App State Loses to Brown and Wagner
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Appalachian State University softball was held to just one run on three hits in a 4-1 loss to Brown before Wagner walked off with a 5-3 win over the Mountaineers in the second game of the day.
App State's record now sits at 2-12 while the Bears and the Seahawks both improved to 2-1 with their wins. Brown and Wagner were set to play each other for the nightcap.
Tiffany Taynor and Cara Parker were the lone student-athletes with two hits as Taynor went 2-for-3 with a run scored in game two and Parker had a base knock in each game including the game-tying three-run home run against the Seahawks in the top of the seventh.
Game One: Brown 4, App State 1
In the top of the second, Parker singled to the shortstop with one out, moved over to third with a groundout and a stolen base before coming in to score thanks to Katie Mathewson's single.
However, Brown went ahead 2-1 in that inning and 4-1 with a run in both the fourth and fifth frames. That was all the support Bears' starter Katie Orona (2-0) needed as she went the distance with one earned run given up on three hits, three walks and nine strikeouts. Orona's ERA is now 1.00 through 14 innings of action.
Vanessa Ciocatto (1-5) suffered the loss with two earned runs surrendered in two innings pitched. In relief, Annaleise Kennedy tossed four innings with the final two earned runs given up on six hits.
Game Two: Wagner 5, App State 3
With Wagner ahead 3-0 in the top of the seventh, Pepper Butler walked and Taynor singled to put runners on first and second for Parker. As mentioned above, Parker came through with the game-tying three-run blast and the score was knotted up at 3-3.
The tie didn't last long as Hana Gilbert walked it off in the bottom of the seventh for the Seahawks with one out and Brianna Tredway standing on first base.
Starter Katherine Johnson lasted just one inning and Ciocatto (1-6) took the loss with 5.1 innings of work, five runs, three earned, on seven hits, two free passes and one punchout.
The Black and Gold will wrap up their play in Rock Hill on Sunday against Towson with first pitch set for 12 p.m. Appalachian already saw the Tigers a week ago at Coastal Carolina and lost by a score of 11-1 in six innings.
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Eagle Softball Secures Series Win Over Iowa
CONWAY, S.C. – The Georgia Southern softball team split a pair of games Saturday at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, falling 9-5 to the host Chanticleers before exploding for a 10-2, five-inning win over Iowa.
GAME 1 – CCU 9, GS 5
The Chants struck first with a solo home run in the second inning, but A.J. Hamilton knotted the game up in the third inning with an RBI ground out. In the fourth inning, Alesha Mann singled and stole second and scored on Lydia Witkowski's infield single when CCU committed an error on the play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Chants hit a solo home run and then busted the game open with four more runs. CCU plated two more in the sixth inning, but Emily Snider drove in Rogers with a double and then Hamilton drove in another run before Hannah Farrell drove in the final run. But in the end, the rally came up just short.
After picking up three hits on Friday, Witkowski continued her hot weekend, picking up two more hits. Alesha Mann and Snider also had two hits apiece while Hamilton, Farrell and Rogers had the other hits.
Kierra Camp got the start and recorded two strikeouts in the loss.
GAME 2 – GS 10, IOWA 2 (5)
Iowa plated two runs in the first inning on a two-run home run but GS responded right back, scoring six runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, Witkowski reached on an infield single to plate a run before Rogers drove in two with a single and Robinson drove in two more with a single of her own. Hamilton drove in a run with the Eagles' sixth hit of the inning.
In the third inning, Rogers drove in two more runs to make it 8-2, giving her a career-high four RBI. Robinson would not be outdone, driving in two more runs to make it 10-2 and give her four RBI for the game, as well.
The Eagles pounded out 10 hits, led by two apiece from Witkowski, Rogers and Robinson. Also picking up hits were Snider, Hamilton, Farrell and Mann.
