Elon 11, UMES 0Elon 9, UMES 0Elon 5, Charleston Southern 5NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Capped by a four-homer weekend by sophomore Emily Cameron, the Elon University softball team concluded its opening-weekend by going undefeated on the final day Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Charleston Southern Tournament. The Phoenix (3-0) swept Maryland Eastern Shore, 9-0 and 11-0, before ending the tournament with a 5-5 score versus host Charleston Southern, in which the game was called due to darkness.
Elon faced UMES beginning on Saturday evening, Feb. 8, in its second official game of the tournament. The Phoenix bats awoke in this matchup, with four players hitting home runs and freshman pitcher Alli Burdette getting a shutout victory in her first collegiate start.
Burdette (1-0) was dominant from the start, striking out the first two batters she faced and getting the final out on a grounder to move out of the opening inning. Elon did not capitalize in the bottom half and the game moved to the second inning.
UMES led off with a double into right center at the turn and added another runner on base on a two-out single. The Hawks attempted to get both runners into scoring position, but Elon catcher Emily Roper threw her out at second, ending the Hawks’ threat.
The Phoenix got on the board in the bottom half on a Grace Eng solo home run to lead off the inning. The junior from Middletown, R.I., took an Abria Tinsley pitch into right center to give Elon a 1-0 lead. Tinsley and UMES were able to record the next three outs in order to move on to the next inning.
The Hawks got two on base in the top of the third, but they were left stranded as Burdette and the Phoenix defense held on. Elon plated four runs in the bottom to push its advantage to 5-0. Alaina Hall drew a walk to lead off the inning and stole second to move into scoring position. After Ali Ford was hit by a pitch, Emily Cameron hit a one-out home run into right center to give the Phoenix a 4-0 lead. Pinch hitter Caitlin O’Shea followed with her first career home run to move Elon’s advantage to 5-0.
The game was suspended due to darkness after the end of the third, but play resumed on Sunday. Burdette quickly went through the top half of the fourth inning, allowing only one hit. The Phoenix added to its score as Lauren Oldham and Hall reached to lead off the inning and Carleigh Nester homered to center to drive them in and give Elon an 8-0 lead.
Johanna Spencer drove in the final tally for the Phoenix on a sacrifice fly, scoring Cameron and pushing the score to 9-0.
The Hawks went down in order in the top of the fifth ending the game with the score at 9-0. Burdette allowed only three hits and a walk while striking out six in the complete game win.
Elon continued its strong play in its second contest against the Hawks. The Phoenix jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first inning thanks to three-run home run by Cameron, her second of the season. Cameron drove in Nester and Ford, who had reached earlier on singles to start the game.
Junior pitcher Eve Clausen shut down the Hawks offense in the bottom half of the inning, quickly going through the order. That would become a theme for the Toms River, N.J., native as she went on to have a great day in the circle.
Both teams went scoreless in the second and third frames, but Elon would plate three more runs in the top of the fourth. Eng had another solo home run to lead off the inning then Nester followed with a two-out, two-run homer to center field, moving Elon ahead 6-0.
The Hawks reached base in the bottom half of the fourth on a throwing error, but Elon was able to keep her from scoring as the next three batters again went down in order.
Elon added its final runs of the contest in the top of the fifth. Amanda Allen doubled to left center then scored after Carey Million sent a drive down the left field line. Eng and Aly Quintana reached on errors, with the latter scoring Million from third. Emily Roper then drove them home on a three-run, one-out home run to left field, giving the Phoenix an 11-0 advantage.
O’Shea would relieve Clausen in the bottom of fifth and complete the one-hitter for the Phoenix after striking out the final two batters to end the game. Clausen (1-0) allowed no hits and no runs in her 4.0 innings of work while striking out two in her first win of the season.
The Phoenix again started strong this time against the Lady Buccaneers, scoring three runs in the opening frame. Nester was walked to open the game and Ford reached on an error before Cameron drove them in with her third home run of the weekend as Elon jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
CSU would threaten in the bottom half of the inning, with two reaching scoring position with no outs. The Phoenix defense came up big, forcing the next batter to ground out and tagged a runner out in a rundown between second and third base. The Lady Bucs would fly out on the next at bat to end the inning.
