She struck out 10 batters on the afternoon, allowing her second-highest run total this season. She improves to 17-9 on the season.
-GAME TWO-
The Eagles didn't get off to as quick of a start in game two, but the Eagles did get on the board in the third. With the bases loaded, Andrea Tarashuk hit a duck snort down the left field line that was just beyond the reach of the Elon shortstop. The play scored two and gave GSU a 2-0 lead with one out in the inning. Southern loaded the bases again on a walk to Kourtny Thomas as Elon made a pitching change. A wild pitch on Chelsea White's first delivery made the score 3-0. With two outs and runners on the corners, Douberley stole second successfully, but an error by Elon's second baseman while receiving the throw allowed Walker, a pinch runner, to score from third, giving the Eagles a 4-0 lead.
Miles had her no-hitter bid scuttled in the top of the sixth when a likely fly ball out to left was lost in the sun by Lewis. The runner, however, was caught stealing third for the final out of the sixth inning, allowing her to face the minimum number of batters through six. Miles allowed two walks in the seventh, but finished off the complete game shutout for her third career one-hitter. She struck out a season-high nine batters and improved to 6-5 on the year.
Georgia Southern closes the 2012 home slate of games on Sunday afternoon against Elon starting at 1 p.m. Next weekend, Georgia Southern travels for the final regular season series at Furman starting on Saturday afternoon, May 5th, at 1 p.m.
Appalachian State 8, Samford 6
Samford 11, Appalachian State 7
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Appalachian State University softball split its doubleheader with Samford, 8-6, 7-11, on Saturday at Bulldog Field.
The Mountaineers moved to 21-22 overall and 9-12 in Southern Conference play while the Bulldogs moved to 12-37 and 5-15 in league play.
Game 1
Samford jumped out to an early lead when Misha Aldridge crushed a two-run home run in the first inning.
In the third the Bulldogs increased their lead with a four run inning. Aldridge blasted a three-run bomb to left field and gave SU a 5-0 lead. Shelby Scotts ripped RBI-double to left center to put ASU in a 6-0 hole.
The Mountaineers started to chip their way back into the game when they got on the board in the fourth inning. Meghan Smith led off the inning with a single to left and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by freshman Caroline Rogers.
Appalachian put up a four spot in the fifth, which started by a pinch hit single by freshman Whitney Johnson. ASU loaded up the base and Caroline Williams roped a pinch hit RBI-single to cut ASU's deficit to 6-2. Smith doubled through right side to score two and Allie Cashion sacrifice flied to put the Mountaineers within one run, 6-5.
The Black and Gold scored for the third straight inning in the sixth and took an 8-6 lead. Freshman Cynthia Gomez started the Apps hitting with a one-out double to right center and advanced to third on a Dani Heichen comebacker to the pitcher. Senior Megan Rembielak singled down the right field line to score Gomez and tie up the game six all. Smith then earned a two-out walk to load up the bases and Cashion came through in the clutch with a RBI-single. Rembielak scored an insurance run on wild pitch which gave ASU a 8-6 lead.
Freshman Riley Carter earned the win with four and a third scoreless relief innings. The rookie fanned five Bulldogs and only allowed one hit to for her third win of the season. Senior Caitlin Wainwright started for the Apps and gave up six runs on five hit in two and two thirds of work.
The Mountaineers out hit the Bulldogs 11-6 and Warnock and Rembielak led the team with two hits apiece.
Game 2
Samford once again took 2-0 lead in the first inning on three hits and held the Mountaineers scoreless till the fourth inning.
In the fourth frame, Carter earned a walk and moved to second on a single from Rogers. Michelle Ligton walked to load up the bases for pinch hitter Williams. Williams crushed a grand slam home run over the left field wall to give ASU a 4-2 lead.
Appalachian added on three more runs in the fifth to take 7-2 lead. Smith launched a solo homer to left center and force SU to change pitchers. SU's Scott walked the first two batters and a batter later Lighton hit a RBI-single up the middle. Carter scored the Apps seventh run on a Gomez sacrifice fly in foul territory.
