College of Charleston 7, Chattanooga 6
BOONE, N.C. - A late-rally from College of Charleston advances the Cougars to the 2012 Southern Conference Championship game this afternoon. Despite Chattanooga's six runs in the sixth inning, the Cougars answered with five runs before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Chattanooga, 7-6.
Chattanooga's bats came alive in the sixth inning as the team scoring six runs. Freshman Cheyenne Willis got things started for the Lady Mocs in the top of the inning. She singled up the middle to score the first run for Chattanooga in the top of the sixth. A double from sophomore Stephanie Rieck plated Willis and junior Sara Poteat as the Lady Mocs took a 3-0 lead over College of the Charleston.
A single to left field from senior Vivian Morimoto scored the fourth Chattanooga run of the inning before junior Kasey Tydingco blasted a two-run homer to right center, extending the Lady Mocs win, 6-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, junior Kristy Giragosian led off with a single before sophomore Carly Corthell doubled down the left field line. A single from sophomore Kelsey Hodgson scored the first run for the Cougars before freshman Mackenzie Maples doubled to bring home junior Ashton Jarrett.
Senior Amanda Lonergan scored Hodgson with one out and brought the tying run to the plate. A wild pitch from freshman reliever Taylor Deason allowed the Cougar runners to advance and freshman Allison Pedigo grounded out to short to bring College of Charleston within two runs with two outs.
Sophomore Lizzy Vaughn reached on a fielding error, which allowed Lonergan to advance to third. Freshman pitcher Hope Klicker doubled down the left field line to put the Cougars within one, 6-5.
In the bottom of the seventh, Maples reached on a throwing error and advanced to third, scoring Jarrett, tying the game at six. Lonergan reached on a throwing error to score Maples, advancing the Cougars to advance to the 2012 title game against top-seeded Georgia Southern.
Klicker (18-9) earns her fourth win of the tournament. She allowed two hits and struck out five. Deason (24-9) took the loss in the circle. She gave up three hits and struck out two.
The Cougars improve to 26-22 on the season while Chattanooga falls to 39-16. College of Charleston will face top-seeded Georgia Southern at 1:30 p.m. in the championship game at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.