Syracuse 5, Elon 0ELON, N.C. – A four-run top of the fourth inning combined with Phoenix batters striking out 10 times was too much for the Elon University softball team to overcome as the maroon and gold saw its seven-game win streak snapped at the hands of Syracuse, 5-0, on Tuesday, March 11, at Hunt Softball Park.
The loss broke a tie for the Phoenix’s (15-6-1) longest win streak at the Division I level. It was also only the third loss during a 13-game home stand for the maroon and gold that ended on Tuesday.
The Orange’s Sydney O’Hara (4-5) struck out ten while giving up six hits to the Phoenix in the complete game, shutout victory. She also walked only one batter to help Syracuse improve to 6-13.
Elon’s Chelsea White (7-4) recorded her first loss after winning six straight. The junior pitched 3.2 innings and surrendered four runs on three hits while walking one. She also had six strikeouts during the contest.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel with both teams combining for three hits, all by Elon, during the first three innings of play. White fanned two batters in the first and third innings while carrying a perfect game into the fourth after striking out Alyssa Dewes to end the top of the third.
The Phoenix looked to plate its first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning after Lauren Oldham led off with a single down the right field line. She advanced to second on a one-out single up the middle by Alaina Hall, but would get thrown out at third on the next play. The inning ended with a pop up and both teams moved to the top of the fourth.
After forcing the leadoff batter to ground out to start the fourth, White allowed her first hit of the game to Nicole Lundstrom and then walked Julie Wambold to give the Orange a pair of runners with one out. White was able to strike out the next batter, but would get burned on the next at bat as Corinne Ozanne hit a three-run homer to left to put Syracuse up 3-0. The Orange then followed with a solo home run by Danielle Chitkowski to give itself a 4-0 advantage, forcing Elon to go with a change in the circle as Caitlin O’Shea stepped in for White.
Facing a 4-0 deficit, Elon again attempted to rally in the bottom of the fifth. Oldham was hit by a pitch and was joined on the bases by Hall, who hit a two-out single to right center. O’Hara left them stranded as she retired the next batter to keep the Orange’s lead intact.
Syracuse added its final run in the top of the seventh to go ahead 5-0 before the turn of the inning gave the ball back to the Phoenix for a final chance. Katie Rufo drew a two-out walk from O’Hara giving the maroon and gold a runner on base. Pinch-runner Jenna Reilly then moved to second on another single by Hall, but the game would close on a pop up to give the Orange the 5-0 victory.
Hall had half of the Phoenix’s hits after going 3-for-4 at the plate. Along with the 10 strikeouts, Elon also left eight runners on base compared to five for the Orange.
Gardner Webb 3, UNCG 2
UNCG 15, Gardner Webb 5
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Nicole Thomas broke a school record with eight RBI helping UNCG softball split a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb Tuesday night at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans sit at 10-9 on the season after dropping game one 3-2 and winning 15-5 in game two against Gardner-Webb. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are 8-17 on the season with the split.
Nicole Thomas hit three home runs in the second game to tie the school record for most home runs in a game and broke the RBI record with eight. Former Spartan Kelly Councilman has seven RBI against St. Andrews back in 1988. Only two former players have hit three home runs in a game in Karyn Thompson in 1995 and Kelly Allen in 2005.
In game one, the Spartans fell 3-2 to Gardner-Webb in eight innings.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Runnin’ Bulldogs scored a run in the eighth inning after Savannah Burns singled to centerfield scoring the eventual game winning run from third.
In the seventh, freshman Tory Wright roped a one out double but UNCG couldn’t push any runs across to tie the game.
Jessica Childers improved to 5-8 after throwing a complete game, allowing just two earned runs with four strikeouts. Senior Raeanne Hanks takes the tough loss after throwing a complete game, allowing nine hits on just one earned run with six strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb took a 2-0 lead in the second inning off a two out error leading to two runs coming home for the Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with two outs after Jill Blank picked up an infield single. Samantha Meenaghan reached on a fielding error allowing two runs to come home.
UNCG tied the game in the bottom of the second after a clutch two out two run single from freshman Hagan Kiser. Wright worked a one out walk to start the rally. Sophomore Danielle Vega singled to left field to put runners on first and second. After an out, Kiser delivered a single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.
In game two, the Spartans pounded 15 hits and scored 15 runs to run rule the Runnin’ Bulldogs, 15-5, to split the doubleheader in five innings.
Nicole Thomas finished the game 3-for-4 with three home runs and eight RBI. She also picked up the victory in relief throwing 2.2 innings, allowing just four hits for her second win of the season. Gardner-Webb’s Ashley Rhyne fell to 2-9 on the season after allowing three earned runs on four hits.
Four Spartans had three hits in sophomore Allison Geiner, senior Katelyn Bedwell, Lindsay Thomas, Nicole Thomas and Tory Wright.
Gardner-Webb took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Megan Gibbons launched a home run to left center.
