Furman Stuns Samford With Six-Run Seventh Inning

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – SoCon Player of the Year Sieara Bishop hit a go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the seventh inning to propel fourth-seeded Furman to a 6-3, comeback victory over second-seeded Samford on Thursday night at the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Paladins advance to play Western Carolina for second time in the tournament on Friday at 12:30 p.m. The winner of that game will face the loser of Chattanooga and Mercer for a berth in the SoCon title game on Saturday.

Furman (30-24) trailed 3-0 entering the seventh inning and rallied for six runs to stay alive in the SoCon Tournament. Elise Smith hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to one before Bishop hit the go-ahead grand slam for her school-record 10th home run of the season.

Bishop led the Paladins with two extra-base hits, a run and four RBIs. Taylor Jenkins contributed two hits in the win and Smith added the homer with a run and two RBIs. Lindsey Bert pitched a complete game to earn the victory, her 22nd of the year, allowing three runs on 12 hits with three walks and five strikeouts. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate. The 3-4-5 hitters in the Furman order were a combined 7-for-12 with a run and four RBIs.

Caroline Wilder and Abbie Miranda each recorded three hits and an RBI for Samford (33-22) in the contest. Megan Dowdy was 2-for-4 with a run scored in the loss. Mollie Hanson was tagged with the loss, despite having allowed no runs on five hits through the sixth inning. She was charged with six runs (two earned) on nine hits while issuing just one walk against seven strikeouts.

Furman would get all of its offense in its final turn at the plate. Bert tried to help herself, doubling to left center to lead off the inning. Smith then helped in a big way, driving a ball deep to right for her fourth home run of the season to get Furman on the scoreboard and make it a one-run game with no outs.

Collins kept the inning going with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Jacobs reached on a fielder’s choice and Collins was safe at second, as the second baseman was unable to corral the throw. Muller then walked to load the bases. Hanson battled back with a strikeout for the second out to bring up Bishop with the bases loaded. It was Bishop that won the battle, drilling the go-ahead grand slam to give Furman the 6-3 lead.

Bert got the first two batters of the Samford seventh with a strikeout and a flyout before Miranda kept the inning alive with a single through the right side. Bert finished out the game one batter later, though, inducing a groundout to first to complete the comeback.

Samford scored first in the game with a run in the bottom of the third. Megan Dowdy doubled to center to lead off the inning. Three batters later, Callie Brister singled with two outs to bring in Dowdy and make it a 1-0 game.

Furman threatened in the bottom half of the third with a pair of two-out singles. Taylor Jenkins reached on an infield single before Bert hit a line drive to center to put two on with two out. Hanson would work her way out of trouble with a flyout to retire the side.

The Bulldogs would add to the lead with another run in the fourth. Hannah Taylor singled with one out and Rebecca Leonard came on to pinch run. Two batters later, Miranda doubled with two outs to score Leonard and up the Samford advantage to 2-0.

Samford attempted to tack on more in the bottom of the sixth. Miranda doubled to right center to lead off and Abby Sweeney drew a walk two batters later after pinch hitting for Shelby Maze. Caitlin Bice then singled down the left field line to load the bases with just one out. Bert got a strikeout for the second out of the inning but Wilder drove in a run on a seeing-eye, infield single between the first and second basemen to make it a 3-0 lead.

 

Garrett Pitches Western Carolina Past UNCG, 6-1

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Western Carolina pitcher Jordan Garrett pitched another complete game in her second start of the day to lead the fifth-seeded Catamounts to a 6-1 win over sixth-seeded UNCG on Thursday evening at the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Catamounts advance to play the winner of Furman and Samford at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

Western Carolina (22-30) got a gutsy performance from its senior pitcher, as Garrett allowed just one run on 10 hits with no walks against four strikeouts to earn her 16th win of the season. On offense, the Catamounts got home runs from Heather Chastain and Taylor Sigmon, who drove in two runs apiece. Courtney Price was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Karley Harkey was 2-for-2 in the win with a pair of runs.

UNCG (25-22) out hit WCU, 10-9, but could not convert the hits into multiple runs. Tory Wright was 3-for-3 with her eighth home run of the season along with a run and an RBI. Allison Geiner went 2-for-4 in the contest to up her average to .407 on the year.

Western Carolina got on the board right from the outset to claim the early lead. Kara Salvo singled with two outs in the bottom of the first and Heather Chastain followed with a home run to left to make it 2-0.

UNCG answered in the next half inning with a long ball of its own. Tory Wright drove a one-out home run to right center in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Catamounts would get the run back in the bottom of the second. Kimrey doubled to right center with two outs and Harkey immediately knocked her in to push the lead back to two runs at 3-1.

The pitchers on both sides would control the next two frames with no more than single batter reaching base for either side in the third or fourth innings.

Both teams would then get some offense going in the fifth. UNCG started it in the top half, as Overdiep singled through the right side to put a runner on with one out. Geiner continued with an infield single to put two on with one out. Two batters later, Nicole Thomas reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs, loading the bases. Garrett would get a fly out to end the inning to keep it a two-run game.

Western Carolina would capitalize on its opportunity in the bottom half, adding a run to extend the lead. Kimrey singled to start the inning before later stealing second. Harkey then walked to put two on and Daniels bunted the runners over to second and third with one out. Mariscal got home the run on a groundout to second, pushing the score to 4-1.

Western Carolina added to its lead again in their next trip to the plate. Price singled to lead off the frame and Sigmon then homered to bring her around and make it a 6-1 ballgame in the bottom of the 6th.

UNCG got back-to-back one-out singles from Geiner and Vega in the bottom of the seventh to put two on with one out. Thomas reached on a fielder’s choice as Emily Lopez, who pinch ran for Vega, was forced out at second. Garrett would stop the threat there with a fly out to right to keep Western Carolina alive in the SoCon Tournament.

In four starts against UNCG this season, Garrett is 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA over 23.0 inning pitched.

 

Mercer Shuts Out Samford, 2-0, on Thursday to Advance

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – SoCon Pitcher of the Year Kirsten Stevens tossed a six-hit shutout to lead Mercer to 2-0 victory over second-seeded Samford on Thursday afternoon at the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Mercer (36-20) advances to Friday’s semifinal matchup with No. 1 seed Chattanooga at 10 a.m. Samford (33-21) will play No. 4 seed Furman in an elimination game in the final game of the day later tonight.

Mercer’s Kirsten Stevens earned her league-leading 25th win of the season, tossing a complete game and holding the Bulldogs scoreless on six hits and two walks against six strikeouts. She retired 21 of the 29 batters that she faced in the game. Offensively, Taylor Miller went 1-for-4 in the game and drove in both of the Mercer runs.

Mollie Hanson was the tough-luck loser for Samford, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with two walks against nine strikeouts. The top of the Samford order was a combined 3-for-10 with Megan Dowdy, Shelby Maze and Caitlin Bice each contributing a hit.

Mercer was able to strike early in the game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second. Caroline Taylor singled down the third-base line and Sloat and Mauga were hit by pitches back-to-back to load the bases. Two batters later, Taylor Miller had a two-run single to scored Taylor and Sloat and give the Bears a 2-0 lead, which they would never relinquish. Hanson would avoid further damage by getting a strikeout to end the inning.

Samford put some pressure on Stevens and the Bears in the fifth. Spinks led off the inning with a single to center and and two batters later Megan Dowdy followed with a one-out single to put runners at first and second. Stevens induced back-to-back groundouts, though, to retire the side and keep the Bulldogs off the board.

They would threaten again the following inning, getting the first two aboard. Callie Brister walked and Caroline Wilder singled, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Stevens would take it from there, though, striking out the next three in order to end the inning.

Mercer looked poised to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor walked to start the inning and Sloat followed with a double to place runners at second and third with no outs. Hanson battled to keep her in team in the game and retired the three next with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to keep it a two-run game heading to the seventh.

In Samford’s final at-bat, though, Stevens would get two strikeouts and a groundout to set the Bulldogs down in order. The lefty hurler retired five of the final six batters that she faced in the game via the strikeout.

Stevens has yet to allow a run in 13.0 innings pitched through two starts in the SoCon Tournament.

 

Chattanooga Outlasts Western Carolina, 5-4, in 10 Innings

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The top-seeded Chattanooga Mocs held off Western Carolina, 5-4, with two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning on Thursday at the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Mocs advance to Friday’s semifinal matchup at 10 a.m. against the winner of Samford and Mercer. The Catamounts will face UNCG in an elimination game later today.

Chattanooga needed just one pitch to tie the game in the bottom of the 10th, as Nicole Osterman doubled to right center to score Roberts from second. Blanco then bunted Osterman to third with one out to put the game-winning run just 60 feet away. Two batters later, Anyssa Robles singled to left center to plate Osterman and give the Mocs the 5-4 victory to remain in the winner’s bracket.

UTC was led by Sam Taylor and Robles with two hits apiece. Jesslyn Stockard drove in two RBIs while Sarah Beth Roberts and Nicole Osterman reach scored twice for the Mocs. Eight of the nine hitters in the starting lineup recorded a hit. Taylor Deason tossed 5.0 innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs on six hits with no walks and one strikeout to earn the victory.

Abigail Daniels went 4-for-4 with two runs scored for Western Carolina with Heather Chastain and Crystal Cyr each contributing two of the team’s 12 hits. Kara Salvo accounted for all four of the Catamounts runs in the game, driving in three and scoring the final run in the 10th.

Chattanooga would get on the scoring started with a run in the third with all the action coming with two outs. After two groundouts to start the inning, Taylor and J.J. Hamill had back-to-back singles to put two on with two out. Roberts then recorded the third straight single to score Taylor from second and keep the inning going. Osterman followed with a walk to load the bases but Garrett got a foul out to left to end the inning with the Mocs leading 1-0.

Western Carolina got the run back in the top of the fourth. Daniels singled down the third-base line and moved to second on a bobble by the left fielder. Victoria Mariscal bunted Daniels over to third to put her 60 feet away with one out. Kara Salvo then lined out right at the right fielder but a slight hesitation by the fielder allowed Daniels to score and tied the game at one.

After Garrett retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth, the Catamounts threaten to for more runs in the top of the fifth. Cyr single up the middle to lead off the inning and two batters later Harkey doubled to left center, putting runners on second and third with one out. Chattanooga would turn to Kailey Palazzolo in the circle. She walked the first batter she faced to load the bases but came back to strike out Mariscal for the second out. Salvo then earned her second RBI of the day, drawing a walk to score Cyr from third and give Western Carolina a 2-1 lead. Palazzolo would get a groundout to shortstop to end the inning.

Western Carolina had a chance to add to their lead in the top of the sixth but couldn’t capitalize. Price, Sigmon and Cyr all reached in succession to load the bases with no outs. Deason, who entered the game earlier in the inning to face Sigmon, got a 5-2-3 double play followed by a groundout to third to end the inning and maintain the current margin.

Chattanooga would grab the momentum and retake the lead in the sixth. Roberts and Osterman drew back-to-back walks to start the Mocs’ half of the sixth. Blanco then put down a sac bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. It would bring up Jesslyn Stockard, who singled to right to score both runners and give the Mocs the 3-2 lead.

Western Carolina would not go down without a battle. Daniels singled up the middle to lead off the inning and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Mariscal then moved Daniels to third with a sac bunt for the first out of the inning. Salvo then found herself at the plate with another chance for an RBI and came through, driving the ball deep enough to right for a sac fly to score the runner from third and tie the game.

Taylor would lead off with a single through the right side to start the Chattanooga seventh. From there, Western Carolina would go to Taylor Sigmon to finish the game in the circle. Sigmon struck out the first batter that she faced and forced the next to groundout back to her in the circle but two wild pitches put a runner on third. Osterman would come to the plate and run the count full before eventually flying out to right to send the game in to extra innings.

Both teams had their lead-off batter reach in their respective halves of the eighth but neither were able to bring in a run.

Western Carolina got a one-out single by Daniels for her fourth hit of the game in the ninth and Mariscal reached on an error to put two on with one out. The Mocs would turn a 6-5-4 double play, though, to end the inning. Chattanooga got the lead-off man on to start the bottom half of the ninth but could not bring her across.

In the 10th, the international tie breaker rule took effect, which places a runner on second base to start the inning. Salvo would start the inning on second for Western Carolina and Chastain would move her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Price then drove her in with a line-drive single off the glove of the third basemen to give the Catamounts the lead. Sigmon followed Price with a single before Cyr grounded out to short on a close play at first to put runners on second and third with one out. Deason would get a groundout to end the inning.

 

Late Offensive Surge Pushes UNCG Past ETSU, 5-2

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The sixth-seeded UNCG Spartans got home runs from Lindsay and Nicole Thomas in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to top seventh-seeded ETSU, 5-2, on Thursday at the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. UNCG advances to play at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon and will face the loser of Chattanooga and Western Carolina.

UNCG (25-21) was led by Lindsay Thomas with three hits, including a double and a homer, three RBIs and a run scored. Nicole Thomas was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs and two RBIs in the win while Danielle Vega went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Allie Bazonski got the win, her 11th of the season, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

For ETSU (15-33), the top three in the order did the bulk of the damage. Cassi Picket was 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run batting out of third spot in the order. Malloree Schurr went 1-for-3 with a run and Nicole Fox was 1-for-4 out of the lead-off spot. Whitney Leon was tagged with the loss, despite a solid performance. She pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with a pair of walks.

The two starting pitchers dueled for the first five innings of the game before the offenses went back-and-forth in the end. UNCG had runners in scoring position with less than two outs in both the third and fourth innings but Bucs’ pitcher Leon escaped unscathed both times. ETSU had a runner reach second in both the second and fourth innings but came away with nothing both times.

The best early scoring chance for either team came in the fourth for UNCG. Nicole Thomas led off with a walk and Lindsay Thomas followed with a single, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Leon would get the next batter to popup on a bunt attempt, making the catch herself, and then snagged a line drive off the bat of the following hitter and threw to first to double off the runner and end the inning.

UNCG finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 6th. Vega singled to lead off the inning and Emily Lopez came on to pinch run. Nicole Thomas then doubled to left center, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Lindsay Thomas would clear the bases all at once, slugging an opposite-field home run to right to give UNCG the 3-0 lead. It was her eighth career home run in SoCon Tournament action.

ETSU would answer in the bottom half with a pair of runs. After a lead-off groundout, Schurr reached on an infield single to put one on with one out. Pickett then drove a ball out to left field for a round-tripper to bring in Schurr and make it a one-run game at 3-2.

UNCG got back both runs back in the top of the 7th. Vega singled through the right side to lead off the inning and Nicole Thomas belted a homer to left to make it 5-2 in favor of the Spartans. Lindsay Thomas then doubled to right center and Wright singled to put runners on the corners, as UNCG looked to add more. Three straight groundouts prevented the runners from scoring and kept it a 5-2 game.

Nicole Thomas earned her second save of the season, pitching the final 1.2 innings of the contest and retiring five of the six batters that she faced, with a two-out single in the 7th the lone blemish.