CLINTON, S.C.-The Coastal Carolina University softball team wrapped up a three-game set with the Presbyterian Blue Hose in Clinton, S.C. this afternoon, Sun., April 19. The Chanticleers pounded out four runs on eight hits in the rubber match of the series. For Coastal Carolina, eight of the nine starters in the lineup had a base hit.
The Blue Hose (18-22, 5-10) got on the board early, pushing a run across in the first.Krysten Handy walked with one out, and stole second two pitches later. Handy moved to third on a groundout, and Rachel Parker singled up the middle with two out to drive in the runner on third and give the Blue Hose the early 1-0 advantage off of Coastal Carolina starter Ivy McCranie (Nashville, Ga./Berrien).
In the second, the Chants (14-29, 4-8) loaded the bases with one out on a single by Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) and a pair of walks by Blue Hose pitcher Mary Gordon. Mecaela Ballard (Groves, Texas/Galveston) evened the game up at 1-1 with a base hit to the right side for Coastal Carolina’s first run of the contest. Gordon was able to get out of the jam though, as she forced Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala) to pop out to first and struck out Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) to end the inning.
The freshman duo of Stacy Snellings (Richmond, Va./Mills E. Godwin) and Sarah Maples (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) led off the third with singles, putting a pair of runners on base for Morgan Dodd (Chattanooga, Tenn./Girls Preparatory).After failing to get a sacrifice bunt down, all Dodd did was with two strikes was blast her third homer of the season, a three-run shot over the right centerfield fence to stretch the Chanticleer lead to 4-1.
Presbyterian looked to be in business in the third, as Erin Stewart led off the home half of the frame with a walk, and was pinch ran for by Becca Caldwell. Caldwell immediately went on to swipe second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. However, McCranie forced Krstal Handy into grounding back to the pitcher, cutting down Caldwell at home and preserving the three-run Chanticleer lead.
Entering the sixth, McCranie had allowed only one through five innings of play with the base hit coming in the first inning. After retiring the leadoff batter in the sixth, Brittany Howell hit a one out single, and stole second three pitches later. The next Blue Hose batter, Rachel Parker, promptly laced a double to right center to score Howell and cut the Chanticleer advantage to 4-2. A big play in the game came with two outs, as Leslie Hensey singled to right, but Snellings gunned down Parker at the plate for the third out of the inning and preserved the 4-2 advantage.
The Chanticleers held onto the 4-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh. Stephanie Payne led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single, knocking McCranie out of the contest in favor of reliever Ashley Frederick (Lusby, Md./Patuxent). The next batter, Lindsey Trombley, grounded out for the first out of the inning, moving Payne to second. Frederick then fanned Stewart for the second out of the inning, and Amanda Miller flew out to right to end the contest and secure the Chants first series victory of the season.
McCranie was superb for the second day in a row. The freshman tossed six innings, allowing a pair of runs on five hits and fanned four, improving to 3-5 on the season. Frederick threw an inning of perfect relief, and added a strikeout.
Gordon falls to 5-14 on the season in the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in the three innings of work. Howell threw four innings and didn’t allow a run, striking out four Chanticleers in the losing effort.
Coastal Carolina returns to action on Tues, April 21 as the squad travels to Wilmington, N.C. for a single game with the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. First pitch is slated for a 5 p.m.
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