Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Troy Tops No. 10 Florida State in Extra Innings
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – A two-run blast in the top of the eighth inning from Becca Hartley, lifted Troy past No. 10 Florida State, 6-4, on Wednesday night at JoAnne Graff Field.
Becca Hartley had a stellar performance, finishing 2-for-4 with two timely home runs and three RBIs. The first home run was a solo shot that broke up a no-hitter in the fifth inning and the second gave the Trojans the lead in extra innings.
Jaycee Affeldt tied the game at four in the top of the seventh inning with a three-run bomb to left field scoring Hartley, who reached on an error, and Khadija Neely, who singled to center field.
Three of Troy's (17-12) five hits were home runs and every run scored via the long ball.
"I'm very proud of the fight and finish we showed today. I think we have been working on getting better everyday at practice, and have been playing good softball the last week and a half," head coach Beth Mullins said. "We have a lot of season left to play and need to continue to get better every day."
Florida State (23-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning on a home run by Alex Powers. The Seminoles added two more in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to go up, 4-1.
Affeldt (9-4) got the start in the circle and struck out seven batters and only gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits in eight innings of work.
The win over Florida State was the first by Troy over a top-25 opponent since 2012, against then No. 22 Florida State. It was the first win over a top-10 foe since the Trojans defeated No. 8 UL Lafayette in the same year. It also was Beth Mullins first win over a ranked opponent as a head coach.
The Trojans will take on their second top-10 opponent of the week, when they travel to Lafayette, La., for a three-game series against Sun Belt foe No. 7 UL Lafayette. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game set to begin at 2 p.m. and the second to begin at 4 p.m. The series finale is set to begin at noon on Sunday.
For more information on Troy softball visit TroyTrojans.com or follow us on Twitter at @TroyTrojansSB.
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Eight-Run First Inning Powers Warhawks over Rebels
OXFORD, Miss. – Powered by an eight-run, first inning, the Warhawks took home a 9-1 run-rule victory over Ole Miss, their first of two SEC opponents in the month of March, at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The victory marked the ninth game the Warhawks (19-7, 4-1 SBC) have won in six innings of less in the 2015 season.
Sophomore Melanie Coyne led the way in the circle, pitching a complete. Coyne allowed a lone run off five hits to move to 6-3 on the season. Madi Osias took the loss for the Rebels (15-12, 0-6 SEC).
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts and junior Faith Bohack led the offensive charge for the Warhawks. Roberts went 2-for-4 while picking up two RBI as Bohack picked up two RBI and scored a run.
Coyne added to the offense going 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete drew a one-out walk to start the game off for the Warhawks. After swiping second, Navarrete was joined on the bases by senior Alexis Cacioppo who took a hit by pitch.
Junior Amye Barre knocked an infield single to load the bases for ULM as senior Molly Mackey drove home the first run of game with a bases-loaded, hit by pitch (1-0 ULM).
Bohack drew a bases-loaded walk to drive the score to 2-0 in favor of the Warhawks, which was followed by a hit by pitch issued to freshman Cheyanne Lyon (3-0 ULM). A wild pitch from the Rebels’ Madi Osias scored a run to extend the Warhawk lead to 4-0.
Sophomore Sidney Coy beat out a squeeze bunt to bring home a run as Coyne and Roberts knocked back-to-back doubles to drive home three runs to bring the first-inning lead to 8-0.
The Rebels took a run back to leadoff off the second inning with a solo home run off the bat of Alex Schineider to cut the lead to 8-1.
ULM fought back in the third inning, leading off with back-to-back singles from Cacioppo and Barre. The Rebels used a fielder’s choice off Mackey’s at bat to pick up an out, as the Warhawks moved runners on the corners.
Bohack knocked a fielder’s choice, but an Ole Miss error on the play brought home a run to give the Warhawks an eight-run and decisive 9-1 advantage.
The Warhawks return home for Sun Belt action as ULM hosts Texas State at the ULM Softball Complex. The series opens with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 21 with games schedule for 4 p.m. and 6 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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Texas State Softball Sweeps Stephen F. Austin Wednesday Afternoon
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team picked up the non-conference sweep over former Southland Conference foe Stephen F. Austin Wednesday afternoon by scores of 1-0 and 9-0. Game one of the day concluded in eight innings and game two finished in five.
