Championship Bracket
Championship Page
Georgia Southern 5, Chattanooga 2
BOONE, N.C. - Behind a solid performance in the circle from sophomore Sarah Purvis, the top-seeded Eagles shut down Chattanooga, 5-2 to advance to the 2012 Southern Conference Softball Championship game.
Senior Jessica Traxler belted a two-run homer to left field giving the Lady Mocs an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Chattanooga's lead was short-lived as freshman Kaitlyn Johnson hit her second home run of the tournament to even the game at two in the bottom half of the inning.
Junior Tabby Douberley doubled to center to score sophomore Kourtny Thomas to give the Eagles a one-run lead. Junior Alexis Lewis then reached on a fielding error to plate Douberley, allowing top-seeded Georgia Southern to take a 4-2 lead heading into the third inning.
Georgia Southern scored another run in the bottom of the third behind a double from junior Andrea Tarashuk.
Purvis (23-9) had a solid performance in the circle, sitting down 13 batters in a row. The right-hander only allowed two hits during her seven innings in the circle, both of which came in the second inning.
Freshman starter Taylor Deason (24-8) takes the loss. She allowed nine hits and struck out struck out six batters.
Georgia Southern improves to 41-17 on the season while the Lady Mocs fall to 39-15. Chattanooga will face the winner of the College of Charleston and Elon game tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in the consolation round.
The Eagles, who last won a title game, will play tomorrow in the 2012 Southern Conference title game at 1:30 at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. Georgia Southern will face the winner of the consolation bracket. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.
College of Charleston 4, Elon 2
BOONE, N.C. - Despite a late game surge from the Phoenix, the College of Charleston eliminated seventh-seeded Elon, 4-2 from the 2012 Southern Conference Softball Championship.
College of Charleston plated two runs in the first inning, before starting pitcher freshman Hope Klicker blasted her second home run of the tournament to left field in the second. Senior Danielle Lafferty singled to center to put Elon on the board.
Sophomore Kelsey Hodgson led off the fifth inning with a home run to center giving the Cougars a 4-1 lead. Hodgson's homer was the thirtieth home run of the 2012 Southern Conference Softball Championship.
Senior Kaitlyn Piazzolla blasted a home run down the field line to bring the Phoenix within two runs.
Klicker (17-9) takes the win in the circle. The freshman allowed five hits while striking out two. Senior Erin O'Shea (16-15) takes the loss.
College of Charleston improves to 35-22 on the season while the Phoenix end their 2012 season at 24-26.
The Cougars will battle Chattanooga tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in the consolation round. This will be the second time the two teams will play each other in the tournament. The winner of that game will play top-seeded Georgia Southern for the tournament title at 1:30 p.m., which will be broadcasted on ESPN3.