Softball Action from Saturday, May 1

Chattanooga Sweeps Furman Softball, Claims SoCon Regular Season Title

Greenville, S.C. -- The Chattanooga Lady Mocs rallied from a 3-1 deficit
for a 4-3 victory in game two to sweep Saturday's softball doubleheader
and clinch the Southern Conference regular season title. The 4-3 nightcap
victory, coupled with a 2-1 win in game one, stretched Chattanooga's
winning streak to 17 games.

In game two, Melissa Ramirez delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle
in the top of the eighth inning to drive home Jeannie Cochran for a 4-3
win.

After the Lady Mocs opened up a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Jessica
Matthews doubled off of the left field wall to score Sarah Scott in the
bottom of the first to knot the game at 1-1.

With the game still tied in the bottom of the third, Kristin White opened
the inning with a double to right center. After moving to third on LaKerah
Barr's groundout, White scored on a single to center by Scott. Matthews
followed two batters later with a double down the left field line to plate
Scott and give Furman a 3-1 lead.

The Lady Mocs started their comeback in the top of the fifth. Leslie
Barron singled to lead off the inning and was thrown out at second when
Robyn Johnson reached on a fielder's choice. Grace Pickett followed with a
single off of Furman starter Erica Nesselroad to give Chattanooga runners
at first and second with one out. After a wild pitch moved the runners up
60 feet, Amanda Hoiness provided a sacrifice fly to right scoring Johnson.
Stefani Thomas singled up the middle to plate Pickett and tie the game at
3-3.

Cochran led off the eighth reaching on a Joni Lockridge error and advanced
to second on a groundout. Ramirez followed with her game-winning single
for the final 4-3 margin.

Lacey Swarthout (25-15) entered the game in relief of starter Brittney
Whittier to earn her second win of the day. Swarthout limited Furman to
only three hits in 5.1 innings of scoreless relief. Eight different Lady
Mocs recorded a safety led by Cochran's 2-for-5 effort.

Rachel Henley (11-21) suffered her second loss of the afternoon for Furman
after pitching two innings in relief. Henley surrendered an unearned run
while striking out three.

Matthews paced the Lady Paladin offense in a losing effort registering
three hits, including two doubles and two RBI.

In game one, Chattanooga scored two fourth inning runs and held off a
seventh inning rally by Furman to take a 2-1 win.

Hoiness delivered and RBI single and the Lady Mocs plated a second run on
a Lady Paladin error to take a 2-0 lead.

Matthews led off the Furman seventh with a single down the left field
line. After moving to second on Lockridge's sacrifice bunt, Matthews
advanced to third on a two-out single by Scott. Valerie Cross trimmed the
lead in half with a single to center, but Swarthout struck out White to
end the game.

Swarthout tossed a complete game allowing one run on five hits while
striking out eight to take the win. Teri Herbert and Hoiness each
registered two hits for Chattanooga.

Henley, despite allowing just one earned run and striking out 11 batters,
suffered the loss for Furman. Cross went 2-for-3 with and RBI to lead
Furman offensively.

Furman (14-44, 6-11 SoCon) returns to action Sunday when it hosts
Chattanooga in finale of the three-game series at Pepsi Stadium. First
pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.


Cougar Softball Doubleheader Postponed

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball doubleheader against UNC Greensboro scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 at Patriots Point has been postponed due to rainy conditions.

The Cougars and Spartans are now scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 11:00 at Patriots Point.

Charleston is 35-21 on the season and 9-6 in the Southern Conference heading into the weekend. UNC Greensboro is 29-24 overall and 7-8 in conference action. Sunday