Campbell 3, Elon 0Elon 8, Bethune-Cookman 7DeLAND, Fla. – The Elon University softball team concluded its final day at the Hatter Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Patricia Wilson Field. The Phoenix fell to Campbell, 3-0, before rebounding with an 8-7 win over Bethune-Cookman highlighted by freshman Alaina Hall’s walk-off two-RBI double. The win was also head coach’s Kathy Bocock 50th at Elon.
Both teams went scoreless in the opening frame to start the game, but Campbell scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the second. Courtney Klingler hit a solo home run to left field to put the Camels up 1-0.
Campbell plated its second run of the game in the bottom of the third. Stephanie Jones hit a one-out single down the left field line and advanced to second on a single by Ericka Nesbitt. After a popup by Raven Lee, Milly Martinet drove in Jones on a double to left field to put Campbell up 2-0.
Elon nearly responded in the top of the fourth by placing its first runner in scoring position. Grace Eng drew a walk to start the inning and was replaced by pinch runner Jenna Reilly. Reilly moved to second on a Johanna Spencer grounder to the shortstop and advanced to third on an error by the third baseman on Aly Quintana’s at bat. Quintana reached because of the error and gave the Phoenix runners on first and third, but they would be stranded as the inning ended with a popup.
After Elon went down in order in the top of the fifth, Campbell added another run in the bottom half of the frame. Jones doubled to right center to drive in another run for the Camels to move ahead 3-0. Jones would steal third, but would end up stranded there as Elon starter Chelsea White struck out the next batter and recorded the next two outs on grounders.
Elon looked to get on the board in the top of the seventh, but could only register one hit in the final inning as the game ended with the Camels coming out on top 3-0.
White (1-2) took the loss after going 6.0 innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits. The Phoenix recorded only four hits versus the Camels and had seven runners left on base.
The Phoenix jumped out to a quick start with the bat in the opening inning of its contest against Bethune-Cookman, but could not manufacture any runs. Alaina Hall led off with a single up the middle then moved to second on a single by Carleigh Nester. Both runners advanced to scoring position as Elon loaded the bases after Emily Roper drew a two-out walk. The Phoenix however could not drive them in as the Wildcats forced a popup to end the inning.
The Wildcats scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the second inning. Bethune-Cookman loaded the bases with no outs on a Shamaria Engram bunt single and plated its first run on a one out walk. Destinee Williams then drove in the next run on a single to left field, putting the Wildcats up 2-0.
After a scoreless third, Bethune-Cookman added a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Kaitlin Alamprese roped a one-out single down the left field line to drive in a pair of runs for the Wildcats. Elon soon made a change in the circle as starter Alli Burdette was relieved by Caitlin O’Shea. The Phoenix was able to force the next two outs to end the inning, but still trailed B-CU 4-0.
The Phoenix finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Hall doubled to left center to lead off the inning then was driven in by Nester, who also doubled to left center to trim the Phoenix’s deficit to 4-1. The double was the 41st in Nester’s career, moving her into sole possession of fourth place in school history.
Elon rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Lauren Oldham hit a one-out single to right field and scored on a triple from Hall to trim the score to 4-2. Nester followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive Hall to pull the score to 4-3 before Emily Cameron provided the tying score with a solo home run to center to knot the game at 4-4. Elon popped up to end the inning and the game headed into extras.
In the top of the eight, Bethune-Cookman jumped back in front after plating three runs in the inning. Elon returned to plate in the bottom half, but fell in a two-out hole with runners at the corners before Ali Ford was walked to load the bases.
Oldham followed with clutch two-RBI double to pull Elon within one, 7-6, with Hall coming to the plate. Hall then lined a drive into center field that went over the defender’s head that easily scored Ali Ford and Oldham to give the Phoenix the hard fought 8-7 win.
