Elon 8, UNC Wilmington 3NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Behind a five-run third inning and four RBI from senior Lauren Oldham, the Elon University softball team earned an 8-3 win in its season opener over UNC Wilmington on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Buccaneer Field at the Charleston Southern Tournament.
Junior pitcher Chelsea White picked up the complete game win for the Phoenix (1-0), who improved to 6-3 all-time against UNCW (0-1). White allowed three runs on five hits, but also fanned four batters on the afternoon.
Oldham went 2-for-4 at the plate with her four runs driven in. Freshman Alaina Hall paced the Phoenix in hits after going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Seniors Ali Ford and Carleigh Nester also went 2-for-4 on the afternoon and scored a run each.
After the first two innings went scoreless, Elon exploded its first runs of the year in the top of the third. Hall led off with a bunt single and advanced to second after Nester also reached on a bunt. Hall scored on a throwing error by the catcher from third to give Elon a 1-0 lead. Ford then drove in Nester on a single to left field to push the Phoenix’s advantage to 2-0.
Elon added another run after freshman Carey Million drove in Ford on a sacrifice bunt to move the Phoenix ahead, 3-0. Oldham then hit a two-out single to right center to add a pair of runs to the scoreboard for the maroon and gold and a 5-0 cushion moving into the bottom of the third.
After a scoreless bottom of the third and top of the fourth, UNCW finally got the scoreboard in the bottom half. Nella Chamblee blasted a one-out, two-run home run into left field to give trim UNCW’s deficit to three. Elon quickly recorded the final two outs to escape the inning.
The Seahawks added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Brittany Gamby hit a one-out solo home run into left and pulled UNCW within two, 5-3. Elon was able to settle down and record the next two outs, with White striking out Casey Shue to end the inning.
The Phoenix attempted to add more to its lead in the top of the sixth with two outs after Hall and Nester reached on singles. The two would be stranded on the next at bat to end the threat, but the Seahawks went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Elon added insurance to its lead in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Emily Cameron reached on a single up the middle and advanced to second on a fielding error on Johanna Spencer’s at bat. After Cameron and pinch runner Jenna Reilly moved to second and third, respectively, Aly Quintana hit a two-out single up the middle and advanced on the throw, scoring Cameron.
Oldham followed with a single to left that drove in Reilly and Quintana to give Elon an 8-3 lead after the top of the seventh. White struck out the first two batters in the bottom half before Gamby grounded out to end the game.
Samford 4, Florida A&M 2Samford 4, Florida A&M 2MACON, Ga. - The Samford University softball team continued play on day two of the Mercer Invitational with a 4-2 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Sikes Field. Freshman pitcher Grey Adams made her debut going the distance for the complete-game victory. A native of Fairhope, Ala. Grey Adams (1-0) only gave up four hits, two earned runs and struck out four Rattlers while only issuing two walks. The Bulldogs (3-0) stepped out in front early over the Rattlers (0-3) with an RBI double to left field from junior Rachel Bickert in the bottom of the second inning to score sophomore Caitlin Bice. Samford struck again in the bottom of the third inning, this time for a pair of runs to extend the lead out to 3-0. SU loaded the bases with no outs for Junior Abby Adams, who ripped a shot to third base to score junior Madison Dickey. Bice later knocked in Brister for the second run of the inning on a single to left field. After a couple of quiet scoreless innings, Abby Adams cranked the offense back up with a leadoff homerun blast over the right field wall to give the Bulldogs 4-0 lead in the top of the sixth. Grey Adams continued to work in the circle for Samford and nearly pitched a shutout, but FAMU did not go away as easily as the Bulldogs had hoped. The Rattlers reached base on a pair of hit-by-pitches and with two outs; pinch hitter Naesha Lewis singled up the middle with bases loaded to score two runs for Florida A&M before the threat was extinguished. Kenya Pererira (0-1) received the loss in the contest. Bice and Bickert both led the Bulldogs in the hits category; both went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI each. Abby Adams was 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI. Megan Dowdy, Caroline Seay and Brister each had a hit in the contest.