Texas State improves to 18-12 overall with the sweep. The Bobcats were held to just three hits in game one of the day but finished game two with 14 hits including a perfect showing at the plate from Ariel Ortiz, Katie Doerre, and Danielle Warne. Doerre finished the day perfect from the plate with three hits total.
The first hit of the day for Texas State came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Baker hit a ball to right centerfield. She would be moved around to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ortiz, but a pair of fly balls got SFA out of the inning.
The Bobcats threatened again in the bottom of the fifth with a two out double by Kimberlin Naivar. Naivar would ultimately be stranded at second as SFA forced a foul ball pop out to get out of the inning.
SFA led the top of the sixth inning off with a walk, but the combination of Sara Rupp throwing her out at second on an attempted stolen base and Randi Rupp striking out two got Texas State out of the inning. Rupp’s second strikeout in the top of the sixth marked her 12th of the day, which topped her previous career-high of 11.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, the Bobcats put a pair of runners on with back-to-back walks. Katie Doerre then stepped in as a pinch hitter and hit a bloop single to right to load the bases. The Bobcat momentum stopped there as a strikeout and a pop out got SFA out of the inning once again.
In the bottom of the eighth with a runner on second due to the international tiebreaker rule, Baker bunted to the third baseman that resulted in a throwing error, scoring Akina who was standing on second for the winning run.
Rupp finished the game with 14 strikeouts and her sixth shutout of the 2015 season. Baker, Doerre, and Naivar all ended with hits for Texas State and as a team SFA finished with five hits.
Texas State got the ball rolling early in game two, scoring three runs on five hits. Baker led the inning off for Texas State with a hard hit single to right field and advanced to third on a fielding error by the SFA right fielder. Ortiz promptly singled through the right side to score Baker for the first run of the game.
Courtney Harris continued the inning for Texas State with an infield single to the shortstop. With Harris on first and one out, Kortney Koroll launched her sixth home run of the season to make it a 3-0 ball game in favor of the Bobcats.
After a scoreless second and third innings, the Bobcats continued to add to lead in the fourth. With runners on the corners and no one out, Ariel Ortiz hit her fifth home run of the season to make it a 6-0 game. Danielle Warne and Baker led the inning off with a pair of singles to left field.
The bottom half of the fourth continued as two more hits and a pair of sacrifice flies would score three more runs to put the Bobcats up 9-0 against the Lady Jacks.
Stephen F. Austin led the top of the fifth with a single, but three straight outs by the Bobcat defense ended the game.
Kaylee Garner put in five innings of work in the circle and fanned three batters. She didn’t allow a walk and allowed just two hits. Her opponents averaged just .118 on the day.
Texas State will now hit the road for its second road conference series of the year at UL Monroe. First pitch against the Warhawks on Saturday afternoon is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex. Live stats and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.
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App State Softball Erases Seven-Run Deficit to Down 49ers
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University softball snapped a six-game losing streak and broke out offensively by erasing a seven-run deficit in an eventual 12-9 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday evening.
The Mountaineers (8-13) found themselves in a deep hole early in the game with the 49ers scoring three runs in the first and four runs in the second to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
Following a lead off single from Tiffany Taynor in the second inning, Pepper Butler sent a pitch over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 7-2. The home run for Butler was her second of the season.
After keeping the 49ers (12-11) scoreless in the third, the Apps broke out a six-run inning to take an 8-7 lead. With Cynthia Gomez on third and two outs, Heather Josey doubled to center field to drive in Gomez.
Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Butler singled through the left side to drive in Josey. An error by the 49ers’ Hayley Lewis on the play allowed two more runs to come home and cut the deficit to 7-5.
Cara Parker then showed off her opposite field power and clubbed a two-run homer to right field for the one run lead. The homer for Parker was her third of the season and 13th of her career – tying her for sixth all-time in program history.
Charlotte would tie the game in the fourth inning on a solo homer. It would remain an 8-8 tie until the bottom of the sixth.
With Gomez reaching on a 49ers error and Dani Heichen slapping a single, Sarah Warnock provided the go-ahead RBI single to drive in Gomez from second base.