O’Shea (1-0) earned the win in relief after going 4.2 innings with four hits and three runs allowed. Hall led the way offensively with four hits and three RBI followed by Oldham with three hits on her four at bats and two RBI
Georgia Southern 6, Florida Gulf Coast 2Georgia Southern 9, Florida Gulf Coast 1MIAMI – Georgia Southern Softball went 2-0 in the second day of the FIU Classic to advance to Sunday’s Championship Game. GS took a pair of wins over FGCU, taking game one by a 6-2 margin and posting a 9-1 win in game two. The Eagles will face either Wisconsin or FIU on Sunday. The Eagles got production throughout the lineup, but it was the bottom of the order that delivered the power in game one. Catcher AJ Hamilton and centerfielder Breanna McLendon, sitting eighth and ninth in the batting order, hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh to solidify the 6-2 victory over Florida Gulf Coast. Georgia Southern got the scoring started in the fourth inning when a Morgan Johnson single to center plate Kourtny Thomas. Gulf Coast answered in the bottom of the inning with a bunt single and a home run to centerfield for their first and only hits of the game. The offensive flurry gave FGCU a 2-1 advantage after four complete. The GS offense responded with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The first came from an Emily Snider triple which pushed McLendon across and the other off a Dominique Grossman single that scored Snider to post a 3-2 Georgia Southern lead. The home runs by Hamilton and McLendon opened the seventh, while Morgan Robinson sent Grossman home with a single to third base, accounting for the final 6-2 line. Purivs struck out four batters in the two-hitter. She went the distance and improved her record this season to 3-1. The Eagles got another win over the defending Atlantic Sun Conference Champions in Saturday’s second time, this time by a 9-1 margin. Three home runs by Georgia Southern turbocharged the scoring that led to the Eagles’ third run rule victory of the season. Kourtny Thomas put the Eagles on top in the first inning with a two-run home run, her third of the season with two outs in the frame. Morgan Robinson, the next batter, followed suit with a home run of her own to hand the Eagle pitching staff a 3-0 lead through one inning. Three-straight two out hits in the second inning scored a run and left two more for Shelby Morrill. The senior third baseman clubbed a three-run job over the fence to stake the Eagles to a 7-0 lead at the end of the second inning. FGCU got a run in the third inning, taking advantage of a Georgia Southern throwing error to cut the margin to 7-1. Georgia Southern completed the run-rule victory in the fifth inning by plating a pair of runs off three hits and an FGCU error to go up by eight runs. Three runners were stranded on base as the game ended and the Eagles improved to 6-2 on the season. Brooke Red improved to 2-1 on the season with the five-inning complete game in the circle. She worked around five FGCU hits and allowed the one unearned run to go with six strikeouts. The Eagles close out the FIU Classic on Sunday in the Championship Game against either Wisconsin or FIU.
Chattanooga 10, Nevada 6No. 10 Oregon 6, Chattanooga 4LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Three-run bombs from Chattanooga’s Jesslyn Stockard and Alyssa Taylor helped to lead the Mocs to a 10-6 victory over Nevada Saturday morning, and despite going down as a loss in the record book, No. 10 Oregon narrowly escaped becoming the third win in a row for UTC. The Ducks were able to get away with a 6-4 victory Saturday afternoon.
The Chattanooga offense was awake and ready Saturday morning in its game against Nevada. Claiming its second win in as many days, the Mocs rocked the Wolfpack for 10 hits, 10 runs and two three-run homeruns en route to its four-run win. The offense was capped off with superb pitching performances from sophomore Rachel Albritton and junior Taylor Deason.
The visiting Mocs jumped out to a one-run advantage in the first inning on a sacrifice fly ball from sophomore Criket Blanco. With the bases loaded, the shortstop sent a long fly ball to the fence in right. Caught on the warning track, sophomore Sam Taylor, was able to take up from third and score the game’s first run.
Nevada tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice bunt and took the lead in the second on a throwing error. An unearned run charged to Albritton, a throwing error from second to third allowed Nevada centerfielder Sara Parsons to score from second base. The wolfpack added to its lead in the third on a solo homerun to centerfield off the bat of Jasmine Jenkins.
The fourth inning was scoreless for both teams, and Chattanooga chipped into the lead with one run in the top of the fifth. The bottom of the inning saw Nevada add on two more runs, pushing the score to 5-2, with back-to-back solo homeruns from Ashley Butera and Megan Sweet.
Albritton was pulled after giving up the two homers, giving way for Deason, and the Chattanooga bats took the sophomore off the hook for the loss in the top of the sixth with eight runs scored. Beginning with Blanco doubling, eight consecutive Mocs reached base safely and scored before an out was recorded. Junior Sarah Beth Roberts was the only batter in the parade to not get a hit, reaching and later scoring on a fielder’s choice. As part of the seven-hit, six-run inning, two were three-run homeruns. Stockard slammed her first career homerun, and hit, to straight-away center before Alyssa Taylor crushed her second long-ball of the weekend to nearly the same spot.
In relief of Albritton, Deason picked up the win. Albritton went 4.2 innings, yielding just four hits and four earned runs, while Deason went 2.1 innings, allowed four hits and picked up her first win of the season.
Chattanooga was handed its second loss of the tournament with a 6-4 victory for the Oregon Ducks Saturday afternoon. Despite picking up four runs and nine hits against the nation’s No. 10 team, Chattanooga came up three runs shy of upsetting the Ducks.
The Mocs scored the first run of the game in the second inning when sophomore Jenny Garcia singled through the left side to score Roberts from third base.
Oregon jumped ahead in the bottom half of the second with six runs on six hits. The major blow came with the bases loaded as Janie Takeda put a grand slam over the centerfield fence off starting pitcher Katie Henderson.
The Mocs cut into the lead with a three-run third. Sam Taylor singled through the left, her second hit of the game, and Alyssa Taylor singled through the right. Anyssa Robles singled to left, but Sam Taylor was cut down at the plate. With two on, Roberts sent a single to center to score Alyssa Taylor, but a throwing error allowed both Robles and Roberts to score on the same play, making the Oregon lead just 6-4.
