Wednesday's SoCon Softball Results

Winthrop Falls To College of Charleston

ROCK HILL, SC- Winthrop softball team fell 4-3 to the College of Charleston in a rain-shortened double-header, Wednesday afternoon at Terry Field.

The second game never got started as the storm moved in from the Charlotte area. The game remained scoreless through three innings as the pitchers controlled the tempo. College of Charleston broke the tie in the top of the fourth when Melissa Wiegel hit in two runs following an earlier Winthrop fielding error. Later on in the same inning Brooke Flowers doubled to score a third run as Wiegel reached home.

Winthrop responded immediately. Laura Hill hit a lead off home run to open the bottom of the fourth and this spurred on the Lady Eagles. Catherine Cashion then scored following some after a fielding error at first base by the Cougars.

The Eagles tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth when Willis scored from second following a bunt by Kjersti Johnson. The game remained even until the top of the seventh when Jacquie Rothey doubled to left field to score Flowers first.

Kelli Johnson tossed a complete game allowing all four runs and striking out seven. Rachel Stern picked up the win for the Cougars by two earned runs on three hits.

Game two of the double-header will not be made up. Winthrop are in action this weekend at the North Carolina A&T Invitational beginning Friday. The Lady Eagles play Morgan State at 11 a.m. and North Carolina A&T at 5 p.m.


Eagles Split with Georgia State

STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern's Logan Free threw a four hit shutout including eleven strikeouts to lead the Eagles to an 8-0 win in game one over Georgia State, but the Panthers nine hits in game two proved to be too much, as Georgia State took game two 4-3 in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at Eagle Field.

In game one, the Eagles opened the first with a Shanita Black double to center field. Black would eventually score on a Kim Griffin single to first base, giving GSU the early 1-0 lead. With Georgia State up to bat in the second, Logan Free threw three straight strikeouts to end the inning.

After three quiet innings, Georgia Southern increased their lead in the bottom of the fifth as Lindsay Jones led off by reaching first base on a Georgia State error. A Black sacrifice bunt to second advanced Jones to second as Aurora Johnson stepped to the bag. Her double to left center scored Jones. The next batter, Griffin, launched her second home run of the season over the left field fence to bring in two more runs, giving the Eagles the 4-0 lead. After another error by the Panthers, Maria Laurato reached first. Back to back doubles by Sam Steiner and Heather Smith allowed Laurato and Steiner to score, putting the Eagles up 6-0 after five.

The Panthers fought back in the sixth, recording two hits, but could not bring the runners home. Georgia Southern began the sixth with a Jones single to center field, when Courtney Jones came in to pinch run. Black singled to shortstop, putting runners on first and second. After a Johnson fly to right, Griffin doubled to center field, bringing home Jones and Black for the 8-0 win.

Game two saw the Panthers attack first, as they scored two runs in the third inning. Mary Kathryn Branan reached first on an error by the Eagles' Mandi Stophlet and would score on a Pamela O'Neal single to shortstop. Up next was Emily Pritchett, whose single to centerfield brought Jamie Cagle home, giving the Panthers the 2-0 lead.

The Eagles came back in the bottom of the third as Aurora Johnson recorded her third home run of the season as she slammed the ball to center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Georgia Southern tied the game in the fifth inning as a Johnson single through the right side put a runner on the bases. Courtney Jones would enter the game for Johnson as a pinch runner and would advance to second on a Griffin sacrifice bunt. Jones scored the tying run on a passed ball, making the score 2-2 after five.

The Panthers were not finished, as they took the lead back in the top of the seventh as Candace Jones and Branan scored, giving them the 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Georgia Southern answered, as Johnson cut the deficit to 4-3 as she scored on a Griffin double to left field. After a wild pitch on a third strike call on Heather Smith, Griffin attempted to score, but was out at the plate, giving the Panthers the 4-3 win.

The Eagles return to Southern Conference action on Saturday, April 3, as they travel to Greenville, S.C. to take on the Furman Paladins. Doubleheader action begins at 1:00 p.m.


ETSU Softball doubleheader with Radford postponed

Today's softball doubleheader between East Tennessee State and Radford has been postponed due to inclement weather. The games will be rescheduled for Tuesday, April 6. Game One is set for 2 p.m., followed by Game Two at 4 p.m.


Rain Washes Away Furman Softball Doubleheader

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman softball's doubleheader versus North
Carolina, scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Pepsi Stadium, has been cancelled
due to wet field conditions and more rain in the forecast. The twinbill
will not be rescheduled.

The Lady Paladins were victorious in their first Southern Conference
series of the season this past weekend at UNC Greensboro. Furman rebounded
from a 4-3 loss in game one to down the Spartans 9-5 and 2-1.

Furman, 7-29 overall and 2-1 in SoCon play, return to action this weekend
hosting conference rival Georgia Southern in a three-game series. The
series will open with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and conclude with
a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday.