SoCon Softball Results, February 24-28

CofC Cougar Softball Rally Falls Short to Michigan State, 7-6
(February 28)

Mt. Pleasant, SC -- The Cougars rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the sixth inning but fell just short as Michigan State came back with two runs to take the 7-6 win in softball action at the Hampton Inn/Cougar Classic this evening at the Jones Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

In the other evening softball games of the tournament Campbell defeated Winthrop 3-2 and St. Francis, 5-0. Michigan State also took the 4-2 victory over Virginia in 10 innings.

Tournament play continues at 8:00 am Saturday when Virginia takes on St. Francis and the Cougars face St. Bonaventure at the Jones Center.

Charleston Cougars Take First Two Games of Hampton Inn/Cougar Classic
(February 28)

Amanda Cone nailed a two-run home run over the left field wall to help the Cougars clinch the 5-1 victory over St. Francis in the opening softball game of the 2003 Hampton Inn/Cougar Classic being held today at the Jones Recreation Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Jessica Schwartzkopf hit an RBI single to right field that drove in the tying run before a Winthrop error let the winning run across as the Cougars rallied to take the Eagles 2-1 in the second game.

In other tournament action St. Bonaventure fell to Campbell, 3-0, and to Virginia, 7-3. The tournament continues today with Winthrop taking on Campbell and Virginia against Michigan State. Tonight's match-ups included a Cougar contest against the Spartans and the Camels against St. Francis. Those games start at 6:00 pm.

Florida International 4, Furman 1
(February 26)

Kendra Laminack and Nicole Barrett combined on a three-hitter and Jennifer Owens had three hits and two RBI as FIU (7-14) won for the second-consecutive time with a 4-1 victory over Furman at University Park.

Laminack (1-5) went the first five innings, striking out five and allowing just an infield single in gaining her first pitching victory of the season. Barrett picked up her third save of the year pitching the final two innings of relief.

The Golden Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning without benefit of a base hit. Lindsay Tippings and Heather Taylor both walked then moved up one base on a wild pitch charged against Furman starting pitcher Meagen Johnson. With one out, Meagan Dontrich grounded out to third, scoring Tippings.

FIU broke open the tight pitchers' dual in the sixth inning, scoring three times against Lady Paladin reliever Tabitha Dease. After two quick outs, a walk, base hit and two stolen bases set up Nicole Dubovik for an RBI bunt single. After Dubovik stole second base, Owens delivered a two-run single giving the Golden Panthers a 4-0 advantage.

Furman finally cracked the scoreboard in the seventh inning. Meagen Johnson touched Barrett for a double off the left field fence, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ali McNulty.

East Carolina Sweeps UNC Wilmington, 13-2, 4-0
(February 26)

WILMINGTON, N.C. - East Carolina scored 13 runs on 10 hits in routing UNC Wilmington, 13-2, in five innings of play in the first of two games Wednesday in college softball action at Boseman Field. The Pirates shutout the Seahawks, 4-0, in the second game, drilling out nine hits improving to 9-2. The Seahawks fall to 6-8 overall.

In the first matchup, ECU scored six runs in the top of the second inning on two hits and three errors to take an early 6-0 lead. Stacey Smith ignited the Pirates' offense with a single to right to start off the inning and later scored on two Seahawk errors. Christine Sheridan knocked in two RBI's on a one-out single, putting ECU ahead, 5-0. Sheridan finished 3-for-4 with two RBI's in the game.

UNCW scored two runs in the bottom of the second on Jamie Gostyla's single to right and was later driven in by Christy Ross' single to right field. Elizabeth Stamey reached on an error by the Pirate's pitcher and later scored on a wild pitch to cut ECU's lead to four, 6-2.

ECU added two more runs in the third, as Dany'ele Hill hit a two-run home run for her first homer of the season. Hill finished 2-for-3 with three RBI's for the Pirates. The Pirates opened their lead in the fifth, scoring five runs on four hits as Chrystal Carter and Hill knocked in back-to-back RBI doubles. Mandi Nichols hit a three-run homer to highlight the inning.

Gostyla (3-6) was the losing pitcher for the Seahawks allowing 11 runs, four earned on seven hits in four innings of work. ECU's Maggie Lingo (2-1) picked up her second win on three hits, two earned runs in four innings. Freshman Brittany Boyd recorded her first save.

ECU scored first in the second game on a Kate Manuse RBI double to left to put the Pirate up, 1-0. Dany'eleHill tallied her fourth RBI of the series on a two out single to right to take a 2-0 lead in fourth.

The Pirates added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Lacassa Hill lead off the inning on a walk and moved to third on Kristen Johnson's double to left. Hill scored on Sheridan's single to right. Sheridan scored on Manuse's ground out to second to end the inning.

Senior Tiffany Lindemann and freshman Melissa Moore had two hits each for the Seahawks.

Freshman pitcher Brently Bridgeforth (5-1) pitched five innings of six hit ball, stranding nine Seahawk runners with four strikeouts. Boyd notched her second save in two innings, allowing one hit.

Sophomore Amanda Wilson (3-2) pitched a complete game with nine hits and four earn runs for her second loss of the season.

The Seahawks return to action Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the first day of the Seahawk Invitational as they entertain North Carolina A&T at Boseman Field. The Pirates travel to South Florida for a double-header matchup against the Bulls at 1:00 p.m.

Georgia State Sweeps Georgia Southern
(February 25)

Atlanta, Ga. -- The Georgia Southern (7-6) softball team fell to Georgia State (2-7) Tuesday afternoon 3-2 and 4-2 at Bob Heck Field.

Freshman Lindsey Jones led off the hitting for the Eagles as she belted a single to left field to start off game one. Freshman Shanita Black reached first on a fielding error by Georgia State