Friday, February 20, 2015
Doubleheader Sweep Keeps Warhawks Perfect at Home
MONROE, La. – The Warhawks offense proves lethal as ULM (11-2) sweeps a doubleheader matchup with Delaware (4-2) to remain perfect at home.
Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete led the charge with four hits, four RBI and scoring three runs in the two-game series. Senior Alexis Cacioppo notched four hits and two RBI with junior Faith Bohack and Freshman Cheyanne Lyon picking up three hits each and combined for six RBI.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts picked up hits in both games to extend her hitting streak to 10 games.
Game One (W, 7-5)
The Warhawks used a three-run, sixth inning rally to complete the comeback in game one of Friday’s doubleheader with Delaware.
Navarrete had an outstanding performance at the plate going three-for-four with two RBI and scoring two runs. Cacioppo picked up two RBI on two hits, including her second triple on the year.
Freshman pitcher Paige Porter made seventh start of the year going 5.1 innings with three strike outs. Senior Jessica Colliver would pick up the win from the bench moving to 2-1 on the season.
Back-to-back bunt singles from redshirt senior Navarrete and Roberts lead off the first inning for the Warhawks. Runners would advance on a pass ball, and Navarrete would score on a groundout to shortstop from junior Amye Barre (1-0 ULM).
The Blue Hens and Warhawks would exchange two scoreless innings that saw one lone hit, before ULM opened up the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Sophomore Vanessa Garcia would get on board with one out via a hit by pitch. Sophomore Sidney Coy reached on a Delaware error that moved the runners to third and second. Senior Molly Mackey provided a pitch-hit ground out to second to pick up an RBI (2-0 ULM).
Navarrete singled through the left side to bring home Coy and put the Warhawks up 3-0.
Cacioppo knocked a one-out single to short to give the Warhawks a baserunner in the fifth. Junior Faith Bohack doubled to center field to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Blue Hens would not go down quietly and would answer in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back doubles and a bunt single loaded the bases to lead off the inning.
The Warhawks would make a play at home for the first out, but Delware would put up four more hits and push five runners across to take a 5-4 lead.
Garcia led off the bottom of the sixth reaching on a Delware fielding error and would advance to second with a groundout from Coy. Senior Mackenzie Miller laid down the bunt single to put runners on the corners with one out.
Navarrete would land her third hit of the night, driving home Garcia and locking the game at 5-all. Cacioppo knocked a two-out, two RBI triple to give ULM the definitive 7-5 score.
Game Two (W, 11-3)
Three Warhawks picked up a multi-hit, multi-RBI games as ULM took a run-rule decision in the second game of the doubleheader vs. Delaware.
Navarrete, Bohack and Lyon combined for seven of ULM’s 11 hits and each picked up two RBI.
Senior Haylie Wilson picked up her second win on the year allowing only three runs on five hits and striking out two Blue Hens.
Navarrete led off the bottom of the first with an infield single to shortstop. After swiping two bags, Navarrete scored on an infield hit from Roberts (1-0 ULM). Cacioppo reached on a Delaware fielding error advancing Roberts to third.
Roberts scored on a wild pitch from Delaware’s Kennedy Lester (2-0 ULM). Cacioppo would advance to third. After Barre walked, Bohack reached on a second Blue Hen error on the inning. Runners would advance on the pass ball pushing the lead to 3-0.
Lyon singled to left field and advanced to second on the fielding error, scoring Bohack (4-0 ULM). Garcia would single up the middle to put the Warhawks up 5-0 after the first inning.
A solo homerun from Cailey Isaacs in the third inning inched the Blue Hens closer (5-1 ULM), but the Warhawks would match with a run of their own.
Bohack singled to the left side and advanced to second with the Delaware error. Lyon singled to center field to drive Bohack home (6-1 ULM).
A two-RBI homer run from Danielle Wissinger highlighted the fourth inning for the Blue Hens and cut the Warhawk lead to 6-3, but ULM would close the game in the fifth inning.
Back-to-back lead off doubles from Cacioppo and Barre put the Warhawks up 7-3. Bohack knocked her fouth homer on the season to take a 9-3 Warhawk advantage. Lyon doubled to center field and would be joined on the bases by Mackey, who drew a one-out walk.
Navarrete doubled to center field to give the Warhawks an 11-3 run-rule victory.
The Warhawks travel to Conway, Ark., on Saturday, Feb. 21 to face Central Arkansas at 5 p.m. and Arkansas Pine Bluff at 7 p.m.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
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Troy Softball Sweeps in Walk-Off Fashion
TROY, Alabama – The Troy softball team won both its games on the first day of the Trojan Invitational in extra innings on walk-off hits Friday night at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans took the first game of the day against UConn, 6-5, and then won the nightcap against Northern Illinois, 5-4.
Michelle Phelps drove in the game-winner against UConn and hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against Northern Illinois. Kate Benton finished the doubleheader 5-for-8 to raise her team-leading batting average to .423 on the year.
Troy 6, UConn 5
Michelle Phelps provided the early fireworks with a two-out, walk-off single to lift Troy past UConn in the opener. Phelps’ single to third in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Chelsea Eytel, who was on base due to the international tiebreaker.
Savannah Thomas, who pinch-hit for Carli Kayler, laid down a great sacrifice bunt to move Eytel to third. After a walk and a strikeout, Phelps ended the game with her game-winning single.
Troy had to fight back in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Amanda Winters hit a single through the left side to score Phelps from second base to tie the game at five.
Phelps was solid at the plate as she finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Kate Benton continued her solid start to the season with a pair of hits in four at-bats.
Jaycee Affeldt (1-1) picked up her first win of the season pitching 2.2 innings scoreless innings in relief of Sara Mock.
Troy 5, Northern Illinois 4
Hannah Day hit a walk-off single with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning to win the game for the Trojans.
The inning got started with Affeldt at second base, who advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eytel. Kayler drew a walk to put two on and then the Huskies intentionally walked Benton to load the bases. Day poked a 1-2 pitch to right field for the game-winning RBI.
Troy started off the game with two runs in the bottom of the first, one on a double play off the bat of Becca Hartley and another on a base hit by Amanda Winters.
Northern Illinois (2-5) battled back and scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Troy cut the deficit to one in the fifth inning, with a sacrifice fly by Winters to score Day.
Down a run in the bottom of the seventh, Phelps led off the inning with a towering home run to left center field to tie the game at four.
Affeldt (2-1) picked up the win for the Trojans, her second of the day. She did not give up a run or a hit in 4.1 innings of work in addition to striking out seven Huskies.
Troy will face the same two teams tomorrow in the second day of the Trojan Invitational, beginning with Northern Illinois at 12:30 p.m. and UConn at 3 p.m.
For more information on Troy Athletics visit TroyTrojans.com, or follow us on Twitter at @TroyTrojansSB.
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Cajuns Take Two To Open Ragin' Cajuns Invitational
LAFAYETTE - No. 6 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team erased an early deficit against Iowa, then Jordan Wallace shutout Hofstra extending the season-opening win streak to 11 games Friday at Lamson Park in Ragin' Cajuns Invitational action.
The Cajuns (11-0) topped Iowa 4-3 after responding to a three-spot from the Hawkeyes in the second inning with a pair of runs of their own in the third inning. Christina Hamilton pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief of Alex Stewart, holding the Hawkeyes (3-7) scoreless to secure the victory.
"A lot of softball is not only the opponent your playing, but also the game itself...it's a tough game," head coach Michael Lotief said. "I felt our kids played well. Alex (Stewart) stumbled a little bit early. I think the illegal pitches kind of got in her head a little bit and it just snowballed on her after. To see Christina (Hamilton) come in and do what she did, being on the shelf for as long as she has been, was very encouraging."
