SoCon Softball Results, March 31-April 4

Charleston Wins Doubleheader Over Winthrop
(April 3)

The College of Charleston softball team defeated Winthrop 1-0 and 5-1 Thursday afternoon at Patriots Point.

With the two wins, the Cougars improve to 28-5 and set a new school record for most wins in a season. Winthrop falls to 18-20 overall on the season.

In the first game, the Cougars scored in the bottom of the first inning and that was the only run of the game.

For the game, Winthrop collected three hits to the Cougars four.

Brooke Flowers went 2-for-3 in the first game. Keyta Lawson and Melissa Creeger picked up one hit each.

Rachel Stern pitched the entire game, gave up three hits, and improved to 15-1 on the season.

In the second game, the Cougars got a run in the bottom of the first inning again, but Winthrop tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning. The Cougars got the go ahead run in the bottom of the fourth, and scored three more times in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the 5-1 victory.

In the second game, Brooke Flowers went 2-for-4 and had two RBI's. Amanda Cone went 2-for-3 and had one RBI.

Natalie Smith pitched a complete game and gave up four hits and one run. With the win, Smith improves to 6-2 on the year.

The Cougars return to action again on Saturday, Apr. 5, when they host Georgia Southern in a doubleheader starting at 1:00.

UNCG Softball Holds Off Charlotte To Earn Doubleheader Sweep
(April 3)

Greensboro, NC -- Joni Gomez delivered a one-run walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to push UNCG past Charlotte, 5-4, in game one of a non-conference doubleheader Thursday. Gomez then blasted a three-run home run in game two of the doubleheader to lead the Spartans to a 6-4 victory and sweep over the 49ers.

In game one, Spartan leadoff hitter Jennifer Hubbard opened the home half of the first inning with a solo home run to right field.

UNCG then tacked on two more runs in the second inning as Joni Gomez walked, then scored on an RBI double by Amber Watson. Watson advanced to third on the play and scored on a perfectly executed bunt by Jennifer Aguilar.

After Christine Sweeney drove home UNCG's fourth run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Charlotte rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth. Karianne Huffstetler opened the frame with a single and advanced to third on an error. Following a bunt single by Lynne LaPorte, Kristy Constantino singled to score Huffstetler. Melanie Thevanote then knotted the score at 4-4 with a three-run home run.

The Spartans, however, were able to score the go ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning for the second time this week. Melissa Johnson doubled down the right field line to open the inning. Gomez followed with an RBI single up the middle to score pinch runner T.K. Lewis and seal the victory. The Spartans are now 8-0 in one-run games.

UNCG's Melissa Johnson picked up her team-best ninth win of the year. The freshman tossed 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, while striking out three.

Jennifer Aguilar went 3-for-3 to lead UNCG at the plate. Hubbard, Johnson and Gomez each chipped-in with two hits apiece as the Spartans registered 12 hit in all.

In game two, UNCG jumped out to an early 5-0 lead through three innings. After the Spartans scored two unearned runs in the second inning, Gomez hit a line drive three-run home run over the left field fence, scoring Kim Benningfield and Penny Thompson.

Charlotte closed the gap to 5-3 in the fourth inning on a three-run home run by Sam Moore. The 49ers then scored a solo run in the fifth on an RBI single by Thevanote, but UNCG would add on an insurance run in the sixth inning en route to the 6-4 win.

Amy Poole worked all seven innings for her fourth win of the year. The senior gave up four runs on seven hits, while striking out five.

Jennifer Aguilar went 2-for-3 in game two, while Gomez recorded all three Spartan runs batted in.

UNCG will host Appalachian State in a three-game Southern Conference series beginning Saturday.

Appalachian Softball Drops 7-6 Heartbreaker to Furman
(April 3)

BOONE, N.C. -- Furman scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to drop Appalachian 7-6 in the rubber game of a SoCon softball series from the Watauga County Softball Complex.

The Paladins, down 5-4 entering the seventh inning staged a two-out rally when Meagan Johnson hit her fourth home run of the season to straight away center field. Following the home run, Furman put two on after back-to-back singles by Kate Morrison and Ali McNulty. After McNulty moved to second on an Appalachian throwing error, Furman loaded the bases on a Jessica Matthews walk. Furman jumped ahead 6-5 when Mountaineer pitcher Jennifer Hurley (Asheboro, N.C.) was unable to capitalize on an early 0-2 count, walking Kelli Leachman. Hurley's struggles continued when she walked Furman pinch hitter Sarah Scott, making the score 7-5. Following the walks, Appalachian turned to Marie Watson (Wilmington, N.C.), as she forced Karen Myers to pop up to third to end the inning.

Appalachian mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Christa Hicks (Shelby, N.C.) singled and then moved to second up on a Sarah Gough (Yadkinville, N.C.) groundout. Appalachian senior Lael Rorie (Charlotte, N.C.) plated Hicks on her single through the right side, cutting the Paladin lead to 7-6. Furman shortstop Kelli Leachman then snagged Amber Handy's (Huntersville, N.C.) line drive and doubled up pinch runner Wendy Lewis (Asheboro, N.C.) at first to end the game.

Furman jumped on the board first in the third inning after putting together consecutive singles by Myers and LaKerah Barr. With runners on second and third after a Furman groundout, the Paladins would jump ahead 1-0 on Caroline Evans' ground out to second. Furman would add another run in the fourth after a double by Morrison and a single by Jessica Matthews. Leachman would earn her first RBI of the afternoon to put the Paladins ahead 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Appalachian would rally to tie the game in the fourth when Handy reached on a bunt single. After stealing second and a Laura Padgett (Black Mountain, N.C.) walk, Dawn Malone (Columbia, S.C.) delivered with a single through the right side plating both Padgett and Handy. Malone was thrown out at second on the play after trying to extend the single to a double.

After falling behind 4-2 in the fifth, the Mountaineers pulled ahead 5-4. A Furman fielding error allowed Appalachian's Mary Lutz (Brentwood, Tenn.) to reach first. Following the error, consecutive singles by Hicks and Gough loaded the bases. A walk by Rorie inched the Mountaineers closer at 4-3. A two-out single up the middle by Padgett put Appalachian ahead 5-4. Neither team was able to mount a threat in the sixth inning.

Furman's Ali McNulty went 3-for-4 on the afternoon with 2 RBI while teammate Kate Morrison returned a 2-for-3 performance at the plate including her sixth double of the year. Kelli Leachman also registered two RBI for the Paladins.

The Paladins Rachel Henley picks up her seventh win of the year while Appalachian's Jennifer Hurley falls to 4-7

Appalachian was led by Christa Hicks, who finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate while teammates Dawn Malone, Laura Padgett and Lael Rorie had 2 RBI each in the losing effort. Mary Lutz also finished the afternoon going 2-for-4.

Furman returns home to take on SoCon foe UNC Wilmington this weekend while Appalachian hits the road to take on UNC Greensboro.

Grand Slam Propels Appalachian to Softball Split With Furman
(April 2)

BOONE, N.C.