CLEARWATER, FLA. – Junior starter Brittany Nelson (Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus) pitched seven strong innings for Coastal only giving one run on six hits as Coastal Carolina’s softball team (9-9) defeat Central Michigan, 3-1, on the morning of the third day of the Speedline Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 12.

After a scoreless first two frames for both teams, Coastal got on the board first in the top of the third as junior second baseman Sara Hostetler (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) reach on a field choice, advanced to second on a walk to junior catcher Kelly Feely (Livermore, Calif./Granada) and came in to score on the single by starter Nelson for the first run of the afternoon.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Chippewas rallied to tie the game. SophomoreJacque Benedict reached on an error and advanced to second on the single by sophomore catcher Lindsey Calme. Senior Christin Sobeck followed with a single up the middle that scored Benedict, but freshman pinch runner Suzie Giroux was thrown out at the plate by a perfect throw from senior centerfielder Delane Grainger (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral (Phoenix College) to keep the game tied at one.

Coastal rallied to untie the game in the top of seventh inning as Hostetler singled with one out. Feely was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Coastal struck out for the second out.

Sophomore Kristina Sheppard (Galveston, Texas/Ball) followed with a single over the outstretch glove of the CMU third base to give CCU the lead. Junior Danyelle Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) followed with a single up the middle to give Coastal an insurance run and a 3-1 lead.

Nelson pitched a perfect seventh inning for her sixth win of the season. The loss went to CMU junior Jessica Garvin.

Coastal will play an elimination game this afternoon against a yet to be determined opponent at a yet to be determined time on the third day of action at the Speedline Tournament.