Dixie Raley (W, 5-3) settled down nicely after the first inning to pick up the win. The freshman allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
After a split of a doubleheader on Friday, the Eagles pick up the series win against the Hawkeyes of the Big 10 Conference.
The Eagles will conclude action in the Palmetto State on Sunday, taking on host Coastal Carolina at noon.
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Panthers Add Two Wins to Advance to Final
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Georgia State’s softball team improved to 8-7 on the season with wins against Seton Hall and Eastern Michigan Saturday to advance to the USF Series Tournament Final in Clearwater, Fla.
In the Seton Hall game, the Panthers rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Pirates 10-7. Georgia State gave up three runs in the top of the third to fall behind 4-0, but GSU put seven runs of their own on the board in the bottom of the fifth thanks to some Seton Hall defensive miscues. Taylor Thorpe, who was credited with the win in the circle, had a single and a two-RBI double in that productive fifth frame. Thorpe (2-2, 4.58) entered the game in relief of starter Katie Worley and threw 4.2 innings, allowing just one earned run. Sophomore Brenna Skalski went 3-for-4 in the game with three runs scores.
GSU’s win gave the Panthers the No. 2 seed at the completion of round robin play, pitting GSU against Eastern Michigan in the semifinal. Annie Davis (2-2, 2.38) was dominant in the second game of the day, earning a complete-game shutout and holding the Eagles to just three hits. Mandy Blackwell was 1-for-4 with three RBI, increasing her team-leading total to 15 on the season.
Villanova defeated Seton Hall in the other semifinal game and will face the Panthers in the tournament final Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
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JAG SOFTBALL FALLS TWICE AT HOME ON SATURDAY
MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball dropped a pair of contests at its own 2016 South Alabama Invitational on Saturday.
The Jaguars (7-6) lost to Dartmouth, 12-7, in a slugfest before being shut out by Wichita State pitcher Katie Malone in a 3-0 game two defeat. USA is now 1-2 at the event after Friday's 5-0 win over Bowling Green and will look to even its record on the weekend when it faces Dartmouth again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
"We're not going to make any excuses," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We have some people out of the lineup, but at the end of the day we've got a job to do. We've got to come in and play ball. We've got to swing the bats, we've got to make pitches, and we've got to play solid defense. It's a simple game; we've got to play with fundamentals, and we've got to compete. If we do that, then we'll be okay."
Links to live stats, video and ticket information for Sunday's contest can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided for each contest via the program's official account, @USAJagsSoftball.
USA 7, Dartmouth 12
USA twice took the lead versus Dartmouth (1-3) in game one, before the Big Green pulled away by scoring 11 runs over the final four innings. Kaleigh Todd's triple to left center scored Emily Messer, who led off with a double, to put USA ahead, 1-0, in the first inning.
Brianna Lohmann answered with an RBI single to center field to plate Kelsey Miller, as Dartmouth pulled even in the top of the second. Haleigh Lane's base hit in the bottom of the third once again gave the hosts a one-run lead, but the Big Green put up a five-spot in the top of the fourth by way of Kathy Dzienkowski's bases-loaded walk and Katie McEachern's grand slam.
USA scratched a pair of runs across in the bottom of the fourth to cut the visitor lead to two runs, 6-4, but Dartmouth scored another four runs in the top of the fifth, beginning with Miller's RBI single. Dzienkowski then doubled to score Miller, and then scored behind Maddie Damore on a Jaguar throwing error.
Paige Holmes and Lane scored when Savanna Mayo reached on a Big Green fielding error, as USA pulled to within four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Karen Chaw doubled to right center to score Morgan Martinelli in the top of the sixth, and Martinelli supplied an RBI single to score McEachern an inning later to put Dartmouth ahead, 12-6. Mayo doubled to right center in the bottom of the seventh to score pinch-runner Megan Harris to cut the Jag deficit to five runs.
Dartmouth outhit USA, 13-9, and won despite committing four errors. South Alabama committed two errors in the game.
