Appalachian State 5, Troy 2

Appalachian State 6, Southern Miss 4

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Appalachian State University softball picked up two wins on the first day of the Florida State Renegade Classic on Friday at JoAnne Graf Field.The Mountaineers downed Troy by a 5-2 final in their morning game before grabbing a 6-4 win over Southern Miss later in the afternoon.

Appalachian will be back in action Saturday, Mar. 2 when it take on No. 25 Florida State on day two of the Renegade Classic. The game is scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m.

Game 1 App State 5, Troy 2

After pitcher Alissa Schoelkopf struck out three in the top of the first the Mountaineers took the early 1-0 lead over Troy as senior Allie Cashion drove a two-out double down the left field line and came around to score on a short single to center field from junior Lindsay Loudermilk.

The Trojans knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth when Brittany Russ hit a solo homerun over the center field fence.

App State responded to the home run as they scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cynthia Gomez led off the inning with a single to the shortstop before advancing to third on two illegal pitches. Gomez came around to score when Ashley Seering picked up her first hit of the season as she doubled to deep right center.

The Apps added their second run of the inning when Sarah Warnock singled past second, scoring freshman Kristen Terry, and tacked on their third run when Meghan Smith singled through the left side of the field allowing Warnock to come around to score.

Appalachian scored its final run of the inning when Allie Cashion came home on a wild pitch, allowing the Mountaineers to take the 5-1 lead heading into the top of the sixth.

Troy came within three in the top of the sixth when Caitlin Ortiz hit a double to the wall in right center that allowed Hannah Renn to score from first.

Appalachian out-hit the Trojans 9-3 through seven innings, while Cashion and Gomez each added two hits. The Apps saw RBI's from five different players as Cashion came around to score twice.

Schoelkopf (1-2) pitched her second complete game of the season, earning her first win of the season as she recorded eight strikeouts and allowed only two hits.

With the win App State improves to 2-4 overall on the season, while Troy falls to 6-8 overall on the season.

Game Two: App State 6, Southern Miss 4

The Golden Eagles took the early 1-0 lead over the Apps when they led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back doubles. Southern Miss went on to load the bases and score two unearned runs on two singles to take the 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

The Mountaineers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the second as Southern Miss walked three-straight batters, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity as they remained scoreless through two.

App State picked up its first runs of the game in the top of the third inning when Warnock led off with an infield single and Loudermilk would hit a shallow single to center field to put two on for Appalachian. Seering lit up the scoreboard first for the Apps when she hit a single through the left side of the field, scoring Warnock.

Freshman Alex Sohl knotted the score at 3-3 when she doubled down the left field line, bringing around pinch runner Racquel Cooke and Seering.

Southern Miss took the lead back in the bottom of the third when they scored an unearned run on a Danielle LaPointe single up the middle, allowing them to take the 4-3 advantage.

Terry led off the top of the fourth inning with a double down the left field line, before the Black and Gold capitalized on an error by the Golden Eagles to tie the score for the second time in the contest.

Sophomore Dani Heichen dropped a single over the shortstop's head and stole second with one out in the top of the sixth inning. Heichen advanced to third on a deep single to the shortstop from Warnock and came around to score on a Loudermilk double that bounced off the center field fence. The Loudermilk double also brought around Warnock, giving the Apps the 6-4 victory.

Freshman Shivaun Landeros (2-2) picked up her second victory of the season as she pitched all seven innings, allowing only one earned run. Loudermilk and Sohl led Appalachian at the plate as they each knocked in two runs, while Warnock and Loudermilk were both 2-for-4 at the plate.

With the win the Apps improve to 3-4 overall on the season, while Southern Miss falls to 9-12 overall on the season.

James Madison 7, College of Charleston 0

ORLANDO, Fla. – The College of Charleston softball team saw its seven-game win streak snapped in a 7-0 loss to James Madison in the opening game of the Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on Friday evening.

Less than 24 hours removed from a landmark win over No. 7 Tennessee and with a 400-mile bus trip in between, CofC (7-4) was unable to produce any offense on such short rest.

The Cougars were limited to two hits in the contest from Courtney Clark (Tampa, Fla.) and Valerie Cassell (Edison, N.J.).

Two players hit homeruns for the Dukes whose bats were good for 10 hits and run-scoring rallies in the second, third and fifth innings.

Cougar starter Stephanie Saylors (Easley, S.C.) was perfect in the first inning but gave up a pair of two-run homeruns to Jailyn Ford and Caitlin Sandy before recording an out in the second.

