SoCon Softball Results, April 25-27

EAST TENNESSEE STATE SHUTS OUT LADY PALADINS 4-0, SWEEPS THREE-GAME SERIES
(April 27)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- East Tennessee State's Lindsay Lane and Janine Sprague each blasted two-run homers and Julia McChain tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless relief as the Buccaneers defeated Furman 4-0 to sweep their three-game Southern Conference series Sunday at Pepsi Stadium.

East Tennessee State grabbed the lead in the top of the second when Lane led off the inning with a solo home run to right-center field. The Buccaneers added to the lead when Mary Beth Hazelwood drove in Julia Chance with a two-out bloop single to center.

The Lady Paladins loaded the bases in the second and third innings, but came away with nothing. In the second, Kate Morrison led off with a double. Jessica Matthews drew a walk and Meagen Johnson singled to load the bases. Carolina Evans followed with a fly out to right. Morrison, attempting to score, was thrown out at the plate on the play. Starting pitcher Jennifer Fraser got out of the inning by getting Kelli Leachman to pop up to second.

After loading the bases again in the bottom of the third, McChain got Kate Morrison to hit into a 5-2-3 double play to retire the side.

The Buccaneers extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth when Sprague belted a two-out, two run shot to right-center.

McChain, 2-2 on the season, earned the win in relief for ETSU. Johnson (8-12) suffered the loss for Furman allowing four runs in seven innings of work on only three Buccaneer hits.

Prague went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to lead East Tennessee State. Freshman Joni Lockridge collected to hits off the bench to pace the Furman attack.

With the win, ETSU improves to 21-24 overall and 7-10 in the Southern Conference while Furman falls to 18-27 and 7-11 in the league.

The Lady Paladins return to action Wednesday afternoon when they travel to Georgia State for a twinbill with the Panthers.

Cougars Sweep Mocs in Identical 3-2 Scores
(April 27)

Mt. Pleasant, SC Pinch-hitter LeShe Russell laced a two-out single to left center that drove in the go-ahead run in the first game as the Cougars defeated the Chattanooga Mocs, 3-2, in the first game of a Southern Conference doubleheader this afternoon at Patriots Point. Charleston used a five-hit three-run fourth inning to take the second game and series with a 3-2 victory.

The College of Charleston picked up its 40th win of the season to go 40-8 overall and 14-3 in the Southern Conference. Chattanooga dropped to 30-27 and 9-8. The Cougars earned their first victory over the Mocs ever with the win in the first game.

The College of Charleston scored the first run of the first game when Jacquie Rothey's double to left center drove in Brooke Flowers, who reached on a walk.

Chattanooga answered in the second inning with a single by Paige Cochrane that brought home Jennifer Reed.

The Mocs went ahead 2-1 in the third inning after Melissa Ramirez sailed a homerun over the right field wall.

The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the third as Melissa Creeger's single to left scored Amanda Cone.

Russell's clutch hit in the sixth sealed the 3-2 victory as Rachel Stern retired the Chattanooga side in order.

Stern threw a complete game for her 23rd victory of the season (23-2), striking out four and only giving up two earned runs. Sara Meek picked up the loss to go to 13-10 on the year.

Chattanooga scored first in the second game after Ramirez doubled in Teri Herbert to go up 1-0.

The game remained that way until the fourth inning when the Cougars lit up the Mocs for three runs to take the 3-1 lead. Katie Scott singled with runners at second and third to bring in pinch-runner Mallory Davis. Keyta Lawson singled in Rabun and Flowers brought home Scott for the Cougar runs.

The Mocs made a small run in the seventh after Reed homered to left center to make the score 3-2. The next two batters grounded out to end the threat.

Natalie Smith improves to 10-4 on the year, while Awbry Winckler drops to 16-14.

Rabun led the Cougar effort, going three-for-four. Scott followed, going two-for-three with one RBI. Jennifer Reed led the Mocs, going three-for-six with a double and a one-RBI homerun.

The Cougars play their final regular-season series when they host UNC Wilmington next weekend May 3rd and 4th with a doubleheader on Saturday and single game on Sunday. Both games start at 1:00 pm. Chattanooga hosts Georgia Southern in a 1:00 pm doubleheader May 3rd and a single game at 2:00 pm on the 4th.

UNC GREENSBORO 4-7, UNC WILMINGTON 1-0
(April 27)

WILMINGTON, N.C.