CCU

Softball Picks Up 3-2 Win Over Florida Atlantic, Downed by South Alabama 10-0 in Five Innings

           

Softball Picks Up 3-2 Win Over Florida Atlantic, Downed by South Alabama 10-0 in Five Innings

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The Coastal Carolina University softball team (1-3) wrapped up day three of the Lipton Invitational with a pair of games today in a tournament hosted by the University of Florida. Game one saw the Chants fall to the South Alabama Jaguars for the second time in the tournament 10-0 in five innings while game two saw Coastal Carolina pick up its first win 3-2 over Florida Atlantic.

 

Coastal Carolina threatened in the bottom half of the first, as junior Mecaela Ballard (Groves, Texas/Port Neches Grove(Galveston) singled with one out, and went on to steal second two pitches later. However, she was stranded after Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) struck out to end the inning.

 

In the bottom of the second, the Chants threatened again with an Ashley Pisone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) one-out single. Coastal Carolina could not muster a rally, stranding a runner on second base for the second time in the contest.

 

Sophomore Katelin Edwards (Greer, S.C./Byrnes (Newberry)) started off strong, giving up only one hit in the first two innings while fanning a pair of Jaguars. However, she met her demise in the third inning, allowing three runs on a pair of doubles by Kaite McGuire and Tara Donaldson. Edwards was then relieved after retiring one batter in favor of freshman Ivy McCranie. After inheriting a pair of baserunners, McCranie threw Jaguar batter Kait Chermonz an 0-1 fastball that Cermoniz blasted over the centerfield fence to extend the Jags lead to 6-0.

 

South Alabama (3-5) added four runs in the fourth, on the heels of doubles by Christin Crocker and Tara Donaldson to extend the lead to contests final score of 10-0.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Chants once again had a runner of second with one out, as Evans would double to the right centerfield gap. Sarah Maples (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) followed with a single to left field to give the Chants runners on the corners with one out. The threat was ended after a pair of strikeouts by South Alabama hurler Beth Pilgrim.

 

Edwards would re-enter the game in the fifth, and retired the side in order before taking the loss to fall to 0-3 on the season. Pilgrim threw four shutout innings, striking out six on her way to improving to 3-2 on the season.

 

In game two against the Florida Atlantic Owls, Edwards got the starting nod once again, this time retiring the first 11 batters she faced before walking Caitlin Bliss with one out in the fourth

 

In the Chanticleer half of the third, senior Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) walked with two outs. The walk was followed by a Ballard slap single that just sailed over the third baseman's head. Maples would follow by hitting a line drive to FAU shortstop Blair Bodenmiller, who calmly fielded the rocket and stepped on second base for the force to end the inning.

 

In the Owl (6-4) half of the fifth, Rose Gressley would reach base on a Sarah Maples error, and was pinch-ran for by Christine Houghtailing who would steal second base. Edwards would work her way out of her first jam of the contest after striking out Schwarz to end the inning.

 

In the fifth, Pisone led off with a base hit. With a runner on first, Coastal Carolina junior Alyssa Tornatore (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) failed twice at a bunt attempt. The third pitch she saw was blasted over the right fielder's head for a double, scoring Pisone for the Chanticleers first lead of the tournament. Ballard would then single to move Tornatore to third, and a Maples single scored her to give the Chants the 2-0 lead.

 

Edwards would allow her first hit of the contest in the sixth on a Ashlyn Parmerter infield single, which was followed by a Ambar Jones single to give FAU runners at first and second.  They then advanced to second and third a play later on a sacrifice bunt. With runners on second and third and one out, Bliss singled to left field to score the Owl's first run of the contest. A throwing error by Maples to the cut-off allowed another run to score to even up the tally at 2-2. Edwards would retire the next two batters to end the threat.

 

With two outs in the sixth, Tornatore would strike again after Pisone reached first on an error. This time, the center fielder drove a double over the left fielder's head to score Pisone and give the Chants the 3-2 lead heading into the seventh.

 

Karri Croney would lead off for the Owls in the seventh with a base hit to right field. The next batter, Jenna Schwarz, failed to sacrifice Croney to second after Evans and Maples teammed up to retire Croney. Brittany Walker would foul out to the Birnbaum at first for the second out, and Parmtere grounded out to end the game.

 

"It was good to end the weekend with a win after a rough go of it in the first couple games," remarked a victorious Dannelly. "We certainly have a few things to work on in the future, but it was definitely a positive to put everything together in terms of pitching, hitting and defense in the final game of the tournament."

 

The Chanticleers will open up their 2009 home schedule beginning Fri., Feb. 20 with a meeting against the Virginia Tech Hokies at 2 p.m., in the annual Kickin' Chicken Classic at the Coastal Carolina University Softball Field.