After a scoreless second frame, Elon added two more runs to the scoreboard in the top of the third. Cameron added her second home run of the game with a two-out, solo shot to center. The Phoenix would go back-to-back as Eng hit another solo home run into left center and giving the Phoenix a 5-0 cushion.
Charleston Southern answered in the bottom of the fourth, posting its first run of the game on the board. Marci Christian hit a solo home run into left center to pull the Lady Bucs within four, 5-1. CSU was able to get another runner into scoring position with one out, but Elon starter Chelsea White retired the next two batters to end the inning.
The Lady Bucs added a couple more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to trim the Phoenix’s lead to two. Natalie Yonan doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third after a bunt single by Amanda Matsumoto. White was able to strikeout the next two batters before Jessica Brock doubled to right center, driving in Yonan and Matsumoto and pulling Charleston Southern within two, 5-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, CSU tied the game at 5-5. Yonan hit a one-out single to the pitcher to that drove in a run to close the gap to one, 5-4. After Matsumoto singled to third base, Elon made a pitching change as Burdette replaced White in the circle. The Lady Bucs knotted the game at 5-5 after Stephanie Sbardella reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Lizzy Olmstead from third. Elon recorded the final out to end the inning, but could not get anything going in the top half of the seventh offensively.
The Phoenix held on in the bottom of the inning, despite allowing a leadoff double. The runner was stranded as Burdette retired the next two batters with strikeouts and the final batter popped-up to end the game with the score tied at 5-5
Georgia Southern 9, Northern Colorado 1STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Softball picked up its third win of the Eagle Round Robin on Sunday afternoon, posting a 9-1 win over Northern Colorado in five innings to put a bow on the tournament. The Eagle offense pounded 10 hits and was the beneficiary of four Bears errors. Sarah Purvis picked up her first win of the season in the circle, scattering three hits and allowing one run, a second-inning home run. Purvis, the SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year finished the outing with six strikeouts and one walk. The Eagles struck for two runs in the first inning, taking advantage of a two-out fielding error. Shelby Morrill scored off a single through the right side by Morgan Robinson while Kourtny Thomas scored off AJ Hamilton’s infield pop-up single which found its way between two Bears. Erica Dick sliced into the Georgia Southern advantage with a leadoff home run to left in the top of the second. Sarah Purvis settled down, getting a pair of strikeouts and inducing a ground out to end the frame. Georgia Southern recorded two more runs in the second frame as Emily Snider poked a single up the middle to score Taylor Rogers and Dominique Grossman for a 4-1 advantage. The Eagles had a chance to score more in the inning, stranding a pair of runners to close the inning. The Eagles took advantage of three errors in the third inning to go up 8-1. A double by Lexi Allen opened the inning which included three hits and a stranded runner. The Eagles got their ninth run an inning later when Nicole Benton pinch ran for Robinson. She reached second on a passed ball and scored later in the inning off Lexi Allen’s sacrifice fly. With a defensive stand in the top of the fifth, the Eagles completed the run-rule win. The GSU offense produced 27 runs while allowing just two on the weekend and recording a .310 average and a .388 on base percentage. Defensively the Eagles committed just one error and held opposing batters to a .131 average and a .189 on base percentage. Georgia Southern travels to Miami next weekend for a five-game set at the FIU Tournament. The Eagles are guaranteed games against Wisconsin, FIU and Florida Gulf Coast as well as two additional tournament games. Kansas 1, Chattanooga 0Orlando, Fla. – The Chattanooga Mocs softball team dropped to 0-4 Sunday morning, falling 1-0 in a tight game against the Kanas Jayhawks, despite a seven-inning, one-run performance from starting pitcher Taylor Deason.
The junior allowed just six hit to Kansas over seven innings of work. Deason tallied seven strikeouts and walked just one batter. The Jayhawks’ one run was the first earned run allowed of the season by the right-hander. Deason also stranded seven Kansas runners on base.
The Mocs offense managed just four hits against Kansas pitcher Kelsey Kessler. The rise-ball pitcher sat down 15 Mocs on strikes, recording the seven-inning shutout of Chattanooga. Kessler’s record improved to 1-1 while Deason dropped to 0-2 on the season.
