SoCon Softball Results, March 14-16

FURMAN HANDLES ELON 10-1, GAINS SPLIT OF SOFTBALL TWINBILL
(March 16)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Leftfielder Sarah Scott went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI to lead Furman to a 10-1 victory over Elon and split of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.

The Lady Paladins exploded for five runs in the second inning and five more in the third for their ninth win of the season.

After loading the bases with no one out in the bottom of the second, Scott delivered a two-run double into the right-center field gap scoring Jessica Matthews and JoDee Eichelberger. Kristen White followed with an RBI single to score Kelli Leachman. After a pitching change and ground out, Caroline Evans plated Scott with a sacrifice fly to left field. Meagen Johnson concluded the second inning scoring by lacing an RBI double to left-center driving home White.

In the third inning, Furman plated five more runs on only four hits and an Elon error. The big blow came with two outs in the inning. Elon intentionally walked Johnson to load the bases. Kate Morrison followed with a two-run single just inside the third base bag to score Evans and LaKerah Barr.

Johnson pitched a complete game for the Lady Paladins and improved to 4-6 on the season. The Georgetown, S.C., native allowed only one run on five hits over five innings of work. Johnson also recorded a 2-for-2 day at the plate.

Starter Jennifer Lamb (2-4) took the loss for the Phoenix. Lamb was touched up for five runs in one plus innings of work.

Danielle Concepcion went 2-for-2 at the plate to pace the Phoenix.

In game one, Elon starter Whitney Meeks pitched a complete-game shutout to give the Phoenix a 2-0 win.

Rightfielder Jamie Dupont delivered the games decisive hit, a two-out, solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. The Phoenix added an unearned insurance run in the seventh when pinch runner Jennifer Massey scored on a Leachman error.

Furman's Rachel Henley fell to 3-6 on the season after taking the loss. Henley allowed one earned run on five hits, while striking out four Elon batters in seven innings of work.

Furman, now 9-12 on the season, play host to Winthrop in a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday at Pepsi Stadium.

Georgia Southern Takes Two From Liberty
(March 16)

Statesboro, Ga. A single by freshman Kim Griffin scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh of game two to clinch a two game sweep over Liberty Sunday afternoon.

Liberty scored in the first inning of game one when a single to center field by Mary Beth Kennell scored Lauren Hahn.

The two teams remained scoreless until the sixth inning when the Eagles took a 2-1 lead. Griffin reached on an error by second baseman Cassie Campbell. Sophomore Janice Savage moved her to second on a fielders choice. A single by junior Christi Aitken scored Griffin and pinch runner freshman Carolynn Chin. Freshman pitcher A.J. Street allowed only one hit in the seventh to secure a 2-1 win for the Eagles.

In game two the Lady Flames scored in the third inning. GSU answered with a run in the bottom of the third to tie the score at one. Liberty tallied three hits in the fifth and sixth innings scoring one run a piece.

Savage singled into left field to start off the seventh for the Eagles. With two outs freshman Lindsey Jones singled to center and advanced Savage to second. After a pitching change for Libery freshman Erica Weaver came in to pinch run for Savage. Freshman Shanita Black loaded the bases for freshman Sam Steiner. Steiner singled to left to score Jones and Black. A bunt by Griffin scored Black and gave GSU a 4-3 win.

Georgia Southern improves to 14-11 while Liberty falls to 5-9. The Eagles travel to Charleston Southern Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18 and 19 and return home March 22-23 for the teams Southern Conference opener against Furman.

Winthrop Tournament Cancelled, CofC Cougars Leave Undefeated this Weekend
(March 16)

Rock Hill, SC -- Heavy rains fell in Rock Hill, SC, Saturday night to render the softball fields unplayable for Sunday's games of the Ringor Winthrop Softball Tournament. The College of Charleston softball team leaves the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record and a 19-4 overall mark. The Cougars defeated Jacksonville State, 3-2, and North Carolina A&T, 17-0, in Friday's action before edging out Ohio, 10-5, on Saturday before rains came and ended the game in the sixth.

Charleston has now won the last nine games in a row and hold a 9-2 tournament record, having competed in four of them this spring. The Cougars won the Charlotte Tournament before coming in third at the Cougar Classic. At the Cougar Invitational it was Charleston that just missed out on the championship, losing to Jacksonville State based on run differential after both teams went undefeated that weekend. The College of Charleston was well on its way to making a run at the Winthrop title before rains washed that away.

The Cougars travel to Campbell Mar. 18th for a 4:00 pm doubleheader.

Winthrop Invitational Postponed Until Sunday
(March 15)

Rock Hill, SC - The Winthrop/Ringor Invitational softball tournament has been postponed until 9 am, Sunday, due to rain. The UNC Greensboro softball team was scheduled to face both Charleston Southern and Toledo on Saturday. The Spartans are in search of their 12th straight win after opening the tournament 2-0.

The 10 am games were completed before the rain came and postponed the remainder of the games scheduled for Saturday.

The games scheduled for 12 pm Saturday are scheduled at 9 am. Sunday and the rest of the schedule will follow through the 4th round.

The elimination round is unlikely due to travel plans by the teams. There will be some games played after Round 4 depending on the teams travel plans.

UNCG Softball Dumps Southeast Missouri State For 11th Straight Win
(March 15)

Penny Thompson finished day one of the Winthop Invitational 5-for-8 with two home runs.

