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No. 2 Winthrop Defeats No. 4 Coastal Carolina in Game Seven of the 2007 Big South Softball Championship

       

No. 2 Winthrop Defeats No. 4 Coastal Carolina in Game Seven of the 2007 Big South Softball Championship

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CONWAY, S.C. – No. 2 Winthrop’s Tessa Thomas drove in the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Lady Eagles advanced to the championship finals of the 2007 Big South Softball Championship with a 6-5 win over No. 4 Coastal Carolina in game seven of the 2007 Big South softball championship presented by Aéropostale. 

With the win, Winthrop improves to 47-15, while the Lady Chanticleers fall to 22-33. 

With two out, Coastal Carolina’s Allison Cantrell put the Lady Chants up 1-0 with a home run to right field in the top of the first.

Coastal Carolina added three runs in the top of the second to push its lead to 4-0.  Ashley Gerdts led the inning off with a home run to center field.  Two batters later, Alicia Irwin posted a home run of her own with a shot to left center.  The next batter, Carla Hood parked one over the right field fence.

Winthrop cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of fifth inning, moving three runners across.  Sarah Magee led the inning off with a single and moved over to second on a single by Lauren Blaser.  Two batters later, Lisa Kingsmore reached on a fielder’s choice as Magee was forced out at third.  Stephanie Reid followed with a three RBI home run to right.

Coastal Carolina added another run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 5-3.  Carla Hood led the inning off with a single.  Erica Trujillo came in to pinch run for Hood and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alyssa Tornatore.  Two batters later, Danyelle Gerdts brought home Trujillo with a single up the middle.

Winthrop tied the game up at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh, moving two runners across.  Thomas got things going with a single.  Lisa Kingsmore moved Thomas to second with a single.  Stephanie Reid grounded out and moved Thomas and Kingsmore to second and third.  Jenny Scrymgeour plated Thomas with a single up the middle.  Hilary Peacock flied out to right field, allowing Kingsmore to score on the play.

Winthrop plated one run in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the 6-5 win. Laura Hill was placed on second as a part of the international tiebreaker rule and moved over to third on a single by Mallory Hogan.  Sarah Magee was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Lauren Blaser reached on a fielder’s choice as Hill was forced out at home, moving Hogan to third and Magee to second.  Katie Smith came in to pinch run for Hogan. Thomas brought in Smith on an error by the Coastal Carolina shortstop.

With the win the Winthrop will now play the winner of the game nine in the finals of the tournament at 3:30pm on Saturday, May 12.  Coastal Carolina will play the winner of the No. 6 Charleston Southern/No. 3 Radford game at 12:00pm on Saturday 

Quotes

Winthrop Coach Mark Cooke

“We gave up four home runs early and these girls could have quit but they didn’t. There is no quit with this group. These kids are committed to winning and never give up and that character showed today.”

 

Coastal Carolina Head Coach Jess Dannelly

“I was proud of many aspects of our game today. We just need to score at least one run in the third, fourth, or fifth inning and we didn’t do it and I really think that was the difference. We just need to rally back and play well tomorrow”