The Dukes – who are receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll – manufactured a run in the third with a pair of infield singles from Jasmine Butler and Erica Field and a double-steal maneuver which brought Butler to the plate.

They further padded the lead in the fifth, when Megan Shinaberry singled to left and stole second to put herself in position to score on Sandy’s third RBI of the game, a single to left field.

The Cougars’ biggest threat came in the fourth when they put two aboard by way of a Kelsey Hodgson (Woodstock, Ga.) walk and Cassell’s single to left, but back-to-back strikeouts eliminated the threat.

Clark got herself to second base in the fifth inning after a leadoff single and passed ball, but the Cougars were doomed by three-straight strikeouts to retire the side.

CofC returns to action Saturday in the Classic against a pair of top-15 teams in No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Cougars are slated to see the Aggies at 2:30 p.m. and the Ragin’ Cajuns at 7 p.m.

Samford 9, Nicholls State 1

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Samford earned its first run-rule victory of the season with a dominating 9-1 win over Nicholls State Friday at the Magic City Classic.

Samford (7-7) tallied 12 hits in six innings at the plate, led by a perfect 4-4 performance by freshman Callie Brister that included a long solo home run in the sixth inning, the first of her Samford career.  Alex Adams and Kayla Shaffer both went 3-4 at the plate while Abby Adams drove in three runs of a homer to left field in the bottom of the fifth.

Mollie Hanson (5-6) threw 109 pitches over 6.0 innings, allowing only five hits and one earned run in another quality start this season.

Nicholls State (7-9) struggled at the plate early and they started to find a rhythm in the sixth inning, but it was too little, too late facing a seven-run deficit.  Maggie Bryan scored their only run of the game as a potential grand-slam ball fell just short on the warning track, scoring one off the sacrifice fly.  Ashton Bennett (5-3) threw 4.1 innings, earning eight of the nine runs.

Samford struck right away in the first inning as Alex Adams followed a leadoff walk and single with a double to the right-field gap, scoring Megan Dowdy from second though Brister was tagged out at home trying to score behind Dowdy.  Samford would load the bases with two away in the inning though a groundout would limit the damage as the Bulldogs could only score one.

Samford tacked another run on the board in the bottom of the second as Dowdy scored from first base off a deep two-out double by Brister to extend the lead to 2-0.

Samford’s bats were red hot in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs off four hits.  Back-to-back singles led off the inning and Shaffer drove them both home with a two-run double, making the score 4-0 with nobody out.  Later in the inning with two on and one away, Abby Adams came through on a full count with a towering home run to left field, swelling the lead to 7-0.  The Bulldogs couldn’t complete the run-rule victory in inning however, heading to the top of the sixth with a seven-run lead.

After a long wait in the dugout during the Samford half-inning, Hanson struggled somewhat to start the sixth as the Colonels had the bases loaded with one away.  Bryan launched a long fly ball to the right-field gap that came down at the warning track, saving a grand slam but scoring one off a sacrifice fly to end the shutout.  A groundout would end the inning with Samford needing to score two to end the game early in the bottom of the sixth.

Brister’s fourth hit of the day was a big one as she led off the sixth with a monster homer to straightaway center field to give the Bulldogs a seven-run lead, up 8-1.  Back-to-back singles by Alex Adams and Shaffer put the potential final run in scoring position and Caitlin Bice ended it with a double to left field as Adams crossed the plate with Samford earning the 9-1 run-rule victory.

Samford continues its weekend at the Magic City Classic tomorrow, facing UAB (7-4) at 5 p.m.

Georgia Southern 6, Alabama State 2

FIU 2, Georgia Southern 0

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern third baseman Andrea Tarashuk and designated player Shelby Morrill each belted two-run home runs in the first game, and FIU freshman pitcher Corrine Jenkins tossed a two-hit shutout in game two as the Eagles spilt two games in the opening day of the Eagle Classic at Eagle field Friday evening.

Georgia Southern (8-8) defeated Alabama State 6-2 in the first game and fell 2-0 to FIU in the second contest.

Game 1

After Alabama State (1-11) cut a 4-0 deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Tarashuk delivered a two-run homer in the top of the seventh, and Allie Miles retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to preserve the win.

Miles struck out nine and allowed six hits and two runs in the complete-game victory. Tarashuk was 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the contest.

The Eagles jumped on the scoreboard early as Kourtny Thomas drew a two-out walk, and Morrill followed with a two-run homer to right field.

