ULM Sweeps Doubleheader versus Appalachian State, Starts Conference Play 2-0
BOONE, N.C. – The ULM softball team picked up two Sun Belt conference victories Saturday against Appalachian State inside Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
ULM 9, App State 5
Junior Melanie Coyne tossed her 10th complete game of the season and senior Amye Barre and junior Rochelle Roberts each collected three hits in the Warhawks’ 9-5 triumph over App State.
ULM (13-9, 1-0 SBC) scored quickly in the bottom of the first inning after freshman Sydney McKay brought home Roberts on a bunt single and Barre cleared the bases with a three-run homerun to right center which gave the Warhawks an early 4-0 advantage.
Junior Vanessa Garcia followed suit in the bottom of the third as she scored Barre on a two-run homer to left. App State (4-18, 0-1 SBC) countered by scoring two in the top of the fourth but RBI singles from Barre and fellow senior Faith Bohack quickly brought the advantage back to six at 8-2 in the bottom half.
The Mountaineers scored three in the sixth on a Jenny Dodd three-run homer to left center before Coyne (9-6, 3.20 ERA) closed the door in the seventh, striking out two of the final three hitters she faced.
ULM 6, App State 5 (8 inn.)
Junior Rochelle Roberts pushed a solo walk-off homerun to left center that lifted the Warhawks to a 6-5 win over App State.
It was App State (4-19, 0-2 SBC) who jumped out early this go round, scoring two runs in the first half inning on a Heather Josey two-run homer. ULM (14-9, 2-0 SBC) responded by scoring three in the bottom half. After three straight singles and a fielder’s choice that scored one, junior Vanessa Garcia singled to right and junior McKinley Marks later scored on a passed ball to put the Warhawks ahead 3-2.
Mountaineer catcher Jenny Dodd hit her second three-run homerun of the day in the top of the third before Garcia drove home senior Amye Barre in during the bottom half to cut the deficit to 5-4.
Sophomore Paige Porter and freshman Katlynn Kaminski then threw a combined 5.2 innings and did not allow a run while scattering four hits and striking out five which allowed ULM to scratch a run in the seventh on a wild pitch and Roberts’ game-winner in the eighth.
The series will conclude tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.
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Panthers Split Doubleheader to Begin Conference Play
ATLANTA – After dropping the first game of a doubleheader against Troy, Georgia State’s softball team bounced back to win the second game 6-1 behind a complete game from sophomore pitcher Annie Davis.
Davis allowed just one run on five hits as she moved her record to 3-3 on the year with the win. Davis got run support from all over the lineup, with the Panthers scoring in each of the first four innings. Freshman Arden Jobe went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI as the Panther offense did what it struggled to do in the first game; hit with runners in scoring position.
GSU (12-12, 1-1 SBC) outhit Troy (17-6, 1-1 SBC) in Game 1, but fell 5-2 as the Panthers stranded 10 baserunners. Junior Kensey Caldwell has a solid day in both games, hitting her third home run of the season in Game 1 and knocking a double in Game 2, leading to a run scored on the next play.
The Panthers face Troy at 1 p.m. Sunday to decide the series. It’s then a quick turnaround as the Panthers visit Kennesaw State Tuesday before hosting a doubleheader with Western Carolina on Wednesday.
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Troy Softball Splits First Day of Conference Play
TROY, Alabama – The Troy softball team split in a doubleheader with Georgia State on Saturday at the Troy Softball Complex as they won the first game, 5-2, and dropped the second, 6-1.
TROY 5, GSU 2
Troy (16-5) jumped to an early lead in the second inning when senior Khadija Neely hit her first home run of the season over the left field wall scoring Amanda Winters.
The Trojans plated three more runs in the bottom of the third inning when Day doubled to center field scoring Becca Hartley. Winters came up next and singled through the right side driving in Day and Erica Davis.