With a 9-8 lead, Josey would then crush a three-run home run to extend the Appalachian lead to 12-8. Josey’s dinger was her second of the season and she also now leads the team with 14 RBI.
The Niners would get a solo home run in the seventh, but that would be all and the Mountaineers would hold on for a 12-9 win.
Katie Williford earned her first career victory after proving to be the most effective pitcher for the Mountaineers on the day.
Williford entered the game in the second inning after both Vanessa Ciocatto and Alissa Schoelkopf surrendered six runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings.
The freshman ended up pitching 4.2 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs. Katherine Johnson pitched the final inning of the game and earned her first career save.
The Mountaineers will return to action on Saturday, March 21 when they travel to Mobile, Ala. to take on South Alabama. The Saturday doubleheader starts at 2 p.m. ET, while the single game on Sunday is slated to start at 1 p.m. ET.
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UT Arlington Snaps Skid With 4-2 Win Over Lamar
ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington was able to snap a five-game skid after defeating Lamar 4-2 on Wednesday at Allan Saxe Field.
The Mavericks (15-14) were helped along by a strong start from Sam Montes. The sophomore pitched her fifth complete game of the season and improved to 6-8 after allowing just two earned runs. The offense backed her up with six hits, including two home runs.
"The girls came out with a lot of energy today," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "We really focused on that. They get to play a game for their career, and to get back to that mindset and just enjoy it. They really did a good job of staying focused and keeping each other up."
A day after UTA was unable to hold a lead against Abilene Christian, Montes was able to produce a much needed quality start. She struck out one, didn't issue a walk and allowed just five hits. Fox said her pitcher's ability to pitch clean innings was a big reason UTA was able to bounce back from Tuesday night's loss.
"Sam has been doing a great job," Fox said. "Her record doesn't even reflect the kind of pitching that she has done for us this year. She loves to have the ball and she loves to compete. She really set the tone in the first couple of innings."
Senior Meagan Michele provided a jolt for the offense. The UTA third baseman went 2-for-3 from the plate with a homer and triple. Michele scored two runs as well as provided two RBI. Malory Foster came up big in just her second start of the season. Foster's leadoff homer in the sixth gave UTA a 4-1 lead.
"We just came out really aggressive and really wanting to change the pace to be ready for this weekend," Michele said. "It is tough coming back from any streak, but we are just learning from it. We are just playing to win. It is huge for the hitters."
Michele's triple in the first scored UTA's first run, bringing home Sandra Mendoza. Shelbi Sikes followed it up with a single up the middle on the first pitch she saw to score Michele.
The Mavs made it a 3-0 advantage in the third with Michele's seventh homer of the season, a line drive over the left-field wall. Foster's shot to center in the sixth capped scoring for UTA.
Lamar attempted to make a two-out rally in the seventh, scoring a run after back-to-back hits. However, the bid fell short with a fly out to left to end the game.
NOTES: UTA softball is re-dedicating Allan Saxe Field and the new clubhouse on Saturday prior to Game 1 of its series vs. Georgia Southern. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. … UTA went to 1-1 in midweek contests. … UTA's game against Lamar was added to the schedule after previous weather cancellations left openings in the schedule. The Mavs also added a doubleheader against Central Arkansas on April 8.
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Jaguar Softball Run-Rules Southern Miss, 9-1 on Wednesday
MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball scored nine runs on 12 hits and took advantage of three Southern Miss errors on Wednesday, as the Jaguars defeated the Eagles, 9-1, in six innings by way of the run rule in the teams' first meeting since 2012.
USA (18-6, 2-3 SBC) moves to 16-3 versus non-conference opponents this season and 9-4 at Jaguar Field. The Jaguars extend their all-time series lead versus the Eagles (15-11, 1-5 CUSA) to 9-3-1, 6-2 in Mobile.
Eight of USA's nine starters recorded a hit and junior third baseman Emily Messer, and sophomores Amanda Minahan and Chloe Rathburn tallied two apiece, as the Jags outhit Southern Miss, 12-2, on the night.
Messer finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Minahan was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored and Rathburn was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Jaguar senior right-hander Farish Beard recorded her second victory in her second appearance since Feb. 7, striking out six to one walk and allowing only one run (earned) on a pair of USM hits. Following her return last Sunday versus Louisiana-Monroe, Beard has struck out 18 in her last 13 innings and allowed only a pair of runs in the span.
"Overall, tonight was a great team win," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We had a couple of two-out hits that kept us going, and we scored in all but one inning. Our thing right now is playing hard and with more consistency, and I think we did that tonight. We'll just try to keep that rolling into the [Sun Belt Conference] weekend."
Southern Miss jumped ahead, 1-0, in the top of the first when left fielder Selena Estrada lifted a one-out solo home run to left field, but the Jags pegged back in the bottom half when Messer scored on an Eagle fielding error. The Mobile, Ala., native led the inning off with an infield single, advanced to second on a wild Shelbee Rodgers pitch and came around when USM catcher Bailey Stokes mishandled right fielder Samantha Reynolds's throw home, which was initiated by Jag junior Stephanie Pilkington's single.
USA tacked on a run apiece in the second and third frames to go ahead, 3-1, with senior left fielder Blair Johnson scoring in the former on freshman Haleigh Lowe's single up the middle and Minahan coming around in the latter by way of a second Southern Miss fielding error off the bat of senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith.
The Jaguars broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning. Freshman Kaleigh Todd came on to pinch hit for classmate Kristian Foster, who delivered a sacrifice bunt that placed Johnson in scoring position in the second, and led the inning off with a bunt single. Senior first baseman Amanda Herron followed with a double to right center to put a pair of USA runners in scoring position.
Messer drew a walk to load the bags a batter later, before Minahan singled to score Todd and senior Alyssa Linn, who pinch ran for Herron at second, to push USA's lead to 5-1. Pilkington then supplied a sacrifice fly to left center to score Messer, and Rathburn roped one to left center to score Minahan for a 7-1 Jaguar lead after four complete.
Beard worked around a leadoff walk to Southern Miss shortstop Mallory Hayden by striking out a pair, before Rathburn threw pinch-runner Rachel Johnson out at second on a steal attempt.
USA put up two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete its fifth run-rule victory this season. Lowe reached on a third Eagle fielding error, and Messer reached for a third time in the contest with a bunt single. After Minahan and Pilkington flied out and popped out, respectively, Rathburn singled to right field to score Lowe. Griffith then singled to the opposite field to plate Messer and cap the win.
Rathburn recorded her ninth multiple-hit and eighth multiple-RBI performances, both team-leading figures. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native has currently reached safely in 11 straight ball games. Messer's three runs establish a new single-game career high.
Beard's victory Wednesday was the 54th of her career, which stands as the second most in South Alabama program history.
The Jaguars return to league action this weekend when they host conference newcomer Appalachian State. A Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. precedes Sunday's 1 p.m. finale. Please be aware that schedule changes could occur due to expected weather. Visit USAJaguars.com throughout the week for any further details.
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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Caldwell Hits Fifth Home Run; Panthers Fall to No. 4 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Kensey Caldwell hit her fifth homer of the season but it was not enough as the Georgia State softball team was defeated by No. 4 Alabama 9-1 Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Taylor Anderson started the game with a lead-off single. She then stole second but was stranded there. Alabama then jumped in front with two runs in the bottom of the frame. GSU was retired in order in the second and the Crimson Tide added one to their lead to go up 3-0 after two.
Mandy Blackwell led off the third with a single before being thrown out a second on Morgan Brown’s fielder’s choice. Brown then stole second and Ashley Christy singled to put Panthers on the corners but both were stranded when a foul pop-up ended the threat.
Alabama scored three in the third to push its lead to 5-0. The Crimson Tide again added a single run in the fourth before GSU got on the board when Caldwell hit a solo shot to left in the top of the fifth. The Panthers could have done more damage, but a strikeout ended the inning with the bases load.
Alabama responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to secure the win. The Panthers drop to 19-4 overall and now shift their focus to this weekend’s tournament in Lawrence, Kan. Georgia State’s first two games are on Friday, March 20 against UMKC at 11 a.m. and Eastern Michigan at 6:30 p.m.
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.