Chattanooga 12, Tennessee Tech 1Chattanooga 3, Tennessee Tech 1CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Chattanooga Mocs softball team swept Tennessee Tech in back-to-back games Wednesday afternoon at Frost Stadium. The offense was explosive in the first game while the pitchers were called upon to claim the second win.
While both teams were held scoreless in the first inning, Chattanooga lashed out in the second inning for seven runs on five hits. Freshman Jesslyn Stockard led off the inning with a walk and a bunt-single from Criket Blanco put two on with no out. A fielder’s choice moved Stockard to third and Sam Taylor followed up with a double down the left field line to bring two home.
Extending the inning, Sarah Beth Roberts singled to left to drive in two more. With Chattanooga leading 4-0 and two runners on, junior Nicole Osterman cranked her third homerun of the season to extend the Mocs lead to seven runs.
The Golden Eagles struck for one run in the top of the third to shorten Chattanooga’s lead to six. Allowing just her second hit of the contest, starting pitcher Katie Henderson surrendered an RBI double to left-center to Angi Sakamoto.
Chattanooga added on five runs in the fourth inning to stretch the lead to 12-1 and to put Tennessee Tech up against the run rule. Along with RBI singles from Stockard and Roberts, Blanco topped off the scoring inning with a two-run homerun to left to put the lead out of reach.
Henderson claimed her 11th win by retiring the side in the bottom of the fifth, striking out two. The sophomore allowed just two hits and struck out seven batters en route to the victory. The only Tennessee Tech run allowed was unearned.
Although the offensive production not as prevalent as it was in the first game, Chattanooga saved just enough runs to top Tennessee Tech 3-1 in the second game of the day. The pitchers’ duel saw Tennessee Tech out-hit the Mocs 7-5, but outstanding pitching from Taylor Deason and Henderson delivered the win for UTC.
Chattanooga scored first in the first inning with a run on a Stockard single to center to score Alyssa Taylor. Taylor reached first, again, in the third inning on a single to extend her hitting streak to 14 games. The sophomore later scored on a Blanco single.
Tennessee Tech’s only run came in the second inning on a hit and an error. Kendall Hooper doubled to lead off the inning and a throwing error two at-bats later allowed for Hooper to score.
Leading 2-1, the Mocs tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning as senior Kaiti Dutton drove an RBI single to right, but the top of the seventh inning would prove to be a nail-biter despite the extra run.
Deason managed a strikeout in the seventh, but a single and batter hit by pitch put two runners on with the go-ahead run coming to the plate. Henderson came on in relief, walking the first batter faced, to load the bases. Henderson recovered nicely by striking out the next two batters to cement Deason’s ninth win and picked up her first save of the season.
Appalachian State 7, North Carolina Central 5BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University softball crushed three long balls in a 7-5 defeat of North Carolina Central on Wednesday from Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. The Lady Eagles (4-24) opened up the scoring the first inning on an Emerie Germ double to right center that would drive in London Germ for an early 1-0 lead. The Mountaineers (13-19) would match the Lady Eagles in the first on a Cara Parker double that would drive in Pepper Butler from third base to tie the game 1-1. N.C. Central would take the lead back in the third inning on an Emerie Germ single to center field. Germ drove in London Germ who had advanced to third base on a throwing error. In a carbon copy of the first inning, the Mountaineers would tie the game on a Butler solo home run that would travel over the scoreboard in left center field to tie the game, 2-2. The home run for Butler was her first of the season and the third of her career. The Lady Eagles would plate two in the fourth inning. Markel Wylie single to shortstop with the bases loaded and score De’Onna Smith. Later in the inning, Angelique Perricelli would be hit by pitch with the bases loaded and would give N.C. Central a 4-2 lead. In the fifth inning, the Black and Gold would strike back on a Parker two out three-run blast to deep center field to vault the Apps in front with a 5-4 advantage. In a see-saw game, NCCU would tie it again in the sixth on an Emerie Germ single that scored Wylie to make it a 5-5 game. Germ made the last out attempting to take the extra base. Continuing the story line, the Mountaineers would go back up by two when Alicia Van Winkle teed off with Kerri Roberts already aboard in a pinch running situation. The home run from Van Winkle was the first of her career. Shivaun Landeros was pitching in relief of starter Sydney Laws and finished the remaining 3.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out four. With the win, Landeros moves to 8-9 on the season. Laws went 3.1 innings giving up four runs on six hits and striking out two batters. Just three of the four runs were charged to Laws in the game.
Furman 7, Georgia State 6Georgia State 9, Furman 1Greenville S.C. – Sophomore Sieara Bishop lined a two-run, walk-off double into the left-center field gap with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Furman to a 7-6 victory over Georgia State in game two and a doubleheader split with the Panthers on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference softball action at Pepsi Stadium. Georgia State captured a 9-1 victory in game one.