Martinelli and Miller each recorded three hits and combined for five runs, followed by Chaw's two hits. McEachern supplied four RBI in the contest and scored twice. Dzienkowski scored two runs and drove in two.
For USA, Lane and Mayo each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored apiece.
Morgan McCalmon earned her first win of the season after striking out eight to three walks with seven runs allowed (three earned) on nine hits.
USA starter Destin Vicknair suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 after allowing seven runs (all earned) on as many hits in four innings with four strikeouts, two hit by pitches and a walk. Reliever Abby Tincher gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits with five walks in three innings.
USA 0, Wichita State 3
Malone carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning versus USA in the night cap, before Mayo got on with a leadoff single to left field.
Wichita State (7-6) struck in the first inning on Liz Broyles's RBI single to right field, which scored Brittany Fortner, who singled with two outs on the board.
Cassidy Kelsheimer lifted a solo homer to left field in the top of the fifth to double the Shocker lead to 2-0. Cacy Williams's RBI triple – only the second USA has given up all year – plated Paige Luellen for the final three-run margin.
Malone (1-3) earned her first win of the season after striking out a pair to two walks and scattering three Jaguar hits.
Devin Brown fell to 3-4 on the year giving up three runs (all earned) on five Shocker hits, while tying her season high with 11 strikeouts to two walks. It was the fourth time this season Brown has struck out 11 batters and the third appearance in a row that she's done so.
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Texas State Looks To Finish Strong After Splitting Saturday
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Texas State softball team split on day two of the Grand Canyon Invitational with a 2-0 victory over Montana and a 10-0 setback against host school Grand Canyon. The Bobcats move to 11-4 on the year and 2-2 in the Phoenix based tournament.
So far this weekend, Texas State's two victories have come against Montana. Texas State will play one game tomorrow against Northern Illinois and will look to split with the Huskies after falling on day one by a score of 7-3.
Game One – Montana
Texas State, for the ninth time this season, scored its first run of the day on its first trip up to the plate. With one out, Quincy Charleston and Ariel Ortiz drew back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second for Corrina Liscano. Liscano drove Charleston home on a double to left for her 10th RBI of the season.
The only other hit for Texas State in the contest came in the second inning as Kelli Baker hit a two-out double to center. She stole third to be in prime position to score, but was ultimately stranded as the Griz got out of the inning with a strikeout.
Reaching on an error in the fifth inning, Bianca Prado got on base to lead-off the inning. After Prado stole second, Baker became the second base runner of the inning by drawing a walk. With one out, Ariel Ortiz laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Prado for the second run of the game.
The doubles by Liscano and Baker proved to be the only two Bobcat hits of the game. Montana finished with four hits, but 10 strikeouts by Randi Rupp and no runs allowed lifted Texas State to its 11th victory of the year. Rupp improved to 8-3 with the win.
Game Two – Grand Canyon
Kelli Baker led the game off with a single for Texas State and made her way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lexi Fryar and a stolen base. She was unable to score, however, as Grand Canyon retired the next three Bobcats in order.
A pair of home runs in the first inning by Grand Canyon quickly gave the Antelopes a 5-0 lead over Texas State.
Quincy Charleston came in relief in the bottom of the second inning for Texas State. Despite five runs scoring in the inning to give Grand Canyon a 10-0 lead, all of them were unearned due to defensive miscues in the first half of the inning.
Charleston finished the game pitching two scoreless innings in the third and fourth with two strikeouts and no walks allowed. Paige Williams was dealt her first loss of the season and falls to 3-1 overall.
Texas State concluded the contest with three hits, one belonging each to Baker, Ortiz, and Prado. Baker made her way to the base paths twice as she drew one of the two Texas State walks.
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Troy Softball Sweeps Saturday at the Trojan Warrior Tournament
TROY, Alabama – The Troy softball team kept rolling as it picked up two more wins with a pair of big innings on Saturday at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans defeated Dayton, 3-2, in the first game of the day and knocked off Missouri State, 5-2, in the nightcap.
