UNCG 5, Liberty 4
UNCG 8, Liberty 0
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team earned a doubleheader sweep against Liberty, 5-4, and 8-0 in six innings Wednesday night at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans improved to 27-10 on the season while Liberty falls to 17-20.
UNCG 5, Liberty 4
In game one, UNCG scored five runs that included a two-run home run from senior Heather Robb (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) to defeat Liberty 5-4.
Redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) improved to 15-4 after throwing a complete game effort, allowing one earned run (three unearned) on six hits with six strikeouts. Chandler Ball took the loss for Liberty to fall to 6-9 after allowing three earned runs in two innings.
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead after junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, B.C./Elgin Park) singled up the middle to plate her team-leading 38th RBI of the season. Junior Aisha Figueroa (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) singled to left field to start the frame and followed with a stolen base. After two outs, Bedwell gave UNCG the lead picking up another RBI for the ninth-straight game.
In the top of the second, Liberty added two runs on two hits to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Katie Han singled to third base and moved to second base after a sacrifice bunt from Blair Lawrence. Katie Zavodny picked up an infield single to put runners on first and third with two outs. Han tied the game after scoring on a wild pitch. Jill Stephens reached on a dropped fly leading to another run for the Lady Flames.
UNCG took control of the game with two runs in the second and third innings. With one out in the second inning, pinch-hitter Toni MacReynolds (Vienna, Va./James Madison) lined a two-run single to left center to give UNCG a 3-2 advantage. Senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) worked a walk, followed by a single from sophomore Tatiana Alcala (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) to put runners on first and second with no outs. Sophomore Dominique Madruga (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) laid down a sacrifice bunt to setup MacReynolds' clutch hit. In the third inning, Robb blasted a two-run home run to left center, her first of the season, to give the Spartans a 5-2 lead.
Liberty would score two unearned runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut into the Spartan lead to 5-4. Hanks would finish the game with a perfect 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve the victory.
UNCG 8, Liberty 0 in six innings
In game two, UNCG took control early and finished the doubleheader sweep with a run-rule 8-0 victory.
Sophomore Erica Navarette (San Marcos, Calif./Mission Hills) picked up her fifth victory of the season after throwing four strong innings, allowing just two hits with one strikeout and no earned runs. Freshman Kelly Lupton (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) threw two scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Alyssa Dimartino took the loss for the Lady Flames after allowing four earned runs in 1.2 innings.
UNCG scored four runs on five hits in second inning that started with a solo home run from Robb, her second of the doubleheader. Alcala and Madruga hit back-to-back singles with one out. Freshman Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) singled on a bunt to load the bases with one out. Figueroa earned an RBI on a walk to make it 2-0 UNCG. With two outs, freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) picked up an RBI walk to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead. Bedwell singled up the middle to pick up another RBI and give UNCG a 4-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Geiner picked up her second hit with an infield single to shortstop. Geiner advanced to third after two groundouts and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-0 UNCG. The Spartans added an insurance run in the fifth inning after Robb came around to score on a leadoff walk.
The Spartans closed the game with two more runs in the sixth inning after Thomas scored on a wild pitch and Horsmon brought home a run on an RBI fielder's choice.
UNCG hosts first-place Appalachian State for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader Saturday, April 12 with first pitch to begin at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Georgia 12, Western Carolina 0
Georgia 9, Western Carolina 0
ATHENS, Ga. – Western Carolina softball (15-28) was swept by Georgia (29-13) 12-0, 9-0, both in five innings, Wednesday at Jack Turner Stadium.
Game 1
In game one, Georgia scored in three of the four innings played to shorten the game to five innings. Georgia scored three runs in the first, five in the second and four in the third.
The Catamounts had base runners in four of the five innings including twice with a runner on second. Senior Shemekia Scotton and Taylor Sigmon had the only two hits of the game for Western Carolina.
Mallory Broome started the game and takes the loss, falling to 3-7 on the year. She went 1.1 innings allowing seven runs on seven hits. Sophomore Jordan Garrett came into the game in the second inning tossing 2.2 innings allowing five runs on five hits.
