CCU

Coastal Softball Takes Two in Triangular

       

Coastal Softball Takes Two in Triangular

CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina softball defeated East Carolina, 5-1, and St. Francis, 4-3, Mar. 4 at Coastal Carolina Softball Field. CCU moved to 11-1 on the season with the wins, while East Carolina went to 10-6 and St. Francis to 0-7.

In the opener against East Carolina, the story was freshman pitcher Christine Doyle (Teaneck, N.J.-Immaculate Heart Academy). Doyle struck out seven and had a perfect game through five innings. She had a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh when a Coastal error extended the inning. Mandi Nichols then had a single to right field to drive in ECU’s only run before Doyle closed the door on the Pirates and moved her record to 6-0 on the year. Coastal took advantage of early East Carolina miscues to lead 3-0 after the first inning and added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth.

St. Francis got on top of the Lady Chants in the top of the first, as a CCU error proved costly, giving the Red Flash a 1-0 lead. Coastal responded in the bottom of the fourth, as senior Suzanne Kimbrell has hit by pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Kimbrell stole third, senior Amanda DeGrendele then drove her home with a double down the left field line to knot the game at one. Senior Morgan Tolleson then helped her own cause with a single down the left field line to drive in DeGrendele and put the Lady Chants up, 2-1. Coastal got a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, and the Red Flash rallied for a pair in the top of the seventh but could not make it all the way back.

Morgan Tolleson moved to 3-0 on the year with the complete game win, while Stacy Scofield took the loss.

Coastal Carolina hits the road for the Speedline Tournament in Plant City, Fla., Mar. 6-10, 2003.