MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Freshman Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) had a run scoring single for Coastal Carolina's softball team (17-18) but it was not enough as the Lady Chanticleers dropped both games of its doubleheader against College of Charleston (35-13) in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. at Patriots Point, Tue., Apr. 6., 5-2 and 2-1.

In the first game of the afternoon, Coastal got on the board in the first inning as junior Sara Hostetler (Albuquerque, NM./Valley) walked and then stole second to put a runner into scoring position. A two-out single by junior Kimberly Cillis (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia) brought home Hostetler to give the Lady Chants a 1-0 lead.

College of Charleston would answer on the first pitch of the first inning as leadoff batter Leshe Russell homered to centerfield to knot the game up at one all.

In the third inning, CofC broke the game open with two outs. The Cougars scored four runs with six consecutive hits, highlighted by a two-run triple from Shondra Schlicenmayer to take a 5-1 advantage.

Coastal got a run back in the sixth inning as junior Kelly Feely (Livermore, Calif./Granada) singled and came into score on a double by Brittany Nelson (Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus) to make it 5-2. However, Coastal could get no closer, stranding six runners in the contest.

Nelson saw her record drop to 11-5 on the season, giving up five earned runs and 11 hits. Cougar starting pitcher Rachael Stern raised her record to 18-7 on the season, scattering five CCU hits for the two earned runs.

In the second game, the Lady Chants saw themselves facing an early deficit, as Cougars' shortstop Jessica Lyness homered to center field to give College of Charleston an early 1-0 lead.

CofC added to their lead in the third inning, as Russell led off the inning with a single and advanced to second when Bridget Loudermilk was hit by pitch. Jayme Durant then doubled to left field, scoring Russell and putting CofC up 2-0.

Coastal attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth inning, as freshman Ashley Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) and senior Delane Grainger (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chapparal (Phoenix College)) had back-to-back singles with one out, but Cougars starter Natalie Smith retired the next two batters to end the threat.

CCU broke through in sixth inning as Gerdts singled with one away in the frame. She took second on a ground out and came in to score for the Lady Chants on Cantrell's run scoring single.

With two outs in the seventh, Coastal was again on the attack, as junior pitcher Meagen Johnson (Georgetown, S.C./Georgetown) doubled but she was stranded on second to end the game.

Sophomore Danyelle Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) took the loss for Coastal and drops to 2-5 on the season. Smith raises her record to 17-6 on season.

Coastal's softball team will next be in action on Tuesday, April 12 as they travel to Buies Creek, N.C. to take on Campbell University in a doubleheader at 4 p.m.