The Bulldogs responded in the bottom half of the fifth with two runs of their own. Robyn Harmon led the inning off with a double to left and scored on a RBI-single Alex Adams. Adams moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by Abby Adams, 7-4.
Samford tied the game up 7-7 in the sixth with the help of five Mountaineer errors. Arica Dykes started the inning off with a single and advanced to second on an error by the shortstop. Caroline Seay bunt singled and moved to second while Dykes scored on an error by the first baseman. Madison Dickey singled up the middle to score Seay and a batter later Harmon reached base on an error fielding error by the first baseman. Aldridge blasted a single of the right field wall to score Harmon to tie the game.
ASU's Rogers led off the seventh with a double to left center but the Mountaineers weren't able to score Rogers as they went down in order. The Bulldogs loaded up the bases and with two outs Alex Adams shot one over the scoreboard for a walk-off grand slam.
Wainright started the game and gave up four runs on seven hits and was relieved by Carter, who gave up seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits for the loss.
Warnock and Rogers led the Apps with three hits apiece while Rembielak tallied a pair.
The Mountaineers will wrap up their Southern Conference series with Samford on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST at Bulldog Field.
UNCG 8, Western Carolina 7
UNCG 6, Western Carolina 5
GREENSBORO, N.C. - On the day UNCG honored the life of former player and coach Tara Csernecky, the Spartans celebrated in grand fashion, taking a pair of walk-off wins over Western Carolina, getting two home runs from Heather Robb and turning what is believed to be the first triple play in school history. UNCG won Saturday's first game 8-7 on a Katelyn Bedwell homer and won game two 6-5 on Eileen Horsmon's RBI single to sweep the Southern Conference doubleheader.
Csernecky, who died of a heart attack at age 40 in December, played at UNCG from 1992-94 and was an assistant coach for the Spartans from 1997-98. Prior to Saturday's first game, UNCG unveiled a memorial garden and plaque in Csernecky's honor behind the home bullpen. Several former teammates and members of Csnerecky's family were in attendance.
The Spartans (20-29, 9-10 SoCon) celebrated by turning in two of the most exciting games in recent memory at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
In game one, Western Carolina (21-31, 6-14 SoCon) put up four runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone early, but UNCG would claw back to tie it at 5 and then again at 7 late in the contest. Then, with one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the seventh, Bedwell lined a 1-1 pitch out to right to give the Spartans the win.
The Catamounts batted around in the first inning, pounding out four hits and drawing two walks. After Shemekia Scotton's RBI single put WCU on the board, Amber Steinhardt followed with a double that hit off the top of the wall in center and bounced back into play to score another run. Haley Pace followed with a two-run single as UNCG found itself in an early hole.
The Spartans got a run back in the bottom of the frame on Alex Emeterio's RBI single, but Western negated that run when Scotton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 5-1 in the second.
UNCG pulled within a run in the bottom half, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring three runs. Kiah Ruffin got the scoring started with an RBI groundout, and Aubrey Baldwin hit a two-run single of the middle to make it a 5-4 game.
Robb tied the contest the following inning, hitting a no-doubt home run out to left center to make it 5-all.
The Catamounts reclaimed the lead the following inning, scoring two runs as UNCG suffered a defensive meltdown. Western Carolina's first three runners reached via errors. After one of WCU's runs came in on an error, Pace hit an RBI double to left to make it 7-5 in the fourth.
UNCG went down in order in the bottom of the fourth and Western did the same in the top of the fifth - a first for either side on the day to that point - but the Spartans knotted the game at 7 with a two-run fifth. Emeterio led off with a bunt single, and two outs later, Robb singled through the left side. Dominique Madruga followed with a single to center to bring both runners in, once again giving UNCG life and setting up Bedwell's heroics two innings later.
Robb led UNCG at the plate with a 3-for-3 effort, scoring three runs. Emeterio and Aisha Figueroa had two hits each as the trio accounted for seven of the Spartans' 11 hits.
Steinhardt and Pace had two hits each to pace the Catamounts.