Jordan Wallace retired the first 15 hitters she faced and 21 of 23 overall as the Cajuns took a 3-0 win over Hofstra (3-4) in the day's final game. Lexie Elkins broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a solo home run.
"Jordan (Wallace) was lights out again," Lotief remarked. "Her confidence continues to grow and that's a good thing for her and for us."
Louisiana continues play in the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational at Lamson Park on Saturday meeting Hofstra at 12:30 p.m., and Missouri State at 3 p.m.
The pair of victories moved the Cajuns within one win of 700 all-time at Lamson Park (699-102-1) and extended the current win streak at the facility to 18 games (dates back to 2014 Sun Belt Tournament).
Wallace improved to 4-0 and extended her string of consecutive scoreless innings pitched to start the season to 31. The senior hurler struck out 13 Hofstra batters, increasing her season strikeouts total to 59.
Haley Hayden led off the Iowa contest with a solo home run. DJ Sanders doubled with two outs in the second inning and later scored on a throwing error to give the Cajuns a 2-0 lead.
Alex Stewart surrendered back-to-back leadoff singles in the bottom of the second inning. A fielder's choice grounder placed runners on the corners, then runs would score on an infield single from Sarah Kurtz and subsequent throwing error by Stewart attempting to force out a runner at third base.
With just one out, Hamilton replaced Stewart in the circle and worked out of the jam with only one more run crossing home plate giving Iowa a 3-2 advantage. An outfield assist from Shellie Landry prevented a fourth run from scoring.
Two batters into the top of the third inning, Samantha Walsh evened the score with a solo home run. Kelsey Vincent walked and moved to third base after an error on an Aleah Craighton single. Pinch runner Kendall Smith scored the go-ahead run on a grounder to shortstop by Meagan Thomas.
The final four frames featured a pitcher's duel between Hamilton and Iowa pitcher Shayla Starkenburg. After a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth by Iowa's Angela Schmiederer, Hamilton retired 12 of the final 13 Hawkeyes that she faced. Starkenburg held Louisiana to three hits and stranded four runners.
Hayden and Walsh's home runs marked the seventh time in 10 outings the Cajuns had hit multiple home runs. Hayden launched her sixth home run, reclaiming the team lead by breaking a tie with Shellie Landry.
Hamilton logged her longest outing of the season. Her only prior appearance consisted on two innings pitched on Feb. 7 vs. Eastern Illinois.
Wallace (4-0, 0.00 ERA, 59 K) and Hofstra pitcher Taylor Prione traded scoreless frames over the first three innings. A Kelsey Vincent double with one out in the second inning was the lone hit by either team.
Elkin's home run, to straightaway center field, was all the offense Wallace needed as she retired the first 15 Hofstra hitters and then proceeded to strike out seven of the final 10 batters faced after a single from Brittany Allocca broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning.
Vincent's second double of the contest plated a run in the sixth inning for a 2-0 Cajuns lead. The final margin was reached following a double steal executed by Craighton (first base) and Leandra Maly (third base) in the same inning.
DIAMOND NOTES: Kelli Martinez and Samantha Walsh each extended their current hitting streak to six games...Aleah Craighton went 2-for-4 vs. Iowa, collecting her team-leading seventh multiple-hit game...Jordan Wallace's 13 strikeouts vs. Hofstra marked the third time in four starts she's reached double digit strikeouts...In four starts, Jordan Wallace has faced just 17 batters over the minimum spanning 28 innings...Jordan Wallace Cajuns pitching allowed just two walks over 14 innings and has surrendered just 15 walks over 69 innings for the season...The Cajuns batting lineup remained unchanged and has been the same for nine straight games dating back to Feb. 7 vs. Central Arkansas...Louisiana scored first both games and has now scored first in all 11 games this season...Jordan Wallace's shutout marked the pitching staff's ninth in 11 outings...Only one of the three runs Iowa scored were earned...Cajuns pitching has allowed just two earned runs in the season's first 69 innings...Friday's games marked the first appearance for Iowa and Hofstra at Lamson Park...Louisiana now leads the series with Iowa 4-2 and upped its series lead over Hofstra to 9-1.
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Georgia State: Six Homers Lead Softball to Sweep of Savannah State
What you need to know:
* The Panthers launched six home runs over two games, including four in Game 1.
* Georgia State had its two highest scoring games of the season for a total of 30 runs over two games.
* GSU returns to the field tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. against Mount St. Mary’s before facing Presbyterian.
ATLANTA – Six home runs and 30 runs scored led the Georgia State softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Savannah State Friday at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex. The Panthers improve to 5-2 despite trailing in all seven games this season.
Game 1
Lauren Coleman led the way in Game 1 going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and home run to go with five RBI, one walk and one run scored in the Panthers’ 16-8 win. With Savannah State leading 3-1, she started the Panthers 11-run third inning with a solo shot to left center. Callie Alford followed suit with a solo shot of her own, giving the pair back-to-back homers for the second time this season.
Kensey Caldwell got in on the action with a three-run bomb to score Megan Litumbe and Ivie Drake. GSU then used five singles to score three runs before Megan Litumbe launched her team-leading third home run of the season to put GSU up 12-3.
Savannah State responded with five runs in the top of the fourth to make it a four-run game. Coleman doubled to left center to drive in Mallory Koepke and Morgan Brown in the bottom of the fourth to extend GSU’s cushion.
After a scoreless fifth, Lauren Coleman hit a walk-off, two-RBI single to center to secure the run-rule victory. Taylor Thorpe pitched 3.2 innings to get the win and she improves to 2-0 this season.
Game 2
Alford, Anderson and Koepke all finished with three RBI in the Panthers’ 14-5 comeback win in the second game of the doubleheader.
Alford hit her second home run of the day to tie her with Litumbe for the team lead. Anderson also homered and scored twice. Koepke finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a team high three runs scored to go with her three RBI. Ashley Christy also finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored to move her season average to .583.
Savannah State jumped in front early with two runs in the bottom of the first. After a scoreless second, Anderson blasted a two-run homer and Brown scored on an error to give GSU a 3-2 lead. The Panthers extended their lead to 5-2 after Alford’s two-run homer in the top of the fifth.
Six runs on two hits and two errors in the top of the sixth gave Georgia State an 11-5 cushion, before the Panthers added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Thorpe recorded the final six outs and Chelsea Stanfield got the win in relief to give her a team-high three so far this season.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) and Facebook for the latest news. For softball season tickets call 404-403-4020 or click here.
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Mountaineer Softball Tames Panthers in 5-2 Triumph
CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the second time this season, Appalachian State University softball knocked off an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent with a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon. The win also gave the previously 10-0 Panthers their first loss of the season.
Entering the 2015 season, Appalachian was 3-23 against the ACC. Friday's win was the second ACC win after the Apps downed the UNC Tar Heels 4-3 last weekend.
The Mountaineers (4-4) pounded out a season-high 11 hits on the day, while Vanessa Ciocatto controlled Pittsburgh hitters for her first win of the season and her first win as a Mountaineer. Alissa Schoelkopf pitched the last two innings and was lights out for her third save.
App State would get on the board first when Pepper Butler singled to the pitcher to score Cynthia Gomez from third. Gomez singled to lead off the inning and advanced all the way to third on a Dani Heichen sac bunt and a passed ball.
After the Panthers tied the game in the bottom half, the Apps went back ahead when Sarah Warnock smoked a double down the first base line and into the right field corner to plate Cara Parker for the 2-1 advantage.
Again, the Panthers would tie the game on an RBI single in the bottom half and even the game at 2-2.
Following a scoreless third, the Mountaineers pushed two more runs across in the fourth. After singles from Haley Stewart and Parker with one out, Caroline Rogers singled up the middle to score Stewart with Parker also coming home on an errant throw home.
With the Mountaineers in cruise control, the 4-2 lead held until App State plated another run in the seventh. Warnock led off the inning with a double and her pinch runner Tiffany Taynor advanced to third on a Gomez groundout.
Ashley Seering would pinch hit for Butler with one out and Taynor on third. With a full count, Seering would drop a single into short right field and extend the Mountaineer lead to 5-2.
Warnock led the team with two hits, while nine other Mountaineer batters recorded one hit each in the victory.
Ciocatto pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and just two runs while also striking out two batters in her first win of the season. Schoelkopf relieved Ciocatto was perfect in two innings. The senior allowed no hits or walks and struck out four, which included striking out the side in the seventh.
The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. when they take on Winthrop.
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Texas State Softball Splits Friday Afternoon
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Texas State softball team recovered from a defeat in game one of the Madeira Beach Invitational to UMass-Lowell with a commanding victory against C-USA opponent UAB in game two. The Bobcats fell to the Riverhawks in eight innings by a score of 9-7 before defeating the Blazers by a 7-1 margin.
Several Bobcats had explosive days at the plate, including senior Courtney Harris who finished 3-for-4 against the Riverhawks and Lexi Fryar who hit two home runs against the Blazers. Sara Rupp, Kendall Wiley, and Kortney Koroll also had home runs on Friday. Fryar finished the UAB contest with a 3-for-4 showing to lead the Bobcats.
Freshman pitcher Randi Rupp was handed the loss in game one before picking up her fourth victory of the season in game two. She struck out 14 batters on the afternoon.
In game one of the day, the Bobcats quickly found themselves in a 4-0 hole after giving up a grand slam in the first inning to the Riverhawks.
Down 5-0 after two innings, the Bobcats put their first run on the board in the bottom of the third inning after stringing together a pair of hits by Braegan Hamilton and Harris and a walk by Ariel Ortiz.
The Riverhawks earned back the run given up in the third with one in the top of the fourth.
It was then in the bottom half of the fourth in which the Bobcats rallied to tie the game up at 6-6. Wiley led off the inning with a solo shot that sparked the next three Bobcat batters to reach base safely. Before the inning was over, Texas State strung together five hits, including a triple by Kelli Baker, to get itself back in the game against UMass-Lowell.
UMass-Lowell then added another run in the fifth to regain the lead over the Bobcats.
In the bottom of the seventh down one with one out, Fryar hit a double to center field that would score Alli Akina. Texas State used three hits in the seventh to tie up the contest.
Two more runs in the top of the eighth by the Riverhawks proved to be too much to overcome as the Bobcats were handed their sixth loss of the season in game one.
Sara Rupp got the ball rolling in game two for the Bobcats after she launched her second home run of the season in the top of the second inning. She scored Prado on her home run, who made her way to the base paths by way of a walk.
After UAB answered with a run in the bottom of the third off of an RBI double.
Texas State then continued to increase its lead over the next two innings as Wiley drove in a run in the top of the fifth and Fryar hit a solo shot in the top of the sixth.
Two more home runs in the top of the seventh inning added insurance to the Bobcats already 4-1 lead over the Blazers. After Harris got on base on an error, Kortney Koroll hit her third home run of the season for the first home run before Fryar hit her second solo shot of the game.
Texas State will continue play tomorrow afternoon, starting with Florida International at 3 p.m. and then Robert Morris at 5:30 p.m.
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UTA splits opening day of UTA Invitational
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington was prevented a sweep of Day 2 action in the UT Arlington Invitational as Texas Tech put up seven runs in an inning to defeat the Mavericks at Allan Saxe Field on Friday.
The Mavericks (9-3) were able to reach their best start since 1980 behind a 19-3 win over Prairie View A&M, the 9-2 opening to the season is the best for the team since going 14-1 to start the '80 campaign. UTA was just innings away from clinching its second victory of the day before the Red Raiders stole momentum away.
"I think that we gave them that game," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "We didn't take care of the ball and we had a lot of opportunities. We just have to continue to focus and get better every day. I am proud of the effort they put out there and we are just going to keep on trucking through the weekend."
UTA continues play with a pair of games on Day 2. The Mavs begin Saturday against UMKC at 10 a.m. before a meeting with DePaul at 2 p.m.
Game 1- UT Arlington 19, Prairie View A&M 3
UT Arlington set the tone for its offense on Friday in the opener, using a two-out rally in the first to put the game away. The team hit around in the lineup twice during the first and picked up hits from seven of its starters, as well as a run from each in the inning.
With two outs, the Panthers walked Meagan Michele with the bases loaded for UTA's first run, opening the floodgates for the remainder of the inning. Jolene Schaefer single to center, and after an error, three runs came across the plate.
Rebecca Stokes made it 5-0 with a triple down the right-field line. Five runs later, Stokes singled to bring in a pair of runs and the Mavs took a 12-0 lead after the first inning.
Joni Hanke kept it going in the second inning with a RBI single for her third-career hit. Schaefer scored two with a double to push the lead to 15-0.
The Panthers brought home three in the third before the Mavs struck again. Stokes knocked another double, this time bringing in two and Britnea Barilli finished things off with a single to center to score two.
Overall, UTA finished with 17 hits in the contest as Schaefer led with a four-hit day to go with four RBI. Stokes finished with two hits and two runs, while Barilli had three runs, two hits and two RBI.
Game 2- Texas Tech 10, UT Arlington 6
UT Arlington appeared to be cruising to a sweep to open the tournament before things unraveled for the Mavericks in the fifth.
The Red Raiders scored seven runs on eight hits during the frame and stole momentum away from the hot offense of the Mavericks.
UTA's two-out magic in the first carried over from the first game, scoring three runs in the opener. Sandra Mendoza was able to come around to score after leading the game off with a single. Mendoza came in on an illegal pitch and Stokes would knock in two in the next at-bat.
The lead extended to 5-0 in the second with self-inflicted errors by Texas Tech. An error helped lead to the Mavs' two runs, as two players were hit by a pitch to bring in runs.
The Mavericks were unable to escape Texas Tech's half of the fifth as the Red Raiders jumped into the lead with their seven-run inning.
Texas Tech added runs in the sixth and seventh innings before Meagan Michele was able to provide UTA's lone answer, a home run in the seventh to open the bottom half of the inning - Michele's homer was UTA's only home run of the day.
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Chattanooga Snaps No. 22 Jaguar Softball's Seven-Game Win Streak on Friday
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 22 University of South Alabama softball's seven-game winning streak came to an end on Friday at the 2015 South Alabama Invitational after Chattanooga left-handed pitcher Cori Jennings held the Jaguars to a single run, with the hosts stranding nine total base runners.
Jennings (2-1) struck out five and allowed only one run (earned) on seven hits, while walking four. The Jaguars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but left five runners on over the final three frames, failing to regulate Jennings's off-speed throughout the contest.
"[Jennings] had a legitimate off-speed pitch, and we had a hard time adjusting to it," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We had some good at bats, but had a hard time stringing them together.
The Mocs (8-4) went ahead in the top of the fourth inning on Criket Blanco's two-run shot, which plated Nicole Osterman, who drew a one-out walk off USA starter Devin Brown (4-2). Osterman then homered in the top of the sixth to add insurance for Chattanooga.
Brown took the loss after giving up three runs (earned) on as many hits, striking out nine to a season-high-tying five walks in 5 1/3 innings. Classmate Kalen McGill pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief, striking out one and allowing a single hit.
"We also need to figure out the walks," Clark added. "You can't give up a walk and a home run, because that hurts us.
"We've been hot, so we want to come in tomorrow and have a better day," she concluded.
USA sophomore catcher Chloe Rathburn delivered her team-leading 11th RBI of the year to put the Jags up a run in the opening frame when she singled to plate junior third baseman Emily Messer, who walked and advanced to second on an illegal pitch.
The Jaguars threatened in the bottom of the fifth when Messer drew a one-out walk, and sophomore right fielder Amanda Minahan singled, but the chance was diminished after a pair of USA groundouts.
Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith and freshman Kristian Foster supplied two-out singles an inning later, but freshman Taylor Bahos struck out looking to end the opportunity.
Blanco was 2-for-3 on the night with two RBI and a run scored, and Osterman scored a pair of runs with one RBI.
Messer drew three walks on the night, tying a USA game record, while going 1-for-1 with a run. Griffith was 2-for-3, while Minahan, Rathburn, Foster and junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington each had a hit. Pilkington reached for the 11th time in as many games this season.
South Alabama looks to erase Friday's result with a pair of contests on Saturday, the first versus Ball State at 1:30 p.m. and the second against Sam Houston State at 6 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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EKU Takes Extra-Innings Win Over GS Softball, 6-3
STATESBORO, GA. – A three-run ninth inning with the International Tiebreaker Rule in effect gave Eastern Kentucky a 6-3 win to close a frigid first day at the Eagle Classic II on the campus of Georgia Southern University. Taylor Rogers led the way for the home side with a 4-for-5 night, while Emily Snider drove in two runs. The Eagles face North Carolina in the first of two games for the Blue and White on Saturday.
Eastern Kentucky got a run in the first inning after stringing together two singles. An RBI ground out by Shannon McQueen brought leadoff hitter Krislyn Campos around from third for the opening run.
The Eagles loaded the bases for Emily Snider who brought the Eagles level at 1-1 with an RBI single to center. Georgia Southern had a chance to take a 2-1 lead on an attempted sacrifice fly from Morgan Robinson. Alesha Mann, however, left early and was called out at third to end the Eagle threat with runners stranded at first and second.
The Colonels took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Darcy Schueler hit EKU’s first home run of the season to centerfield. EKU tacked on another run in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-1.
AJ Hamilton reached third on a three-base error with one out in the sixth inning, but back-to-back infield outs left Hamilton at third and the Eagles down by two runs.
The Eagles struck two out lightning in the seventh inning as a Taylor Rogers single opened the door for the Eagles to put the winning run on base. A double from Emily Snider scored Rogers, while a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with Hamilton coming to the dish. The Eagle catcher walked to tie the game and send the contest to extra innings.
Two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth left the bases empty for Mann who punched a double center. The freshman shortstop, however, was cut down at third attempting to stretch the play to a triple.
“I take responsibility for that one,” said Head Coach Annie Smith. “I told the team after the game that I made a mistake trying to do too much, and not holding up Alesha at second. We did a great job tonight to get back in the game in the seventh inning.”
EKU took advantage of a Brooke Red throwing error with one out in the top of the ninth to score three total runs in the frame. The visitors started with a runner on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. EKU worked her to third with a single, followed by a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position. A comebacker to Red was overthrown to first, allowing two runs to score, while two more hits in the inning allowed a third run to score.
Rogers gave the Eagles life in the ninth, delivering a bunt single to start the inning. Her single advanced Mann to third, while a stolen base by Rogers put two runners in scoring position. An infield ground ball, followed by two strikeouts ended the game as the Eagles dropped their weekend opener after leaving a total of 11 runners on base.
Georgia Southern is back in action on Saturday in the second day of Eagle Classic II. The eagles face North Carolina and Bradley at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The weekend concludes on Sunday with a single game at 3:30 p.m. against Dayton with temperatures expected in the mid-70s to close the weekend.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.