Wednesday, April 8, 2015
No-hitter highlights doubleheader sweep for UT Arlington
ARLINGTON, Texas – A no-hitter overshadowed records falling as UT Arlington swept Central Arkansas on Wednesday at Allan Saxe Field in nonconference action.
Sophomore Sam Montes was all but perfect for the Mavericks in Game 1, tossing the first no-hitter for UTA since Teri Lyles in 2013. Montes (12-10) gave up a walk in the first inning and did not allow another baserunner in the 8-0, five-inning, run-rule.
"I am really excited," Montes said. "If it wasn't for Britnea Barilli and Haley Henson making those amazing plays I would of not had that no- hitter. I would put the credit on them. Us together helped me get that no-hitter"
Montes picked up her first-career save in Game 2 as the Mavericks rallied to win 2-1 in the finale.
"Sam did a great job," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "She is a competitor. We like to give her the ball and see what she can do. The defense did a really good job playing behind her and with the wind blowing in we got a lot of pops and made a lot of plays."
Shadowed by the performance of Montes in the circle, senior Nina Villanueva broke UTA's all-time record for runs in a season. Villanueva scored two runs in the doubleheader to surpass Katie Jones' 44 in 2007.
"Nina has done a lot since she has been here," Fox said. "She has been here three years and I can only imagine what she could do with four. She has gone through a lot, has had her ups and downs, and has battled through all of it."
Villanueva's run in Game 2 tied the game in the sixth as Shelbi Sikes doubled with two outs.
"It is awesome," Villanueva said. "It was a great team win to come out here and get that. Sandra Mendoza did really well also. I think we definitely help each other because we are competitive. We are competitive with each other and I think it helps the team."
The UTA shortstop finished with two hits on the day.
Mendoza crossed the plate twice in Game 1 as she was 2-for-3 at the plate. Mendoza is tied with Jones for second in single-season history.
Junior Mya Anderson hit her second grand slam of the season in Game 1 as part of a six-run outburst for the Mavs in the fourth. Anderson's 10th homer of the season tied her for seventh in single-season history. She is one behind teammate Meagan Michele in fifth.
The Mavericks return to Sun Belt action on Saturday at ULM. First pitch of the three-game series is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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Panthers Pound Six HR; Crush Kennesaw State 12-4
KENNESAW, Ga. –Behind a program record and season-high six home runs, the Georgia State softball team cruised to a 12-4 victory over crosstown rival Kennesaw State at Bailey Softball Complex in Kennesaw, Ga. Wednesday night.
“It is always good to get a win over a crosstown rival,” head coach Roger Kincaid said after the big win. “We focus on winning the state of Georgia and tonight’s victory keeps us on track to accomplish that this season. After a down period, we have come back extremely strong swinging the bats and doing what we need to do to win.”
Lauren Coleman and Megan Litumbe led the way with two home runs and three RBI each. Ivie Drake also finished with three RBI and a homer. Kensey Caldwell also hit one out of the park and drove in two. Taylor Thorpe pitched a complete game en route to her 14th win of the season. She scattered 10 hits over seven innings and allowed four runs.
“I am so proud of Taylor,” Kincaid said. “She has stepped up this season and is trying to be a leader in the circle for us. She has pitched really well over the past three games and it shows with three wins. We look for her momentum to continue this weekend.”
The Panthers jumped out on early lead thanks to three home runs in the top of the first inning. Taylor Anderson was hit by a pitch and Ashely Christy walked, before Drake cleared the bases with her 14th homer of the season to put GSU up 3-0. Then Litumbe and Coleman both hit solo shots to make it 5-0 after one.
After a scoreless second, Georgia State added four more to its lead in the third. Callie Alford was hit by a pitch and then scored on Coleman’s second home run of the game. Mandy Blackwell then reached on an error before she scored on Caldwell’s two-run bomb to center.
Kennesaw State responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 9-2 game. Neither team scored in the fourth and the Owls added a single run in the fifth to cut the Panthers’ lead to 9-3 after five.
In the top of the sixth, Drake singled and scored when Litumbe blasted her second homer of the game and 16th of the season to put GSU up 11-3. Kennesaw State scored one in the bottom of the sixth to avoid the run-rule. Georgia State then added one in the top of the seventh on Anderson’s RBI single before Thorpe retired the Owl side in order to clinch the 12-4 win.
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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No. 22 Jaguar Softball Drops Nicholls State at Home Wednesday
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 22 University of South Alabama softball scored 11 runs on 10 hits to defeat Nicholls State, 11-7, on Wednesday night at Jaguar Field, with pitcher Farish Beard picking up the win and Kalen McGill recording the save.
USA (28-7) extends its win streak in all competitions to seven games, while moving to 13-4 at home this season. South Alabama also improves to 12-4 all-time versus Nicholls State (22-15).
Jaguar junior third baseman Emily Messer led the hosts on 3-for-4 hitting with a pair of RBI and three runs scored, increasing her hit streak to seven games. Sophomore Amanda Minahan improved her 11-game span of reaching safely after recording three hits with a run.
Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith and sophomore Chloe Rathburn each supplied three RBI and a run apiece, while senior left fielder Blair Johnson lifted a home run in the fifth and finished with two RBI.
South Alabama scored in all but one inning, powered by a four-run first, and outhit the Colonels, 10-8, on the night. The Jags have now recorded double-digit hit totals in six of their last seven contests.
Beard moved to 6-2 with the win on Wednesday after striking out five to two walks, while allowing four runs (all earned) on five Colonel hits in four starting frames. McGill picked up her third save of the year – she's now third all-time at USA in the category – after throwing three relief innings and striking out seven to no walks and allowing three runs (one earned) on as many hits.
"Nicholls has been playing well, and we knew coming in that they were winning and had been playing with a lot of confidence," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "Their slappers did a good job putting the ball in play against Farish, but she started to work it out toward the end, and she started throwing a bit better in the end. [Kalen] came in and did a good job of slamming the door.
"I thought our offense did a great job today of coming in and setting the tone," Clark added. "We applied pressure all throughout the game. That's been one of our goals: to be consistent with that. We're going to look to carry that over into the weekend."
Nicholls State jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Parkerson, after leading off the night with a double to left center, scored on Morris's base hit.
USA answered by plating four in the bottom half of the initial frame.
Rathburn supplied an infield RBI single that scored Messer, who led off with a base hit, and Griffith followed with a two-run double to left center, which scored Rathburn and freshman Kristian Foster, who drew a walk after Messer's base hit. Johnson then lifted a sacrifice fly to right center to score Griffith to give USA a 4-1 lead after one complete.
The Colonels pulled even with the Jaguars in the top of the second with three runs, beginning with Parkerson's two-out, two-run double to right center, which plated Jessica Taylor and Cari Spain, who singled and walked, respectively. Morris supplied another RBI on her single to shallow center, which allowed Parkerson to score the tying run.
Pilkington delivered a hard hit to score Messer from second after the latter stole her 30th career base, which moves her to fifth all-time at South Alabama, as USA went ahead, 5-4, in the bottom of the second.
After a scoreless third inning, USA put up two runs apiece across the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to take an 11-4 lead.
Rathburn drew a bases-loaded walk to score Messer, and Griffith lifted a sacrifice to left field to plate freshman Kaleigh Todd in the bottom of the fourth for a 7-4 Jaguar lead.
USA's advantage grew to 9-4 an inning later when Johnson led off with a solo bomb, her fourth of the year, and Rathburn drew a second base on balls with the bags full.
The Jags grew a seven-run lead in the bottom of the sixth on Messer's two-out, two-run double to center field, which allowed Herron, who walked, and Minahan, who led off with a single, to come around.
Nicholls State scratched three across in the top of the seventh, beginning with Morris's infield single that scored Spain, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Morris and Parkerson then scored on a Jaguar throwing error before McGill retired the final two Colonel hitters swinging to end the contest.
Jackie Johnson suffered the loss for Nicholls State, falling to 5-7 on the year after giving up seven runs (all earned) on as many hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts. Taylor Hastings threw 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two runs (both earned) on one hit with two walks. Hannah Haydel gave up two runs (both earned) on as many hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout in 1 1/3 relief frames.
USA returns to Sun Belt Conference play when it hosts Georgia Southern this weekend in a three-game league set. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and precedes the Sunday finale, scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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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Camp’s Shutout Rescues Doubleheader Split at Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.– Georgia Southern Softball split a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader, dropping the first game 8-5, but rallying for a 4-0 win in game two. Kierra Camp pitched a four-hit shutout in game two as the Eagles hurler posted her first shutout of the season in the win. Next up is a Sun Belt series at South Alabama starting Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. (ET).
“Kierra (Camp) pitched a great game in game two, and we played much better as a team,” said Head Coach Annie Smith. “We got some great hits, and I’m really happy with the way we battled to get the split. Jacksonville is a very good team and we played well defensively. Now we’ve got to keep things going against a very good South Alabama team on the road this weekend.”
GAME ONE – GS 8 – JU 5
Jacksonville got two runs in the second inning off a pair of hits to post a 2-0 lead. A two-run home run in the fourth capped a five-run frame as the home side stretched its legs.
Lexi Allen got the Eagles in business with a two-run home run to the left side. It was her third home run in the last two games and her sixth this season. The long ball cut the JU lead to 7-2 as she hit her 14th career home run.
Jacksonville played small ball in the sixth to score an insurance run before the Eagles’ final trip to the plate. The Eagles scored three in the top of the seventh following a pair of JU errors and an infield ground out by Emily Snider. Three, however, was all the Eagles would get in the seventh as the three-game win streak came to an end.
GAME TWO – GS 4 – JU 0
The Georgia Southern offense combined with some shaky defending from Jacksonville to plate four runs in the second inning. Three Eagle hits offset two JU errors as RBIs from Brianna McLendon and Alesha Mann quickly put the Eagles up 2-0. Two more crossed with two outs in the inning when Emily Snider singled through the left side to put Georgia Southern up 4-0.