Game 2
Sigmon got the start in game two but only lasted 0.1 innings as she gave up four runs on three hits and falls to 0-11 on the year. She was replaced by Garrett who closed out the game.
Georgia scored four runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third.
Sigmon, who got the only hit in the game, broke up Georgia pitcher Geri Ann Glasco’s no-hitter attempt when she picked up a two-out single in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Heather Chastain followed by getting on first thanks to a Bulldog error and the Catamounts had something cooking, however, Amber Steinhardt hit into a fielder’s choice and Sigmon was out at third to end the inning.
Georgia came back in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring two runs. With two outs, during the play that scored the pair of runs, Chastain did get Georgia’s Kaylee Puallo out to end the inning when she attempted to get two second after her single. The Bulldogs two runs, in the fourth, moved them to nine in the game, just enough to end the game in five innings.
Western Carolina heads to Elon this weekend for a three-game series. The doubleheader on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. and the Sunday single game is also 1 p.m.
College of Charleston 8, NC Central 2
College of Charleston 8, NC Central 0
DURHAM, N.C. – The College of Charleston softball team cruised to a doubleheader sweep of North Carolina Central on Wednesday afternoon. The Cougar bats sprung for 12 hits in both contests and 15 combined RBIs en route to 8-2 and 8-0 victories.
Both Cougar starting pitchers were highly effective in the circle and neither surrendered a run in their outings. Stephanie Saylors (Easley, S.C.) went five innings allowing just one hit while striking out six in game one; and Valerie Cassell (Edison, N.J.) went the first four innings with five strikeouts and three hits in game two.
Cassell also proved to be a tough out to record as a hitter, as she went 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice on the offensive side.
Mackenzie Maples (Corona, Calif.) went 5-for-7 on the day and drove in three runs, including a solo homerun in game two. Kristy Giragosian (Charlotte, N.C.) also homered for the Cougars, one of her three hits on the day.
CofC (21-16, 8-6 SoCon) returns to league play with another pivotal series against Chattanooga this weekend. The teams will come in to the series tied in the win column, with the Cougars having played two more league games thus far. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13 and a single game on Sunday, April 14. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 8, NC CENTRAL: 2
The Cougars jumped on the Eagles early and often, plating at least one run in every inning but the fifth while Saylors and Alex Pizzoli (Livingston, N.J.) combined to silence the Eagle bats.
In the first, Ashton Jarrett (Hanahan, S.C.) began the game with an infield single and the Cougars manufactured her from there, moving her around the bases on a groundball and sacrifice fly before she scored on an RBI single from Chandler Frisbie (Lawrenceville, Ga.).
Maples hammered the first pitch of the second inning and the ball hurried down the right field line and well over the fence in the right field corner, making the score 2-0.
The Cougars continued to build their lead in the third when Kelsey Hodgson (Woodstock, Ga.) walked and Frisbie singled, and they both scored on Rebecca Mueller’s (Fair Oaks, Calif.) RBI single later in the frame.
CofC scored once again in the fourth with Giragosian getting on base on a fielding error and scoring on Jarrett’s two-out RBI single.
The Eagles finally managed to keep the Cougars off the board in the fifth, but the sixth saw the Cougars load the bases and Carly Hansis (Little River, S.C.) draw a walk to score a run and push the score to 6-0.
The Cougars loaded the bases once again with three consecutive singles to start the seventh, and Jordan Trgovac (Green Bay, Wisc.) doubled to plate two runs and earn her first collegiate RBIs.
Cami Hampton hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, but the Eagles would get no closer as those would account for their only two runs on the day.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 8, NC CENTRAL: 0
The Cougars poured on the offense again in the second game, plating two runs in each of the first two innings and then surging for four runs in the fourth to enforce the eight-run rule.
Jarrett led off with another single and scored on a Hodgson double with a 2-2 count and one out in the first inning. Frisbie, the next batter, singled down the right field line and Hodgson scored easily on the play.
