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Softball to Take on College of Charleston, Presbyterian

       

Softball to Take on College of Charleston, Presbyterian

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COASTAL CAROLINA PACKS THEIR BAGS, HEAD TO CHARLESTON, PRESBYTERIAN: The Chanticleers play a pair of doubleheaders this week, as the team first travels to Charleston, S.C. to take on the College of Charleston Cougars in a double-dip beginning at 4 p.m. from Patriot’s Point. On Saturday, the Chanticleers head to Clinton, S.C. to take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose in a Big South Conference doubleheader on Saturday and single game on Sunday. The two teams currently ranks last and second to last in the Big South standings.

CHANTS SWEPT BY RADFORD, DROP CONTESTS TO SOUTH CAROLINA; UNC WILMINGTON: On April 7, Coastal Carolina dropped a single game to the South Carolina Gamecocks 10-2 in six innings in its first game of the week in Columbia. The Chanticleers had their chances in the contest, but the stranding of eight runners combined with three errors led to their demise. Against the Seahawks, Coastal Carolina fell behind 7-0 early on a pair of UNCW home runs, and couldn’t fight back, losing the contest 7-4. The Chanticleers capped off the weekend dropping a trio of games to the Big South leaders Radford Highlanders, including two 3-2 defeats.

McCRANIE GIVES CHANTS A CHANCE: Freshman Ivy McCranie had the best week of any Chanticleer pitcher this season, as the freshman tossed 23 innings on the week in two starts. In all, the Nashville, Ga. native compiled a 2.13 ERA as she appeared in all five contests on the week. In the three-game set against the offensive juggernaut Radford, she started the first and third game of the series. The pitcher allowed 16 hits in her 15.2 innings of work along with six earned runs while fanning seven Highlanders. Her best work came in relief of Katelin Edwards in game two, where she entered the game with one out in the first inning. McCranie went on to allow only two hits in 5.2 innings of work and struck out three batters in the loss.

SENIORS COMBINE FOR SOLID WEEK AT THE PLATE: The senior duo of second baseman Kelsey Riffel and first baseman Brittany Birnbaum had an outstanding week at the plate, as the pair combined to go 11-for-33 at the dish (.366). Individually, Birnbaum was 6-of-16 (.375) with a double and run scored, while Riffel with 5-of-14 (.357) with two runs scored.

PISONE CELEBRATES 20th BIRTHDAY WITH SECOND HOME RUN: Sophomore Ashley Pisone celebrated her the big 2-0 with her second home run of the season in the third inning of game three of the Radfrod series. Pisone drilled the Kellie Snooks 0-1 offering over the left centerfield fence to give the Chanticleers the 1-0 lead in the eventual 3-2 loss.

SCOUTING THIS WEEK’S OPPONENTS:
College of Charleston: The Cougars will enter Wednesday’s doubleheader with an overall record of 13-21 and are 3-5 in its last eight contests. Most recently, the Cougars dropped a pair of contests to Furman on April 11 9-0 and 6-5. Offensively, C of C is paced by Kristie Shifflett who is hitting .388 with eight home runs and 30 RBI. In the circle, Terri Mesko is the Cougar’s top hurler with a 3.52 ERA and is 7-9 on the year. The two teams previously met this season on March 3, as the teams split a doubleheader at in Conway. The Cougars won game one 10-6, while the Chants held on to win a 9-8 decision in game two. The Cougars hold a 3-4 record against common opponents this season, as they have played Presbyterian, Appalachian State and South Carolina.

Presbyterian: The Blue Hose will take on East Tennessee State on Wednesday in a doubleheader, and host Winthrop on Thursday in a single game that was postponed from an earlier date prior to hosting the Chanticleers this weekend. The Blue Hose are 4-6 in it’s last 10 games, and are 17-18 overall. Offensively, PC is led by Taylor Staten, who is hitting .320 with a Big South leading eight home runs and 23 RBI. Coastal Carolina will look to see both Mary Gordon (5-11, 2.98 ERA) and Leslie Hensley (10-5, 3.16 ERA). The Chanticleers hold the all-time series lead 2-0, as the team defeated the Blue Hose 6-5 and 4-2 on March 20, 2008.