The lone of the game came in the top of the fourth inning as cather Harlie Ridling was hit by a Deason pitch to begin the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, and a one-out single to right off the bat of Maddie Stein drove Ridling in from second base. The single was Stein’s second hit of the game.
Chattanooga threatened in the fifth and seventh innings, putting runners on in both frames. Senior Katii Dutton was left on in the fifth after singling, and junior Sarah Beth Roberts was stranded at second in the seventh after doubling with one out on the board. Two more Mocs – Stephanie Rieck and Anyssa Robles both recorded hits for UTC.
Mercer 5, Samford 1MACON, Ga. - The Samford University softball team suffered its first loss of the 2014 season in a 5-1 decision to Mercer University in the championship game of the Mercer Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 09. The Bears plated five runs off of eight hits to pick up the victory. After a hot start offensively to the 2014 season the Bulldogs (4-1) hit a wall; that wall was Bears (4-1) freshman pitcher Anna O'Neill (1-0). O'Neill held an explosive SU offense to just three hits and only allowed one earned run. MU broke onto the scoreboard first to plate two runs and take a 2-0 advantage in the top of the fifth inning. Taylor Miller led off with a single to left field and stole second base that set up a McKenzie Woody RBI triple to right center field. Woody eventually rounded the bases to score on a Kaytlin Haney groundout to the Mollie Hanson (2-1). Samford turned around in the bottom of the fifth and threatened to break O'Neill's control in the circle. Sophomore Caitlin Bice drew a leadoff walk to start the inning and was replaced by pinch runner senior Arica Dykes; Dykes quickly stole second base and put the Bulldogs into scoring position. Sophomore Caroline Wilder stepped into the batter's box and sent a shot into center field; Dykes took the opportunity to try to score but was gunned down at home plate on a throw from the Bears center fielder to keep the Bulldogs off the board. Mercer cranked its offense back up in the top of the sixth and scored three insurance runs to extend its lead out to 5-0. Samford's third and final hit of the game was its biggest, as it put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard and closed MU's lead down to 5-1. With no one on base and two outs, Hannah Taylor blasted a shot over the center field wall.
Megan Dowdy extended her hit streak out to five games going 1-for-3 at the plate in the contest while Wilder also went 1-for-3 on the day. Taylor finished the game 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
UNCG 5, Presbyterian 4South Carolina 13, UNCG 0COLUMBIA, S.C. – The UNCG softball team split a doubleheader defeating Presbyterian, 5-4, and dropping a 13-0 contest to host South Carolina on the final day of the Carolina Classic Sunday at the Carolina Softball Stadium. The Spartans with the split sit at 1-3 on the season. Presbyterian fell to 0-4 and South Carolina improved to 3-1 on the season.
In game one, senior Katelyn Bedwell drove home the game-winning two-run double in the sixth inning as the Spartans earned a comeback victory against the Blue Hose.
Sophomore Lindsay Thomas finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior Tatiana Alcala was 2-for-3 with two hits.
In the bottom of the sixth, UNCG was down 4-3 before a two out rally game them the lead. Sophomore Allison Geiner singled to shortstop to start the comeback with two outs. Lindsay Thomas singled to center to setup Bedwell’s heroics. Bedwell delivered a clutch two out two-run double into the gap in right center scoring both Geiner and Thomas to give the Spartans a 5-4 lead.
Senior Raeanne Hanks closed the door in the seventh to earn her first win of the season. Hanks went the distance allowing six hits on two earned runs with a season-high 11 strikeouts. Sydney Seigler took the loss after allowing two earned runs in three innings in relief for Presbyterian.
Presbyterian took an early lead after Jill McLean started the game with a leadoff triple to left centerfield. After a strikeout, Shelby Petik reached on an error. Miranda Rogers followed with a groundout to the pitcher that brought home McLean to give PC the 1-0 advantage.
The Blue Hose added two more runs on three hits to take a 3-0 lead. Abby Allen worked a walk and McLean laid down a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Lindsay Thomas threw out pinch runner Alyssa Goodin trying to steal third for the first out. Erin Ruff grounded out to the pitcher and Petik followed with a walk. With two outs, Rogers singled to shallow center to plate two runs.
The Spartans rallied with a three-run fourth inning on four hits, including a RBI double from freshman Tory Wright. Sophomore Danielle Vega started the inning with a single to right field. Pinch runner freshman Stephanie McKinney moved to second on a wild pitch. After a walk, Wright roped a shot to the centerfield wall to score McKinney from second. Alcala loaded the bases with an infield single. Pinch hitter Tonie MacReynolds lined a RBI single over the head of the shortstop to tie the game at 3-3.
The contest remained tied until the sixth inning when PC took a 4-3 lead off a passed ball from the catcher. Jordan Ashley doubled to start the inning. Jen Marshall pinch ran and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After back-to-back strikeouts from Hanks, Marshall scored on a passed ball.
In game two, the Gamecocks used two big innings to run-rule the Spartans, 13-0, in five innings at the Carolina Softball Stadium.
Sophomore Nicole Thomas took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. Freshman Nickie Blue improves to 3-0 after throwing three innings with no earned runs and two strikeouts.
South Carolina jumped out to a 5-0 lead after sending nine hitters to the plate in the first inning. Ansley Ard singled to third base to start the inning. The Gamecocks loaded the bases and freshman Kaylea Snaer lined a two-run single to make the score 2-0. Sarah Mooney scored two more with a double down the left field line giving South Carolina a 4-0 lead. Victoria Williams picked up the final RBI with a single to right center.
In the bottom of the third, the Gamecocks plated eight runs on four hits, including a three-run home run from Taylor Williams. Ashlyn Masters had a RBI double and Mooney earned her third RBI of the game with a single to centerfield.
UNCG couldn’t push any runs across to extend the game but Lindsay Thomas, Bedwell and junior Dominique Madruga each finished with a hit.
The Spartans will return home to host the Blue/Gold Challenge against Radford and Virginia next weekend at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Oregon State 12, Appalachian State 2TEMPE, Ariz. – Appalachian State University softball closed its weekend at the Kajikawa Classic playing a noon game against Oregon State. The Mountaineers fell in six innings to the Beavers, 12-2. The day didn’t start well for the Mountaineers with the first batter of the day for the Beavers, Dani Gilmore, led off with a home run to give Oregon State the early 1-0 lead. The Apps got a base hit in the bottom of the inning from Cynthia Gomez but couldn’t do anything with it.
Shivaun Landeros worked around a single in the top of the second to the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, the Mountaineers would get a walk from Alicia Van Winkle followed by a single from Ellie Manriquez. With first and second base occupied, Cara Parker would walk to load the bases for the Mountaineers. One of the best chances of the day found Pepper Butler batting in a very dangerous position, but Butler lined out to left field to end the inning.
The Beavers would push across four runs in the top half of the third inning. Oregon State hit four doubles in the inning couple with two Mountaineer errors. The Beavers would tack on two more runs in the top half of the fourth. Oregon State got a two-run double from Kori Nishitomi in the inning to help extend the Beaver lead to 5-0.
The Mountaineers, however, would scratch across their first two runs of the contest in the bottom half of the fourth. Van Winkle led off the inning with a single followed by a Manriquez double. Van Winkle was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play. However, Parker scorched a double to score Manriquez for the first run of the game. Kristen Terry would run for Parker on second base. Butler reached on an error and advanced Terry to third. Alex Sohl would pinch hit next and hit a sac-fly to drive in the second and only run of the game for the Mountaineers.
With a 7-2 lead in the sixth inning, the Beavers would score five more. Oregon State got a two-run double from Christie Langlois to help the big inning for the Beavers and earn the 12-2 win in six innings.
Landeros started for the Mountaineers and pitched 5.2 innings allowing 10 hits and 12 runs with eight of them earned. Landeros also struck out two Beavers on the day. Alissa Schoelkopf pitched one third of an inning in relief.
Manriquez led the Apps with two hits in three at-bats on the day and a run scored. Dani Heichen, Gomez, Sarah Warnock, Van Winkle and Parker all picked up base hits in the loss.