College of Charleston 3, Furman 0

College of Charleston 4, Furman 1

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The College of Charleston softball team opened the Southern Conference season with a doubleheader sweep of Furman at Pepsi Field on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars rode to 3-0 and 4-1 victories behind shutdown pitching and eight offensive hits in both games.

Kelsey Hodgson hit a homerun in both games and Kristy Giragosian went deep as well in game number two.

Hope Klicker went the distance in game one to earn her fourth complete-game victory of the season and improve to 6-3 overall on the year.

The Cougars provided her with late run support by rallying in the sixth and seventh innings to break up the scoreless pitchers’ duel. Freshman Chandler Frisbie went 3-for-4 and drove in the game-winning RBI in the sixth and Hodgson provided insurance with a two-run homer in the seventh.

In game two, Saylors held the Paladins to three hits and struck out six while Giragosian and Hodgson provided the offensive fireworks and late RBIs by Lizzy Vaughn and Rebecca Mueller put the game further out of reach.

CofC (10-7, 2-0 SoCon) will finish the series at Furman (8-10, 0-2 SoCon) with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Cougars look for their second-straight series sweep of the Paladins.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 3, FURMAN: 0

Klicker silenced the Furman bats by spreading four hits across seven innings while striking out four and forcing 14 Paladins to ground out. After being held scoreless and leaving the bases loaded in the fifth, the Cougars broke the scoreless pitchers’ duel in the late innings and cruised behind Klicker to victory.

Ashton Jarrett laid down a bunt to lead off the sixth inning and took second base when the Paladin throw from third base sailed into the right field corner. Frisbie capitalized on the opportunity with a line-drive single to center and Jarrett, who was running as soon the ball was hit, rounded third and slid under the tag at the plate to put CofC up 1-0.

Rebecca Mueller doubled to start the seventh inning before Hodgson sent a towering shot to her opposite field which sailed along the right field line and narrowly stayed left of the foul pole to push CofC’s lead to 3-0.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 4, FURMAN: 1

Saylors would pitch all seven innings of game two and wouldn’t surrender an earned run in order to lead the Cougars to the game-two victory.

The runs came earlier for the Cougars than they did in game one,  as Giragosian and Hodgson hit solo home runs to an almost-identical spot in left center in the second and third innings, respectively.

The Paladins scored their only run on the day in the fourth inning off two hits and an RBI sacrifice fly to left from Sierra Bishop. The run was the Paladins’ first in their last four games against the Cougars, as CofC swept last year’s series by 4-0, 4-0 and 1-0 scores.

The Cougars reconstructed a multiple-run lead in the fifth inning which Mackenzie Maples led off with a hard-hit single through the right side, her second hit of the game. The Cougars proceeded to load the bases when the Paladins took a failed attempt at getting the lead runner out at second base and Allison Pedigo provided a pinch-hit single. Vaughn and Mueller then both sent ground balls back towards the middle which would score runs and put CofC up 4-1, the eventual final.

Six Cougars combined for their eight hits with Hodgson and Maples both going 2-for-3 in the game.

Appalachian State 6, Western Carolina 1

Appalachian State 5, Western Carolina 4

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina softball (6-13, 0-2 Southern Conference) was swept by Appalachian State (5-7, 2-0 SoCon) 6-1, 5-4 Saturday, at the Catamount Softball Complex, in both teams Southern Conference opener.

In the opening game of the doubleheader Appalachian State pitcher Shivaun Landeros had a shutout going into the bottom of the seventh inning before Catamount catcher hit her first homerun of the season. Landeros also didn’t allow a hit for the first four innings until freshman Amber Kimrey beat out a tag at first base.

Besides the homerun by Chastain and a total of four hits by Western Carolina, Appalachian State controlled the opening game of the doubleheader. After two scoreless innings, the Mountaineers posted a run in the third inning to score the first run of the game. Two runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth put the game out of reach for the Catamounts.

Mountaineer centerfielder Allie Cashion was 2-for-3 in the game with three RBI and a run scored.

Catamount sophomore pitcher Jordan Garrett had rough outing to take the loss dropping to 4-7. She went 5.2 innings allowing six runs on 10 hits and struck out eight. Amber Steinhardt came into the game in the sixth inning and went 0.1 innings while Mallory Broome closed out the game.

Broome got the start in the second game and took the loss falling to 1-4. She went 4.1 innings giving up five runs on seven hits and struck out three. Garrett closed out the game going 2.2 innings only allowing two hits, didn’t allow a run and struck out two. Garrett’s two strikeouts in the second game gave her 100 for the season.

