Saturday, March 7, 2015
No. 24 Jaguar Softball Drops Saturday Doubleheader to No. 7 UL Lafayette
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 24 University of South Alabama softball fell twice to No. 7 UL Lafayette, 3-2, and 9-3, on Saturday in a doubleheader that marked the first Sun Belt Conference series of the season for the teams.
The Jaguars (15-5, 0-2 SBC) rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within a run of the Ragin' Cajuns in game one, before ULL scored nine runs off 10 hits in the second game to clinch the series.
Game three is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday. Links to live stats, ticket information and live video can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided via the program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
UL Lafayette (17-2, 2-0 SBC) junior first baseman Kelsey Vincent went 5-for-8 on the day with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, while senior Leandra Maly was 5-for-6 with one RBI and a run scored to lead the Ragin' Cajuns. Junior catcher Lexie Elkins supplied three RBI in game two, with junior left fielder Shellie Landry providing a pair in the contest.
Jordan Wallace (7-1) picked up the win in the first game after striking out eight Jaguar batters to three walks and allowing two runs (both earned) on only three hits. Christina Hamilton, the 2014 SBC Pitcher of the Year, moved to 4-1 with the win in the second game after she scattered seven hits, allowing three runs (all earned) and striking out one to two walks.
USA junior third baseman Emily Messer led the Jaguars at the plate on Saturday, going 4-for-7 with three runs scored and a walk. Sophomore Chloe Rathburn supplied three RBI on a pair of hits. Senior left fielder Blair Johnson hit her first home run of the season in game two, a solo shot to right field.
Jaguar freshman right-hander Devin Brown took both losses, falling to 7-4 on the year after giving up six runs (all earned) on three hits and nine walks in five innings. Classmate Kalen McGill also gave up six runs (four earned) on 13 hits in nine innings.
"ULL played well and did what they needed to win," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "They got hits when they had the opportunities, and they played hard. We've got to take a look at what we did today, and try to come out tomorrow and get better."
Game one – No. 24 South Alabama 2, No. 7 Louisiana-Lafayette 3
After Brown dealt back-to-back one-out walks to Elkins and Landry, the pair scored to put Louisiana-Lafayette ahead, 2-0, in the top of the third innings. The former was plated on Vincent's two-out double to left field, while the latter came around on a wild pitch.
ULL added to its tally in the top of the fifth when Vincent delivered another RBI with a single that scored Cassidy White, who pinch ran for Elkins after the latter reached on a Jaguar throwing error. McGill, who came in to relieve Brown in the top of the fourth frame, threw low of Amanda herron at first to allow the runner to reach and advance to second on the play.
The Jaguars pulled to within a run in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with Rathburn's RBI single that scored Messer from third. Messer led off with an infield single and freshman Kristian Foster was hit by a Wallace pitch immediately after. Kaleigh Todd came on to pinch run for Foster and scored on Minahan's two-out bases-loaded walk. Wallace forced a pop up out of Herron to stop the Jaguar rally.
Messer drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Todd struck out swinging and Pilkington flied out to left field.
Messer was 2-for-3 in game with a run scored, while Rathburn was 1-for-13 with an RBI.
Brown gave up two runs (both earned) on as many hits while striking out three to five walks in 3 2/3 innings. McGill threw 3 1/3 innings of relief, giving up one run (unearned) on four hits with one strikeout and no walks.
Game two – No. 24 South Alabama 3, No. 7 Louisiana-Lafayette 9
ULL scored in all but one inning in game two with a three-run second and two-run seventh being the difference in an otherwise nip-and-tuck contest. The teams traded a run apiece in the first, fourth and fifth innings.
After loading the bases to lead off the game ULL went ahead, 1-0, when sophomore Haley Hayden scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Samantha Walsh. Hayden drew a leadoff walk before Landy singled and Elkins reached on a Jaguar fielding error.
USA tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on Rathburn's RBI single through the left side, which scored Messer, singled to lead off. Foster's sacrifice bunt moved Messer to second, and the Mobile, Ala., native went to third on Pilkington's groundout.
The Ragin' Cajuns scratched three across a half-inning later, beginning with Landry's two-run single off McGill, who entered in relief of Brown after the latter walked three ULL batters to load the bags. Elkins provided the first of her three sacrifice flies in the game to score Hayden, giving ULL a 4-1 lead after two-and-a-half.
Hayden scored again in the top of the fourth to make it 5-1 Ragin' Cajuns after she reached on a Jaguar throwing error and then came around on Elkins's second sacrifice fly. The Jaguars pulled within three in the bottom of the fourth on Johnson's two-out solo homer to left field.
Vincent answered in the top of the fifth with a solo shot of her own to restore ULL's four-run lead, 6-2.