Neither team scored beyond the third, giving the game its final tally. Henderson, while charged with the loss, pitched all six innings for the Mocs. She was charged with six runs, all earned, while walking two and striking out three.
Kansas 6, Western Carolina 0Ole Miss 16, Western Carolina 4MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Western Carolina softball (0-3) was shutout 6-0 by Kansas (3-3) Saturday morning in the first game of second day action at the College of Charleston Classic. The Catamounts face Ole Miss at 6 p.m.
Starting pitcher Jordan Garrett held the Jayhawks scoreless for the first two innings of the game before Kansas posted two runs in the third, fourth and fifth inning. Garrett gave up four of the runs and reliever Courtney Buchanan yielded two.
For the second straight game, sophomore Taylor Sigmon came into a game in relief and shut down an opponent. Sigmon got the call against Kansas in the top of the sixth and tossed two shutout innings giving up just one hit. Overall, in her first two appearances of the 2014 season, Sigmon has thrown four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.
Sigmon also got the only two hits of the game for Western Carolina against Kansas. She also logged the first extra-base hit of the season knocking a double in the fifth inning.
It was Sigmon's double, in the fifth inning, which gave the Catamounts its only scoring opportunity in the game. When Amber Kimrey hit a ball to first base, Sigmon attempted to go home but was thrown out at the plate.
Garrett took the loss in the game falling to 0-2. She went 3.1 innings giving up four runs on five hits and struck out four. Garrett is looking to break the Western Carolina career record for strikeouts standing with with 379. She needs four strikeouts to snap the record of 382 held by former Catamount Mendy McKenzie.
Buchanan came in relief in the fourth inning giving up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
Ole Miss scored in all four innings and forced a shortened game defeating Western Carolina 16-4. The International Tie-Breaker Rule was put into effect after the Rebels posted 16 runs, the rule stating if one team scores eight or more runs after five innings the game is halted.
Junior hurler Mallory Broome started for the Catamounts and went two innings giving up eight runs on six hits. Buchanan replaced Broome in the third inning and gave up eight runs on 11 hits. The Rebels scored one run in the first, six in the second, three in the third and six in the fourth.
Western Carolina avoided the shutout posting a run in the third inning. With two outs, sophomore shortstop Karley Harkey hit a single through the left side. Harkey scored on an RBI double by freshman Kara Salvo.
The Catamounts added three runs in the bottom of the fifth with Harkey again a part of the scoring. Whitney Haywood drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sarah Perrine followed with a single moving Haywood to third. Harkey earned an RBI when she singled to right field scoring Haywood.
Western Carolina tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning when junior catcher Heather Chastain singled up the middle for two RBI scoring Harkey and Perrine. Sigmon's single kept the inning alive, with one out, and moved Chastain to third. Buchanan lined into double play to end the inning and the game.
Broome takes the loss and falls to 0-2. Harkey, Salvo and Sigmon each had two hits in the game. Sigmon has gotten at least one hit in the last three games.
Western Carolina got four of its eight hits in the fifth inning.
Mercer 4, Furman 0Mercer 8, Furman 0Macon, Ga. – Three Mercer pitchers combined to hold Furman scoreless on four hits over 12 innings as the Bears swept a doubleheader from the Paladins 4-0, 8-0 on Saturday afternoon at Sikes Field in Macon, Ga.
The sweep improved Mercer to 6-1 on the season while Furman opened the 2014 campaign at 0-2.
In game one, Anna O’Neill (3-0) tossed a two-hit shutout and fanned nine batters in a complete game effort to lead the Bears to a 4-0 victory.
Riley Carter drove in the first run of the game with a grounder to shortstop in the third inning and Kaytlin Haney highlighted a three-run fifth inning with a two-run blast to right field.
Leadoff hitter McKenzie Woody reached base in all four trips to the plate with a pair of infield hits and two walks while Carter singled and drew a pair of walks.
Senior Lauren Collier (0-1) took the loss for Furman, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in five innings in the circle. She fanned five batters and walked four.
Junior Taylor Jenkins recorded a double in her first at bat of the season for Furman.
In game two, Carter and Kirsten Steven combined on a two-hit shutout to guide Mercer to an 8-0 triumph in five innings.
After Collier’s deep drive to left field was caught at the wall with two outs and two on in the top of the third, Mercer plated an unearned run in the bottom of the frame and exploded for five runs with two outs in the fourth inning. Kaylynn Sloat delivered the key hit of the inning with a two-run double to left after the Bears started the two-out rally with a Krista Kennedy walk and Molly Garmany double down the line.
Carter (2-1) tossed 4.1 scoreless innings and fanned six batters to earn the victory for Mercer. She allowed just two hits and walked three Paladins. Garmany went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs while Taylor Miller went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs.
Junior Shelby Parker (0-1) allowed eight runs, six earned, on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work to absorb the loss for Furman. Ambree Muller and Sieara Bishop each went 1-for-2 with a base on balls.
The Paladins return to action on Sunday when they travel to Athens, Ga. for a 1 p.m. twinbill against 17th-ranked Georgia.