SoCon Softball, March 1-7

Cougars Capture CSU Tournament, Ready for Hawaii

Charleston, S.C- The College of Charleston softball team improved to 10-2 on the season by winning the Charleston Southern Tournament over the weekend. The Cougars are packing for Hawaii and the fourth Kipa Aloha Malihini Tournament.
The Cougars went 5-0 for the weekend and posted wins over Akron, UCF, Canisius, Albany and North Carolina A&T. Charleston captured the tournament title and outscored their opponents 31-8 over the two days.
Earlier this season, Candice Wilburn pitched the first perfect game in program history. The second perfect game did not take long as Natalie Smith was perfect in the 18-0 win over NC A&T in the tournament finale on Sunday. Smith retired all 15 batters she faced and struck out six. Smith went 3-0 for the weekend posting a 0.37 ERA in 19 innings pitched.
"It is always nice to win a tournament in your city," said Cougar head coach Chandelle Schulte. "Our kids showed resolve and they learned valuable lessons in how to win close games."
The Cougars are set to depart on Tuesday for Honolulu, HI and the University of Hawaii Tournament. Charleston will get the four-day tournament underway on Thursday when it takes on Sienna at 3:00 and Hawaii at 7:00. Fans can follow the Hawaii game on Friday night through live stats at www.cougars.cofc.edu. The Cougars will play Southern Illinois at 1:00 and Long Beach State at 3:00 on Friday. Seeded bracket play will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Charleston returns home to host the Cougar Classic at Patriots Point on March 12-14. The Cougars will host UAB, Savannah State, East Carolina and Bowling Green in the three-day tournament.


FURMAN SOFTBALL FALLS TO DETROIT, BETHUNE-COOKMAN AT REBEL SPRING GAMES

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman erased a 1-0 Furman lead with two runs in the top of the third and two in the fifth to defeat the Lady Paladins 4-1 in softball action Tuesday afternoon at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Detroit Mercy downed the Lady Paladins 10-3 in the first game of the day.

Furman opened the scoring in the first against Bethune-Cookman. After reaching on an error, Joni Lockridge stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs Karen Myers beat out a bunt down the third base line allowing Lockridge to score.

The Wildcats led off the top of the third with back-to-back singles. Chloe Thomas and Rhoenita Yancey each moved up a base on a passed ball. Thomas tied the game at 1-1 when JoDee Eichleberger misplayed a ground ball off of the bat of Melanie Johnson. Two batters later, Tiffany Browser grounded out to second base allowing Yancey to score the go ahead run.

Bethune-Cookman added to its lead in the fifth. Yancey reached base on bunt single and Johnson walked to give the Wildcats runners at first and second. Andrea Thomas followed with a two-run double to left for the final 4-1 margin.

Lauren McCoy took the win for the Wildcats allowing no earned runs on just two hits while tossing a complete game. McCoy struck out six and walked one.

Yancey led Bethune-Cookman at the plate goig 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Rachel Henley, 0-5 on the season, suffered the loss for Furman. The junior allowed four runs, only two earned, on seven hits.

Catcher Karen Myers went 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead Furman offensively.

In game one, Detroit scored six runs in the first inning on its way to a 10-3 win.

Katrina Klemp and Kristin Hartin both went 2-for-4 to pace the Titans (3-3), while Anna Ollgaard threw a complete-game to earn the win.

Centerfielder LaKerah Barr was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Furman, while senior Kristy Goodrich (1-5) suffered the loss. Goodrich surrendered nine earned runs on 11 hits in six innings.

Furman, 1-13 on the season, returns to action Wednesday in a 12:30 p.m. contest against Loyola-Chicago.


UNCC Softball Sweeps UNC Greensboro In A Doubleheader

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte 49ers softball team swept UNC Greensboro in a doubleheader at the Phillips Complex. The 49ers won game one behind the pitching of Christy Murray, 3-1. Then, they took the second game behind opportunistic base running by a score of 4-3. With the win, the 49ers evened their record at 3-3. In both games, the 49ers took the lead for good with two-runs in the second inning.

In game one, UNC Greensboro scored the game's first run when Lynsi Pierce scored on Vanessa Massie's double to center field in the second inning.

Then, the 49ers took the lead for good with two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the second inning. Freshman Kaycie Jones made the most of her first career hit with a mammoth home run over the left center field wall tying the score, 1-1. Then, Karianne Huffstetler scored the go-ahead run on Becky Matthews' single to center field in the inning.