Rathburn lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Messer, who singled, to make it 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth, but ULL tacked on three unanswered to cap its victory.
Elkins's third sacrifice fly scored Hayden, who led off with a double to right center, in the top of the sixth. Vincent singled, and Aleah Craighton doubled to lead off the top of the seventh before Maly's single scored the former to make it 8-3. DJ Sanders's groundout scored Craighton for the final run of the game.
Pilkington got on with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but Rathburn fouled out to end the contest.
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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Worley Tosses No-Hitter, GSU Wins Record 12th Straight Game
ATLANTA – Behind two outstanding pitching performances, the Georgia State softball team won both games of a doubleheader against Troy to extend the Panthers' current winning streak to a program record 12 games. 15-2 GSU cruised to a 15-3 win in Game 1 before Katie Worley no-hit the Trojans in a 4-0 victory.
Taylor Thorpe went 4.1 innings, scattered five hits and allowed three runs en route to her eighth victory of the season. She is now 8-0 this season and is tied for first in wins in the conference standings. Worley pitched her first collegiate no-hitter while striking out a career high 14 batters in Game 2 win.
Game 1
Callie Alford went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and six RBI to lead the Panthers at the plate in GSU’s blowout victory. Ashley Christy, Morgan Brown and Megan Litumbe all finished with two RBI. Litumbe doubled and hit a two-run homer in the first.
Taylor Anderson and Christy both finished with two hits and scored a team-high three runs. Lauren Coleman drew a walk to move her into a tie for first on the Georgia State career walks list with 132. Alford’s solo homer in the fourth was the 31st of her career which is one shy of the GSU career record.
The Panthers jumped in front early with four runs in the first and three in the second to go up 7-0 after two complete. After a single run in the third, GSU put seven across in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to 15-0 after four.
Troy pulled three runs back in the top of the fifth when Jaycee Affeldt and Chelsea Eytel hit back-to-back home runs but it was not enough as Chelsea Stanfield recorded the final two outs to secure the 15-3 win.
Game 2
After setting a career high with nine strikeouts against Mercer, Worley outdid herself by throwing the first no-hitter for Georgia State since March 27, 2011. She struck out 14 and allowed just four total baserunners in GSU’s 4-0 win.
GSU scored one in the second and three in the third to give Worley all the run support she would need. Worley gave up a lead-off walk in the first before two pop-ups and a strikeout ended the top half. The junior pitcher then struck out the side in the second and sat the first three batters down in order in the third.
Worley picked up two more K’s in the fourth before striking out the side again in the fifth. Two pop-ups and Worley’s 11th strikeout ended the sixth before she struck out the final three batters in the seventh inning to secure the no-hitter. The victory was her third of the season and she improves to 3-0 overall.
The Panthers and Trojans return to the field Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. for the Series finale. 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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Comeback Victory Locks Doubleheader Sweep and Series Win over Mountaineers
WINGATE, N.C. – A career day from sophomore Melanie Coyne and a thrilling comeback from a four-run deceit secured a doubleheader sweep for the Warhawks over Appalachian State and locked a win in the first Sun Belt series of the season.
The Warhawks (16-6, 2-0 SBC) was powered by Coyne’s career-high 12 strikeouts in game one of the series, which saw the offense put up 10 runs over the Mountaineers (8-9, 0-2 SBC).
Appalachian State look strong early in game two, picking up a quick four-run lead and holding the Warhawks scoreless through three innings, but solid team efforts at the plate and on the mound propelled the Warhawks to the sweep.
Sweeping the first two games of the doubleheader lock the Warhawks for the series win. It is the first Sun Belt conference-opening series win for ULM since the 2009 season when the Warhawks took the series opener at Texas State.
Game 1 (W, 10-1)
A career day on the mound and at the plate for Coyne lifted ULM to decisive, run-rule victory in game one of the Sun Belt opener versus Appalachian State.
Coyne pitch five innings of three-hit softball, allowing a single run. The sophomore struck out a career-high 12 batters to move to 3-3 on the season. The sophomore was just as lethal at the plate, picking up a two-RBI single.
Senior Alexis Cacioppo was poised at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two walks and picking up three RBI. Sophomore Vanessa Garcia continued her hot streak knocking a double and driving home two runs on the game.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts extended her hit streak to five games, picking up two hits and scoring two ULM runs.
The Warhawks put two on in the top of the first, including a bunt single from Roberts that extended her hit streak to five games, but ULM could not push a runner across.
The Mountaineers would lead off the bottom of the inning with a single to right center. Coyne answered back with her first strikeout of the day, but Appalachian State knocked a double to left field to take a 0-1 advantage through one inning.
A scoreless second inning was followed by the Warhawks flexing their offensive power for the first time on the day, scoring five runs on two outs. Roberts single to short with one out to give ULM a base runner. Roberts moved into scoring position after swiping her second bag in the game.
After a fly out that moved Roberts to third, Cacioppo drew the walk to put runners on the corners. Cacioppo advanced to second on a wild pitch as freshman Cheyanne Lyon reached on an error by Mountaineer’s left fielder that cleared the bases, putting ULM up 2-1.
Junior Amye Barre drew a walk to put two on, and Garcia doubled to left to score Lyon (3-1 ULM).
Coyne added to her lead, singling to centerfield and picking up two RBI to push the Warhawk lead to 5-1 after three.
Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete led off the fourth with a bunt single to third. The Warhawks loaded the bases with back-to-back walks issued to Roberts and junior Faith Bohack. Cacioppo reached on a hit by pitch to bring home one, 6-1 ULM.
The Mountaineers used a fielder’s choice to make an out at home to save a run, but Barre singled to short stop to score Bohack (7-1 ULM). Garcia grounded out for the second out, but picked up an RBI to push the ULM lead to 8-1.
Senior Molly Mackey led off the fifth inning reaching on an Appalachian State error in a pinch hit appearance. Navarrete singled down the left field line to put runners on the corners for the Warhawks with no outs. Roberts drew the walk to load the bases.
Bohack reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Appalachian State turn a double play, making two outs at home to keep ULM off the board, but Cacioppo singled to center field to drive home two and secure ULM a 10-1 victory.
Game 2 (W, 6-5)
The Mountaineers jumped to an early four-run lead, keeping ULM scoreless through three innings, but the Warhawks battled back to take a 6-5 series winning decision to sweep the doubleheader slate.
The Warhawk offense was evenly spread with six different Warhawks picking up an RBI, and seven different players racking up the eight ULM hits. Roberts’ lone hit of the game extended her hit streak to six games.
Senior Haylie Wilson got the start with ULM’s relieving core combing for six innings of three-run work with a combined five strikeouts. Freshman Paige Porter picked up the win, moving to 7-1 on the season.
The freshman went 1.2 innings of relief, giving up one hit, one run and striking out a Mountaineer. Coyne picked up her first save on the season closing the seventh inning allowing single hit in the appearance.
The Mountaineers led off the first inning with a single up the middle. After executing a sacrifice bunt, Appalachian State would take a 0-1 lead with a single to center field.
Appalachian State would lead off the second inning with a single down the left field line, forcing ULM to make a pitching change and bring in sophomore Ashley Dumoulin. Dumoulin would pick up back-to-back outs, but the Mountaineers would use an infield single and an ULM error to put two runners in scoring position.
The Mountaineers would single to left field, scoring a run, but the Warhawks threw out the runner advancing to third to close the second inning trailing 0-2.
A one-out double started off the third inning for the Mountaineers. Appalachian State’s Haley Stewart homered to right center field to take a 0-4 lead.
Roberts broke Vanessa Ciocatto’s no-hit bid, leading off the fourth inning with a bunt single to extend her hit streak to six games. Bohack followed with an infield single.
Cacioppo’s ground out moved both runners into scoring position, and Barre knocked a sacrifice fly to center field to score Roberts and cut the Appalachian State lead to 1-4.
Sophomore Sidney Coy led off the fifth with a double down the left field line, followed by a single to shallow centerfield from Mackey. Junior Kaitlyn Dupuis entered the game to pinch run for Mackey while Garcia stepped to the plate to pinch hit.
Coy was thrown out a third attempting to advance on a wild pitch as Dupuis moved to second. Garcia singled to second to advance Dupuis to third before swiping second to move into scoring position.
Navarrete loaded the bases with one out by drawing a walk. A fielder’s choice from Roberts brought home Dupuis to cut the lead to 2-4.
The Mountaineers led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and put runners on the corners with a one-out walk, but the Warhawks turned two, making an out at home, to keep the game at 2-4 Appalachian State through five innings.
Cacioppo drew a leadoff walk and Barre followed with a hit by pitch to put two Warhawks on the bases to start the sixth. Lyon’s bunt single to third base loaded the bags with no outs. Coy drew a bases-loaded walk to send home Cacioppo and cut the lead to 3-4.
Mackey smacked an RBI single to right field to lock the game at 4-all with the bases still loaded for the Warhawks. Appalachian State struck out senior Mackenzie Miller for the first out, but Navarrete’s RBI fielder’s choice brought home a run and gave ULM a 5-4 lead.
The Mountaineers would answer back in the bottom of the sixth when Katie Mathewson knocked a two-out, pinch hit home run to right center that locked the game at 5-all.
Bohack led off the seventh inning reaching on an Appalachian State error. Cacioppo doubled to put the Warhawks back on top with the definitive 6-5 score.
The Warhawks go for the series sweep in the finale on Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. CST.
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 Saturday Against Georgia Southern
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Texas State softball team started the 2015 conference season on a high-note as it swept Sun Belt Conference newcomer Georgia Southern by scores of 4-1 and 10-2 Saturday afternoon. The victories improve the Bobcats to 13-10 overall and 2-0 in SBC play and move head coach Ricci Woodard just three wins away from 500 for her career at Texas State.
Kendall Wiley, Kortney Koroll, Lexi Fryar, and Courtney Harris all led the way for the Bobcats with three hits each Saturday afternoon.
Georgia Southern’s lone run in game one occurred in the bottom of the third to take an early 1-0 lead over the visiting Bobcats. One more inning of scoreless action happened before the Bobcats answered with three in the top of the fifth inning.
With two outs and no runners on base, the Bobcats strung together four hits and capitalized on four Eagle errors to score three to regain the lead. Ariel Ortiz got the ball rolling as she singled to second base for the first hit of the inning. After stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error, Ortiz was sent home on a double by Harris to left center. Koroll then doubled to score Harris and a single by Wiley would ultimately score Koroll for the third run of the inning.
Texas State then tacked one on more in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Wiley.
The Bobcats finished game one with eight hits while allowing just two. Harris, Koroll, and Wiley all led the Bobcats with two hits apiece and freshman pitcher Randi Rupp pitched a complete game, two-hitter and struck out seven.
The momentum from game one’s victory carried its way into game two as the Bobcats took an early 6-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Texas State recorded four hits and sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
After Georgia Southern got back two in the bottom half of the first, a two-run shot by Koroll extended the lead back up to six. Texas State would score two more on three more hits in the top of the second.
The 10-2 lead after two would prove to be the final as Kaylee Garner stepped in and pitched four scoreless innings to earn her first victory of the season for Texas State. Garner struck out four in the victory.
Fryar and Sara Rupp ended the contest with a pair of hits each, including a triple by Rupp down the right field line in the top of the first inning. Rupp finished the game with three RBI while Kelli Baker and Koroll each tallied two apiece.
Saturday’s sweep now puts Texas State on a four-game winning streak, dating back to last weekend when the Bobcats concluded the Wilson/DeMarini Classic with a sweep of UConn.
Texas State will pick up play tomorrow for game three of the series against Georgia Southern at 12 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.
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Mavericks split Day 2 in Lubbock
LUBBOCK, Texas. – UT Arlington rebounded from a loss in its opening game to earn a split Saturday at the Texas Tech Invitational at Rocky Johnson Field.
The Mavericks (14-9) dropped the opener to UT Martin before picking up a win against Utah Valley. UTA improved to 3-1 in the tournament.
"This team has to be ready to compete and be scrappy every game no matter who the opponent is and they didn't this morning," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "I am very proud of the way they were able to turn it around in the second game. It shows a real sign of maturity."
UTA completes play on Sunday against Texas Tech at 12:30 p.m. The Mavs fell to the Red Raiders on Feb. 20 in Arlington. Texas Tech scored seven in the fifth to overcome UTA's 5-1 lead.
"Tomorrow we need to come out ready to compete and stick to playing our game," Fox said.
Game 1: UT Martin 9, UT Arlington 0
A day after scoring 12 runs against the Skyhawks, UT Arlington was unable to get its offense clicking. The Mavericks managed only one hit off pitcher Brooke Kennedy.
The offensive struggles were unexpected as the Mavericks averaged 10 hits in their previous three games. UTA was shut out for only the second time this season.
UTA starter Kayla Donaldson dropped to 5-4 after allowing four runs (three earned) in a three-inning stint. Donaldson gave up four hits, walked three and struck out three. Defensive miscues didn't help Taylor Simmonds in a two-inning outing
Shelbi Sikes provided the Mavs their lone hit, while Sandra Mendoza and Nina Villanueva each reached on a walk.
Game 2: UT Arlington 13, Utah Valley 4
UTA bounced back with 12 hits to finish the day off with a run-rule of Utah Valley.
Mendoza provided a spark of offense from the leadoff position as she had a game-high three hits, four RBI and scored two runs. Eight of UTA's starters finished with at least a hit in the contest. Sikes provided three RBI, while Meagan Michele produced two.
UTA starter Sam Montes went to 5-5 with a six-inning effort that saw the sophomore strike out four and allow just two earned runs.
The Mavericks produced a run in each of the first two innings before sending 11 across the plate in the final three innings.
Mendoza's double in the fourth helped open the flood gates as the freshman brought home a pair. Villanueva's RBI single capped the three-run frame.
The bats came alive again in the sixth as eight of the first nine batters would reach safely. Sikes brought home two runs with a two-RBI single with one out. Mendoza's two-out hit up the middle later in the frame completed eight-run inning.