In the second, Cassell doubled over the head of the center fielder and then Giragosian pulled a ball down the line in left which sailed beyond the outfield fence and pushed the score to 4-0.
Giragosian led off the fourth inning and drew a full-count walk after extending her at-bat by spoiling a few pitches until watching for ball four. The senior took second on a passed ball and scored when Carly Corthell (Reno, Nev.) singled back up the middle. Corthell made her way to third base before scoring on a squeeze play with Lizzy Vaughn (Placerville, Calif.) laying down the RBI sacrifice bunt. Hodgson then reached on a throwing error and Frisbie followed with a single to left, and the pair scored on a Maples single up the middle which capped off the four-run fourth and put the Cougars in position to close out the game in five innings.
Georgia State 8, Georgia Southern 0
Georgia Southern 5, Georgia State 4
PANTHERSVILLE, GA. – Georgia Southern Softball responded from a first-game goose egg to take a 5-4 win in game two of a doubleheader against rival Georgia State. It was the fourth-straight doubleheader split for the teams.
The Panthers took the opening game 8-0 in six innings, but it was a four-run seventh for the Eagles in game two that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The Eagles are now 20-23 on the season while Georgia State is 25-15 on the season.
– GAME ONE –
Georgia State took the opening game behind a perfect game performance from Kaitlyn Medlam, 8-0. She struck out five Eagles and retired all 18 batters faced in order.
The Panthers got a run in the second inning and added four more in the third with all runs charged against starting pitcher Brooke Red. Allie Miles faced three batters and didn’t get an out in the third before Marla Thompson got the call.
Thompson struck out her first five-straight batters after entering the game with eight total strikeouts this season. One run came in during the fifth inning and two more scored in the sixth as the Panthers tallied 13 hits to beat the Eagles in the opener.
- GAME TWO –
A four-run seventh inning was the difference in game two as the Eagles earned a split in the doubleheader for the fourth-straight season. The Eagles were down to their final out before the tying and go-ahead runs scored on a strange play. Kaitlyn Johnson singled to second base, beating the throw, but a muffed throw by the Georgia State first baseman allowed the go-ahead run to score and give the Eagles a 5-4 win.
Johnson went 2-for-4 in game two
The Eagles were first to score in game two with a single run in the second inning. Johnson’s double sent the leadoff hitter, Tabby Douberley, in to score after the senior was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Georgia State was held hitless through the first two innings and got their breakthrough run in the fourth inning which an RBI double by Jordan Brown made the score 1-1. The next batter, MeQuilla Franklin hit a home run to right field which gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
Brown struck again in the sixth inning with a solo home run down the line down the line in left to make the score 4-1.
With the Eagles down to their final three outs, Georgia Southern mounted a rally to take a 5-4 lead. Three-straight hits to start the seventh inning by the top of the order scored the first run of the frame. Tabby Douberley’s sacrifice fly to centerfield plated the second run and made it a 4-3 game with runners on first and second. The runners advanced on an infield ground out and scored on an infield single by Johnson. An error by the first baseman allowed the go-ahead run to score when she dropped the throw which was not in time to get Johnson.
Allie Miles quelled the Panther threat in the seventh as the hosts went quietly an the Eagles took the 5-4 win to split the doubleheader. Miles earned her fifth win of the season in relief of Sarah Purvis. Purvis fanned six in five innings, but Miles did not allow a hit in her two full innings of work.
The Eagles are back at home this weekend for three games against the Samford Bulldogs. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 3:30 p.m. and is Fan Appreciation Day with free Chick-fil-A sandwiches for fans. Sunday’s game is Alumni Day with former softball student-athletes being honored before the 1 p.m. game.
North Carolina 6, Elon 0
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Elon softball team lost an out of conference contest on Wednesday, April 10, to 25th-ranked North Carolina in the form of a 6-0 setback. The Phoenix (12-25) registered only four hits against the Tar Heels (32-13), despite a season-high seven strikeouts from junior Karen Berna.
Berna (3-2) took the loss for Elon after pitching 4.0 innings with six runs allowed, four earned, on seven hits. Caitlin O’Shea pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief for the Phoenix.
