Sunday, March 8, 2015
No. 24 Jaguar Softball Defeats No. 7 UL Lafayette, 8-5 in Game Three
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 24 University of South Alabama softball took a 4-3 lead over No. 7 UL Lafayette in the third inning and withstood a seventh-inning Ragin' Cajuns rally after tacking on four more runs in the fifth and sixth frames to win 8-5 in game three of the teams' first Sun Belt Conference series of the year.
USA (16-5, 1-2 SBC) returns to winning form after dropping Saturday's doubleheader at Jaguar Field by scores of 3-2 and 9-3, securing its first SBC victory of the season.
Seventh-ranked UL Lafayette (17-3; 2-1 SBC) is the highest-ranked opponent USA has defeated since the Jaguars dropped the sixth-ranked Ragin' Cajuns, 3-1, on May 12, 2012, to secure the program's first-ever SBC Tournament title.
Jaguar senior left fielder Blair Johnson was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith was 1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored, all off a home run that put USA ahead, 7-3, in the bottom of the fifth.
Sophomore catcher Chloe Rathburn was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, including a solo home run that put the Jaguars up, 8-3, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Freshmen Devin Brown (8-4) and Kalen McGill (7-0) combined for the win, with the former earning the victory after limiting the Ragin' Cajuns to three hits and as many runs (all earned) in four innings, while the latter was credited with her third save this year after scattering four hits in three frames and allowing a pair of runs (both earned).
Ragin' Cajun right fielder Lexie Elkins was the only UL Lafayette batter with multiple hits on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored, including a solo home run. Left fielder Shellie Landry was 1-for-3 with an RBI, run scored and a homer. Third baseman Haley Hayden chipped in with a pair of runs scored.
Ragin' Cajun reliever Kylee Jo Trahan (2-1) took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on one hit with a pair of walks and strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Starter Jordan Wallace went two innings, giving up three runs (two earned) with three walks on two hits. Alex Stewart allowed one run (earned) on two Jaguar hits over the final inning and two-thirds.
The teams traded a run apiece in the first inning, with Elkins supplying an RBI single down the left field line to score Hayden, who drew a leadoff walk, from second to put the Ragin' Cajuns ahead. Jaguar junior third baseman Emily Messer scored on a ULL fielding error to tie the contest at 1-all at half-inning later.
USA scratched two across to take a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second on junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington's two-run single to right center, which plated Johnson and freshman Kaleigh Todd. Johnson singled through the right side to lead off, while Todd drew a walk a batter later.
Landry and Elkins each supplied solo homers to lead off the top of the third, as ULL answered by tying the game, 3-3, before USA regained the lead, 4-3, in the bottom half on Johnson's sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Alyssa Linn. Linn pinch ran for freshman second baseman Kristian Foster, who was hit by a Trahan pitch.
Griffith put the Jags ahead, 7-3, in the bottom of the fifth when she took the first pitch she saw from Trahan deep over the scoreboard in left center, scoring senior Gwen Jones, pinch-running for Rathburn, who drew a leadoff walk, and Foster, who also drew a walk.
Rathburn took Stewart deep with two outs on the board in the bottom of the sixth to give the Jaguars an 8-3 advantage.
Louisiana-Lafayette scored two runs off three hits in the top of the seventh to place pressure on the Jaguar defense, beginning with Hayden RBI single up the middle, which scored pinch-hitter Taylor Terrio, who led off with a base hit.
Landry then lined into a double started by Messer, who leapt to snag a sharp stroke and threw to Todd at second for a force out. Hayden then rounded home on third baseman Samantha Walsh's single to left field. After ULL first baseman Kelsey Vincent drew a walk to load the bases, McGill forced top Ragin' Cajun hitter Aleah Craighton into a groundout to end the contest.
South Alabama returns to action this Wednesday when it hosts Alabama State in a midweek contest scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Jaguar Field. Ticket information can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page.
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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Drake Drives in Four; Thorpe Gets Ninth Win; GSU Sweeps Troy
What you need to know:
* GSU defeated Troy 4-3 to complete the Sun Belt Conference series sweep.
