Eagles Pick Up First Win Of The Season
GAME 1 – TTU 3, GS 2
Georgia Southern out-hit Tennessee Tech 5-3, but fell 3-2 to drop to 0-2 on the season. The Golden Eagles (1-0) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when a leadoff walk came around to score on a double by Sabrie Neeb and Neeb later scored on a sacrifice fly. TTU tacked on another run in the third inning when Bayli Cruse lined a home run to left-center field to make it 3-0, which would prove to be the difference.
The Eagles put together a rally in the fifth inning to get on the board. India Davis reached on an infield single and moved up when Taylor Rogers reached on an error. With two outs in the inning, Witkowski ripped a single to center to make it 3-1.
In the seventh inning, Alesha Mann led off with an opposite-field home run to make it a 3-2 game. Georgia Southern got the tying run to second base, but two hard-hit balls found TTU outfielders to end the game.
Dixie Raley (L, 0-1) went the distance in her first collegiate start, allowing three runs on three hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
At the plate, Davis, Mann, Witkowski and A.J. Hamilton each had a hit while Emily Snider and Morgan Robinson each drew a walk.
GAME 2 – GS 7, Alabama A&M 2
The Eagles jumped on Alabama A&M (0-1) quickly in the second game of the day, scoring five runs in the first inning. Taylor Rogers led off with a walk and then Witkowski reached on a bunt. After a sacrifice bunt from Emily Snider, Morgan Robinson drove in both runners with a double to the gap. After Rowan McGuire drew a walk, Farrell connected for a three-run home run to left field – her first collegiate hit – to make it 5-0.
The Bulldogs battled back with a pair of runs in the second inning, but GS tacked on an unearned run in the top of the third inning to stretch its lead back out.
In the sixth inning, Davis dropped down a bunt for her second hit of the game and eventually scored on Emily Snider's stand-up triple to the gap to make it 7-2.
The Eagles recorded a season-high eight hits, led by two apiece from Davis and McGuire. Also picking up hits were Witkowski, Snider, Robinson and Farrell, who had three RBIs and also drew a walk. Robinson drove in two runs. The Eagles drew six walks as a team.
Kierra Camp (W, 1-1) went the distance, allowing two runs on a pair of hits with three walks and a strikeout.
The Eagles will wrap up play at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Saturday with a pair of games. GS will take on Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m. (ET) and then finish with Houston at 12:30 p.m. (ET).
----------
App Loses Two in Plainsman Invite
AUBURN, Ala. - Appalachian State University softball played its first doubleheader of the 2016 season on Friday and came up short in both games. Butler defeated the Black and Gold during the day, 12-6, and Western Kentucky had the upper hand in the nightcap, 8-4.
App State fell to 0-3 overall while Butler improved to 2-0 and the Hilltoppers earned their first victory of the season before taking on No. 4 Auburn tonight. A trio of Mountaineers had three-hit days including Natalie Orcutt (3-for-4), Jenny Dodd (3-for-6) and Cara Parker (3-for-7).
"We showed a lot of improvement today, specifically from the first game to the second," said head coach Janice Savage. "Both of the teams we saw today are capable of doing some damage this year, especially Western Kentucky. That team is coming off of its best season in program history and we were able to hang with them, which was good to see. We're heading in the right direction and that's what we need the most right now."
Game One: Butler 12, App State 6
The Bulldogs started the scoring with a run in the top of the first, but Appalachian was able to get it back in the bottom half. Tiffany Taynor doubled to left field, Orcutt moved her over with a single of her own and one out later, Taynor came across on Cara Parker's groundout to the shortstop.
In the bottom of the third, the Apps took their first lead of the season and did it with a pair of runs to go up 3-1. Taynor started the rally once again, this time with a walk, and one out later, Ally Walters walked as well before Parker brought them both in with a single to left.
However, Butler proceeded to score two in the fourth, four in the fifth and five more in the seventh to take a commanding 12-3 advantage. In the bottom of the seventh, Appalachian was able to cut it to six as it was in the final score, but it was too little too late. In that scoring run, Parker had an RBI single and Dodd notched a two-run double to to left center.