The Samford University softball team recorded its' second win of the day and fourth straight at the Mercer Invitational downing Florida A&M for the second time by the score of 4-2.
Junior Shelby Scott(1-0) turned in a complet- game performance for the Bulldogs. The Powder Springs, Ga., native only gave up three hits, one earned run and four strikeouts while only issuing two walks.
The Bulldogs (4-0) used the long ball to take care of the Rattlers (0-4) in game two; senior Arica Dykes and junior Abby Adams both hit solo homeruns en route to the victory.
SU's bats continued to stay hot from the previous game and loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second, but FAMU composed itself and turned the Bulldogs away from being able to plate any runs.
With only one out, Florida A&M turned right back around in the top of the third to load the bases as well. Samford with its back against the wall SU turned a quick 6-2-3 double play off a Densia Anderson slap to the left side.
The Bulldogs broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. It started when Megan Dowdy legged out a single hit to the second baseman to lead-off the inning. Dowdy was soon brought home after Callie Brister reached on a fielder's choice.
FAMU bounced back to post one unearned run in the top of the fourth on a fielding error by freshman Jessica Stone.
The Rattlers made a couple of mistakes of their own in the bottom of the frame by making an error on a dropped foul ball during a Dykes at bat. The Newton, Ala. native made Florida A&M pay with a solo homerun over the left field wall to give SU back the lead 2-1.
Later in the inning, freshman Abbie Miranda singled and stole second before being brought home on a fielding error by the Rattlers during Dowdy's at bat.
In the bottom of the fifth inning Adams hit a monster shot over the wall in center field, her second homerun of the day, to give SU a 4-1 advantage over FAMU.
Florida A&M poised itself to make another attempt at a comeback in the top of the seventh inning and managed to plate one run before Shelby
Scott shut the door on the Rattlers late attempt to spoil a victory for the Bulldogs.
Adams led the way going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Dowdy, Dykes and Miranda had a hit a piece in the victory with each crossing home plate; Brister went 0-for-3 with an RBI. Adams and Dowdy are both riding a four-game hit streak.
Ohio 10, UNCG 7COLUMBIA, S.C. – The UNCG softball team rallied back but dropped a tough 10-7 game to Ohio Saturday afternoon at the Carolina Softball Stadium. The Spartans fall to 0-2 on the season while Ohio improves to 2-0 with the victory. Sophomore Allison Geiner paced UNCG with a career high four hits going 4-for-5 at the leadoff spot. Classmate Lindsay Thomas went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Senior Katelyn Bedwell had three hits with four RBI. Sophomore transfer Lacey Leary picked up the loss in relief throwing 1.1 innings allowing five hits and three earned runs. Senior Raeanne Hanks started the game only going 2.2 innings and allowed two hits on one earned run. Raven King (1-0) earned the win in relief after throwing three innings, allowing six hits on one earned run. Savannah Jo Dorsey picked up the save getting the final two out of the contest for Ohio. The Blue and Gold started the comeback in the seventh inning after back-to-back errors allowed both UNCG runners to reach base. Senior Toni MacReynolds picked up a pinch-hit RBI single to cut the lead to 10-6. Geiner singled to load the bases but Lindsay Thomas grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Bedwell earned her fourth RBI with a single through the infield to make it 10-7. The Bobcats finished the game with a fly out to centerfield and a swinging strikeout to earn the victory. Ohio took an early 2-0 lead in the third inning after a two-run single from Alexandria Basquez. With one out, Raven King worked a walk and Taylor Sexon pinch-ran stealing second. Casie Hutchinson singled to move the runners to first and third. Basquez singled through the infield for her first runs batted in of the season. The Spartans rallied with four runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a three-run home run from Bedwell. Junior Dominique Madruga started the inning with a infield single and Geiner followed with another infield single. Lindsay Thomas lined a shot off the right field wall scoring Madruga from second base to cut the lead to 2-1. Bedwell gave UNCG the lead with her first home run of the season. The Bobcats regained the lead with a seven-run fourth inning off five hits and two home runs. Alyssa Wolfe started the inning with a solo home run to left center to cut the lead to 4-3. Ohio loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. Basquez tied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to center field. Madison Clarke reached on an error that allowed three runs to score. Dakota Pyles followed with a two run home run to give the Bobcats a 9-4 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Leary singled up the middle for her first hit as a Spartan. After an out, Geiner singled to center and Thomas followed with a single through the infield to load the bases. Bedwell flied out to centerfield but Leary was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Ohio added another run in the fifth inning off a sacrifice fly from Raven King. UNCG scored a run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 10-5 after a wild pitch scored Lindsay Thomas from third base. The inning started with another infield hit from Geiner, who picked up her third hit of the contest. After an out, Bedwell single through the infield for her second hit. With two outs, Nicole Thomas worked a walk to load the bases. The Spartans only scored one run after a groundout ended the inning.
