CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University softball team lost both games of its doubleheader with the College of Charleston Wednesday, April 2 at the CCU Softball Field.  The Lady Chanticleers attempted to comeback in Game One, cutting a six-run deficit down to one, but fell 10-9 and then lost Game Two 9-2.

In the first game, Coastal held a 2-0 lead through the first inning.  Sophomore Laicole Walker (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Collegiate School) started the bottom half of the inning with a walk.  With one out, junior Verity Long-Droppert (Claremont, Australia/Shenton (Western Australia)) doubled to left center that allowed Walker to advance to third. A wild pitch allowed for Long-Droppert to reach third, while Walker scored. Junior Brittany Birnbaum (Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala) hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Long-Droppert to score.

The Cougars quickly took the lead with a six-run second inning that included a lead-off home run by Katie Nutaitis; a bases loaded, one out RBI single from Tiffany Harmon and a three-run double from Shannon Howard. Howard also scored the College of Charleston's sixth run of the inning off a Coastal error in or to give the Cougars a 6-2 advantage.

The College of Charleston added two runs in the third inning as the Cougars their six-run lead. Both Terri Mesko and Christal Kotchman scored off a two-out single to right field by Kristi Woodall.  However, CCU cut the Cougars' lead down three in the bottom of the third. With one out, Walker singled to Howard, who was pitching, and then eventually stole second. Senior Allison Cantrell (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) was hit by a pitch, which put to Lady Chants on the bases. Birnbaum smacked a double to left center that moved Cantrell to third and drove in Walker to make it an 8-3 game. Freshmen Ashley Pisone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) and Ashley Pedersen (Fayetteville, Ga./Whitewater) each recorded back-to-back RBI singles that drove in Cantrell and Birnbaum, respectively, as the Cougars maintained an 8-5 advantage.

The Cougars eventually increased their lead to five after scoring one run in both the fourth and the seventh innings. With one out in the fourth, Nutaitis hit her second home run of the day with another solo shot, but this time to center field. In the seventh inning and with two outs, both Harmon and Wooddall walked and Howard reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. However, a wild pitch allowed each runner to advance one base, with Harmon crossing home plate to put the College of Charleston up 10-5.

However, Coastal began to rally in the bottom of the seventh.  With one out, Long-Droppert was hit by a pitch and Birnbaum walked to give CCU runners at first and second. After Pisone struck out, freshman Michelle Evans (Upland, Calif./Upland) ripped a three-run, two-out home run to center field to make it a 10-8 game. In the next at-bat, junior Kelsey Riffel (Wichita, Kan./Maize) sent a solo shot flying over the left field wall to make it a one-run game, but that would be as close as the Lady Chants could get.

Howard had the win after throwing 6.2 innings, allowing nine runs off eight hits and striking out four. Alexa Datko pitched the final 0.1 and recorded the game's final strikeout en route to picking up the save. Pedersen had the loss after pitching 6.2 innings and giving up 10 runs - eight earned - off 10 hits. Pedersen also had five strikeouts.

In the second game, the College of Charleston held just a 2-0 lead through six innings as the Cougars score one run in both the first and the sixth inning. However, the Cougars added to their lead with a seven-run, seventh inning to eventually make it a 9-0 game. 

Coastal avoided being shutout by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Walker and Cantrell hit back-to-back singles. Long-Droppert reached on a fielder's choice as the Cougars unsuccessfully tried to get Cantrell out at second. Then with two outs, Riffel hit a two-run single up the middle that drove in Walker and Cantrell.

Datko pitched the complete game en route to receiving the win. She gave up eight hits and fanned seven batters, while both of Coastal's runs scored were unearned. Evans had the loss after pitching all seven innings. Evans allowed nine runs - six earned - off 12 hits and struck out four.

The Lady Chanticleers return to action Friday, April 4 with a game at Charleston Southern.  Game time is set for 3 p.m. from Buccaneer Field in North Charleston, S.C.