In the circle, Claire Eosso lasted 2.1 innings with one earned on two hits, four walks and one strikeout. In relief, Vanessa Ciocatto (0-1) took the loss with 3.2 innings of work, six runs, five earned on five hits to go with four free passes and two punchouts. Katherine Johnson also got in the game with one inning, five runs, one earned, on five hits, one strikeout and one walk.
Game Two: Western Kentucky 8, App State 4
Western Kentucky tallied three runs in the bottom of the first, but much like game one of the day, the Black and Gold didn't go down without a fight. They pulled within one, 3-2, with a couple runs in the third.
Megan Walker singled up the middle and Taynor moved her over with a sacrifice bunt before Orcutt walked and Parker was hit by a pitch to load them up for Dodd. The freshman came through once again and did so with a two-run single down the left field line. However, in the bottom of that frame, the Hilltoppers added two more to go up 5-2.
In the top of the fourth though, Walker reached on a fielder's choice, Taynor singled her over and she would later score on a wild pitch to make it 5-3. Western Kentucky then made it 6-3 in the home half and later 8-3 with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Apps only got one of those back to make the score 8-4 in the end.
Katie Williford (0-1) got her first start of the season and went 2.2 innings with five runs, four earned, on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts. In relief, Eosso went the final 3.1 innings with three earned, five hits, three walks and one strikeout.
App State plays only once on Saturday against Furman with first pitch set for 6:30 ET.
----------
Porter Perfect Game Highlights ULM Softball Sweep in First Day of Mardi Gras Classic
MONROE, La. – The ULM softball squad utilized a balanced attack to sweep the first day of the Mardi Gras Classic Friday at ULM Softball Complex.
ULM 23, Grambling State 0 (five innings)
Sophomore Paige Porter faced the minimum and six ULM student-athletes recorded multiple RBIs in a 23-0 rout over Grambling State. 23 runs marks the most runs in school history dating back to 1984. The Warhawks hit .545 (18-33) and converted the same percentage on runners in scoring position.
Porter retired seven of the 15 batters via groundout, four by strikeouts, three from flyouts and one on a batter leaving the box early. Porter only threw 49 pitches in the overwhelmingly dominant performance.
Sophomore designated player McKinley Marks led the charge with four hits and four RBIs. Junior Faith Bohack and sophomore Cheyanne Lyon each drove in three runs and freshmen Sydney McKay, Megan Shaw and Grace Srichantra notched two RBIs each.
The Warhawks scratched six runs in the first followed by nine in the second with the last three runs plated by a Bohack three-run homer. Marks commenced the third with a solo home run to right field before Shaw and Srichantra brought home two a piece on doubles to right center.
ULM 10, Prairie View A&M 2 (five innings)
Junior Rochelle Roberts went 4-4 in the 3 p.m. game and scored three runs as the Warhawks defeated Prairie View A&M 10-2 in five innings.
Junior Melanie Coyne turned in a masterful performance, striking out seven of the 11 batters she faced and only allowed one hit during the three-inning outing. Lyon and senior Amye Barre and junior Vanessa Garcia each drove in multiple runners on RBI singles.
Roberts hit .833 (5-6) on the day with a double, two RBIs and converted 3-3 stolen base attempts while Lyon spearheaded ULM with a team-high five RBIs.
The Warhawks return to the diamond at ULM Softball Complex tomorrow at 11 a.m. to face Grambling State again before taking on Stephen F. Austin at in a 3 p.m. tilt.
----------
Mighty Bats Lead Cajuns to Sand Dollar Classic Sweep
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The 11th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team put on an offensive showcase on opening day of the 2016 season in claiming five-inning, run-rule victories over Ball State and UAB in the Sand Dollar Classic at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
A 15-run frame in third inning guided the Cajuns to a season-and tournament-opening 22-4 win over Ball State, then powered by five home runs – highlighted by DJ Sanders' first career multi-home run game – the Cajuns topped UAB 15-0 in the nightcap.
Louisiana (2-0) fired off 32 base hits in producing its 37 runs over the two games combined, and hit .582 as a team. The squad totaled 18 extra base hits (10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs) with Lexie Elkins, Kelsey Vincent and Sanders each homering twice.
Victoria Brown and Alex Stewart received the starts in the pitching circle. Brown limited Ball State to four hits over three innings and allowed only one earned run. Stewart struck out four UAB batters in her four-inning scoreless effort.
No. 11 Louisiana continues play in the Sand Dollar Classic on Saturday meeting Southeast Missouri at 12 p.m., and Samford at 6 p.m. Both games are being broadcast on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM with the pregame show beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
LOUISIANA VS. BALL STATE
Two scoreless innings were played before the fireworks began for the Ragin' Cajuns. Ball State starting pitcher Carolyn Wilmes forced two double plays to hold the Cajuns in check early in the contest.
Sara Corbello – the first of 19 Cajuns to bat in the inning – led off the top of the third with a walk. Kara Gremillion was hit by a pitch and Kassidy Zeringue laid down a bunt single to load the bases.
Haley Hayden opened the scoring with a two-run single, then after Shellie Landry walked to reload the bases, Elkins forced home a run with a walk and Aleah Craighton cleared the bases with a triple to open a 6-0 lead.
The finishing touches on what was a 15-run barrage featured back-to-back, two-run doubles from Hayden and Landry followed by a three-run home run from Kelsey Vincent.
Ball State scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning off back-to-back singles and a Cajuns error. The Cajuns got the two runs back on a two-RBI double by Elkins in the fourth inning and added an RBI single from Vincent for an 18-2 lead.
Elkins' first home run of the season, a two-run blast down the left field line in the fifth inning, capped off the scoring for the Cajuns.
A two-run homer by Amanda Arnett in the bottom of the fifth was the lone blemish on Kylee Jo Trahan's two innings of relief in support of Brown.
Elkins posted game-highs in runs (4) and RBI (5). Hayden and Vincent both finished 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI. Hayden posted all her RBI during the 15-spot in the third inning.
Louisiana won its season opener for the 15th straight season (2002-16) and improved to 33-3 all-time in season openers. The 22 runs tied the record for the most scored by a Cajuns team in a season opener, first set on Feb. 10, 2006 vs. Grambling (W, 22-0).
The Ragin' Cajuns and Cardinals met for the first time since March 1989 (Aggie Invitational in College Station, Texas). Louisiana improved to 6-0 all-time vs. Ball State.
LOUISIANA VS. UAB
UAB attempted to get an early jump on the Cajuns, notching two bunt singles on the game's first two pitches. Stewart foiled the Blazers' attempt at a surprise start by striking out the next three batters to end the frame.
Elkins doubled for the second time of the day to score Hayden and Landry (walks) for a 2-0 lead in the team's first at bat. Sanders later registered an RBI single for the third run of the inning.
Stewart went into cruise control in the circle, retiring nine of the next 10 batters she faced capped off by retiring the Blazers in order in the third and fourth inning.
A pair of six run innings – in the third and fourth inning – allowed Louisiana to pull away.
Home runs by Elkins (solo), Vincent (solo) and Sanders (two-run) highlighted the scoring in the third inning. Sanders' second home run of the game opened the scoring in the fourth inning upping the lead to 11-0, then Landry delivered the exclamation point by driving a grand slam over the left field fence.
Sanders topped the offense with a career-high five RBI in addition to registering her first career multi-home run game. Elkins and Landry combined for seven RBI.
Macey Smith, making her first appearance in the circle since 2014, pitched the final inning in relief of Stewart. After a leadoff single from Madison Millsaps, she retired three of the next four batters to complete the shutout.
----------
Texas State Sweeps On The Opening Day Of The CenturyLink Classic
SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The Texas State softball team started the 2016 season on the right foot as it picked up a pair of victories against Abilene Christian and Oklahoma State Friday afternoon at the CenturyLink Classic. Against the Cowgirls, Bianca Prado hit her first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Texas State goes into day two of the CenturyLink Classic with a perfect 2-0 record.
Game 1 – Abilene Christian
In her first Texas State at bat in the top of the first inning, junior third baseman Corrina Liscano launched the first home run of the season to give Texas State an early 3-0 lead. Prado and Kendall Wiley made their way to the base paths prior to Liscano's three-run shot with a single through the left side and a double.
Texas State continued to tack on the runs in the top half of the second inning. After Taylor Webb and Sara Rupp walked to start the inning, the Bobcats put together four hits to score five runs against the Wildcats. Prado and Ariel Ortiz each recorded doubles in the inning for a combined four RBIs.
Through the first two innings of play, sophomore pitcher Randi Rupp tallied four strikeouts against the Wildcats.
After a scoreless third, Texas State put up five more in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Texas State loaded the bases before drawing three walks with a double by Webb mixed in to ultimately score five runs. A fly out to centerfield ended the inning for the 'Cats with three runners left on.
The lone Abilene Christian run came off of a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Another Texas State newcomer, Paige Williams, put in two innings of work for Texas State and struck out five. Rupp ended the game with five K's herself to bring the Bobcat total up to 10 strikeouts for the game.
Kelli Baker, Prado, and Liscano combined for seven of the team's 10 hits in the game. Liscano finished game one with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
Game 2 – Oklahoma State
With two scoreless innings to start the contest, Big 12 foe Oklahoma State put the first run on the board in the top of the third inning. The Cowgirls started the inning off with a single down the left field by Maddi Holcomb who ultimately stole second on the next at bat. A double to center by Tiffany Mikkelson scored Holcomb just two batters later.
The Bobcats answered in their bottom half of the inning. Baker once again led the inning off with a single and quickly made her way to second on a pass ball. A single through the left side by Ortiz moved Baker to third and on a grounder to second by Wiley, Baker scored to tie the game up at 1-1.
Through six innings, the Bobcats had tallied seven hits but were unable to bring anymore home to take an advantage over the Cowgirls.
With Kelli Baker on first after an infield single to the shortstop, Prado launched her first home run of the season to put Texas State on top, 3-1. The victory against the Cowgirls is just the second in school history and first at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Who Stood Out:
Junior college transfer Corrina Liscano finished the day with three hits, a team-high four RBIs, and a 1.000 slugging percentage … her first Texas State home run came in her first at bat. Taylor Webb went 3-for-4 for the day with a double, two walks, and a run scored … Kelli Baker went 5-for-8 for the Bobcats with five total bases … Bianca Prado finished the day with four hits, a team-high four RBIs, and eight total bases … Randi Rupp struck out 14 and held her opponents to a .114 batting average in 10.0 innings pitched … Williams, in her Texas State debut, struck out five in 2.0 innings pitched … as a team, the Bobcats hit .352 while holding their opponents to just a .119 batting average.
Quotable:
"I couldn't haven't been more proud of the group I had today coming out on opening day," said head coach Ricci Woodard.
Up Next:
The Bobcats take to the field early tomorrow morning with a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. The 'Cats will take on DePaul in the first game of the day before playing host to Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m.
----------
UTA sweeps through Day 2
ARLINGTON, Texas – Mallory Foster tallied five hits on Friday as UT Arlington swept a pair of games in the UT Arlington Invitational at Allan Saxe Field.
The Mavericks (3-0) scored 19 runs in two games in an offensive outburst. Foster added to her hit tally with three RBI and three runs.
"After our game yesterday I felt like I was waiting for us to come up with big hits and that was on me," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "Today I had a different approach and we put some things in motion and the players executed.
"You are going to see a good mix of that from our team throughout the year, but the girls did a good job executing the plays that I called and putting pressure on the other team's defense helped us in these two games."
Sandra Mendoza continued to be a force at the dish. Mendoza had three hits in the opener and four overall.
In the circle, it was a pair of freshmen that helped shut down the opponent's offense. UTA's staff combined to allow just one run.
"Our pitching staff did a really good job as a whole today," Fox said. "They were hitting their spots and mixing speeds. That is all we can ask from them. We played good defense behind them, but it was a good thing to see the two new pitchers go in there and put in a start and know we had some options."
UTA continues action in the tournament on Saturday with two games. The Mavs take on Texas Southern at 2 p.m. and Missouri State at 6:30 p.m.
Game 1: UT Arlington 8, Northern Colorado 0 (5)
Final Stats
UT Arlington's success came in three's against Northern Colorado in Game 1 as UTA completed a run-rule in five innings.
Mendoza and Foster led the Mavericks with three hits in the contest. Mendoza was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while Foster was 3-for-3 with a run.
"When Mallory settles down, keeps her shoulder down and picks good pitches, she is a good hitter," Fox said. "She really did a good job in having quality at-bats and didn’t let one pitch affect her entire game."
Kacey Everett plated three RBI on a hit, including what was the game winner in the fifth on a two-run double.
Samantha Clackley picked up her first-career win in her debut in the circle. Clackley struck out three, allowing just three hits.
Leading 3-0 going into the fifth, the first three UTA hitters reached safely. Krista Rude singled to score Brianna Burchianti for the first run of her career. After the Mavs loaded the bases, Everett sent a two-out pitch into left to end the game.
Game 2: UT Arlington 11, Detroit 1 (5)
Final Stats
Picking up right where it left off, UT Arlington's offense continued to swing a hot bat at the plate.
After the pitch hit Burchianti with the bases loaded, Mallory Foster doubled to the wall to clear the bases, and following two errors on the play, came around to score. The lead went to 7-0 in the second behind a pinch-hit double by Marisa Datko, scoring Mendoza and Cy'Andria Newton.
UTA completed scoring with three runs in the third and one in the fourth to complete its second run-rule of the day.
----------
Troy Softball Wins Big in First Game of 2016 Season
TROY, Alabama – The Troy softball team scored 14 runs on their way to a rout of Eastern Michigan on Friday night at the Troy Softball Complex. Eight runs were scored in the first inning as the Trojans defeated the Eagles 14-1 in five innings.
Troy's (1-0) bats came alive in the first inning and stayed hot throughout the game. The night was filled with four Trojan home runs, the most in a game since February 24, 2015 when they played at Alabama State.
Senior Hannah Day recorded two on the night, Becca Hartley contributed with a grand slam and Erica Davis hit a solo home run. The last Troy player to hit two home runs in a game was Amanda Winters on April 4, 2015 against ULM.
"It was a pretty complete game," head coach Beth Mullins said. "It was good pitching, good defense, and good offense and when you have that you're going to give yourself a chance. I was proud of the girls. I thought our lineup was extremely hard to get through. I think it was a very complete, really balanced game."
Troy had the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning, when Meg Willis singled to right field for the first run of the game. After three runs scored due to two players who got hit by a pitch and an Allison Moore single, Hartley capped of the inning with a grand slam to left field.
Freshman Claire Graves (1-0) got her first collegiate start and picked up the win for the Trojans. She only allowed one run on two hits and held the Eagles hitless through three innings of play.
Day and Hartley led the Trojans offensively combining for six runs and seven RBIs. Davis finished the night with two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
Troy plays a double header Saturday facing Evansville at 2:30 p.m. and Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m.
----------
NO. 25 South Alabama Gets Win in Gulf Shores
GULF SHORES, Ala. – No. 25 University of South Alabama softball used a big seventh inning to cap its 7-3 victory over Lipscomb to start the 2016 Sand Dollar Classic, hosted by The Fieldhouse, being held at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex this weekend.
The Jaguars face a twin bill on Saturday – Ball State at 3 p.m. and Central Arkansas at 6 p.m.
Junior Destin Vicknair, in her first Division I start, struck out seven Bison batters to one walk, giving up three runs (one earned) in a complete-game effort. The Division II All-American scattered three runs and struck out four for four innings, before Lipscomb pieced together a three-spot in the fifth frame – aided by the first of three Jaguar errors.
"I was proud of [Destin] for the way that she pounded the strike zone, for changing speeds and keeping them off balance and for making big pitches when she needed to," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We committed a couple of mental errors, but she hung in there."
Emily Messer led USA at the plate on 4-for-5 hitting and got on in all five of her plate appearances. Seven Jaguars combined for 10 hits, while freshmen Megan Harris and Haleigh Lane recorded a pair of RBI apiece.
"Offensively, we were aggressive on the bases, and that helped us in a couple of situations. We moved up a bag and then we got the big hit and were able to score," Clark said.
Harris came on as a pinch-hitter and drilled a two-run base hit to right single to push USA ahead, 4-0, in the fourth inning. Lipscomb responded by scoring three runs in the next half inning to cut the Jaguar lead to one. Back-to-back leadoff hits put runners on the corners, and Sarah Higgins scored on a groundout to Vicknair for the first run.
A passed ball allowed Riley Brown to reach third, and USA's second error let in the second run. With two outs on the board, Destinee Brewer – who reached on the error – scored on a wild pitch.
Lipscomb right-hander Kelly Young fanned a pair of Jags in the sixth inning; the right-hander finished with 10 strikeouts on the night. USA's third error put Lipscomb's Baylee Williams on third, but Vicknair forced a pair of foul pop ups in the bottom half to hold the Jag lead.
Stephanie Pilkington reached on a Lipscomb fielding error, and Kristian Foster walked to start the seventh inning. Lane's single scored Foster and Savanna Mayo midway through the inning to put USA up, 6-3, after Foster drew a walk and Mayo reached on a fielder's choice.
Lane came around from third for USA's final score on Kaleigh Todd's two-out bunt single.
"We were able to get time for some younger players tonight," Clark added. "They came up big and it was awesome to see. Overall, it was a great team win."
Messer's RBI single to right center put USA ahead in the second frame, and Lane followed with a base hit to score Amanda Minahan an inning later. Foster drew a pair of walks and scored a pair of runs on the night.
Young took her first loss of the season for Lipscomb after giving up seven runs (four earned) and walking six.
----------
Panthers Lose on Walk-Off in Late-Night Showdown
TEMPE, Ariz. – Playing well past midnight at the Kajikawa Classic in Arizona, Georgia State came up short on Opening Day, losing to No. 6 Oregon and Cal Poly to fall to 0-2 on the season.
In the first game of the season, the Panthers lost 11-0 in six innings to sixth-ranked Oregon. Freshman Reagan Morgan broke up the Ducks’ no-hit bid with a single in the third and Ivie Drake recorded the only other GSU hit. Freshman Amanda Chance got the start in the circle, but Oregon’s high-powered offense forced GSU head coach Roger Kincaid to go to his bullpen in the third inning.
After being held scoreless for two innings, the Ducks opened the game up in the top of the sixth with four runs to go on top 11-0. The Panthers were retired in order in the bottom half of the inning to seal the defeat.
Originally scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. local time, GSU and Cal Poly didn’t get underway until 11:25 p.m. With Cal Poly holding a 1-0 lead and GSU at the plate in the third inning, junior Mandy Blackwell sent a line drive over the center field wall to tie the game. The Mustangs responded with two runs in the bottom half of the third, setting the stage for another comeback by the Panthers.
Taylor Anderson led off the fourth and reached base on a dropped third strike. After two quick outs, Megan Litumbe stepped up to the plate looking to drive in Anderson. Instead, the junior launched a deep fly ball to left-center to even the score at 3-3. Cal Poly would go on to regain the lead again in the bottom of the fifth to go up 4-3. Anderson came through again, this time with a ground-rule double to score a run.
Chelsea Stanfield relieved starting pitcher Katie Worley in the fifth inning and held the Mustangs and stayed in to pitch the seventh. After the leadoff batter reached second with a ground-rule double, Chance was brought in to try and hold the Mustangs off the board. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Cal Poly’s Mckenna Young drove a 3-1 pitch into center field to win it for the Mustangs.
GSU’s game against Cal Poly ended at 1:45 a.m. local time, or 3:45 in Atlanta. Georgia State has no time to think about sleep, however, as GSU will take on Indiana Saturday at 2 p.m. EST. After that, the Panthers will have a small break before a meeting with No. 23 Utah at 9 p.m. Georgia State closes out the Kajikawa Classic Sunday morning against No. 24 Notre Dame.