CCU

Softball Sweeps Conference Doubleheader Over Liberty, 2-0 and 7-6

           

Softball Sweeps Conference Doubleheader Over Liberty, 2-0 and 7-6

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LYNCHBURG, VA. – Junior Meagen Johnson (Georgetown, S.C./Georgetown) threw a complete game one-hitter in the first game and Kelly Feely (Livermore, Ca./Granada) (pictured right) hit an extra inning game-winning homerun in the second game as Coastal Carolina's softball team (21-20, 5-3 Big South) swept both games of its doubleheader over Liberty University (18-28, 3-5 Big South), 2-0 and 7-6, in Lynchburg, Va. on Saturday, Apr. 23 afternoon.

In the first game, Coastal got on the board in the third inning as junior Feely hit her first homerun of the day, to right center field to give the Chanticleers the early 1-0 lead.

In the fourth inning the Chants added to their lead, as freshman Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) doubled to led off the frame. Johnson walked and Kimberly Cillis (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia) dropped a bunt single in front of the plate to load the bases. Freshman Ashley Gerdts' (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) sacrifice fly to rightfield brought in the second CCU run of the game.

Johnson didn't allowed her first hit of the game until the sixth inning, as sophomore Beth Hensley singled over the glove of shortstop Ashley Gerdts, but that was the only hit the Flames could muster against Johnson in the game.

The win went Johnson who only gave up one run while striking out nine. The win raises her record to 5-3 on the season. The loss drops Liberty's Terra Lowe record to 8-10 this season.

CCU again was on the attack early in the second game, senior Delane Grainger (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chapparal (Phoenix College) walked, she was then sacrificed to second by junior Sara Hostetler (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley). After Cantrell and Johnson walked to load the bases, Cillis fought off several pitches before walking to drive in the first Coastal run of the game. A single by Ashley Gerdts brought home Cantrell for the second Coastal run. CCU added one more run, as a Feely single up the middle plated Johnson to give the Lady Chanticleers their third run

Liberty rallied back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, scored by Beth Hensley off the Shannon McKain single to cut the lead to two at 3-1.

Cillis walked to lead off the Coastal fifth inning, advanced to second on the sacrifice bunt and came in to score on the Feely single. For Feely it was her third RBI of the afternoon. Feely came all the way in score on the double by junior pitcher Brittany Nelson (Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus) for the fifth Coastal run.

Liberty again rallied in the bottom of the frame, as a Beth Hensley lead off the inning with a triple to rightfield and came in to score on the Ashley Williams single up the midde to cut the lead to three. McKain again came up with the big blow of the inning as her two- run homerun to leftfield brought the Flames to within one at 5-4. Senior Cassie Campbell tripled to righfield to put the tying run on third with less than two outs. Johnson was brought into the game to put out the flames and she delivered striking out the next two batters to preserve the slim one run Coastal lead.

Senior Tiffany Johnson tied the game up at 5 all for Liberty in the bottom of the fifth inning with a homerun to left centerfield.

Feely untied the game in the top of the eight inning by blasting a homerun to left centerfield, her second of the afternoon, to give the Chants a 7-5 lead. For Feely it was her fourth hit of the afternoon and fourth and fifth runs batted in.

In the bottom of the eighth inning the Flames drove a run closer, as the bunt by sophomore Gerdie Jefferies brought home pinch runner Rachel Love. But Johnson shut the door by retiring the final batter and earning her second win of the afternoon and sixth win of the season.

Coastal Carolina will continue its road travel as it heads to Radford, Va. to play a doubleheader against Radford University starting at 1 p.m.