For the second straight game Appalachian State took the early lead. The Mountaineers took the early lead scoring a run in the second and two in the second. Unlike game one, Western Carolina found some offensive fire power to answer.

In the bottom of the fourth the Catamounts posted four runs to take a 4-3 lead. Back-to-back singles by Karley Harkey and Amelia Griffin got the inning started. With one out, the pair moved to second and third on a wild pitch by the Mountaineers Alissa Schoelkop. With two outs, after Harkey was out on a run down from third and Shemekia Scotton reached first on a fielder’s choice, Steinhardt hit an RBI single to score Griffin. The Catamounts took their only lead of the game with one swing thanks to a three run homerun by Haley Pace.

In the fifth inning Appalachian State scored two runs, including a solo homerun by Meaghan Smith, to take the lead for good.

Western Carolina did to string together a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out Harkey drew a walk and freshman Taylor Sigmon reached on an error to put the tying and winning runs on first and second. Senior Jordan Fulton laid down a slap hit and almost beat out a play at first, should she have been safe it would have been bases loaded for the Catamounts and one out. Instead, Fulton was called out and there were runners at second and third and two outs. Senior Shemekia Scotton ground out to second base to end the rally, the inning and the game.

Pace lead Western Carolina with two hits.

Western Carolina hosts Appalachian State at 1 p.m. Sunday in the final game of the three-game series.

Georgia Southern 8, Elon 5

Georgia Southern 6, Elon 4

BURLINGTON, N.C. – Georgia Southern Softball started the league season on a winning note with a pair of wins over Elon at the Hunt Softball Stadium. GSU needed extra innings to take the opening game, 8-5 and added a second win with a 6-4 triumph. Georgia Southern goes for the sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. on Tobacco Road.

- GAME ONE –

League play opened with the longest game of the season as the Eagles needed 11 innings to down Elon, 8-5. Brooke Red went seven and two-thirds innings in relief to pick up her fourth win of the season. She fanned a career-high 11 batters in the game.

First blood went to the Eagles who scored three runs over the first two innings. A Tabby Douberley single to the power alley in right allowed Kaitlyn Johnson to score from second. The hit was the first of Douberley’s three hits and three RBIs in the game.

 

In the second inning an A.J. Hamilton leadoff home run sparked a two-run frame which included an RBI single from Johnson that plated Nicole Benton in the junior’s first career start. Benton earned her first career hit to reach base earlier in the inning.

Up 3-0, Georgia Southern allowed two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth which tied the game up through five innings. That would represent the balance of scoring for regulation and the first two extra frames.

In the 10th inning came the international tiebreaker which the Eagles took advantage of by plating Kourtny Thomas off a double by Douberley. The Phoenix answered in the bottom of the 10th with a run off an RBI double of their own.

The Eagles broke the game open with four runs in the top of the 11th with the first coming off small-ball to move a runner to third and a pinch hit double by Lindsey Wilcox scoring the runner. An error and a walk loaded the bases with one out and a passed ball allowed the Eagles’ second tally of the inning to score. A Shelby Morrill single followed by Douberley’s third RBI of the day gave the Eagles an 8-4 lead.

Elon would add one run in the bottom of the 11th, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles improved to 12-10 overall and 1-0 in the SoCon.

- GAME TWO –

The Eagles completed the sweep with another win in the nightcap, 6-4. Allie Miles got the pitching victory as the junior went five and a third scattering four runs off seven hits. Sarah Purvis was called on to get the final five outs with five of the outs coming via the strikeout.

Douberley continued her strong hitting day with a second inning solo home run that gave GSU a 1-0 lead. A pair of walks to start the fourth inning opened the door for a four run inning. Savanah Coon singled up the middle for two RBIs. Johnson drove in another run and scored later in the frame with two outs to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead.

Another run came across in the top of the fifth as Gabrielle Story laced a single through the right side as GSU took a 6-0 lead.

Elon added four runs in the sixth frame to cut Georgia Southern’s advantage down to just two. In the seventh, Elon got the tying run into scoring position, but stranded the runners on back-to-back strikeouts by Purvis, ending the game.

The teams will be back in action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the series finale from Elon’s Hunt Softball Complex.

Chattanooga 5, Loyola Marymount 3

Villanova 4, Chattanooga 1

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team (13-10) split two games Saturday evening at the USF Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla. with a 5-3 win over Loyola Marymount and a 4-1 loss to Villanova.

Chattanooga 1 - Villanova 4

The Lady Mocs dropped their first game of the day to the Villanova Wildcats in a close 4-1 matchup. Both teams finished with just six hits but Villanova recorded its hits when it mattered most.