LIU Brooklyn 8, Chattanooga 5ORLANDO, Fla. – The Chattanooga Mocs softball team suffered its third loss of the season Saturday morning in Orlando, Fla., on the second day of the UCF Knights Invitational with an 8-5 loss to LIU Brooklyn.
Sophomore Rachel Albritton was handed the start in the circle and delivered with five solid innings of work, but four Chattanooga errors helped cost the right-hander a loss in her first start of the season.
Albritton registered three scoreless innings to begin the game and was backed by a two-run third from the Mocs’ offense. Senior Kaiti Dutton doubled with one out and sophomore Sam Taylor walked after a short rain delayed the game for five minutes. A sacrifice bunt from Alyssa Taylor followed to move both runners into scoring position and a throwing-error on a ball batted by Anyssa Robles allowed both runners to score.
LIU Brooklyn managed one run on two hits in the fifth inning to cut the lead in half, but a four hit, six run sixth lead to the Blackbirds taking an 8-2 lead over UTC. Three hits to begin the inning cause Head Coach Frank Reed to go to the bullpen, bringing freshman Liana Rodrigues on in relief. Rodrigues coaxed a fielder’s choice off the bat of pinch-hitter Ariana Lopez to force out the lead-runner, but that was the only out the freshman recorded before allowing three runs on one hit, a two-RBI single to right from catcher Nichole Toven.
Chattanooga looked to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, but the Mocs came up two runs shy of forcing a bottom half to the inning. Dutton’s second double of the game put her at second, and moved base-runner Jenny Garcia to third. A walk issued to Sam Taylor loaded the bases and a single to center from Alyssa Taylor drove in two. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Criket Blanco drove in two more runs, but LIU Brooklyn starting pitcher Shelly Procter was able to slam the door and pick up the win.
Fresno State 11, Appalachian State 3No. 8 Oregon 9, Appalachian State 1TEMPE, Ariz. – Appalachian State University softball played two games on Saturday. The Mountaineers played Fresno State at noon and then the No. 8 ranked Oregon Ducks at 5 p.m. The Mountaineers got off to a fast start against the Bulldogs in game one of the day. Sarah Warnock got on base via a Bulldog error and made it all the way around to third base with a second error on the play. Lindsay Loudermilk roped a base hit to drive in Warnock and give the Apps an early 1-0 advantage. Fresno State would use three singles and two doubles in the bottom half of the first to score six runs. Stesha Brazil’s single drove in two runs for the Bulldogs with three more batters picking up RBI’s in the inning. The Bulldogs would scratch two more across in the second inning thanks in part to a Brazil RBI triple in the inning. App State would use three singles in the third to push across two runs and cut into the Bulldog lead, 8-3. Cynthia Gomez, Pepper Butler and Loudermilk would get base hits in the third for the Mountaineers. Unfortunately, that would mark the end of the scoring for App State with Fresno State picking up three more runs to win 11-3 in six innings. Shivaun Landeros started for the Mountaineers and pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 12 hits and 11 runs with only eight of them earned. Landeros also added two strikeouts. Loudermilk led the team with two hits in three at-bats with Butler, Ashley Seering, Landeros and Gomez picking up one hit a piece.