Tomeka Watson recorded half of Elon’s hit total, going 2-for-3 with a double. Grace Eng and Carleigh Nester had the other hits for the maroon and gold.
A three-run home run by UNC’s Constance Orr helped the Tar Heels get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the opening frame. Orr hit a two-out shot to left center to give UNC an early 3-0 lead after the first.
The Tar Heels plated three more runs in the bottom of the third. Amber Parrish hit a one-out two-run homer to left center to push UNC’s advantage to 5-0. Another run would cross the plate as the Tar Heels increased their lead to six, 6-0.
After a scoreless fourth, Elon had an opportunity to put some runs on the board in the top of the fifth. Grace Eng doubled to center on a full count and moved over to third on an Ali Ford sacrifice bunt. The next two Phoenix batters could not drive her in, as UNC was able to maintain its 6-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Elon again placed runners into scoring position. Carleigh Nester hit a one-out single to center and advanced to third on a Tomeka Watson two-out double down the left field line. UNC pitcher Tori Spingola converted her 11th strikeout of the game to end the inning and the Phoenix’s threat.
Neither team plated another run, as the Phoenix would fall to the Tar Heels after O’Shea flied out to end the game in the top half of the seventh.
Spingola (22-10) earned the win after going 6.0 innings with no runs allowed on four hits with those 11 strikeouts.
Elon returns home to Hunt Softball Park for a three-game series with SoCon foe Western Carolina beginning this weekend, April 13-14. The Phoenix and the Catamounts will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, with the first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The first contest is also the Phoenix’s annual Pink Day game.
Western Kentucky 8, Samford 0
Western Kentucky 10, Samford 0
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. ---- Samford traveled to Western Kentucky Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader, falling in two rough run-rule outings as the Lady Toppers won 8-0 and 10-0.
Samford (11-24) would only muster a combined five hits over the two games while the pitching struggled to limit Western Kentucky (22-13) scoring rallies.
GAME ONE: WESTERN KENTUCKY 8, SAMFORD 0 (6 INNINGS)
The Samford offense struggled against the pitching of Emily Rousseau (12-5), as she threw 6.0 shutout innings allowing only one hit with a big sixth inning by the Lady Topper offense giving the home team the 8-0 run rule victory. Caitlin Bice (0-4) started for the Bulldogs, taking the loss after allowing a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth for the first runs of the game.
Neither team could capitalize on their scoring opportunities until the bottom of the fourth inning as Sammi McGraw drove home a pair off a single up the middle, giving Western Kentucky a 2-0 lead. That ended the day for Bice in the circle as Misha Aldridge entered to pitch. Another single put runners at the corners and a heads-up play by Caroline Seay in the next at-bat saved a run, as she cut off the throw to second base on the steal, throwing the ball back to Alex Adams at home to tag the runner out on the double steal attempt. The Lady Toppers got another single but a fly ball to Arica Dykes in right field would end the inning as the Bulldogs now trailed 2-0.
With runners at the corners in the bottom of the sixth and one away, Katrina Metoyer would score off a fielder’s choice, beating out the throw home to move the Lady Toppers up 3-0. Another single would load the bases and yet another would move everyone up a base as Western Kentucky now led 4-0. Karavin Dew would break for home from third off a wild pitch, but Casey Clark quickly recovered behind the dish and tagged her out. A walk would load the bases again and a walkoff grand slam from Amanda Thomas would give Western Kentucky the 8-0 run rule victory in the sixth inning.
GAME TWO: WESTERN KENTUCKY 10, SAMFORD 0 (5 INNINGS)
Western Kentucky continued in game two where they left off in game one, riding a good outing by Mallorie Sulaski (6-6) in the circle and a few big innings as they shutout the Bulldogs, 10-0, in five innings. Shelby Scott (2-8) threw the opening 2.0 innings, allowing five runs, two earned, in the loss.
Western Kentucky got on the board first in the opening frame as a Ciara Garcia home run bid fell just shy, hitting the top of the center-field wall for an RBI triple. Two popups would limit the damage as Samford headed into the second inning with a one-run deficit.