TROY 3, DAYTON 2
Troy (9-4) was trailing, 2-0, in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hannah Day doubled to left field scoring Kate Benton, who singled, and Erica Davis, who was hit by a pitch. Later in the inning, Ashley Rainey came to the plate with two outs and singled to right field to score Day and give the Trojans the 3-2 lead. Rainey, who picked up the win in the circle, shut the door in the seventh to clinch the victory for Troy.
Dayton (5-4) scored the first run of the game in the first inning when Kailee Budicin singled to right field scoring Katelyn Gibson who pinch ran for Gabrielle Snyder. The second run for the Flyers came in the third inning when Jaclyn Kweder plated Aspyn Novak with a sac fly.
Rainey (5-4) did not walk a batter and allowed just the two runs on four hits in her complete game effort in the circle. Jessica Gilliam (1-2) suffered the loss for the Flyers as she allowed all three Trojan runs on just two hits in 5.1 innings of work.
TROY 5, MISSOURI STATE 2
Troy (10-4) came out swinging in the first inning scoring five runs. Benton got the hitting started as she led off the game by beating out an infield single. Day was hot on her heels with another infield single for the Trojans. Amanda Winters stepped up to the plate and launched her fourth home run of the season over the left center wall to give Troy a 3-0 lead.
Rainey pushed her hit streak out to six games with a double to center field and Carli Kayler laid a sacrifice bunt down to move her to third. Redshirt freshman Bailey Burk singled to center field to score Rainey and extend the Troy lead out to 4-0. The final run of the frame crossed on a Davis groundout later in the inning.
Missouri State got on the board in the second inning when Braxton Coil grounded out to second to score Elena Gambill, who reached on a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Bears only other run of the game came in the fourth inning when Hannah Heinrichs doubled to center field to score Erin Duewel.
Freshman Claire Graves (4-0) got the win in the circle for Troy and Peyton Glover recorded her second save on the young season. Graves allowed just a pair of runs – one earned – on six hits and one walk in 5.1 innings of work. Glover threw the final 1.2 innings of the game with one strikeout and just one hit allowed.
The Trojans are back in action Sunday with a doubleheader against Austin Peay at 12 p.m. and Mercer at 2:30 p.m. to wrap up the Trojan Warrior Tournament.
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Smith, Trahan Guide Cajuns to Saturday Sweep
LAFAYETTE – Macey Smith recorded a three-hit shutout of Rutgers and Kylee Jo Trahan pitched a perfect game against Alcorn State as the No. 6-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team picked up two victories in the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational on Saturday at Lamson Park.
Shellie Landry launched a three-run home run to lead the offense in an 8-0 (6 inn.) win over Rutgers which marked Smith's first collegiate victory. Landry, who was 3-for-3 against Alcorn State, topped all Cajuns with four hits on the day.
Lexie Elkins and DJ Sanders both homered and posted three RBI to fuel the Cajuns' 12-0 (5 inn.) win over Alcorn State. Elkins' home run was her 11th of the season and the 67th of her career which moved her past Gabriele Bridges for sole possession of fourth place in program history.
Trahan struck out nine Alcorn State hitters, reaching eight strikeouts for the fourth time this season, and hurled a no-hitter for the second straight day. She struck out a career-high tying 10 in a no-hit performance against Rutgers on Friday afternoon in the tournament opener.
No. 6 Louisiana (13-1) concludes a 10-game homestand and the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational on Sunday at 12 p.m. against Alcorn State (4-8).
After a scoreless first inning vs. Rutgers (2-11), the Cajuns took advantage of a pair of walks and wild pitches by Scarlet Knights starter Aubrie Levine in the second inning to claim the lead.
