Conway, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team opened their home season on Saturday, Feb. 17 first falling to Lipscomb 4-0. Later, despite three runs and three hits in the third inning the Lady Chanticleers fell to Elon with a score of 4-3.

In the early game with the Lady Bison of Lipscomb University the game had a quick start with both teams scoreless after two innings. It was in the third inning that the Lady Bison knocked down four hits, one of them a homerun from freshman Kellie Sirus scoring two other baserunners bringing the score to 4-0 to close out the inning.

Coastal couldn't get things going offensively despite hits from senior Kristina Sheppard (Galveston, Texas/Ball) in the fourth and seventh and from fellow senior Erika Trujillo (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge Northern Colorado)) in the fifth they remained scoreless losing 4-0.

In the circle for Coastal was freshman Ashley Frederick (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) getting her second start this season. Frederick threw all seven innings giving up 10 hits, four runs, and striking out five batters.

In the second game of the day against the Elon Phoenix the Lady Chants found a better rhythm offensively, but couldn't quite overcome the four-run lead the Phoenix took in the second inning. In the second inning, Elon landed two batters on base off two CCU errors and quickly scored two runners off a double from freshman Ashlee Crewe. Elon finished the innings collecting three hits and scoring a total of four runs.

In the third inning, CCU knocked down three hits and tried to close the 4-0 gap. Senior Glynn Tolleson (Tomball, Texas/Tomball) walked to lead-off for Coastal and then advanced to third when Trujillo beat the throw taking a sacrifice bunt to land two runners on base for the Lady Chants. Next at bat was senior Danyelle Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) who hit a ground ball to the pitcher then advanced to second on an Elon error scoring Tolleson. Junior Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) then walked and after RBI's from Sheppard and senior Kimberly Cillis (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia) the Lady Chants ended the third just one run behind the Phoenix.

Getting the start at pitcher was Danyelle Gerdts who threw all seven innings and allowed four runs and four hits. Despite Gerdts striking out 10 Elon batters and getting one hit and two more hits from Cantrell the Lady Chanticleers fell to Elon with a final score of 4-3.

With the losses, Coastal's record now falls to 0-6 on the season.

Coastal continues action Sunday, Feb. 18 where they will have another shot at both teams taking on Lipscomb at 2:30 p.m. and Elon again at 5 p.m.