CCU

Softball to Host Six More Games This Week, Coastal Carolina Tournament

           

Softball to Host Six More Games This Week, Coastal Carolina Tournament

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BUSY WEEK AHEAD: After playing only two games last week, a well-rested Coastal Carolina squad will host eight games this week. The Monmouth  Hawks (2 p.m., Tues.) and USC Upstate Spartans (3 p.m. Weds.) will come to town for doubleheaders. The 2009 Coastal Carolina Softball Tournament gets underway Friday, as the Chants will play host to a pair of nationally-ranked opponents in the Missouri Tigers (Fri., 3:30 p.m.) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (Sat., 5:00 p.m.). The Chanticleers will take on the Michigan State Spartans twice, first on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

CHANTICLEERS SPLIT WITH LADY BUCS: In game one of the March 7 doubleheader, the Chants led ETSU 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh, but couldn’t hold onto the lead. Junior Ashley Frederick  surrendered four runs in the Lady Buc seventh inning in the 6-3 loss. Game two saw Coastal Carolina score six runs on eight hits, with senior Kelsey Riffel matching a career-high in hits with three in the 6-2 victory.

MAPLES BLASTS FIRST HOME RUN OF SEASON FOR CHANTS: Freshman Sarah Maples has been a consistent contributor all year at shortstop and holding down the No. 3 slot in the batting order. Up 5-2 In the sixth inning of game two of Saturday’s twinbill, Maples drilled an Alicia Boyd offering over the left centerfield fence for her first collegiate home run. On the season, Maples is hitting 12-for-42 (.286) with a pair of doubles and eight RBI.

EDWARDS RIGHTS SHIP AFTER ROCKY START: Sophomore transfer Katelin Edwards had a rough start to her Chanticleer career to say the least. In her fist nine appearances, the Newberry transfer was 1-7 with a 6.46 ERA. In her last three appearances, all starts, Edwards is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and has struck out 18 batters in 21 innings of work.

SCOUTING THIS WEEKS OPPONENTS:
Monmouth- The Hawks enter Tuesday’s doubleheader with a 3-2 overall record on the season. Monmouth have only played two opponents this season in Texas Southern and No. 21 Texas A&M. Their three wins came against Texas Southern at the Texas A&M Invitational, while their two loses came against the Aggies. Monmouth is lead by Emily deLong at the dish, who is batting .571 with three doubles, a pair of triples, and five RBI. The all-time series is knotted at 1-1.

USC Upstate- The Spartans will ride a 10-2 record heading into Wednesday’s doubleheader, and have outscored their opponents 73-19 on the season. Upstate has a trio of players with at least two home runs and 10 RBI in Courtney Fedlon (3 HR, 10 RBI), Lauren Quevado (3 HR, 12 RBI) and Crisly Chewing (2 HR, 11 RBI). Pitcher Morga Childers is 8-1 on the season with a 0.86 ERA, and has struck out 97 batters in 57 innings. Wednesday’s doubleheader will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Michigan State- Michigan State enters this week with an 8-8 record, but will play four games before meeting the Chants for the first time on Friday. The Spartans feature one of the top power hitters in the nation in Lindsey Hensen, who has six home runs and 16 RBI on the young season. Michigan State has  three pitchers with at least eight appearances on the year. Coastal Carolina trails the all-time series, 2-1.

#15 North Carolina- The Tar Heels enter this week with an overall record of 18-3, and will play Florida St. in a three-game set before making the trip to Conway for the Coastal Carolina Softball Tournament. North Carolina is hitting .293 as a team, and features two outstanding pitchers in Danielle Spaulding (8-1, 0.31 ERA, 123 K), and Lisa Norris (7-2, 1.67 ERA, 92 K) who will see action in the tournament.

#16 Missouri- The Tigers begin this week with a 18-3 overall record, and will take on Northern Iowa on Tuesday before heading to Conway. Missouri is lead by freshman pitcher Chelsea Thomas, who has thrown two no-hitters on the season. Friday’s meeting with the Tigers will be the first meeting between Coastal Carolina and Missouri.