CCU

Softball Drops Games to No. 13 Baylor and Michigan State

           

Softball Drops Games to No. 13 Baylor and Michigan State

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CLEARWATER, FLA. -- The Coastal Carolina University softball team lost both of its games on Saturday, March 8 at the USF Under Armour Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. The Lady Chanticleers fell to No. 13 Baylor 10-0 in five innings in their first game of the day and then dropped an 8-0 decision in six innings to Michigan State.

Baylor had a walk-off home run to right field by Jordan Daniels in the top of the second inning in order to take a 1-0 lead. After Nicole Wesley struck out, Meagan Weldon had a base-hit. Alex Colyer had a ground-rule double down the left field line that moved Weldon over to third. KJ Freeland fouled out to freshman catcher Ashley Pisone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) and then Baylor loaded the bases as Kirsten Shortridge walked. A wild pitch allowed Weldon to score and give the Bears a 2-0 lead.

Coastal had to contend with a solid Baylor offense in the third inning as the Bears scored five runs. Brette Reagan opened the inning with a walk-off homer to center field. Courtney Oberg popped to junior Verity Long-Droppert (Claremont, Australia/Shenton (Western Reserve)) at second, but Daniels doubled to left center and then scored on a Nicole Wesley double to right center. Nicole Wesley moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored off an illegal pitch to give Baylor the 4-0 advantage. After Weldon walked, Colyer hit another ground-rule double down the left field line, which moved Weldon to third. While Freeland popped up to freshman pitcher Ashley Pedersen (Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater) Shortridge hit a two-run double to left center that drove in Colyer and Weldon and gave the Bears a 7-0 lead.

Baylor added three runs in the fourth. After Oberg walked, Maritza Martinez came in to pinch run for Oberg. While Daniels lined out to sophomore Mecaela Ballard (Groves, Texas/Port Neches Grove (Galveston JC)) in left field, Nicole Wesley reached first on a Coastal error, which moved Martinez to second. Weldon popped up to sophomore shortstop Laicole Walker (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Collegiate School) for Baylor's second out of the inning, but Colyer had a three-run shot to left field to make at 10-0 game.

Jenny Isham pitched all five innings in order to receive the win for Baylor. Isham gave up three hits and struck out three batters. Meanwhile, sophomore Ashley Frederick (Lusby, Md./Paxtuent) had the loss throwing 2.1 innings and allowing five runs off seven hits.

In the second game, Michigan State took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Caitlin Mahoney started the inning with a single up the middle with Karen Fox coming in to pinch run for Mahoney. Fox moved to second off a wild pitch, advanced to third off a single by Gina Mondo and then scored off a sacrifice fly by Traci Nicosia. Meanwhile, Mondo stole second. As Jessica LeVevre walked, Mondo stole third and both LeVevre and Mondo advanced to second and home, respectively, due to an error. a Heidi Purtzer single to center field allowed LeVevre to advance to third. Purtzer stole second and then with one out,  LeFevre scored as Jessica Bracamonte grounded out in order to make it a 3-0 game in favor of Michigan State.

The Spartans added two in both the third and the fifth. Michigan State had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the third as Lindsey Hansen hit a two-RBI single up the middle that scored Mondo from second and Mahoney from third and allowed Michigan State to take a 5-0 lead. Mondo had a lead-off single in to start the fifth, made her way to second of a Nicosia groundout and then Mondo stole third. After Purtzer was hit by a pitch, Bracamonte hit an RBI single through the right side that scored Mondo and moved Purtzer to third. Purtzer then scored off a fielding error as Michigan State held a 7-0 advantage midway through the seventh.

Michigan State's final run came in the sixth as Bianca Mejia singled and then advanced to second. With Mahoney reaching base on a Coastal throwing error, Mejia scored and gave the Spartans the 8-0 lead.

Lesley Noel had the win for the Spartans, pitching six innings and giving up three hits. Sophomore Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) had the loss after three innings of work. Evans gave up five runs, three of which were earned, off six hits.

Coastal returns to action for the final day of the USF Under Armour Invitational Sunday, March 9 when the Lady Chants take on East Tennessee State. Game time is scheduled for 9 a.m.