CONWAY, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina's softball team had a key four-run fifth inning and fended off Liberty's offense in the sixth as the Lady Chanticleers defeated Liberty 5-2 Sunday, April 13 at the CCU Softball Field. With Sunday's win, the Lady Chanticleers won the series 2-1.

Freshman Ashley Pedersen (Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater) scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second in order to put Coastal up 1-0. With two outs, both Pedersen and sophomore Alicia Irwin (Salina, Kan./Salina South) had back-to-back walks. Coastal took advantage of a Liberty error that allowed sophomore Alyssa Tornatore (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) to reach first and for Pedersen to score from second.

The Lady Chants held a slim 1-0 advantage until Coastal increased its lead to five in the bottom of the fifth. Tornatore smacked a lead-off single to a diving Leah Cossentino at shortstop. Sophomore Laicole Walker (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Collegiate School) laid down a sacrifice bunt, but her bunt was mishandled by the Lady Flames and allowed Walker to reach first safely, while Tornatore advanced to second. Both Walker and Tornatore advanced to second and third, respectively, on a junior Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala) sacrifice bunt. Junior Verity Long-Droppert's (Claremont, Australia/Shenton (Western Australia) walk loaded up the bases for senior Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing). Cantrell sent a two-run single up the middle that easily drove in Tornatore, while Walker just got around the tag in order to score. On the same play, Long-Droppert took advantage of Liberty's attempt to get Walker out at home and advanced to third, while Cantrell advanced to second when the Lady Flames threw the ball to third to in an attempt to get Long-Droppert out. Then with two outs, junior Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) hit a two-run single to right center that drove in Long-Droppert and Cantrell to give the Lady Chants their 5-0 lead.

However, Liberty's offense looked like it would rally in the sixth. Amber DePasquale and Cassie Hendrix had back-to-back walks to start the inning and then both advanced one base off a passed ball. After Ashley Williams grounded out to Irwin at third, Beth Bennett walked and loaded the bases. Shannon McKain hit a hard single to Walker at shortstop that allowed DePasquale to score. In the next at-bat, J'nae Jefferson's single to left field drove in Hendrix to make it a 5-2 game. However, Liberty stranded its three base-runners as Coastal got the final two outs it needed.

Freshman Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) was awarded the win after five innings of work. She gave up only one hit and allowed two runs, while striking out three. Sarah Ellis had the loss after she allowed five runs - one earned - off five hits in five innings.

Coastal returns to action Wednesday, April 16 when the Lady Chants travel to No. 15 North Carolina for a doubleheader. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m., from Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.