After the Panthers took the lead in the top half of the eighth inning when pinch runner Morgan Brown sprinted home from third on a throwing error by the Paladins on a failed pickoff attempt, Furman began the bottom of the frame with Hannah Pace representing the international tiebreaking runner on second base. Taylor Collins reached on a fielder’s choice, as Pace was erased on the play, before Taylor Jenkins fouled out to the right fielder. With two outs, Nikki Legg notched her third hit of the day with a single to left and Andrea Abbatiello followed with a four-pitch base on balls to load the bases. Bishop laced a 1-0 pitch from Eron Milton to the base of the fence to plate Collins and Legg to end the game.
The walk-off hit made a winner of Lauren Collier (10-9), who allowed just an unearned run on two hits in two innings of relief. Milton (3-5), who was touched for two runs on five hits over three and 1/3 innings of relief, absorbed the loss for the Panthers.
Georgia State (17-19) took an early lead with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning on an RBI single from Lauren Coleman and RBI double down the line off of the bat of Kensey Caldwell. Back-to-back doubles from Callie Alford and Caldwell extended the margin to 3-0 in the top of the third inning, and Caldwell drove in another run with a one-out single in the fifth inning.
Trailing 4-0, Furman exploded to life in the bottom of the fifth. Collins opened the inning with a single before Legg drew a one-out walk and Abbatiello singled to load the bases. Bishop shot a single through the left side to score Collins and Legg raced home on a wild pitch to slice the lead in half. After Panther starter Kaitlyn Medlam walked Ambree Muller to load the bases again, Collier greeted Milton with a grounder to shortstop that was booted allowing the Paladins’ third run to score. Kalie Hicks bounced a grounder to short that was thrown wildly to the plate allowing the tying run to score and pinch hitter Elise Smith reached on an infield single to give Furman a 5-4 lead.
The Panthers tied the game at 6-6 on Taylor Anderson’s two-out double in the top of the sixth before regaining the lead in the eighth to setup Bishop’s walk-off heroics.
Legg went 3-for-4 with a walk and a pair of runs to pace Furman to 10 hits in game two while Bishop went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Collier finished 2-for-4 and Collins registered a hit and two runs.
Caldwell went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI for Georgia State while Coleman and Alford tallied two hits apiece.
In game one, Medlam (11-7) held the Paladins to one run on four hits in five innings to earn the win for the Panthers in a 9-1 rout.
Coleman belted an opposite field grand slam in the top of the fourth inning to highlight a six-run outburst for Georgia State as the Panthers turned a 1-1 game into a 7-1 lead.
Coleman went 2-for-4 with four RBI and Caldwell finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in.
Collier took the loss for Furman after allowing seven runs on four hits in four innings of work. She walked two batters and hit four Panthers while striking out just two.
Liberty 14, UNCG 10UNCG 8, Liberty 5LYNCHBURG, Va. – The UNCG softball team took game two in extra innings to split a doubleheader against Liberty Wednesday at the Liberty Softball Field. The Spartans sit at 15-18 on the season and Liberty is 6-28 with the split. In game one, despite scoring 10 runs the UNCG softball team fell to Liberty 14-10. Senior Katelyn Bedwell paced the Spartans going 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI. Sophomore Allison Geiner was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Alyssa DiMartino picked up the win going four innings, allowing seven hits and eight earned runs. Annah Jo Brittingham earned the save in three relief innings. Senior Raeanne Hanks took the loss falling to 7-11 on the season in four innings. With two outs in the first inning, Bedwell smoked a solo home run, her fourth of the season and second straight at bat with a home run after a walk off blast against Chattanooga. Liberty would answer with a four run second inning off four hits and two UNCG errors. Hanna Nichols singled up the middle to start the inning. Nichols moved to second base off a throwing error and stole third with one out. Alyssa DiMartino picked up an RBI off a fielding error to tie the game at 1-1. After a single and a walk, Megan Robinson roped a two-run single to give Liberty a 3-1 advantage. Kelby Allen singled to left field to score the fourth run of the inning. In the third inning, UNCG would respond to retake the lead at 5-4 with a two out rally off four hits. Junior Tatiana Alcala walked with one out. After an out, Bedwell singled to centerfield and sophomore Lindsay Thomas lined a RBI single to right center. Sophomore Danielle Vega earned a RBI double to cut the lead to 4-3. Classmate Nicole Thomas kept the rally going with a two-run single to push the Spartans ahead 5-4. The Blue and Gold increased their lead to 8-4 after a two out three-run blast from Bedwell, her second straight two home run game. The Flames would not go away with a seven run bottom of the fourth off five hits and two UNCG errors. Sammi Shivock had a two-run double in the frame. Marybeth Sciolino, Nichols and DiMartino each had runs batted in giving Liberty an 11-8 lead. In the fifth inning, Robinson hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season to push the Flames advantage to 12-8. Liberty added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning off an RBI double from Annah Jo Brittingham and Dimartino. In the bottom of the seventh, UNCG plated two runs off two hits. Nicole Thomas worked a one out walk and pinch hitter Hagan Kiser roped a double in the left center gap. Senior Toni MacReynolds earned an RBI groundout and Geiner picked up an RBI single. Liberty sealed the victory with a fly out as the Spartans had two runners on base. In game two, UNCG finished with eight runs on 10 hits to earn a comeback victory against the Flames. Vega finished 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and freshman McKinney also was 2-for-5 with a three-run home run. Nicole Thomas with 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Lacey Leary threw a complete game improving to 4-2 on the season. Leary went eight innings, allowing just four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Brittingham took the loss falling to 2-17 on the season. After heading to extra innings, the Spartans scored four runs in the eighth inning that included a three-run home run from McKinney, her first of her career. Nicole Thomas gave the Spartans a 5-4 lead after a key RBI single. UNCG jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Bedwell earned an RBI single to right field. Junior Dominique Madruga roped a one out double to left field and Bedwell brought home her fifth RBI of the doubleheader. In the bottom of the first, Liberty answered after Kelby Allen hit a two run home run giving the Flames a 2-1 lead. The Flames added to their lead with two runs in the third inning off two hits. Blair Lawrence reached on an error to start the inning. Lawrence stole second and stole third coming home off a throwing error. After a couple of singles, Allen earned an RBI off a groundout to push Liberty’s lead to 4-1. In the top of the fifth inning, UNCG tied the game at 4-4 after Vega launched a three-run home run, her fourth of the season.
USC Upstate 7, Western Carolina 6USC Upstate 6, Western Carolina 1CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina softball went to-to-toe with the No. 26th ranked team in the country as UCS Upstate, ranked No. 26 in the NFCA Poll receiving 25 votes, escaped with a 7-6, in eight innings, and 6-1 victories over the Catamounts Wednesday at the Catamount Softball Complex.
It was the first time this season the Catamounts have lost an extra inning game dropping to 2-1 in games in extra frames. Western Carolina falls to 13-23 while UCS Upstate improves to 34-4.
Sophomore hurler Taylor Sigmon got her first start of the season after making 16 appearances in relief. Sigmon went 5.2 innings in a no decision allowing six hits, yielding four walks, striking out two and allowing one earned run.
Sigmon tossed two scoreless innings before USC Upstate scored two runs in the top of the third. A two RBI single by Kendall Settlemeyer, after back-to-back singles by Hayley Reinfield and Shellie Robinson, put the Spartans on top 2-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Sophomore centerfielder Amber Kimrey sliced the Spartan lead in half with one swing of the bat. The Charlotte, N.C. native launched a lead-off homerun over the centerfield wall for the first homerun of her career.
After a scoreless fourth, Western Carolina took its first lead of the game plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Western Carolina hit its second homerun of the game when freshman left fielder Courtney Price hit her second homerun of the season to knot the game at two. It was just the second time this season the Catamounts have hit two homeruns in a game.
After Price’s homerun, Kimrey followed with a single down the first base line. Courtney Buchanan and Lexi Ross, getting her first start at second base, followed with singles to load the bases. Senior Amelia Griffin singled past second base for an RBI scoring Kimrey to give WCU a 3-2 lead. With two outs, Kara Salvo singled to left field logging in an RBI scoring Buchanan.
USC Upstate tied the game in the top of the sixth off relief pitcher Jordan Garrett, who came into the game with two outs in the fifth inning. The Spartans benefited from two Catamount errors in the inning and including an error that scored a run and an RBI single by Robinson.
The game went into extra innings after a scoreless seventh inning. With a runner placed on second, the last batter to record an out in the seventh, USC Upstate the Spartans got a second base runner when Garrett gave up a walk. With runners on first and second, Reinfield homered to right field to give the Spartans a 7-4 lead.
The Catamounts as they have all season that even when down they aren’t out and won’t give up the fight. With pinch runner Brooke Coggins placed on second junior Heather Chastain singled to right field, with one out, and moved Coggins to third. Coggins scored on a passed ball and Chastain moved to third. With two outs, Kimrey picked up her third hit of the game, and another RBI, when she singled to right field to score Chastain. Buchana struck out to end the inning and the game.
Garrett took the loss and falls to 5-12 on the season. Western Carolina out-hit the Spartans 12 to 11 and Kimrey was 3-for-4. Price and Karley Harkey each had a pair of hits.
Three Catamount pitchers saw action in game two against USC Upstate with Buchanan getting the start.
Western Carolina plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Sigmon hit her second homerun of the season when she led off the second inning with a long ball over the left center field wall.
USC Upstate would proceed to score six unanswered runs, over the course of the next five innings, to take the game. The Spartans used the long ball hitting two homeruns, including a two RBI homerun by Robinson in the fifth.
Buchanan went five innings allowing four runs on three hits and struck out two and takes the loss falling to 5-6. Mallory Broome came in and tossed the sixth giving up two runs on three hits and struck out one. Sigmon came into the game in relief in the seventh tossing one inning of scoreless and hit-less ball.
Price, Harkey and Ross each had a pair of hits accounting for six of the Catamounts seven hits in the game. Price has now reach base safely in the last 13 games and is currently riding a seven game hitting streak.