Feb. 27, 2010

Canisius Box Score / Eastern Kentucky Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team (5-6) finished the second day of the Kickin' Chicken Classic 1-1 after falling to Canisius 10-1 in game one, but coming back to beat Eastern Kentucky 13-1 in the nightcap.

The Chanticleers started the day slow, recording just two hits against Canisius, but found their bats in the second game, recording a season-high 12 hits against EKU. Six of the nine starters all recorded at least one hit with four picking up multiple against the Colonels. Stacy Snellings went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, along with Cacia Pierre, who went 2-for-2.

In the second inning against EKU, the Chants got on the scoreboard in a big way, scoring five runs on four hits. Cacia Pierre led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to third on an illegal pitch and passed ball to give the Chants a scoring threat 60 feet away. Olivia Piccirillo tried to score Pierre, but grounded out to the catcher to bring up Alyssa Tornatore. Tornatore singled to left center field, scoring Pierre and advanced to third on a Colonel throwing error. Stacy Snellings followed with a hit of her own to right center field, bringing in Tornatore for a 2-0 Chanticleer lead. EKU tried to end the Chant momentum by changing pitchers, but Snellings advanced to second on a wild pitch and Cass Stuart walked. The charge continued as Mecaela Ballard reached base after the shortstop failed to make a play on a fielder's choice, loading the bases for Sarah Maples. Maples' single drove in Snellings and Stuart, increasing the lead to four with still just one out. Ballard brought the lead to 5-0 after scoring on passed ball.

The Chants started right where they left off in the third inning with Pierre leading off on a hit to right center field. Coastal loaded the bases once again after Piccirillo drew a walk and Tornatore put a single through the left side. Pierre came home on an illegal pitch, advancing all three runners. Two more runs would score on Snellings' single up the middle that was mishandled by the EKU centerfielder, giving the Chants an eight-run advantage and forcing Eastern Kentucky to bring in another pitcher, Neolani Esperas. Esperas got out of the inning with no more runs, but the damage had been done as Coastal Carolina led 8-0.

Eastern Kentucky got on the board in the bottom of the third, doing the damage with two gone. Diane Gallagher singled to shortstop and moved to second when Melissa Costa was hit by a pitch. A fielding error scored Gallagher, breaking the shutout. However, that was all the scoring the Colonels could manage as the inning ended on a pop out.

In the fourth inning, Coastal scored another four runs with the first two coming from two solo home runs by Michelle Evans and Jazmin Daigle.It was the first home run of the season for Evans and the second dinger of the day for Daigle.

After scoring runs in every inning but the first, the Chants kept the streak alive by posting the final run on a bases loaded walk.

Senior pitcher Ashley Frederick picked up her third win of the season in the victory against EKU, scattering three hits and striking out three while giving up no earned runs in her five innings of work. Mea Flores took the loss, giving up seven hits and five earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings of work.

In the first game of the day for Coastal against Canisius, it was a complete different outing than the second with the Golden Griffins recording 10 runs on 11 hits. The Chants were held to just two hits and could not rally back after an eight-run second inning. Daigle hit her second career home run to score the only run of the game for the Chants.

Katelin Edwards got the start in the circle for Coastal, but was relieved by freshman Megan Johnson after giving up seven runs. Johnson held the Golden Griffins three runs on four hits to finish out the game.

The Chanticleers conclude the Kickin' Chicken Classic tomorrow at 2:30 p.m., when they take on Jacksonville.