April 4, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team opened Big South Conference play 0-2 after falling 9-1 in game one and 6-2 in game two against Charleston Southern on Monday, April 4 at Buccaneer Field. The Chanticleers fall to 14-19 overall and 0-2 in the Big South while the Buccaneers improve to 16-21 and 3-2 in league play.
In the first game, senior Michelle Evans got Coastal on the board first with a solo home run to left center to lead off the second inning for a 1-0 Chanticleer lead.
Coastal had an opportunity to add more runs after loading the bases in the top of third with two outs, but came up short stranding all three runners.
Charleston Southern answered back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third to take a one-run lead. With two outs, Jana Matthews tripled to right field, sending Erin Kegley home to tie the game. Matthews crossed the plate on a single to shortstop, giving the Buccaneers a 2-1 lead.
The Buccaneers opened the game up in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs. After a hit and back to back Coastal errors, Charleston Southern added another run to its total and Megan Lombard sent another run home on a fielder's choice. The Bucs did not stop there as Kristin Kelleher and Matthews came home on a single up the middle by Stephanie Sbardella. Jessica Brock was the final run to score in the inning, coming home on a wild pitch to give Charleston Southern an 8-1 advantage.
The first game came to an end in the bottom of the sixth after Matthews was brought home on a single by Trea Steele for a 9-1 Buccaneer win.
Evans started in the circle for Coastal, throwing 3.2 innings and allowing eight runs, two earned, on nine hits. Senior Katelin Edwards pitched in relief, giving up one run on three hits while striking out two in 2.0 innings. Evans got the loss, falling to 4-7 on the season.
Kimberly Hobbs pitched a complete game for the Buccaneers, allowing one run on five hits while striking out two.
In game two, the Chants were first to strike, scoring one run in the top of the second. Junior Stacy Snellings drew a lead off walk and was advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Cacia Pierre. Olivia Piccirillo sent Snellings to third on a hit to centerfield and Desiree Zaragoza brought her home with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Coastal lead.
Similar to game one, Charleston Southern answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the second. Melanie Stickney drove in the first Buccaneer run of the inning on a sacrifice fly and Lombard brought three more runs home with her double to left centerfield, giving Charleston Southern a 4-1 advantage.
The Bucs added another run in the bottom of the fourth as Hayes Holdsworth scored on a single by Lombard for a 5-1 lead.
Coastal cut the lead by one in the top of the fifth after Zaragoza reached first on a fielder's choice. Ashley Pisone came in to pinch run after Brooke Donovan moved her to second on a walk. Jazmin Daigle brought Pisone home on a single to centerfield for a 5-2 Buc lead.
Matthews added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left center, giving Charleston Southern a 6-2 advantage.
The Chants tried to battle back in the top of the seventh after loading the bases, but could not come up with a clutch hit, stranding all three runners.
Ashley Bagwell started in the circle for Coastal and allowed four runs on three hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Edwards pitched in relief to finish the game, giving up two runs on two hits in 3.2 innings worked. Bagwell picked up the loss, falling to 7-8 on the season.
Morgan Dowdy threw a complete game for Charleston Southern, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five.
Coastal returns home to host College of Charleston in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 6 at 5 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, but was rescheduled due to the threat of inclement weather.
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