GSU added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Breanna McLendon led off with a walk and scored later from third on a one-out, groundout. Tarashuk then stroked a double down the left field line to plate Thomas, who walked.

The Hornets (1-11) trimmed the margin to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Brehanna Rodrigues walked and advanced to third on a Meagan Dixon single. On the next pitch, Dixon got caught in a rundown trying to steal second and was safe, allowing Rodrigues to swipe home. Stephanie Hernandez then plated Dixon with a two-out single. Brittnei Price led the Hornets with two hits in the game.

Game 2

Jenkins outdueled Georgia Southern pitcher Sarah Purvis in a low-scoring affair by striking out 10 while allowing two hits and walking one.

Purvis went the distance and struck out four, scattering four hits and walking four batters for the Eagles. FIU (11-7) scored two runs in the first inning and made it hold up behind the pitching of Jenkins.

Nicole Rascon led off the game with a slap single, and Brie Rojas knocked a two-run homer over the wall in left centerfield.

The Eagles had the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth and left two more runners on in the sixth but could not push a run across.

The Eagles meet Kennesaw State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday before taking on FIU again at 5:30 p.m. Tournament action begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with South Carolina facing Alabama State. All games are at Eagle field.

Central Arkansas 8, Chattanooga 0

Chattanooga 2, Northern Kentucky 1

MACON, Ga.-The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team (8-8) earned a split on the first day of the Mercer University Bear Classic, falling in the first game 8-0 to Central Arkansas (12-5) but bouncing back in the second game for a 2-1 walk-off win over Northern Kentucky (3-7).

Freshman Alyssa Taylor (Orange, Calif.) provided the walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Lady Mocs over the Norse. Sophomore Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.) was credited with the win after pitching four innings of relief.

Chattanooga 0 - Central Arkansas 8

The Lady Mocs and Bears were scoreless through five innings until Central Arkansas struck for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Out-hit 10-1, Chattanooga fell into a 2-0 hole in the sixth as the Bears rallied on two outs.

A single to the outfield and a stolen base by Stephanie Lasley put a runner in scoring position. A double down the line scored Lasley and Sam Forrest pulled up at second base. A single from Melissa Bryant put runners on the corners and a single from Ashley Boswell scored a second run. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, a grand slam off the bat of Sarah Bigej put Central Arkansas on top 6-0.

The Bears ended the game one inning early with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Deason was charged with the loss, giving up seven hits and five earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. Freshman Kaisey Carson (Indianapolis, Ind.) came on in relief, pitching one inning and allowing two earned runs. Carson had three runs charged against her and gave up just three hits. Ninjja Suetsugu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) had Chattanooga's only hit of the game.

Chattanooga 2 - Northern Kentucky 1

Chattanooga bounced back with a 2-1 win over the Norse in the second game of the evening. Another tight game, UTC and NKU were scoreless until the fourth inning.

The Norse struck first with one run in the top of the fourth inning. The run allowed by freshman Rachel Albritton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was the only one the Norse would score as Deason and Albritton combined for a two-hit, one-run game.

Chattanooga got on the board in the board in the sixth inning as junior Tyler Templet (Woodstock, Ga.) reached on a single with one out. A groundout to second base put Templet at second and a double to the right-center gap from Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) drove in UTC's first run to tie the game at 1-1.

The Lady Mocs found success in the seventh inning as catcher Anyssa Robles (Lawrenceville, Ga.) led off with a single up the middle. Freshman Yoshi Hooks (Cleveland, Tenn.) pinch ran for Robles at first base and a sacrifice bunt from junior Kaiti Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) moved Hooks into scoring position. Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) singled to shortstop to put runners on the corners and Taylor singled up the middle to drive in Hooks for the walk-off win.

Chattanooga goes back to action Saturday evening at 12:15 p.m. as they take on the Mercer Bears. After their matchup with the Bears, tournament play will begin as the No. 1 seed plays the No. 4 seed and No. 2 plays No. 3. Live audio and live stats are provided free through GoMocs.com.

Wichita State 8, Western Carolina 5

Albany 5, Western Carolina 2

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Western Carolina softball was swept in day one action at the Coastal Carolina Invitational. The Catamounts fell to Wichita State 8-5 and Albany 5-2.

Wichita State 8, Western Carolina 5

Three different pitchers saw action, and Western Carolina battled back twice, but Wichita State scored three unanswered runs to defeat the Catamounts 8-5.

