Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Softball Sweeps Doubleheader from Radford Takes the First Game 4-2, Wins the Second 1-0
More Information:
CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina softball team (32-20, 7-2 Big South) used timely hitting and two strong pitching performances to sweep both games of its conference doubleheader over Radford (32-19, 5-3 Big South) by the scores of 4-2 and 1-0 on Sunday, April 23 in Conway, S.C. Coastal has now won 31 of its last 39 games.
Senior Kelly Felly (Livermore, Calif./Granada) hit a single, just out the reach of the diving Radford third baseman and through the left side, with two outs in the eighth inning of the second game to score senior pinch runner Irene Finley (Wilmington, N.C./John T. Hoggard) from third for the game-winning run.
The first game was won as redshirt junior Glynn Tolleson (Tomball, Texas/Tomball (Radford) bit the hand that once fed her, with the game-winning home run in the sixth inning to break a two all in what would be a 4-2 CCU win.
The day began slowly for Coastal, as Radford jumped out to 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first inning of the first game. Ashley Carlson started the trouble with a lead off double down the left field line. She went to third as Jennifer Everhart reached first on fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt. Cassie Rhodes reached first on an error, as she knocked the ball out CCU’s junior first baseman’s Kimberly Cillis (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia) glove on a throw from third. The scramble for the ball afterward scored Carlson from third and moved Everhart to third. Amanda Walling followed with a single through the left side to score Everhart for the second run of the game. After a fielder choice moved Rhodes to third, CCU's freshman first baseman Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala), who had been inserted after the Cillis collision, made a great defensive play to cut down Rhodes at the plate, on a ball hit to her at first for the second out of the inning. A ground out to first ended the threat and limited the deficit to two going to the bottom of the first.
After two pop out to start the inning, senior Kelly Feely reached second on a fielding error by the Radford left fielder, Michelle Carlson. CCU capitalized on its extra out as senior Meagen Johnson (Georgetown, S.C./Georgetown (Furman)) pounded her 15th home run of the season to tie the game at two all. Johnson’s blast allowed her to tie for the single season record for home runs at Coastal.
The game remained tied until the sixth when CCU broke through for two runs. Tolleson’s one-out home run gave CCU the 3-2 lead. Feely followed by reaching first on a fielding error by the first baseman, Ashley Taylor. Freshman Whitney Gibson (Knoxville, Tenn./Webb School of Knoxville) pinch ran for Feely and moved to second on Johnson's intentional walk. Redshirt sophomore Erika Trujillo (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge (Northern Colorado)) pinch ran for Johnson. After a strikeout, a two-out single up middle by junior Kristina Sheppard (Galveston, Texas/Ball) scored Gibson from second for an insurance run and gave CCU a 4-2 win.
Redshirt junior Christine Doyle (Rio Rico, Ariz./Immaculate Heart Academy) (NJ) (15-7) went all seven inning for the Lady Chants only allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Radford’s Breanna Felix (13-11) was solid going all six innings, with only four hits allowed and eight strikeouts.
The story of the second game was Johnson (8-3). She went all eight innings, with eight punch outs while scattering seven hits.
Johnson left a pair of base runners on base in the second, fourth and six innings. The most challenging frame was the sixth as Radford nearly dented the scoreboard. All the trouble began with two outs, Rhodes doubled down the left field line. Casey Marin pinch ran for Rhodes and went to third on the single from Danielle Tompkins. Johnson was up to the challenge as she struck out Alex Roderick to end the inning and the threat.
The game was tied through regulation and went to extra innings. In the eighth, Ashley Carlson was placed on second to start the frame because of the international-tie-breaker rule. After a strikeout, Carlson was doubled off second on a line drive hit to Sheppard off the bat Amanda Walling to end the frame and give CCU momentum heading to the bottom of the inning.
The eighth inning for the Lady Chants began with Cillis being placed second. Finley ran for Cillis and moved to third on a one-out wild pitch. After a strikeout, Feely came through with the two-out heroics with a single through the left side to score Finley with the game winning run.
Ashley Taylor (15-8) was the tough game two loser, as she gave up only three hits and an unearned run in 7.2 innings of work.
Coastal's softball team takes the home field for the final time on Wednesday, April 26 with a doubleheader against UNC Wilmington starting at 4 p.m. The day will be Senior Day as Coastal's eight seniors make their last appearance at CCU Softball Field.