* Taylor Thorpe earned her ninth win and remained undefeated (9-0) this season.
* Ivie Drake drove in all four runs for Georgia State including the game-winning home run.
* The 16-2 Panthers now look to keep their 13-game win streak alive at home against Tennessee Tech Wednesday, March 11.
Drake Drives in Four; Thorpe Gets Ninth Win; GSU Sweeps Troy
ATLANTA – Behind an outstanding performance at the plate by freshman Ivie Drake, Georgia State finished the sweep of Troy with a 4-3 victory at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. The Panthers have now won 13 straight games and improve to 16-2, including a 3-0 mark in the Sun Belt.
“It was great to complete the sweep with a win today to keep the momentum rolling,” head coach Roger Kincaid said. “That is what we talked about and I challenged the team to go out there and do it. You have to win games like this in order to have a great season.”
Drake was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a home run. She drove in all four of GSU’s runs and scored once herself. Taylor Anderson also doubled for the Panthers’ only other hit. Lauren Coleman drew two walks to become the career walks leader in Georgia State history with 134.
Taylor Thorpe pitched 3.0 innings in relief en route to her ninth victory of the season. She is now 9-0 this season and is tied for first in wins in the conference standings. Katie Worley started the game and pitched 4.0 innings. She allowed two runs on three hits while striking out six.
GSU jumped in front early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ashley Christy reached on an error before Coleman and Callie Alford walked to load the bases for Drake. The freshman catcher then doubled to right center to clear the bases and put Georgia State up 3-0. Troy pulled two runs back in the top of the second to make it a 3-2 game after two complete.
Then after three scoreless innings, the Trojans tied the game at three on Hannah Day’s RBI single up the middle in the sixth. However, the tie was short lived as the Panthers retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth on Drake’s solo homer.
Thorpe then retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to secure the win. The Panthers return to Bob Heck Field Wednesday, March 11 to host Tennessee Tech for a doubleheader beginning at 3 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.
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Warhawks Sweep Mountaineers in Sun Belt Series Opener
WINGATE, N.C. – Powered by a shutout performance from sophomore Melanie Coyne, the Warhawks topped Appalachian State in the series finale to secure ULM’s first Sun Belt Conference opening series sweep in program history.
The sweep marks the first three-game conference series sweep for the Warhawks (17-6, 3-0 SBC) since 2011 when ULM swept then conference member Middle Tennessee State.
Coyne led the charge for the Warhawks pitching 6.2 innings of shutout softball and moved to 4-3 on the season. The sophomore no-hit the Mountaineers (8-10, 0-3 SBC) through three innings and allowed on four hits in the game.
Coyne continued to be lethal on the mound striking out eight Appalachian State batters for a total of 21 strikeouts on the weekend.
Freshman Paige Porter closed the game, coming into the seventh inning to record the final out.
Senior Alexis Cacioppo powered the offense, going 1-for-1 with three RBI, two runs scored and drawing two walks. Cacioppo’s four RBI-weekend, moves her to 17 on the season and 109 RBI on her career. She is three RBI shy of moving to fifth on ULM’s all-time, career RBI leaderboard.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts went 2-for-2, extending her hit streak to seven games, scoring two runs for the Warhawks. Sophomore Vanessa Garcia posted a three-hit game for the Warhawks with one RBI.
The Warhawks and Mountaineers exchanged two scoreless innings, before the Warhwaks struck first in the top of the third. Sophomore Sidney Coy led off the inning with a double down the left field line.
After advancing to third on a groundout from redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete, Coy scored off a bunt single from Roberts. Roberts would swipe second and advanced to third on a grounder from junior Faith Bohack.
Cacioppo drew a two-out walk and swiped second to move two Warhawks into scoring position. Junior Amye Barre loaded the bases with two-out drawing the second walk on the inning. Garcia singled to centerfield scoring Roberts.
Appalachian State made the out at home on the play to save a second run from scoring, but the Warhawks left the top of third with a 2-0 lead.
Freshman Cheyanne Lyon singled through the right side to lead off the fourth inning for ULM with senior Mackenzie Miller entering the game to pinch run for the freshman. After swiping second with one out, Miller advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt single from Coy.
Coy moved into scoring position by swiping second. Miller would come home on a throwing error on Appalachian State’s pitcher Vanessa Ciocatto, advancing Coy to third. Roberts singled to centerfield with two outs to drive home Coy and give the Warhawks a 4-0 lead.
Cynthia Gomez broke Coyne’s no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth, but Appalachian State could not manufacture a run as the Mountaineers scattered three more hits through the remainder of the game and secured ULM’s second shutout victory of the season.
The Warhawks put their undefeated home record on the line hosting a nine-game home stand beginning on Wednesday, March 11 as ULM hosts Incarnate Word in a doubleheader with games slated at 4 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 Completes Weekend Sweep Over Georgia Southern
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Texas State softball team completed the three-game sweep of conference newcomer Georgia Southern Sunday afternoon with a 5-3 victory over the Eagles. Texas State moves to a perfect 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play and 14-10 overall as the Bobcats have now won the last five straight.
Juniors Kelli Baker and Kendall Wiley led the way offensively for Texas State, as Baker finished the day going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and Wiley went a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate while drawing a pair of walks.
Texas State got up early on the Eagles, scoring three in the first inning. Baker led the inning off with the Bobcats only hit in the first before a Georgia Southern error and a pair of walks resulted in the early lead for Texas State.
The Bobcats had opportunities to add more in the top of the fifth inning, but ultimately stranded three runners on the bases without a runner coming home.
The momentum that the Bobcats picked up in the fifth paid off in the top of the sixth. With bases loaded and one out, Wiley hit a single to left field to score Courtney Harris and Baker for the fourth and fifth Bobcat runs of the contest.
Down 5-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles attempted to rally to avoid the sweep in the conference opening weekend. Despite allowing Georgia Southern to put three runs on the board, the Bobcats managed to hang on to begin conference play with a perfect record.
Randi Rupp earned her 10th collegiate victory on Sunday after putting in seven innings of work with four strikeouts. She allowed just five hits and two earned runs in the victory.
With the weekend sweep, head coach Ricci Woodard is now just two victories shy of eclipsing 500 in her 15-year career at Texas State.
Texas State will now return home for the next six contests, beginning with a non-conference match-up against Lamar on Wednesday evening. First pitch against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Live stats, live video, and live audio will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.
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Mavericks fall to Texas Tech in Tournament Finale
LUBBOCK, Texas. – Texas Tech powered 13 runs to defeat UT Arlington 13-5 on Sunday in the final game of the Texas Tech Invitational at Rocky Johnson Field.
The Mavericks were overcome by three Red Raider home runs, including two grand slams, and fell to 3-2 to conclude the tournament. Overall, UTA finished its tournament schedule with a 14-10 record before its Sun Belt Conference opener next weekend against No. 7 Louisiana.
"There are three aspects of the game and we are depending only on one right now," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "We need to continue to work on becoming more well rounded as a team but even in a game like that this team doesn't quit and that is a really important quality to have."
Senior Nina Villanueva and junior Britnea Barilli were bright spots for the offense. Villanueva led with a team-high three RBI, finishing with a pair of hits. Barilli had two hits, scored two runs and had a RBI.
UTA starter Sam Montes went to 5-6 in the loss. Montes gave up nine runs (eight earned) in three innings of work. Taylor Simmonds pitched an inning in relief, allowing four hits.
Villanueva's tripled in the first provided a quick jolt for the Mavericks, scoring Barilli from first. Shelbi Sikes doubled to give UTA a 2-0 lead.
The Red Raiders wasted little time for a response. Texas Tech loaded the bases with one out and Ashley Fultz sent a 1-1 pitch over the center-field wall.
UTA scored three runs over the next two innings to jump back into the lead. However, Texas Tech answered right back with a grand slam and a two-run homer in the fourth. The Red Raiders scored nine runs on seven hits overall.
The Mavericks and Ragin' Cajuns begin their three-game series on Friday at 6 p.m. Louisiana opened its Sun Belt schedule with a 2-1 record against South Alabama.