The Spartans jumped out to a 4-1 lead after scoring four runs on four hits with two errors by Gardner-Webb. Geiner doubled down the left field line to start the inning. Junior Tatiana Alcala down a sacrifice bunt to move Geiner to third. Bedwell lined an RBI single. Sophomore Lindsay Thomas singled and Wright followed with a RBI double to right field. Two more runs came home for UNCG off two Gardner-Webb errors in the infield.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs wouldn’t go away tying the game at 4-4 with a three-run second inning on two hits. Gardner-Webb loaded the bases after two walks and a single. Meenaghan worked a walk to cut the lead 4-2 with one out. Kellie Beres tied the game with a two-run single to left center.
The Spartans answered with two runs after Lindsay Thomas roped a two out two-run double to give UNCG a 6-4 lead. Alcala and Bedwell worked back-to-back walks to setup Thomas’ clutch hit.
Gardner-Webb added a run in the third inning after loading the bases again when Taylar Pridgen lined a RBI single up the middle to cut the lead to 6-5. Sophomore Nicole Thomas limited the damage in relief getting the final two outs of the inning to keep UNCG in the lead.
In the third inning, Nicole Thomas smoked a two-run blast off the scoreboard to push UNCG’s lead to 8-5.
The Spartans scored three runs in the fourth inning after a RBI single from Wright and a two-run blast to deep centerfield from Nicole Thomas.
UNCG ended the game with a four-run fifth inning capped off with a three-run home run from Nicole Thomas to left field to seal the victory for the Spartans. Bedwell scored the first run with a RBI double to centerfield.
No 2. Tennessee 15, Western Carolina 0KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Western Carolina softball (9-14) dropped a single game, in five innings, with No. 2 Tennessee (22-2) 15-0 Tuesday at Lee Stadium.
The Catamounts halted Lady Vol shortstop Madison Shipman's 20-game hitting streak. The .429 hitter had hit safely from Feb. 14 until the game against Western Carolina on March 11.
Tennessee struck early, scoring three runs in the first inning. After freshman Catamount hurler Courtney Buchanan got the first out, she gave up a single to Melissa Davin who promptly stole second. With two outs, Annie Aldrete hit an RBI single and she scored when Lexi Overstreet hit a two run homerun over the left field fence.
The Lady Vols tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second. Buchanan got a Catamount strike out to open the inning. A pair of Catamount errors and three hits, along with Buchanan walking a batter with the bases loaded, allowed the Lady Vols to add the three runs.
Sophomore Amber Kimrey broke up Lady Vol pitcher Ellen Renfroe's no-hitter attempt when she beat out a single in the top of the third. Kimrey was the Catamounts' first base runner of the game and a pair of strikeouts by Renfroe and Kimrey caught attempting to steal second to end the Catmaounts' half of the third.
UT continued the scoring adding nine runs in the bottom of the third. Buchanan was relieved on the mound by sophomore Catamount pitcher Mallory Broome who gave up a grand-slam in the inning. With just one out, Broome was pulled for junior Jordan Garrett who inherited a runner on first. Garrett gave up three hits and two runs before ending the inning by striking out Hannah Devotie.
Sophomore Catamount shortstop Karley Harkey kept her hitting streak alive getting a single past second base in the top of the fourth. Harkey has hit safely in the last eight games.
Garrett got Western Carolina's only three up and three down inning in the bottom of the fourth.
Buchanan suffers her first loss of the season falling to 4-1 going two innings giving up seven hits, six earned runs and striking out one. Broome went 0.1 innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and walking two. Garrett went 1.2 innings giving up two runs on three hits and striking out one.
Samford 9, Alabama State 1BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tonight was a special night in more than one way for the Samford University softball team as junior Abby Adams helped lift the Bulldogs to a 9-1 victory over Alabama State University in a five inning affair on Tuesday, March 11, at Samford Field.
Adams broke a decade old record and tied another with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third that put the Bulldogs (20-5) up 2-0 over the Lady Hornets (5-14). The Hobart, Ind., native's shot over the wall gave the 'Dogs its 32nd home run of the year, which broke the mark of 31 set in 2003; it also served as her 10th of the year and is now tied at the top of the school's individual single season list.
Alabama State notched its lone run in the top of the fourth inning before Samford exploded for another four in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead out to 7-1.
Adams drove in her third RBI of the game to get the offense started, while Caitlin Bice and Callie Brister both doubled in the inning to drive in two more runs; Bice and Brister both went 3 for 3 in the contest.
"Callie and Caitlin are both going to be key pieces to the middle part of the lineup. It's important to have those heavy hitters coming through when we do get on base." Burford explained. "Those two both are going to be big contributors when we need to get those runs across home plate."
The Bulldogs capped off the night with a two run fifth inning that ended in an Adams single to left field that scored Megan Dowdy.
Freshman pitcher Grey Adams picked up her sixth win of the season after a complete-game performance, Adams only allowed two hits and tallied four strikouts with only one walk.