Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Softball Finishes Day One of NFCA Leadoff Classic

Lady Chants Defeat Virginia Tech 5-1, but fall to Illinois State 5-4

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Columbus, Ga. – The Coastal Carolina softball team (2-8) opened the day falling to the Redbirds from Illinois State 5-4 despite a three-run homer by Allison Cantrell in the sixth. CCU then picked up the second win of the season in game two defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 5-1. The Redbirds improved to 8-3 while the Hokies fell to 7-3.

The first game with the Lady Redbirds was scoreless after two innings and saw solid pitching from senior Danyelle Gerdts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy). Gerdts struck out six batters in the first three innings. The Redbirds took a 1-0 lead after a homerun over the left field fence by Jackie Williams in the third. Shortly after in the fourth the Lady Chants were down 2-0 after another Redbird homerun by Michelle Henderson.

In the top of the sixth, sophomore Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) came in as a pinch hitter reached first on a walked. Up next, Alicia Irwin (Salina, Kan./Salina South) moving Riffel to second with a sacrifice bunt. Next, Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala) knocked the ball just behind the second baseman for the single and advanced Riffel into scoring position. Senior Glynn Tolleson (Tomball, Texas/Tomball) lined a shot into center field scoring Riffel and put two runners on base. Erika Trujillo (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge (Northern Colorado)) then struck out bringing Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) up to bat with two outs and two runners on. Cantrell stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball well over the left field fence for her first homerun of the season putting the Chants on top 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

To end the sixth, the Redbird center-fielder Jackie Williams ripped a triple deep into right field collecting one RBI and brought the score to 4-3. Batting next Kara Nelson popped a shot into left field and scored Williams for the tying run ending the inning at 4-4 after freshman Ashley Frederick (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) struck out the next batter.

In the seventh CCU the Illinois State rallied two-outs. Michelle Henderson singled to center-field which scored one runner for the 5-4 win.

Up next, Coastal Carolina took on the Hokies from Virginia Tech. Freshman Brittney Hollified (Rockford, Tenn/Alcoa) started in the circle for the second time this season.

The Chants took the lead early, Brittany Birnbaum hit her first career homerun in the second inning to put Coastal on top 2-0. After a scoreless third, the Hokies filled the bases with no outs in the fourth. Virginia Tech then brought the score to 2-1 when Anna Zitt reached first with a hit to center-field and sent Jessica Everhart across home plate.

In the bottom of the fifth, Coastal recorded three hits. Tolleson reached first on a walk, Sheppard hit a hard ground ball down the left line to get a single and send Tolleson to second. Kimberly Cillis then filled the bases with an infield base hit. With two outs, Kelsey Riffel then smacked the ball over the first baseman's head for the single that scored both Sheppard and Tolleson ending the inning on top 4-1.

The Hokies traded pitchers at the bottom of the sixth, but the Lady Chants were still able to get two hits and add to the scoring. Cantrell reached first off a shot to center and then scored when Sheppard drove one deep into left center for her second double and her seventh RBI of the season.

In the seventh, the Lady Chants were able to hang on and get their second win of the season. Holding off the Hokies with a final score of 5-1.

Coastal takes on the Georgia Bulldogs at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 and then will take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at 1 p.m. in Day Two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.