The Lady Toppers would add to their lead in the bottom of the second as Katrina Metoyer hit a deep RBI double to the center-field wall to move them up 2-0. A catcher’s interference call and a hit batter would spell trouble for the Bulldogs as the bases were now loaded with only one out. Abby Adams would throw the runner out at home on a force play for the second out but Garcia would drop a single into shallow left field to score two more as the Lady Toppers now led 4-0. A flyout to center would end it but the Bulldogs were now in a four-run hole after two innings.
A leadoff double in the bottom of the third ended the day for Scott in the circle as Aldridge came in to pitch. A wild pitch would move the runner to third and a hard single up the middle would bring her home, stretching the WKU lead to 5-0. Later in the inning with runners at the corners and one away, Callie Brister would bat down a hard-hit single diving to her left to keep it in the infield, but it would go as an RBI single as the Lady Toppers now led 6-0. A failed bunt attempt would end the inning with the home team able to pad their lead to six runs.
A single into shallow center in the bottom of the fourth would swell the Western Kentucky lead to 8-0 and two wild pitches would make it 10-0 before a strikeout ended the big inning. Samford would load the bases in the top of the fifth but the Bulldogs could not prevent the shutout as Western Kentucky went on to win 10-0 in five innings.
This weekend, Samford heads to Statesboro, Ga., to take on the defending conference champion Georgia Southern Eagles (19-22, 6-5 SoCon). The teams will open the three-game series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 13 and conclude with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.
Furman 2, Charlotte 0
Furman 3, Charlotte 0
Charlotte, N.C. – Lauren Collier and Shelby Parker tossed back-to-back shutouts to lead Furman to a 2-0, 3-0 doubleheader sweep of Charlotte in non-conference softball action on Wednesday afternoon at the D.L. Phillips Softball Complex in Charlotte, N.C.
The sweep improved the Paladins record to 21-17 on the season and extended Furman's streak of consecutive innings without allowing a run to 21. The Paladins' streak of three consecutive shutouts is its first since 2003. Charlotte dropped to 14-20 on the season.
Game 1
In game one, Collier tossed a three-hit shutout to improve to 10-8 in the circle as Furman claimed a 2-0 victory.
The Maineville, Ohio, native put the Paladins in front in the top half of the first with an RBI double into the left field corner to score Natalie Clemmons who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Taylor Jenkins reached on an error in the fourth inning, swiped second and scored on Stephanie Spain's RBI single to center field to double the Furman lead.
Collier fanned leadoff hitter Natalie Capone to strand two runners in the fifth and got Jessica Plemmons to bounce out to second base with two on in the sixth to end Charlotte's most dangerous offensive threats of the game. The right-hander finished with four strikeouts while issuing only two walks in the victory.
Freshman Sieara Bishop went 2-for-4 with a double for the Furman offense which totaled six hits but left eight runners on base.
Starter Katie Watkins (8-12) took the loss for Charlotte allowing one earned run on six hits in seven innings. She walked one Paladin and recorded a pair of strikeouts.
Game 2
Sophomore Shelby Parker hurled a four-hit shutout in the nightcap to guide the Paladins to a 3-0 win and a sweep of the doubleheader.
Parker, a native of Cherokee, N.C., fanned eight batters and issued three walks while improving to 4-4 in the circle.
Furman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out rally. Ambree Muller singled to left field, stole second and scored on Collier's single to left.
Charlotte loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third, but Parker got Kalie Lang and Samantha Slade to pop out to shortstop to end the threat and leave the bases loaded. Parker allowed just one hit the rest of the way and Collier added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh by lining a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to extend the Paladin lead to 3-0.
Collier finished 2-for-3 with all three of Furman's RBI while Muller went 3-for-4 with two runs. Sarah Eidt collected a pair of hits in the victory.
Chelsea Lisikatos (5-7) suffered the loss for Charlotte allowing three runs on 11 hits in seven innings.
Furman returns home on Saturday to open a three-game series with Big 12 member Kansas. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. with the series finale slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday.