Sunday, February 22, 2015
Texas State Softball Sweeps In Final Day Of Madeira Beach Classic
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Texas State softball team finished strong at the Madeira Beach Classic, earning a 4-3 victory over Wichita State and a 9-2 victory over Ivy League opponent Harvard Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats finished the weekend with a 4-2 record as they improve to 9-7 overall.
Freshman pitcher Randi Rupp struck out 10 batters while walking just one as she earned her sixth victory of the season in game one of the day.
Wichita State got on the board first in the second inning. Texas State answered with three runs in the top of the third as Kendall Wiley hit her sixth home run of the weekend, scoring Danielle Warne and Courtney Harris.
After Wichita State added one in the bottom half of the third, Texas State answered once again with a solo shot by Kimberlin Naivar for her first home run of the season, giving Texas State a 4-2 lead.
The Shockers then scored one more in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Bobcat lead in half, but a pair of strikeouts in the seventh by Rupp sealed the first victory of the day for Texas State.The
Bobcats got out of the gates quickly in game two, scoring six runs on five hits in the first inning. With one out and Ariel Ortiz standing on first after a walk, Harris sparked a run of three straight singles to put Texas State on the board. In addition to Harris, Kortney Koroll, Wiley, Naivar, and Ortiz all recorded singles in the inning.
Texas State then went four scoreless innings before adding on to its lead in the top of the sixth. Harris and Koroll led off the inning with a pair of walks before Kendall Wiley would load the bases with a single to centerfield. A ground out by Lexi Fryar scored the first run of the inning and a single to centerfield by Taylor Webb would score Alli Akina for the second run of the inning.
One more insurance run would be added in the top of the seventh for the Bobcats after Koroll singled up the middle to score Ortiz.
Webb earned the victory against Harvard, improving to 2-2 on the year. She gave up just one hit in four and a third innings pitched.
Three Bobcats hit over .400 for the weekend (Koroll, Wiley, and Harris) and the Bobcats hit a total of 14 home runs. Wiley led the way offensively after recording a team-high 10 hits, six of which left the yard.
Rupp finished the weekend with a 1.27 ERA with 35 strikeouts and just six walks.
Texas State will now prepare for the Wilson/DeMarini Classic hosted by Auburn on February 26-28. The Bobcats will open the tournament with a single game Thursday evening against Auburn at 6 p.m. Other opponents for the Bobcats include Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Samford, and two contests against Connecticut. For more information, check in with www.txstatebobcats.com.
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Troy Uses Late-Inning Rally to Beat Evansville
TROY, Alabama - The Troy softball team broke open a tie game in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Evansville, 3-1, on Sunday in the final day of the TrojanInvitational at the Troy Softball Complex.
Troy (7-7) started the sixth with a lead-off double to center field by Becca Hartley. Hartley advanced to third on a groundout to third by Meg Willis, but scored on the play to take due to a throwing error by the Evansville first baseman, giving Troy a 2-1 lead.
Later in the inning, the Trojans added an insurance run on a two-out RBI double by Carli Kayler.
Troy scored in the bottom of the first inning with some small ball. Kate Benton reached base on an error and advanced into scoring position by swiping second. Hannah Day bunted Benton to third, and Michelle Phelps finished the job by hitting a sacrifice fly to right field.
Jaycee Affeldt (4-2) got the win for the Trojans after pitching 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit. Ashley Rainey got the start for the Trojans and gave up one run on four hits in 4.2 innings of work. Affeldt picked up four wins on the weekend as Troy went 4-1 at the Trojan Invitational.
Carli Kayler led the Trojans at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one RBI. Day went 1- for-2 to extend her hitting streak to seven games.
Amanda Blankenship (2-8) suffered the loss for Evansville (3-10) after giving up three runs and six hits in a complete-game effort.
The Trojans will next travel to Alabama State for a Tuesday doubleheader that is set to begin at 4 p.m.
For more information on Troy softball visit TroyTrojans.com or follow us on Twitter at @TroyTrojansSB.
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Hitters Set the Tone Early in Ragin' Cajuns' Win Over McNeese State
LAFAYETTE - The No. 6 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team completed its third undefeated tournament run of the 2015 season with a 11-3 (5 inn.) victory over McNeese State Sunday afternoon at Lamson Park in the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational finale.
Haley Hayden led off the game with a solo home run, jumpstarting the Cajuns (14-0) offense to its weekend-high runs total. Christina Hamilton tossed the final four innings in relief of Jordan Wallace and quieted the Cowgirls (9-5) after they had pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first.
Louisiana added three more runs after Hayden's leadoff home run, then added runs each subsequent inning in building an insurmountable lead. A three-run home run by Lexie Elkins in the fifth inning capped off squad's scoring.
"What Christina did today was pretty impressive because her command was really good," head coach Michael Lotief said. "I'm proud of the hitters for the way they responded today. I liked the way they just came out and set the tone right from the beginning."
The win extended Louisiana's season-opening undefeated start to 14 games. It's the program's best start since opening the 2012 season at 29-0.
The Ragin' Cajuns are set for a Top 10 showdown with current No.3 Alabama (13-3) Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-March 1 at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. All games in the series are being broadcast on the SEC Network and also streamed on ESPN3.com.
Shellie Landry went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI adding to a tournament resume that featured a 7-for-17 performance at the plate with four runs scored, two home runs and 7 RBI. The Broussard, La., native was named Tournament MVP.
Hamilton made her second relief appearance of the weekend (relieved Alex Stewart vs. Iowa) and allowed only one hit over McNeese's final four at bats, a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Including a start vs. Hofstra on Saturday, Hamilton tossed 14 2/3 innings and held opponents to one run off six hits, landing her All-Tournament honors.
After Hayden's solo homer, Aleah Craighton's third triple of the season banged off the right field fence and plated Samantha Walsh and Kelsey Vincent - both hit by a pitch - to push the early lead to 3-0. Craighton would score on a double steal attempt and Louisiana led 4-0 after a half inning.
The Cowgirls collected three hits off of Wallace in the bottom of the first. One was a two-run home run from Erika Piancastelli which sliced the lead in half and ended Wallace's string of consecutive scoreless innings pitched to start the season at 38 1/3 innings.
Louisiana added single runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Hamilton posted zeros in the McNeese frames and the Cajuns advantage grew to 7-2.
After a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Cajuns in the top of the fifth inning, an illegal pitch forced in a run to make it 8-2. Elkins' home run grew the lead to 11-2 providing enough cushion for the run rule to be applied.
McNeese would add a solo home run off of Hamilton in the bottom of the fifth, but she retired the next three batters to wrap up the victory.
Sunday's meeting was the first of two between the teams this season. Louisiana travels to Lake Charles, La., to meet McNeese State at Cowgirl Diamond on April 1.
2015 RAGIN' CAJUNS INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Aleah Craighton (Louisiana)
Christina Hamilton (Louisiana)
Shellie Landry (Louisiana)
Kelsey Vincent (Louisiana)
Jordan Wallace (Louisiana)
Erin Erickson (Iowa)
Chelsea Jones (Missouri State)
Chloe Fitzgerald (Hofstra)
Lauren Langner (McNeese State)
Emily Vincent (McNeese State)
TOURNAMENT MVP: Shellie Landry (Louisiana)
Stats: 7-for-17, 4 runs, 1 double, 2 home runs, 7 RBI
DIAMOND NOTES: With home runs by Haley Hayden and Lexie Elkins, the Cajuns have now homered in each game this season (14) and hit multiple home runs in 10 of the 14 games played...Hayden's home run was her seventh, tying her with Shellie Landry for the team lead...After being held without a home run in the opening weekend, Lexie Elkins has hit six home runs the last two weekends...Of her 17 base hits, Shellie Landry has seen 11 go for extra bases (4 doubles, 7 home runs)...Aleah Craighton's three RBI marked her fifth multiple-RBI game and third time with at least three RBI...Through the first three weekend's of play the Cajuns are batting .353 and outscoring opponents 121-7...Four different pitchers have combined to record the Cajuns' 14 victories - Jordan Wallace (5), Alex Stewart (4), Christina Hamilton (3) and Kylee Jo Trahan (2)...Cajuns pitchers have walked just 23 and struck out 128 in 87 innings...Louisiana has scored first in all 14 games and scored in the first inning eight times...The Cajuns have out-hit opponents all 14 games and hold a 132-36 advantage in hits...Nine different players have reached 10 hits led by Aleah Craighton's 23...Louisiana improved to 97-24 all-time vs. McNeese State and extended the current series win streak over the Cowgirls to seven games.
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Walk-Off Win Caps 2015 South Alabaam Invitational For No. 22 Jaguar Softball
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 22 University of South Alabama softball freshman Haleigh Lowe delivered a ninth-inning walk-off single to lead the Jaguars past Jacksonville, 5-4, in the final contest of the 2015 South Alabama Invitational in Mobile, Ala.
Senior right fielder Alyssa Linn scored the game-winning run after leading off the bottom of the ninth with a single and reaching second on a Dolphin (7-9) fielding error. Lowe singled through the left side to drive Linn in from second base.
USA (11-3) finished the weekend 3-1 after recovering from a 3-1 loss to Chattanooga with consecutive wins over Ball State, Sam Houston State and Jacksonville. The Jaguars batted .368 over the three-day event with a .519 slugging percentage and .466 overall on-base percentage.
Junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington led the Jags at the plate, batting .538 (7-for-13) with five runs scored and four RBI. The Lake City, Fla., native has now reached base in all 14 of USA games this season.
Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith was 6-for-12 on the weekend with eight RBI and three runs scored, including two home runs, both of which came in a game-record-tying performance against Ball State on Saturday.
Freshmen pitchers Kalen McGill and Devin Brown went 2-0 and 1-1, respectively, with the latter also recording her second save. Along with senior Kaleigh Floore, who threw a pair of innings, the Jaguar pitching staff held opposing batters to a .198 average.
"Overall, we were really good in some places, but we still need to get better in some," said USA head coach Becky Clark of the weekend performance. "We've just got to do a better job of finishing a tournament. I thought, today, we could've given more effort. I thought we'd done a good job of finishing teams up until today. Jacksonville competed well, but I think we should have scored a few more runs."
Both teams put up a run apiece in the opening frame, with the Dolphins taking the initial lead on Ashley Simon's sacrifice fly, which scored Danielle Baker, who was hit by a Floore pitch.
The Jaguars evened the scoreline a half-inning later when sophomore Chloe Rathburn drove in Pilkington with a two-out single through the right side. Pilkington initially got on with a two-out single and advanced to second on Victoria Brown's wild pitch.
Jacksonville went ahead 3-1 in the top of the third when Simon delivered an RBI double to left field, which plated Brown, who led the inning off with a single. Charli Bradshaw's sacrifice fly then allowed Simon to score from third.
South Alabama answered with a three-run inning in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 4-3, beginning with Pilkington's RBI single up the middle, which scored junior third baseman Emily Messer, who led off with her first triple of the year.
Sophomore Amanda Minahan, who drew a walk after Messer's triple, scored on a fielder's choice which led to a throwing error to the plate initiated by senior left fielder Blair Johnson. Pilkington was then driven home on Griffith's single to left field, which gave the Jaguars a one-run lead until the top of the seventh.
The Dolphins knotted scoring at four-all on Kristen Griffith's two-out RBI double to left center, which plated Lexie Ballard, who drew a leadoff walk.
USA loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh when pinch-hitting freshman Kaleigh Todd led off with a single and moved to third on a Messer groundout. Lowe drew a walk, and Pilkington was intentionally walked, but Rathburn fouled out and Johnson grounded out to second to end the chance.
USA senior first baseman Amanda Herron supplied a one-out double that hit midway up the right field wall, but an inning-ending Dolphin double play sent the game to a ninth frame.
"We fought hard and came back at the end," Clark added. "I would liked to have seen us put Jacksonville away early, but they competed the whole game. They definitely made us earn the win. It's nice to see people at the bottom of the order produce for us. Alyssa was huge, and Haleigh was big coming in. That's one of the plusses of this team: on any given day, it can be anybody in the lineup making the difference."
Pilkington and Rathburn each finished with two hits and an RBI apiece. Pilkington also scored two runs. McGill was credited with the win, moving to 4-0 on the year after allowing only one hit in 2 1/3 innings. Floore earned the start, but was replaced by Brown after giving up three runs (earned) on a pair of hits with five walks in two innings. Brown struck out 10 batters in 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run (earned) on three Jacksonville hits.
Jacksonville's Brown fell to 5-6 on the year with the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) on 10 hits, while striking out three to four walks in eight innings.
The Jaguars are next scheduled to host Samford at Jaguar Field on Wed., Feb 25 at 5 p.m., before traveling to Columbia, S.C., to take part in the Carolina Classic, hosted by South Carolina.
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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App State Softball Splits Doubleheader on Sunday
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Appalachian State University softball split a twin bill on the final day of the Cougar Classic on Sunday afternoon. The Apps blanked UMass 2-0 and then fell to College of Charleston 12-4 in five innings.
Game One: App State 2, UMass 0
The Mountaineers (5-6) scored both of their runs in the second inning against the Minutewomen. With one out, Pepper Butler walked and Caroline Rogers singled to set the table.
After both runners stole bases, Sarah Warnock singled into left field to drive home both runs. The RBI for Warnock marked the second and third runs batted in this season for the senior.
From there, pitching dominated UMass hitters and stymied the Minutewomen's offense. Katherine Johnson got the start in the circle and pitched four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one.
Vanessa Ciocatto relieved Johnson for the remaining three inning and allowed just one hit and no runs, while fanning one hitter.
Appalachian State got three hits in the game from Dani Heichen, Rogers and Warnock's timely two-run single.
Game Two: College of Charleston 12, App State 4
The second game of the day saw the Mountaineers jump off to a lightning fast start. Cynthia Gomez and Heichen would open the game with back-to-back singles to get the Apps started.
Heather Josey then hit into a fielder's choice but the Cougar's third baseman Brianna Davis couldn't make the catch. With the bases loaded, Haley Stewart singled through the left side and gave App State an early 2-0 lead.
After Caroline Chambers singled to third base, Butler hit a sac fly to right field in foul territory to score Josey from third. Then on a wacky play, Chambers was caught in a run down between first and second but one of the throws got away and Stewart scored.
The Apps 4-0 lead would last until the third inning when the Cougars plated six runs on six hits, including a three-run home run to put College of Charleston in front 6-4.
The Cougars would score two in the fourth and four in the fifth to eventually end the game in five inninngs.
The Mountaineers picked up seven hits from five different hitters, including two-hit performances from Heichen and Chambers. Gomez, Stewart and Warnock all picked up one hit each.
Appalachian State will return to action next weekend in the Blue/Gold Challenge in Greensboro, N.C. on the campus of UNCG. The Apps will open up on Friday, Feb. 27 against Hampton with a first pitch of 12:30 p.m.
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Georgia Southern Falls in Weekend Finale, 3-1 to Dayton
STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Softball dropped the final game of the Eagle Classic II with a 3-1 loss to the Dayton Flyers in the Sunday finale. Lindsey Wilcox brought the power with a home run in the third to account for all the Eagles' scoring.
"We played another tough opponent today, but we're learning every time we go out there," said Head Coach Annie Smith.
Two walks and three hits for Dayton in the first inning staked the Flyers to an early 3-0 lead.
Lindsey Wilcox cut the Flyer advantage from three to two with a solo home run with two outs in the third. She drove a pitch to straight-away centerfield and made the Dayton advantage 3-1.
Georgia Southern continued to battle, posting eight hits in the game, and put runners on base six of their seven trips to the plate. Overall, nine runners were stranded aboard for the home side.
Freshman Heather Felt took the loss in the pitching circle and worked the first two innings, allowing the three runs off five hits. The Eagles' other freshman hurler, Kierra Camp, came on in relief and pitched the final five innings, holding Dayton scoreless while allowing three hits.
The Eagles travel next weekend to the USF Invitational on Florida's Pirate Coast. The weekend begins against Illinois and USF on Friday in Tampa. Saturday and Sunday's games will be played across the bay in Clearwater.
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.
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Georgia State, UT Arlington Matches Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather