CCU

Softball Drops Game One to USC Upstate 9-2, Blank Spartans 5-0 in Game Two

       

Softball Drops Game One to USC Upstate 9-2, Blank Spartans 5-0 in Game Two

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CONWAY, S.C.- The Coastal Carolina softball team split a doubleheader today at Coastal Carolina Softball Field with the USC Upstate Spartans, falling 9-2 in game one. In game two, Katelin Edwards (Greer, S.C./Byrnes) threw a complete game shutout, and had five runs of support as the Chants blank the Spartans 5-0.

 

In game one, the Chanticleers (5-13) fell behind early in the first inning, as starter Ashley Frederick (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) surrendered four runs, three of the unearned variety to give the Spartans the 4-0 lead.

 

Coastal Carolina would get on the board in the home half to the second inning, as Stacy Snellings (Richmond, Va./ Godwin) singled and Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on. Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) then followed with a RBI double to score Snellings to make the score 4-1.

 

The Chanticleers would cut the lead to 4-2 in the third as Mecaela Ballard (Groves, Texas/Galveston) lead off the inning with an infield single. Two batters later, freshman Sarah Maples (Pasadena, Texas/ Deer Park) doubled to left center to score Ballard to cut the lead in half.

 

The Spartans (11-2) went ahead for good in the fourth on a pair of doubles off the bats of Kim Brasil and Heidi Gibbs that scored a pair of Spartans to give USC Upstate the 6-2 advantage. Upstate would add three runs in the seventh to extend the lead to the final score of 9-2.

 

With the loss, Frederick falls to 1-3. She allowed four earned runs in the compete game on 12 hits and struck out two batters. Upstate hurler Morgan Childers improved to 9-1 with the win and struck out seven batters and allowed only two Coastal Carolina runs.

 

The Chanticleer (6-13) bats came alive in game two, churning out five runs on 12 hits. Singles by Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala), Snellings and Evans resulted in the first run. Catcher Morgan Dodd (Chattanooga, Tenn./Girls Prep) walked with the bases loaded for the second run to give Coastal Carolina the early 2-0 lead.

 

Katelin Edwards (Greer, S.C./Byrnes) took the start, and was fantastic. She worked her way out of several jams, most notably in the third inning. Upstate (11-3) had runners on second and third with one out, but she induced a ground out and a fly out to end the threat.

 

In the third, Snellings and Evans singled back-to-back again, and that was followed up by an Ashley Pisone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) walk to load the bases. Dodd would follow with a single to centerfield to score Snellings for the 3-0 lead. The next batter, Brittany Bailey (Nokesville, Va./Shenandoah), followed up with a single of her own to score Evans for the 4-0 advantage, knocking out Upstate starter Amber Hamilton in the process.

 

The Chants would score an insurance run in the sixth, as Birnbaum singled to drive in Ballard to give Coastal Carolina the 5-0 advantage.

 

Edwards (4-9) gave up only five hits in the complete-game shutout, and struck out a pair of Spartan batters. Hamilton falls to 2-1 in the loss after giving up four earned runs and seven hits in her 2.2 innings of work.

 

At the plate, the Chants were paced by Snellings going 2-for-3 with a double, and Evans going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Dodd was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI's and a walk.

 

Coastal Carolina returns to action on Friday, hosting nationally ranked No. 15 North Carolina and #16 Missouri, along with Michigan St. in the 2009 Coastal Carolina University Softball Tournament March 13-15. The Chants will take on Michigan State at 1:30 p.m. and the Tar Heels at 5 p.m.