Neither starter factored into the decision as the teams combined to use five pitchers. Erica Navarette (6-12) picked up the win over UNCG, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings of relief. Starter Cory Mattson worked four innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and four walks.
Jordan Garrett (9-17) took the loss, allowing a run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Starter Katie King allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk in two innings, while Steinhardt tossed three innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits.
Game two was just as dramatic. This time, it was UNCG that got off to the hot start, plating a pair of runs in the first inning on Horsmon's two-run double off the wall in right center.
The Catamounts answered with a four-spot in the third, getting a two-run single from Erin Foster, an RBI groundout from Scotton and a run-scoring single from Steinhardt to take the lead. WCU would tack on another run the following inning on Jordan Fulton's RBI single down the right field line to make it 5-2 after four.
After the Spartans went down in order in the bottom of the frame, Western threatened to blow it open in the top of the fifth. Kelly Braman, Scotton and Steinhardt led off the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles, but what happened next will go down in UNCG history.
With the bases loaded and no one out, Pace lifted a fly ball to Baldwin in center field. Baldwin fired home to nail Branam at the plate, and catcher Toni MacReynolds fired to Figueroa at third to gun down Scotton trying to take third for what is believed to be the first triple play in school history.
The Spartans tied things up two innings later. After Horsmon led off the sixth with a walk, Bedwell was rung up on an appeal for a checked swing. Robb then hit her second homer of the day, a two-run shot to right center, to make it 5-4. Madruga kept the rally going with a walk, and MacReynolds followed with a single down the right field line to put runners on the corners. Ruffin then hit her second RBI groundout of the day, pulling UNCG level at 5-all.
After reliever Josie Felix worked around a one-out error in the top of the seventh, UNCG came up again with a chance for a walk-off win.
Baldwin smoked a double to the gap in right center to lead things off, and Emeterio followed by dropping down a bunt double in front of the plate. Emeterio beat out the hit, rounded first and noticed no one was paying attention to her and took off for second. WCU couldn't risk the throw with a runner on third, and UNCG was in business with no one out.
Horsmon didn't disappoint, blooping the first pitch she saw into shallow center for the walk-off single to set off UNCG's second wild celebration of the day.
Felix (2-3) picked up the win with an impressive three innings of relief, allowing just one hit. Navarette, who started the contest, took the no-decision after allowing five runs on 11 hits and two walks in four innings of work.
Garrett was again the tough-luck loser. She picked up the Catamounts' first 18 outs, allowing six runs on seven hits and five walks. After allowing Baldwin's leadoff double in the seventh, Garrett gave way to King, who allowed two hits without recording an out.
Emeterio and Horsmon had two hits each for UNCG, while Horsmon had a game-high three RBI. With a combined four hits on the day, Emeterio pushed her career total to 224, leaving her three back of the school record of 227 shared by Karyn Thompson and Jennifer Bonilla.
Robb's two-homer day was the first of her career. It also brought her career total to four against the Catamounts after hitting two at Western Carolina last season.
Fulton was 3-for-4 to lead WCU.
UNCG will try for the series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m.
Chattanooga 2, Furman 0
Chattanooga 12, Furman 7
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team notched a 2-0 shutout win in game one before out-slugging Furman, 12-7, in the second contest to complete the sweep on Saturday afternoon at Frost Stadium. Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Rieck extended her hitting streak to 15 games, while senior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard registered her third-career multi-home run game to move atop of the school total bases mark with 436, passing Melissa Ramirez (2001-05) with 432.
Also connecting on home runs in game two for the Lady Mocs were junior first baseman Kasey Tyingco and freshman Cheyenne Willis. Junior second baseman Sara Poteat returned to the lineup this afternoon and notched two hits in each game of the doubleheader, while seniors catcher Vivian Morimoto and shortstop Jessica Traxler, Tydignco, Fuzzard and Willis also tallied multi-hit games.
Pitching was the theme in game one as freshman Taylor Deason and Fuzzard combined for a six-hit shutout with two strikeouts. Deason notched her SoCon-leading 19th win of the year, while Fuzzard earned her first save of the season.
