CLEARWATER, FLA. – Junior starting pitching Brittany Nelson (Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus) pitched a great game for Coastal Carolina’s softball team (10-10) going the distance throwing a shutout allowing only four hits while strikeout nine on the final day of action at the Speedline Tournament.

Coastal threatened in the third inning as senior centerfielder Delane Grainger (Scottsdale, Ariz/Chapparal (Phoenix College)) singled with one out. A two out double by junior Sara Hostetler (Albuquerque, N.M./Valley) put runners on second and third. Junior catcher Kelly Feely (Livermore, Calif./Granada) followed with a smash up the middle that the pitcher was able to get just enough of the glove on it to slow it down, so the shortstop could field it and throw Feely out by step.

In the fourth inning Coastal again put two on the bases asjunior leftfielder Danyelle Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) singled, and junior rightfielder Carla Hood (Marion, S.C./ Marion) walked to put runners on second and third but a fly out to the leftfielder ended the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth Western put together its first serious threat as firstbaseman Amy Fleming singled and Casey Austin walked to put to aboard with one away. After Nelson struck out the next batter, Danielle Daugherty, singled to load the bases.

But Nelson induced the next batter Tricia Van Der Slik to tap one back to her for the final out of the frame.

The game remained scoreless for the first five innings as Coastal starter Nelson and Western Michigan hurler Kyla Sullivan were both pitching well.

 

Coastal finally broke through in the sixth inning as D. Gerdts walked to open the frame. Sophomore Kristina Sheppard (Galveston, Texas/Ball) followed by hitting the ball to the second baseman. The second baseman attempted to get the lead runner but Gerdts kicked the ball away on the slide attempt to put runners on first and third. A walk to pinch hitter Irene Finley (Wilmington, N.C./John T. Hoddard) loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Meagan Johnson (Georgetown, S.C./Georgetown (Furman)) followed with a bases loaded walk to plate the first run of the afternoon.

Freshman Ashley Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) hit a smash to the shortstop that she fielded deep in the hole and attempted to get the runners at the plate but Sheppard beat the throw for the second run of the inning. Grainger followed with a single to score another run. A single by freshman Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle’s Landing) followed with Coastal’s third hit of the inning to score the fourth run. A walk to Hostetler gave the Lady Chanticleers its fifth run. Feely walked to bring in the sixth run and final run of the frame.

The win goes to Nelson who improves her record to 7-2 on the season. The loss goes to Sullivan who falls to 2-5 on the season.

Coastal returns home to take on Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. in the first game of a scheduled double-header on Mar. 15.