Georgia State (11-12) couldn't get anything started until the fourth inning when Kensey Caldwell homered to center field, making the score 5-1. The Panther's final run came in the seventh inning on a Mandy Blackwell single that scored Reagan Morgan.
Ashley Rainey (10-5) got the win for the Trojans tossing 5.1 innings and allowed one run. Rachel Rigney made her first appearance of the season and came into the game in the sixth inning and gave up only one hit and one run.
Katie Worley (5-4) suffered the loss for the Panthers giving up five hits and all five of the Trojans' runs.
TROY 1, GSU 6
Despite having five hits in the second game, Troy (17-6) could only push one run across the plate.
Four Trojans had hits in the second game. Kate Benton, Rainey and Hartley all contributed with one and Hannah Day had two.
Hartley got things rolling in the third inning when she doubled down the left field line. Day came up a couple of batters later and singled up the middle bringing Hartley around to score the Trojans' lone run of the game.
Georgia State (12-12) scored at least one run in the first four innings and racked up 12 hits to get the 6-1 win over Troy in the second game.
The Panthers jumped to a 4-0 lead in the third when Morgan Brown singled to right field and scored Remington Hasty and Mandy Blackwell scored on a bases loaded walk.
The final two Georgia State runs came in the fourth inning when Caldwell scored on a wild pitch and Morgan Brown scored on a fielder's choice to third.
Claire Graves (4-1) took the loss for the Trojans in the circle giving up seven hits and four runs. Meg Willis and Peyton Glover both made pitching appearances in the game.
Annie Davis (3-3) earned the win for the Panthers in the circle, tossing a complete game and giving up only one run.
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at noon at the Troy Softball Complex.
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Bats Come to Life as Georgia Southern Downs Texas State 6-1 in Sun Belt Opener
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Behind a potent offense and a stingy defense, the Georgia Southern softball team opened their second year in the Sun Belt Conference with a 6-1 win over Texas State at Bobcat Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles (13-7, 1-0) recorded 11 hits, including four extra base knocks, led by Lydia Witkowski's perfect 4-for-4 outing at the plate. She also scored two runs and batted in another. Behind Witkowski, Taylor Rogers went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Morgan Robinson and India Davis scored the other two runs for the Eagles as seven total Eagles registered a hit. Robinson finished the game with three RBI.
Georgia Southern wasted little time jumping all over Texas State (17-6, 0-1) in the top of the first inning as Robinson ripped a home run over the right field wall, scoring Taylor Rogers.
In the bottom of the inning, the Bobcats were able to get a pair of runners into scoring position before Kendall Wiley hit a fly ball to Witkowski in left field. As soon as Witkowski made the catch, Braegan Hamilton tagged up at third and tried to race home, but Witkowski's arm was too strong as evidence by her getting the ball to A.J. Hamilton at home to complete the double play and hold the Bobcats scoreless.
In the top of the fifth, the Eagles tacked on a couple insurance runs led by Emily Snider ripping her seventh double of the season to score Witkowski from second. Robinson then followed up by hitting the ball to the first baseman, scoring Rogers from third for her third RBI of the game.
The Eagles rounded out their scoring in the sixth inning after Davis laid down a great bunt that gave her plenty of time to reach first safely. Witkowski then ripped a rocket down the first base foul line, easily churning out a triple and scoring Davis all the way from first. Rogers then reached safely on a throwing error by the shortstop and Witkowski cruised home to put the Eagles up 6-0.
The Bobcats were able to get one run back in the bottom of the seventh inning when Corrina Liscano knocked a home run to left field, but that was all the offense they could muster as freshman Dixie Raley and the Eagle defense shut the door after that.
Raley (9-3) recorded the win in the circle as she gave up just three hits, one run and struck out four batters, including the last two of the game. For Texas State, Sara Rupp (11-4) was saddled with the loss for Texas State as she gave up the 11 hits and five earned runs despite striking out 11 batters.