Both teams were scoreless in the first but the Wildcats struck in the second inning for one run on one hit and an error. Beth Smetana was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and a groundout advanced the runner to second. A single from third baseman Briana Fujii scored Smetana and Villanova went on top 1-0.

A Chattanooga hit by Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) bared no runs in the third and the Wildcats were able to add to their lead in the top of the fourth. A run on two hits chased freshman Kaisey Carson (Indianapolis, Ind.) from the game as Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.) came on in relief mid-inning.

Villanova scored a final insurance run off Deason in the seventh inning to push the Wildcat lead to 4-0. Despite a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Chattanooga would come up three runs short. The final run in the game came courtesy of senior Ninjja Suetsugu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) as she blasted her first career homerun over the left field fence.

Chattanooga 5 - Loyola Marymount 3

The Lady Mocs rebounded with a win in their second game of the evening with a victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions. Deason went the distance, giving up seven hits through seven innings to record her seventh complete game of the season and 11th win.

Chattanooga struck for three runs in the first inning as Poteat led off with a bunt single. A stolen base put the senior in scoring position and a single from Sarah Beth Roberts (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) drove the second baseman in from second. In the following at-bat, Suetsugu singled in Roberts and an error on the pitcher on a Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) batted ball allowed Suetsugu to score.

The Lady Mocs led 3-0 at the end of three before the Lions gained two runs in the fourth inning. Skylar Segura singled to lead off the inning and Meghan Harman homered to left to cut the UTC lead to one run.

UTC gained back two runs in the fourth inning on two hits, extending the lead to 5-2. Poteat reached on an error and freshman Anyssa Robles (Lawrenceville, Tenn.) took advantage of a second error. With two on, Roberts doubled to right to drive in Poteat. Suetsugu continued her tear in the ensuing at-bat with a single up the middle to bring Robles in from second, pushing the lead to 5-2.

The Lions gave it one last swing in the top of the seventh as Harmon went deep for the second time in the game. This time the homerun was a solo homerun over the right field fence, but that would be all Loyola Marymount could muster up in the final innings.

Chattanooga completes the USF Under Armour Showcase tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. as it takes on Temple. Live audio and stats are available for the game.

UNCG 4, Samford 1

UNCG 9, Samford 1

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Behind timely hitting and strong pitching, the UNCG softball team swept its SoCon opener against Samford, 4-1 in game one and a run-rule 9-1 win in game two Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

UNCG has won seven-straight games to improve to 17-2, 2-0 in the Southern Conference. Samford falls to 7-10, 0-2 in the SoCon.

Redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) picked up two victories in the doubleheader, including a shutout in game one. Freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs, three runs scored and two RBI.

UNCG 4, Samford 0

In game one, UNCG shutout Samford, 4-0 after Thomas finished 2-for-2 with a two solo home runs and two RBI. Hanks threw a one-hit shutout to improve to 8-1 on the season. Hanks only allowed one walk with six strikeouts in the victory.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Thomas delivered a solo home run to left field to give UNCG an early 1-0 lead.

Samford had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Abby Adams worked a walk to start the inning and moved to second after a sacrifice bunt. Caroline Wilder reached on an error which put runners on first and third with just one out. Hanks ended the threat with a groundout and a fly out.

The Spartans added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Thomas started the frame with a shot off the Spartan statue in center to make it 2-0 UNCG. Junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) singled to right center and senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) reached on an error with no outs. After another error loaded the bases, pinch-hitter Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) lined into a double play. Freshman Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) came through with a clutch double down the left field line to plate two runs and give UNCG a 4-0 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Hanks worked an easy 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout swinging to end the game.        

UNCG 9, Samford 1 (six innings)

In game two, UNCG pounded out 11 hits and nine runs to run-rule Samford, 9-1, in six innings. 

In the bottom of the first, Bedwell blasted a three-run home run to give UNCG a 3-0 lead. Junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) singled through the left side to start the inning. Thomas worked a one out walk to setup Bedwell's fourth home run of the season.

The Bulldogs answered with a solo home run from Abby Adams in the top of the second to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Spartans added to their lead with a two-run bottom of the fourth. Senior Heather Robb (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) was hit by a pitch, followed by a walk from Nicole Thomas. Sophomore Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) sacrificed both runners to second and third with one out. MacReynolds lined a double to left center to plate two runs and extend UNCG's lead to 5-1.

UNCG ended the game with a four-run bottom of the sixth on five hits. The Bulldogs also helped the cause with two errors in the inning. Hormon provided the knockout blow with a single up the middle to score the ninth run.

Alcala finished with two hits along with Figueroa and Thomas. Hanks picked up her ninth win of the season and Nicole Thomas earned her first save in relief.    

UNCG concludes the series against Samford with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.