The Mountaineers tried to get off to a quick start against the No. 8 ranked Oregon Ducks. The Apps led off the game with three consecutive hits from Dani Heichen, Gomez and Warnock. Unfortunately, App State would not be able to take advantage and could not push across a run.
The Ducks would cross the plate twice in the bottom half of the first. Janie Takeda would score on a passed ball and then Janelle Lindvall would follow up with an RBI double to drive in Courtney Ceo for the 2-0 lead.
Neither team would score again until Oregon struck again for one run in the bottom of the third. Jasmine Smithson-Willett would single for the Ducks and an error on the play would allow Ceo to score her second run of the game and the third for Oregon. The Ducks would lead 3-0. Oregon would push two runs across in the fifth for a 5-0 lead. Ceo would single and pick up an RBI.
In the fifth inning, the Mountaineers would get on the board for the first and only time. Gomez would single and eventually drive in Alicia Van Winkle. The Ducks would tally two more runs in the fifth with the help of a Karine Shaver triple to drive in Alyssa Gillespie. Shaver would later score on an error.
Oregon would go on to score two runs in the sixth inning off of a Nikki Udria single to win 9-1.
Gomez would collect two hits in the contest to lead App State with Heichen, Warnock, Loudermilk and Van Winkle each picking up a hit. Sydney Laws received the start and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs with four earned. Laws struck out one on the day. Alissa Schoelkopf provided relief with one inning pitched with one hit, two runs and two strikeouts.
No. 1 Tennessee, Georgia Southern 0
Georgia Southern 7, Oakland 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern pitching staff picked up where Brooke Red left off yesterday and allowed one run over 14 innings as the softball team split a pair of games in the Eagle Round Robin Tournament on Saturday.
Sarah Purvis struck out 10 batters in a complete game effort, but the Georgia Southern softball team fell 1-0 to the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers at Eagle Field on Saturday.
Tennessee (3-0) got a second inning home run from Melissa Davin and held onto a single-digit lead behind a two-hit shutout from Ellen Renfroe. Renfroe (2-0) allowed only two hits and walked one while striking out 10.
Georgia Southern (1-1) got an almost equal effort from their starting pitcher. Purvis (0-1) posted her 14th career 10+ strikeout game and allowed only four hits and one walk in the loss.
Kourtny Thomas led off the second inning for the Eagles with a single but was unable to score from second base after Renfroe struck out A.J. Hamilton and Lexi Allen to end the frame.
GSU had two base runners in the fourth inning but were unable to come up with a two-out hit after Renfroe struck out Hamilton.
Marla Thompson tossed a two-hit shutout in her first career start to help the Georgia Southern Eagles defeat the Oakland Golden Grizzles 7-0 for a second time.
Georgia Southern (2-1) got back to hitting after being held to just two hits by Tennessee; the Eagles scored their seven runs off nine hits and two walks. Taylor Rodgers led the hitters with three hits and scored a pair of runs, while Shelby Morrill drove in three batters with two hits.
Thompson (1-0) kept Oakland (1-3) off the scoreboard and limited the Golden Grizzles to just four base runners. She struck out four batters and allowed just one walk in a complete game performance.
The Eagles got to Erin Kownacki early for five runs in the first three innings and added two more in the fourth. Kownacki (1-1) suffered her first loss of the season after allowing seven runs – six earned – on nine hits. She also tallied six strikeouts and allowed two walks.
Morrill started GSU's scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning and drove in her third run of the day with a triple in the third. Emily Snider tacked on two runs to the Eagles 5-0 lead with a single in the fourth inning.