Levine issued one-out walks to Kara Gremillion and Kassidy Zeringue who moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Gremillion would score the game's first run on a ground out to second base by Haley Hayden while Zeringue crossed home plate on a wild pitch during Landry's at bat.
The lead remained 2-0 entering the bottom of the fourth after Smith stranded a Rutgers runner who moved to second base on an illegal pitch, then Landry broke the game open with her three-run home run.
Smith worked around a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth inning with a strikeout, force out at second base and grounder to first base after the Scarlet Knights had two runners on base following a two-out single by Dana Hendry.
Louisiana ended the contest in the sixth inning after Kelli Martinez singled through the right side to score Aleah Craighton (leadoff single) for a 7-0 edge, stole second base and scored on a Gremillion single into center field.
The Ragin' Cajuns scored in each inning, starting with a three-run home run from Elkins in the first inning, in defeating Alcorn State in the day's second contest.
Trahan began her march to the perfect game by striking out the side in the Braves' half of the first – the third time in the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational that she struck out the side.
Gremillion opened the second inning with her first collegiate home run, a solo shot to left center. A two-run double by Kelsey Vincent later in the inning increased the lead to 6-0.
Sanders delivered the next three runs for the Ragin' Cajuns by leading off the third inning with a solo home run and belting a two-run double in the fourth inning which scored Landry (single) and Elkins (walk).
The lone threat to Trahan's perfect game was a check swing grounder by Taylor Hughes that slowly rolled up the first base line. Elkins was able to get a handle on the ball and fire a strike to Vincent for the putout.
The fifth inning was highlighted by pinch-hit scoring at bats from Lexie Comeaux (RBI double) and Sarah Arceneaux (two-run double) that provided the final margin.
After inducing a popup by Vanessa Sanders, Trahan struck out Jordenne Taylor and Shamberlynn Alop for the final two outs of the contest.
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ULM Splits Day Two of UCA Invitational
MONROE, La. – The ULM softball squad split its two games Saturday at the UCA Invitational inside Farris Field, defeating Middle Tennessee State 8-0 before falling to Belmont 5-4.
ULM 8, MTSU 0 (six innings)
Junior Melanie Coyne threw her sixth complete game this season on a masterful outing where she scattered just two hits and struck out four, lifting the Warhawks to an 8-0 victory over MTSU.
ULM (10-3) jumped out to a 1-0 advantage early in the first inning when junior Rochelle Roberts advanced home on a steal attempt by freshman Sydney McKay. Roberts started the inning with a double but ended up on third because of a fielding error in left field.
While one run was all Coyne needed, the Warhawks struck for three more in the bottom of the third inning. Junior designated player McKinley Marks pulled a double to right center that plated McKay who singled to begin the inning.
Junior centerfielder Sidney Coy then brought home sophomore pinch runner Carlie Comeaux on an infield single and freshman pinch runner Victoria Pederson later scored on some heads up base running, advancing home as Coy stole second. This gave ULM a 4-0 lead.
Roberts scored again in the bottom of the fourth on a McKay groundout after she singled up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a Faith Bohack sacrifice fly to right field.
The Warhawks finally closed the door on the Raiders (8-5) in the bottom of the sixth inning. Roberts hit a one-out triple, her third of the year, to right center before scoring on another McKay groundout. Bohack then scored on a Marks single to left center and the game ended when senior Amye Barre plated sophomore pinch runner Hunter Hogan on a double to left center which activated the eight-run rule in ULM’s favor.
Roberts was a home run short of the cycle as she went 4-4 at the dish and scored three runs. This was Roberts’ second four-hit performance of the season as she also achieved the feat versus Prairie View A&M on Feb. 12. Barre, Bohack, Garcia and Marks each recorded two hits.
Belmont 5, ULM 4
The Warhawks were downed by the Bruins 5-4 as senior third baseman Jess Wilson hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning. ULM (10-4) held the advantage the entire game up to Wilson’s at bat.