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Garrett started the game, making her seventh start of the season and 10th appearance, lasting 3.1 innings giving up four earned runs on six hits and striking out five. Senior Amber Steinhardt tossed two thirds of an inning, getting the Catamounts out of jam in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, after Steinhardt gave up three straight hits and two run she was relieved by freshman Mallory Broome, who would close out the game. Steinhardt took the loss in the game and falls to 1-1 on the season.

Broome gave up one run, a homerun, three hits, and struck out four in her three innings of work.

Wichita State opened the game with two runs in the top of the first. Western Carolina battled back to score four runs in the bottom half of the first. Junior Amelia Griffin drew a lead-off walk and moved to second off a sacrifice by Jordan Fulton. Senior Shemekia Scotton, in the game as DP, reached on a Shocker error. Freshman Taylor Sigmon singled to right field which scored Griffin and moved Scotton to third and Sigmon motored to second on the throw. Steinhardt got a fielder’s choice RBI that scored Scotton and Megan Crowe hit an RBI single that plated Sigmon. With the bases loaded, Karley Harkey drew the third walk of the inning that scored Haley Pace, who also reached on a walk.  

Wichita State reclaimed the lead by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning to top the Catamounts 5-4. Western Carolina tied the game at five in the bottom of the fourth. Sigmon led off with a double and she scored off an RBI single by Pace.

Sigmon, Pace and Crowe each had a pair of hits in the game.

Albany 5, Western Carolina 2

Freshman first baseman Sigmon hit the first homerun of her career, and the first for the team this season, in the top of the sixth to avoid the shutout against Albany. The two run blast also cut the Dane’s lead to 3-2.

Albany ended the scoreless game in the bottom of the third inning, scoring one run, off a Catamount error. The Danes tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Vicky McFarland hit a lead-off homerun and Marlin Solan hit an RBI single to give Albany a 3-0 lead.

In the sixth inning, Amelia Griffin led off with a bunt single and was erased at second on a fielder’s choice that put Scotton on first and Scotton scored off the homerun by Sigmon.

After Albany scored two more runs, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Western Carolina had just one last Chance. In the seventh, Western Carolina looked to have something in the works when Steinhardt hit a lead-off double. Heather Chastain popped up to the catcher and Megan Crowe struck out. With two outs, Makenzi McAteer hit a single past the pitcher and Steinhardt moved to third. Pinch hitter Chandler Terrapin struck out to end the game.

Broome got the start for Western Carolina and went 4.1 innings allowing three runs, one earned, and striking out eight. Garrett finished the game going 1.2 innings allowing two runs and four hits and struck out one. Broome took the loss and falls to 1-1.

Western Carolina had six hits in the game but couldn’t overcome the four errors in the contest. Steinhardt led the Catamounts with two hits.

Western Carolina will face Drexel at 10 a.m. Saturday and Wichita State at 2:30 p.m. in day two of the Coastal Carolina Invitational.

Furman 5, Rhode Island 0

Monmouth 4, Furman 2

Rock Hill, S.C. – Sophomore Shelby Parker scattered five hits and fanned seven batters over five shutout innings as Furman blanked Rhode Island, 5-0, in the opening game of Winthrop University's Combat Invitational at Terry Field on Friday morning.

Parker, a Cherokee, N.C., native, walked just two batters to pick up her first win of the 2013 season as Furman upped its record to 7-4.

Furman opened the scoring in the bottom of the second.  Ambree Muller doubled to center field and the Paladins grabbed the 2-0 lead when sophomore Taylor Jenkins, a Berea High School product, belted a 2-0 pitch over the right-center field wall and into the netting in front of the scoreboard for her first collegiate homer.

In the bottom of the fifth, Sieara Bishop lined a two-out single up the middle and moved to second on a Hannah Pace base on balls before Muller drilled a two-run double down the left field line to increase the margin to 4-0.

Lauren Collier relieved Parker in the sixth and worked two scoreless innings to secure the Furman victory.

Muller, Jenkins and Bishop each collected two hits to lead the Furman offense in an eight-hit effort.

Rhode Island (0-4) starter Caitlin Kennedy (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings in the circle.  Kelly Coker went 2-for-4 for the Rams.

Kate Kuzma belted a pair of two-run homers and Monmouth held off a seventh-inning Furman rally as the Hawks downed the Paladins, 4-2, on Friday afternoon at the Combat Invitational at Winthrop University's Terry Softball Complex.