Charlotte added an insurance run when Jessica Moore, who reached base on a double to center field, scored on Autumn Lawson's single to center field in the fifth inning.

Charlotte pitcher Christy Murray enjoyed a complete game pitching performance as she recorded her second win of the season. She scattered eight hits and only allowed one run in seven innings.

In game two, Charlotte jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning.

Charlotte's Karianne Huffstetler and Denise Atmar scored the 49ers first two runs on a UNC Greensboro throwing error in the second inning.

Then in the third inning, Sam Moore scored her first run of the game on a UNC Greensboro fielding error.

UNC Greensboro scored their first run of the game when Joni Gomez scored on a Charlotte fielding error in the fifth inning.

The 49ers added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Moore scored her second run of the game on a Huffstetler fielder's choice.

UNC Greensboro closed out the scoring with two runs in the seventh inning.

Charlotte freshman pitcher Kristen Bowen recorded her first career win after scattering eight hits and allowing only two earned runs in seven innings.

The 49ers return to action with a doubleheader at Elon, Saturday, March 6 at 1 pm.


FURMAN SOFTBALL FALLS 3-2, 4-0 AT REBEL GAMES

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Natalie Martin's bases loaded, RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Loyola Chicago to a 3-2 victory over Furman Wednesday afternoon at the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Maine downed the Lady Paladins 5-0 in the second game of the day.

Loyola took a 2-0 third inning lead when Lynn Parmer's throwing error allowed Becky Marx and Allison Scanlin to score. Marx reached base on a two-out single. Scanlin followed with a double before Keilah Williams reached on the error.

Furman evened the score in the top of the fifth inning. With one on and one out, LaKerah Barr belted a two-run homer to left field to make the score 2-2.

In the top of the seventh, ctacher Karen Myers doubled to lead off. After a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Lindsey LaChiana struck out Jessica Matthews and JoDee Eichelberger to end the Lady Paladin threat.

Loyola got a walk, fielder's choice and single to load the bases against Furman reliever Erica Nesselroad. Rachel Henley, Furman's starter, re-entered the game and allowed Martin's game-winning single.

LaChiana took the win for Loyola allowing two runs on four hits in seven innings of work. Scanlin paced the Ramblers at the plate going 2-for-3.

Nesselroad suffered the loss for Furman. Henley got a no decision after allowing just six hits and two unearned runs in five innings.

In game two, Maine tallied two runs in the top of the second and two in the fourth on its way to a 5-0 victory over Furman.

Candace Jaegge tossed five innings of shutout softball to earn the win while Meagan Ramos went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Black Bear offensive attack.

Nesselroad (0-4) surrendered four runs in four innings of work to take the loss for the Lady Paladins.

Furman, 1-15 on the season, returns to action Thursday when it battles UCF and Bethune-Cookman.


Elon Leans On Pitching To Sweep Campbell Softball

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Elon Phoenix pitching staff allowed just eight hits on Wednesday to sweep the Campbell Softball team 2-0 and 3-2 at the Eakes Softball Complex.

Campbell falls to 12-7 on the season, while Elon improves to 11-3-1.

Jennifer Lamb improved to 4-0 on the year as she went seven innings in game one allowing just three Campell hits and striking out three for the shutout. Whitney Meeks pushed her record to 5-1 in game two as she worked six innings allowing two runs on five hits and striking out two. Lamb entered in the seventh inning to pick up the save.

Sophomore Erica Willis pushed her hitting streak to 10 games going 2-for-6 in the series driving in one RBI to lead Campbell offensively.

Sophomore Lexi Myers (6-4) was the game one starter going the distance but allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out four. Freshman Kelly Weaver (6-3) retired the first eight batters of game two, but gave up three hits late in the game on 11 hits. Weaver struck out five in her seven innings of work.

Lamb allowed three Camels to reach base in the first two innings, but settled in to retire 16 of the next 18 Campbell batters.

The Phoenix plated two runs in the fourth inning as Christina Melton doubled to left field to start the inning. Singles by Jennifer Massey and Jamie Dupont scored pinch runners Suzanne Speed and Nicole Ellis to give Lamb the edge she needed.

Campbell managed to get three runners into scoring position, but could not capitalize leaving each stranded at second base.

In game two, Campbell loaded the bases in the first inning but Meeks forced pop-outs from Willis and freshman Jessica Huffman to end the threat.

In the second inning, freshman Stephenie Pappas reached on a two out walk, stole second, and then scored on a single to center field by senior Meredith Moody to give CU the 1-0 lead.

Campbell held that lead until the fifth inning when Elon