After Roberts singled and stole second to commence the top of the first inning, Bohack hit a two-run homer to left center which gave the Warhawks an early 2-0 lead. ULM widened the gap to three in the top of the third when McKay singled down the left field line, advanced to second on an error and reached home on Barre’s single to right center.
Freshman Katlynn Kaminski retired the first eight batters she faced before running into some trouble in the bottom of the third inning. After Kaminski walked freshman Mac Stewart, the Bruins (1-11) strung together back-to-back singles, scoring Stewart and cutting into ULM’s lead at 3-1.
From the third inning forward, ULM managed just two hits the rest of the game. The Warhawks scored in the top of the seventh which nixed the Bruins run in the bottom of the sixth. ULM held a 4-2 lead into the final half inning.
Coyne entered the game looking to convert her second save of the season but gave up back-to-back hits, one of which was an RBI triple by junior Kayla Wells to make it a one-run game at 4-3. Coyne struck out the next two batters and on a 0-2 count, Wilson lifted a Coyne pitch over the fence in left to win the game.
Roberts, Bohack and McKay finished with two hits, but the rest of the team went a combined 1-18. Roberts is on a 10-game hitting streak and has reached base in 13 straight games. Sophomore Paige Porter threw 0.2 scoreless innings in relief on 12 pitches.
The Warhawks return to action tomorrow in their final game of the UCA Invitational versus South Dakota State on a 9 a.m. scheduled first pitch.
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UTA Bats come alive in Day 2 sweep
CHARLESTON, S.C. - UT Arlington softball came out in Day 2 of the Wingate by Windham Invitational with an offensive explosion, cranking out a combined 25 hits in the two-game sweep on Saturday.
Sandra Mendoza and Krista Rude led the Mavericks (14-0) offensively. Mendoza was 6-for-9, extending her hitting streak to 14 games, while Rude was 4-for-7 and pushed her streak to 11. Laura Curry recorded a pair of hits in both games to have four hits in the two-game sweep.
The Mavs conclude the tournament on Sunday against Delaware State at 12 p.m. CT.
Game 1: UT Arlington 8, Savannah State 5
Final Stats
After a pitcher's duel in the nightcap of Day 1 against Charleston Southern, the bats came alive against Savannah State in Game 1.
Mendoza was 4-for-5 with two triples, three runs and a RBI. Rude went 3-for-4 with a run. Brooklynne Simbeck, Taylor Simmonds and Samantha Clakley combined to strikeout nine and allow four earned runs.
UTA came out swinging, scoring three runs in the top of the first. On the second pitch of the game, Mendoza tripled and quickly scored on a wild pitch. The Mavs got another run in the inning on a RBI double by Britnea Barilli, who later scored on a double steal.
Savannah State scored a run in the bottom of the first before the Mavericks answered back with a run in the second on base knock from Curry.
A three-run third inning aided by Mendoza's second triple of the game put the Mavs up 7-1. After a home run by the Tigers, Simmonds entered the game in relief in the third, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
Kacey Everett added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with her first home run of the season.
Clakley entered the game in the seventh to close out the game.
Game 2: UT Arlington, Delaware State
Final Stats
The Mavs capped off the day with its seventh run-rule victory of the season defeating, Delaware State 10-2 in six innings.
Mendoza continued her hot day at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run. Mallory Foster went 3-for-3 in the game with a run and two RBI.
After giving up two runs in the first, Clakley settled in to keep the Hornets scoreless for the remainder of the game.
UTA was quick to respond and scored four in the top of the second on RBIs by Rude and Mendoza as each extended their hitting streaks early.
The Mavs did a great job of manufacturing an insurance run in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff single by Curry, Burchianti moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Curry advanced to third on sacrifice fly by Barilli and scored on an RBI single by Foster.
The bats came alive in the top of the sixth to score five runs on five hits. Clakley finished off the hornets in the sixth for her sixth complete game in as many starts to improve to 6-0 on the season.