Softball Comes From Behind to Defeat Southern Miss, 8-6

Drops the First Game to Illinois, 7-0

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Illinois Box Score
Southern Miss Box Score

CLEARWATER, FLA. – Freshman Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle Landing) capped off a five-run sixth inning with a bases clearing double to give Coastal Carolina's women’s softball team (8-8) a come from behind 8-6 win over Southern Mississippi on Thursday afternoon, March 10, on the first day of action of the Speedline Tournament.

It was a slow start for Coastal from the beginning as Southerm Mississippi jumped all over CCU in the first inning with three runs including a two-run single from junior Danielle Martin.

The lead would grow to six as Southern Mississippi scored a run in the second and a pair of runs in the third before the Lady Chanticleers began their comeback.

Senior Delane Grainger (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chapparral) doubled in sophomore rightfielder Carla Hood (Marion, S.C./Marion) in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 6-1.

Coastal would continue its comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning, when junior catcher Lynee Hastings’ (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) bases loaded walk drove in the first run of the frame. Grainger followed with a single that plated junior Danyelle Gerdts (Colorado Springs/ Colo./Air Academy) to cut the deficit to three, 6-3.

CCU, with momemtum clearly in its favor completed its comeback in the bottom of the sixth as back to back walks to sophomore Kristina Sheppard (Galveston. Tex./Ball) and senior Katey Allen (Lewiston, Idaho/Lewiston) put two on the bases with one out. Hood singled to load the bases with one out in the frame. Hastings reached on a ball hit deep in the hole at shortstop to drive in the first run of the inning. A Southern Miss. error scored the second run of the inning and drew Coastal to within one at 6-5 and kept the bases loaded.

Cantrell stepped to the plate and hit a ringing double over the leftfielders head to unload the bases and gave the Lady Chanticleers an 8-6 lead. A lead they would not give up the rest of the game.

The win went to Gerdts who pitched a three innings of hitless softball for her first win of the season. The loss went to Southern Miss. starter Danielle Wymer.

The Lady Chants began the day by dropping a game to University of Illinois, 7-0. Junior Brittany Nelson (Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus) took the loss for Coastal.

The Chants will next take the field Friday, March 11 to take on University of Pittsburgh on the second day of the Speedline Tournament at 11 a.m.