The loss dropped the Paladins to 7-5 while Monmouth improved to 4-0 on the season.

After Vanessa Cardoza reached on an error to start the bottom of the third inning, Kuzma hammered a Meaghan Houston pitch over the left field wall to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.  Three innings later, Cardoza drew a leadoff walk before Kuzma hit her fourth homer in her first eight at bats this season, a line drive over the center field fence, to double the Monmouth lead.

Alexis Galinski and Katie Steinhaus delivered pinch hit singles to open the top half of the seventh inning and ignite a Furman rally.  Sarah Eidt added a one-out, pinch-hit single to load the bases and Galinski scampered home on a wild pitch to put the Paladins on the board.  Natalie Clemmons popped out to center field before Lauren Collier, who reentered for Steinhaus, scored on a wild pitch, but Monmouth starter Jordan Barnett got Taylor Collins to groundout to end the game.

Barnett held Furman to a pair of runs on five hits to pick up the complete-game victory and improve to 2-0 on the season.  Kuzma contributed all the offense Monmouth would need going 2-for-2 with four RBI.

Houston, 3-2 on the season, took the loss for Furman after allowing three earned runs on four hits in five innings of work.

The Paladins, who topped Rhode Island 4-0 earlier on Friday, face host Winthrop at 11 a.m. on Saturday before battling the Dayton Flyers at 5 p.m.

UNCG 6, Dayton 4

UNCG 3, Hartford 1

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The UNCG softball team swept Day One of the Combat Invitational by earning a comeback victory against Dayton, 6-4, and taking down Hartford, 3-1, Friday night at Terry Field.

UNCG 6, Dayton 4

In game one, freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) hit a dramatic walk-off three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to give the Spartans a clutch come from behind victory against Dayton, 6-4.

Sophomore Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) started the rally with a lead off walk to open the seventh. After back-to-back bunt attempts that turned into outs, freshman Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) kept the game alive with a single up the middle to set the stage for Thomas. Thomas earned her fifth home run and has reached base in all 14 games this season.

In the top of the fourth, Dayton took an early 2-0 lead after hitting back-to-back solo home runs from Jordan Jennings and Kathleen Maloof.

The Spartans tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when senior Eileen Horsmon(Dunkirk, Md./Northern) doubled to left center to  bring home two runs with two outs. After two outs, Thomas singled to start the rally, followed by a double that came inches from a home run from junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park). Horsmon tied the game with her fifth and sixth RBI of the season.

The Flyers regained the lead in the top of the fifth with a Jenning's RBI single to center field. Dayton started the frame with a hit that dropped just inside the left field line. Natalie Mariano singled to center field to put runners on first and third with no outs. Freshman Nicole Thomas(Irvine, Calif./Northwood) came on in relief and limited the damage to just one run for Dayton.

In the top of the sixth, Dayton added an insurance run after an unearned run scored off a Spartan' miscue. Paige Rhodes singled to left field, followed by a throwing error that allowed Carlyn Harlow to reach first. Nicole Thomas was able to get out of the jam, giving up just one unearned run.

UNCG answered by loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth when senior Heather Robb(Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) worked a two out walk to cut the lead to 4-3. Junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) walked to begin the frame, followed by a single to left field by Vega. After an out, Bedwell walked to load the bases with one out. Horsmon fouled out to the catcher then Robb earned an RBI walk.

Vega and Thomas each finished with two hits in the contest. Nicole Thomas (3-0) earned the victory after throwing three innings, allowing just three hits and one unearned run. Redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) started for the Spartans throwing four innings, allowing three earned runs with two strikeouts. Kayla English (2-5) took the loss after allowing six earned runs in 6.2 innings of work.

UNCG 3, Hartford 1

In game two, freshman Kelly Lupton (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) improved to 3-0 after throwing her first complete game of the season. Lupton allowed one earned run with a season-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

UNCG jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third thanks to a string of hits. With one out, Vega singled through the infield. After another groundout, Bedwell singled to deep center to score Vega from second to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. Horsmon lined an RBI triple to left field and Robb followed with a RBI single up the middle to make it 3-0.

Hartford cut the lead to 3-1 with a one out solo home run from Jackie Kelly in the bottom of the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Flyers threatened by loading the bases with one out. Lupton shut the door with a strikeout looking and a fly out to clinch the victory for UNCG.

Horsmon finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI triple. Robb went 2-for-2 with a double and two walks. Lindsay Thomas had a 14-game on base streak but went 0-for-4 at the plate.