Sun Belt Conference Weekly News and Notes (Sun Belt Championship)
Championship Central
2014 Sun Belt Conference Championship Bracket
No. 6 seed UL Monroe Advances with Thrilling 3-2 Win vs. No. 7 seed Troy
HIGHLIGHTS
Lafayette, La. – The 2014 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship began with a thrilling 3-2 win from No. 6 seed UL Monroe against the No. 7 seed Troy in a bottom of the seventh rally. The Warhawks advance to face No. 3 Georgia State in the second round.
The Warhawks (23-25) entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-1 as Troy sophomore Ashley Rainey scattered six hits for one earned run. UL Monroe right fielder Sidney Coy led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and advanced to second on a groundout then third on a single from redshirt junior Miyuki Navarrete.
Navarrete stole second and freshman Rochelle Roberts, the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Softball Freshman of the Year, drew a walk to load the bases for the No. 3 hitter junior Alexis Cacioppo. Cacioppo delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. Navarrete advanced to third on the sacrifice fly and then scored later on a wild pitch to end the game.
Troy (22-30-2) got on the board early with sacrifice fly from freshman Meg Willis which plated senior Kacie McAllister in the first inning. The Trojans added to the lead in the top of the fourth inning after junior Michelle Phelps delivered a two-out single to score sophomore Leah Brundidge.
UL Monroe struck back with a run in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Amye Barre led off the inning with a double before pinch runner Kaitlyn Dupuis advanced to third on a Faith Bohack single. Dupuis then later scored after Bohack stole second and the throw from the catcher sailed into center field.
Samantha Hamby earned the win for UL Monroe throwing seven innings and allowing two earned runs on two hits. Rainey took the loss for Troy as she went 6.2 innings, striking out four and walking one.
No. 6 seed UL Monroe advances to face No. 3 seed Georgia State on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. Visit SunBeltSports.org to watch all games of the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship live online for no charge.
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No. 5 seed Texas State/No. 8 seed UT Arlington
HIGHLIGHTS
Lafayette, La. – No. 8 seed UT Arlington earned its first Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship victory by upsetting rival and No. 5 seed Texas State in the first round of the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship.
The Mavericks (20-32, 4-16) advance to face No. 4 seed Western Kentucky in the second round on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. at Lamson Park. The Bobcats fell to 26-30 in their first season in Sun Belt Conference softball play.
Texas State claimed the first lead of the game, striking in the bottom of the first inning after sophomore Kelli Baker led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Senior Coralee Ramirez stepped up and delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Baker and give the Bobcats an early 1-0 advantage.
UT Arlington responded right away in the top of the second as sophomore Jasmine Tanksley bunted for a one-out single. Freshman Kacey Everett then stepped up and laced a double down the left field line to easily score Everett and tie the game at 1-1.
UT Arlington then plated two runs each in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to take control of the game for good. Mavericks junior Nina Villanueva ripped a RBI triple to right to score freshman Shelbi Sikes then scored on another triple from sophomore Jolene Schaefer.
After Tanksley reached on an error and stole second, sophomore Britnea Barilli drove her in with a double to right center. Villanueva then singled to right field to drive in Barilli and give the Mavericks the 5-1 lead.
UT Arlington senior Callie Collins earned the victory, her 13th of the season, after allowing just one earned run in seven innings and striking out three.