March 27, 2010

Longwood Box Score / Siena Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team split its first day of play at the 2010 CCU Softball Tournament, defeating Longwood 7-6 in the morning before dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Siena in the final game of the night. The Chanticleers are now 15-16 on the season.

Against Longwood in the first game of the day, the Chanticleers got their offense started early, scoring six of their seven runs in the first inning. Sarah Maples led off the game with a walk and Jazmin Daigle gave the Chants a two-run lead after a two-run blast over the right-center field fence. Coastal followed with back-to-back hits by Cacia Pierre, who singled through the left side, and Michelle Evans, who hit through the right side, putting runners at first and second. Olivia Piccirillo loaded the bases with a single down the right field line. After a fly out by Alyssa Tornatore, Ashley Pisone hit her sixth home run of the season and first grand slam of the season, giving Coastal a 6-0 lead.

The Chanticleers scored their final run in the second after Stacy Snellings opened the inning with single. Daigle reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Pierre's walk. Evans then reached on a botched double play that allowed Daigle to score from second and make it a 7-0 Coastal advantage.

Longwood battled back in the top of the third to score six runs of its own. Courtney Long led off with a home run over left center to put a run on the board for the Lancers. Maggie Margadonna singled to left field and Brooke Short reached base on an error to give Longwood runners at first and second. Camille Ketsdever loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and Amy Betterton recorded a grand slam of her own to come within one at 7-6. However, Coastal was able to hold on by shutting out the visitor for the remainder of the contest for the win.

Katelin Edwards improved to 6-6 on the season after pitching 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief, while Daigle and Stacy Snellings led the team with two hits each.

In the nightcap, Coastal's Ashley Frederick and Siena's Courtney Brinkman had a pitcher's duel, with neither team scoring until the top of the fifth. The Chants got on the board first as Snellings opened the inning with a single and Daigle's double to center gave Coastal two runenrs in scoring position with no outs. However, Coastal could only manage one run on Evans' groundout that scored Snellings to make it 1-0.

Coastal tacked on a second run in the top of the seventh with two down. A passed ball allowed Daigle to move from first to second, where she scored on Pierre's single to left, giving the Chants a 2-0 lead.

The Saints took advantage of a miscue in their final at-bat to earn the victory. Lauren Weingart opened with a single, with Lindsey McKeever coming in to pinch run. Courtney Mahan then singled to put runners on first and second. A passed ball advanced the runners to second and third, allowing Nastasha Powlowsky's single to score McKeever. However, the centerfielder mishandled the ball, allowing Mahan to also score and tie the game at two. After a ground out that moved Powlowsky to third, the second passed ball of the inning allowed the runner to score and give Siena the victory.

Frederick took the loss and dropped to 9-9, scattering seven hits and striking out seven, while giving up just one earned run. Brinkman got the win and went to 2-1 after giving up just eight hits and one earned run as well. Snellings added three more hits in the evening, while Daigle put another two up on the board.

The Chanticleers will play two more games on the final day of the tournament on Sunday, March 28, taking on St. John's at 11:15 a.m. and Kent State at 3:45 p.m.