Those runs would prove to be enough as Camp shut down the Eagles in the pitching circle. The freshman tossed her first collegiate shutout for her sixth win of the season. She scattered four hits and struck out three while walking four in the outing.
The Eagles continue their road swing this weekend with a three-game set at South Alabama. The Eagles visit Mobile for the first time as members of the Sun Belt for the series which starts on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) / 2 p.m. (ET).
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. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
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Warhawks Close Road Stand with Loss to Louisiana Tech
RUSTON, La. – The Warhawks (24-13, 8-5 SBC) closed out their tough road stretch dropping an 1-3 midweek battle to Louisiana Tech (25-10) at the Lady Techster Softball Complex on Wednesday.
The Warhawks struck first by taking a lead in the third inning, but the Lady Techster used a fourth-inning homer to take the lead that Louisiana Tech would hold till the end.
Junior Faith Bohack led the offense for the Warhawks going 1-for-3 with an RBI single, marking her 29th RBI on the season. Freshman Cheyanne Lyon also went 1-for-3 with a double on the night, the only extra-base hit for the Warhawks.
Sophomore Sidney Coy scored the lone Warhawk run as she went 1-for-2 on the day.
Sophomore Melanie Coyne made the start for the Warhawks and went the distance, going a full six innings. Coyne allowed three runs on five hits, issued three walks and struck out two. Coyne was tagged with the loss and moved to 9-7 on the season.
ULM and Louisiana Tech were locked in a pitching duel early with Bailey Allen and Coyne retiring the first 13 batters in the game.
The Warhawks broke through first with a one-out, bunt single from Coy. After Coy stole second to move into scoring position, sophomore Rochelle Roberts followed with a two-out bunt single to put runners on the corners for ULM.
Roberts swiped her 30th base on the season to move two runners into scoring position, and Bohack capitalized with a two-out single to centerfield to allow the Warhawks to strike first with a 1-0 lead.
Louisiana Tech saw its first base runner in the bottom of third with a leadoff walk. With a single and sacrifice bunt, the Lady Techsters moved two runners in scoring position with one out.
An infield single allowed a run to score for Louisiana Tech and locked the game a 1-all, but the Warhawk defense held strong to not allow another run to cross in the bottom of the third.
The Warhawks knocked back-to-back, two-out hits in the top of the fourth with a single from senior Molly Mackey and a double from freshman Cheyanne Lyon, but the Lady Techster defense made the final out of the inning at home to keep the game tied at 1-all.
After issuing a one-out walk, Janine Goodwin knocked a two-out homer to centerfield to put the Lady Techsters on top 1-3.
The Warhawks led off the top of the seventh with a single up the middle from junior Amye Barre, but the Warhawks could not manufacture a rally and fell to the Lady Techsters 1-3.
The Warhawks return home to the ULM Softball Complex on Saturday, April 11 to host UT Arlington in a three-game, conference series. Saturday sees a doubleheader with the Mavericks with games at 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 Drops Midweek Game To No. 14 Baylor
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team suffered a 6-1 setback against No. 14 Baylor in its annual Strikeout Cancer game on Wednesday evening at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Prior to the start of the contest, the Bobcats recognized head baseball coach Ty Harrington and Courtney Harris’ aunt, Allison Landherr, by having them throw out the honorary first pitch.
Texas State falls to 22-18 overall and enters the conference weekend with a 6-5 Sun Belt mark.
The Bobcat offense was sparked by Kelli Baker in the bottom of the third inning with her second triple of the season. Kimberlin Naivar led the inning off with a double to right center field before being moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sara Rupp. Baker then scored Naivar for the lone Bobcat run and her 18th RBI of the year.
Tied at one heading to the top of the fourth, Baylor tacked on its second run of the game to regain the lead over the Bobcats.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats used back-to-back singles by Harris and Kortney Koroll to put runners on first and second, but failed to move them around to score.
It was in the top of the sixth that Baylor added its insurance runs with back-to-back-to-back solo home runs, making it a 5-1 ball game. The Bears proceeded to add one more in the top of the seventh to make it a five-run game.
Randi Rupp was handed the loss after tossing four innings for the ‘Cats. She struck out two and allowed two runs. Baker, Harris, Koroll, Naivar, and Wiley all recorded a hit for Texas State.
Texas State will remain at the Bobcat Softball Stadium this weekend for a conference series against the Troy Trojans. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Trojans is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s first pitch will be at 12 p.m. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com. For ticket information, please call 512-245-2272 or go online at www.txstatebobcats.com/tickets.
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Wednesday Softball Against Elon Canceled
BOONE, N.C. – Due to impending thunderstorms in the forecast, Appalachian State University softball's doubleheader with Elon has been canceled. The twinbill with the former Southern Conference foe was originally slated to start at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Mountaineers return to action this weekend when they travel to Atlanta, Ga. for a Sun Belt Conference weekend series at Georgia State. Both teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 beginning at 1 p.m. A single game on Sunday, April 12 is also set for a 1 p.m. start.
Appalachian State will be home again next Wednesday, April 15 when they host Radford in a mid-week doubleheader slated to start at 5 p.m.