Rock Hill, SC -- Penny Thompson went 2-for-4 with a grand slam home run to help UNCG roll past Southeast Missouri State, 8-2, Friday, on opening day of the 2003 Winthrop Invitational. The win was UNCG's second of the day, following a 6-1 defeat of Akron. With the win, UNCG upped its record to 16-3 overall and extended the team's season-high winning streak to 11 games.

Thompson led the offensive barrage, which featured three Spartan home runs. Jennifer Hubbard went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run, while Christine Sweeney added 2 hits and a home run. Joni Gomez went 2-for-2 with a double and triple.

Jessica Vanderploeg and Melissa Johnson combined for the victory holding Southeast Missouri State to just two runs.

In earlier action, the Spartans defeated Akron, 6-1, in their opening game of the tournament.

UNCG got on the board first with a four-run third inning with the bulk of the runs coming on Penny Thompson's three-run home run off of Megan MacKenzie with one out. They posted an additional two runs in the following inning to put the game out of reach.

The Zips (7-7) scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs on a solo home run by Tracee McCoy.

Amber Watson pitched all seven innings for the win allowing one run on five hits, while striking out five. Offensively, Ashley Purcell went 2-for4 with three stolen bases, and Jennifer Hubbard went 1-for-3 with two runs scored

UNCG will square off against Charleston Southern and Toledo on Saturday.

East Tennessee State softball rallies to 9-6 victory over Michigan State
(March 15)

Rock Hill, S.C. East Tennessee State's softball team improved to 3-0 at this weekend's Winthrop Ringor Invitational with a 9-6 come-from-behind victory over Michigan State Saturday. ETSU trailed the Spartans 6-0 after the fifth inning, but the Buccaneer bats rallied for all nine of their runs in the sixth.

Junior Sheryl Clark (Bradenton, Fla.) kick started the ETSU offense with a three-run homerun to put the Bucs on the board. Junior Miranda Byerly (Candler, N.C.) then cut the deficit more with a solo homerun in back-to-back fashion. ETSU's sixth inning was capped off with another homerun, a two-run blast from junior Tiffany McVay (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.).

"The first time through the lineup we looked a little weak," said Buccaneer head coach Amy Fuller. "But our players made the adjustments they needed to make at the plate. I'm also proud of our pitching staff. We threw everyone we had, and we were able to keep Michigan State from coming back."

Red-shirt freshman Jolene Holthaus (Sidney, Ohio) picked up the win for ETSU. Freshman Julia McChain (Dale City, Va.) started the game, before being relieved by junior Jennifer Fraser (Chattanooga, Tenn.) in the fourth inning. Holthaus pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings before Fuller brought in McVay for save.

ETSU's late game on Saturday versus UNC Wilmington was postponed due to rain. The Buccaneers will resume play on Sunday, Mar. 16.


TENNESSEE TECH TOPS FURMAN IN EXTRA INNINGS, 8-3
(March 15)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Dana Yates' bases loaded double down the left field line with no one out in the top of the eighth drove in two runs to lead Tennessee Tech to an 8-3 victory over Furman in softball action Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.

The Lady Paladins, trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, forced extra innings when rightfielder Kristen White tripled into the right-center field gap and scored on a single by Carolina Evans.

The Golden Eagle tallied six runs on six hits in the eighth to put the game out of reach. Tia Brenning allowed Furman only one earned run over seven innings to pick up the win. Furman's Meagen Johnson (3-6) surrendered four earned runs in seven plus innings to take the loss.

Tennessee Tech had five hitters with two hits each and recorded four doubles. Rightfielder Lori Bayless led the Golden Eagles with two hits and two runs scored.

Johnson went 3-for-3 with a double for the Lady Paladins, while Carolina Evans was 2-for-4.

Game two of Saturday's doubleheader was cancelled when play was postponed until 3:30 due to steady rain.

Furman, 8-11 on the season, will host Elon in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Pepsi Stadium on Sunday

Charleston Defeats Ohio, 10-5, before Rain Postpones Tournament until Sunday
(March 15)

Rock Hill, SC -- The Cougars used a strong 12-hit offensive effort, combined with flawless defense, to remain unbeaten at the Winthrop Invitational, by defeating Ohio, 10-5, in softball action this morning in Rock Hill, SC. The game was called after the sixth inning due to rain, with the rest of Saturday's action postponed until Sunday at 9:00 am.

Rachel Stern started the game with Carla Shepherd coming in relief to pick up the win for the Cougars. Jacquie Rothey and Amanda Cone led Charleston's offense, both going two-for-three, with Cone bringing in three RBI. Jessica Schwartzkopf hit her first home run of the season and went one-for-three in the game.

The Cougars, now 19-4 on the year, resume tournament play Sunday at 1:00 pm when they take on Marshall. The game, originally scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 pm, was postponed due to rain.

Georgia Southern Softball postponed
(March 15)

STATESBORO, Ga.-- The softball doubleheader between Georgia Southern and Liberty has also been pushed back until tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.

East Tennessee softball team opens Winthrop Tourney with a pair of wins
(March 14)

Rock Hill, S.C. -- East Tennessee State's softball team opened play at the 24-team Winthrop Ringor Invitational Friday afternoon. The Buccaneers defeated Hartford 9-1 in their first game and went on to a 2-0 shutout over St. Francis in game two. ETSU continues play on Saturday with a game against Michigan State at 10 a.m. and will then face UNC Wilmington at 8 p.m. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, Mar. 16.