Offense was the game two story as the Lady Mocs out-hit Furman 15-13. Fuzzard started, but struggled in the first 1.1 innings, yielding three runs before Deason came on. She went 2.1 innings before Fuzzard returned to the circle to earn the win in tossing the final 3.1 frame. Fuzzard was credited with her 14th victory of the season and stuck out four.
Furman's Nikki Legg registered a career-best four hits in game two and was the only Paladin to have two base knocks in each game. Two-run homers were blasted in game two by Jessie Homesley and Lauren Collier as each tallied three RBI.
Taking the losses in the circle were Hannah Bradley (5-10) and Shelby Parker (4-5), who paced the team with six strikeouts.
The Lady Mocs will celebrate the programs three seniors - Fuzzard, Morimoto and Traxler - at 1:45 p.m. prior to Sunday's home finale at Frost Stadium. For those out of town, fans can watch the entire ceremony on a subscription basis through MocsVision and can follow the entire game with live stats.
GAME ONE: CHATTANOOGA 2, FURMAN 0
After a quick three-up and three-down inning, Reick notched the first hit with a single to center. Back-to-back singles by Morimoto and Tydingco provided the Lady Mocs with the early 1-0 lead.
Furman threatened in the third as Alexis Galinski singled up the middle and was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt with one out, but Deason would be up to the challenge in retiring the side.
In the bottom-half, Morimoto and Tydingco drew back-to-back walks before freshman Sarah Beth Roberts drove in a run with a seeing-eye single up the middle, 2-0.
The Chattanooga defense turned a double play, the 18th this season, turned by shortstop Traxler to eliminate Homesley, who led off the fifth frame with a single.
During the fifth, Furman would strand two base runners following a single by Sarah Eidt and walk as Deason worked her way out of another jam.
Continue to threaten to score would be the Paladins in the sixth as Legg singled and Homesley reached on a fielding miscue to chase Deason. An infield single to the new hurler Fuzzard loaded the bases before a groundout would end the frame.
Shutting down Furman in the final frame was not an easy task, even though Fuzzard retired the first two batters quickly. Drawing a walk was Muller before Legg singled up the middle. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, which enabled the Lady Mocs to intentionally walk Homesley to load the bases. Shortstop Traxler would conclude the game by jumping to catch a hard liner labeled for the gap in left center.
GAME TWO: CHATTANOOGA 12, FURMAN 7
Striking first would be the Paladins as Legg registered a leadoff single and Eidit singled to left center. Driving home runs on RBI singles would be Galinski and Lauren Collier, 2-0.
In its first at bat, Chattanooga would respond quickly as Willis and Rick singled to begin the frame. A RBI double by Morimoto would bring home two runs following a fielding miscue on the cut by the second baseman to tie the contest. Putting the Lady Mocs in the lead, 4-2, would be Tydingco with her 10th round tripper of the season.
Furman would continue to battle as Taylor Jenkins singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Homesley would bring her around to score with a single up the middle, 4-3.
Once again, Willis began the bottom of the second with an infield single before Rieck moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Fuzzard would increase the Chattanooga advantage to 6-3 on a two-run shot down the left field line.
After a quite third that saw each team register a hit, Legg would start the fourth with a single down the left field line. Homesley would blast her fourth round tripper of the season. A two-out infield single to the pitcher and home run hit by Collier, her fourth of the year, would put Furman in the lead, 7-6.
Chattanooga has been solid this year in coming from behind and would tie the contest at seven in the fourth. Drawing a two-out walk was Fuzzard, she scored on the next play a double into the right center field gap by Morimoto.
Following a great defensive play on a diving catch from the left fielder Layne Rainey in the fifth, the Lady Mocs would end up blowing the game wide open. Starting a two-out rally was Poteat with a bunt single to the catcher, then Rainey beat-out an infield hit to the shortstop. Drilling her fourth homer of the season was Willis, a three-run shot. Following a walk to Rieck, Fuzzard clocked her team-lead tying 12th home run of the season, 12-7.