Georgia Southern and Texas State will close out the series on Sunday with a doubleheader. First pitch of the first game is slated for 1 p.m. Eastern standard time with the second game to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
COACH SMITH SAYS
"I'm really proud of the team. They've worked hard all year and they continue to get better. That was a very good team and a very good pitcher we just faced and our team had good at-bats, played really good defense, and Dixie pitched a good game, as well. It was just a great team win and I'm happy for our players as they get rewarded for all that hard work they've put in."
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Mavericks split games in front of sellout crowds
ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington softball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night, but not before the team picked up its 19th straight win to open the year earlier in the day as part of the Maverick Classic.
"We really came out and swung the bats well in the first game, Sam (Clakley) pitched great, and our defense was strong as well," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "In the second game, we learned that when things go wrong, we have to just worry about things that we can control. The pressure of the streak is off our shoulders now, and now we can start another streak."
After a 7-1 win over Samford and an 11-0 loss to 18th-ranked Arizona, UTA sits at 19-1. It is the best 20-game start in school history, passing the 17-3 mark set in 1980. The Mavericks were the second-to-last unbeaten team in the nation, behind only No 1. Florida, the two-time defending national champions.
In addition to extending the best start in school history, UTA played in front of sellout home crowds for the first time in program annals.
"Getting these teams (including No. 25 Texas) to come to our tournament speaks to our facilities and the commitment that our athletic department has made in building this program," Fox said. "We just have to keep working and take it one step at a time. It was great to have so many fans out here supporting us today, and we look forward to tomorrow."
Freshman Samantha Clakley starred for the Mavericks in the opener, as she improved to 9-0 on the year by allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings.
The Mavericks will complete play in the Maverick Classic tomorrow at 11 a.m. with a game against Samford. UTA opens Sun Belt action at home March 19-20 against No. 5 Louisiana. Tickets for all UTA home games can be purchased at UTATickets.com.
Game 1: UT Arlington 7, Samford 1
Final Stats
Freshman Samantha Clakley shut down the Samford Bulldogs, and the UTA offense clicked by scoring in each of the first five innings en route to a 7-1 victory, the team's 19th straight to open the season.
Clakley (9-0) held Samford, which had scored eight runs against No. 25 Texas in the morning game of the Maverick Classic, in check. The freshman right-hander allowed a leadoff triple into the right-field corner to the first batter she faced and trailed 1-0 after two hitters.
After that, she didn't allow another base runner until a one-out walk in the fifth, and didn't yield another Bulldogs' hit until the sixth. Clakley fanned four in the complete-game effort.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks lit the scoreboard in each of the first five innings, posting two in the first and third frames and single runs in the second, fourth and fifth.
Shelbi Sikes enjoyed a 3-for-4 afternoon, including an RBI double in the first that gave the Mavericks a 2-1 lead that would not be relinquished. The junior also made a pair of defensive gems at third base to aid Clakley's cause.
Sikes was one of a trio of Mavs to collect multiple hits, as Sandra Mendoza and Laura Curry each added a pair. Mendoza had two RBI, while Curry scored twice.
In all, UTA belted 12 hits, including four extra-base knocks. Britnea Barilli blasted a home run to right-center field in the third. It was her first of the season and the fourth of the year for the Mavericks.
Game 2: Arizona 11, UT Arlington 0
Final Stats
In its first game against a nationally-ranked team this season, UTA was unable to solve No. 18 Arizona (17-8). The Mavericks tallied just one hit in its 11-0, 5-inning loss in the nightcap.
Arizona scored three in the second inning and two more in the third. Two runs in each frame were aided by misplays in the outfield.
The Wildcats tacked on two runs in the fourth and used a pair of homers in the fifth to account their final four runs.
It was the first time this season that UTA allowed more than five runs in a game.
Brooklynne Simbeck (3-1) took the loss for the Mavericks after allowing three runs on five hits in 1.2 innings.