May 7, 2010

Game One Box Score / Game Two Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team was swept by Liberty, falling 2-0 in game one and 3-2 in eight innings in the second game at the Liberty Softball Field Friday, May 7. The Chanticleers fall to 25-28 overall and 6-11 in the Big South while Liberty improves to 36-16 and 12-5 in the league.

In game one, Liberty got things started in the first with a lead off home run by J'nae Jefferson to right center, giving the Flames an early 1-0 lead.

Coastal went on the attack in the top of the second as Cacia Pierre fought at the plate, drawing the first walk of the game with one out. Michelle Evans followed with the first Chanticleer hit of the day to center field and Alyssa Tornatore singled up the middle, loading the bases. Coastal was unable to capitalize as it stranded all three runners to end the inning.

Liberty would add another run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead as Ashley Bensinger drove in Jenny Law, who walked, on a sacrifice fly.

The Chanticleers tried to battle back in the top of the seventh as Tornatore singled to left field with one out. Olivia Williams came in to pinch hit and reached on an error at second base. Mecaela Ballard advanced the runners on a groundout. That was as far as Coastal got as Ashley Pisone grounded out to end the game.

Ashley Frederick was strong in the circle as she pitched her 19th complete game, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out a season-high 10 batters. She took the loss, falling to 14-16 while Katrina Johnson improved to 9-4 after giving up no runs on five hits.

Pisone led off the second game, drawing a walk and Sarah Maples advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Jazmin Daigle brought Pisone home on a ground out to give Coastal an early 1-0 lead.

The Flames answered back in the bottom of the first, scoring a run to tie the game 1-1. Jefferson led off with a single up the middle and Jenny Law moved her to second on a sacrifice. Jefferson went to third on a fielding error by the shortstop and Kaylee West earned the run-batted-in on a sacrifice fly, tying the game.

With the game tied at 1-1 for three innings, Liberty took the lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth. Jefferson scored on a single to right center by Ashley Bensinger, putting the Flames ahead 2-1.

The Chanticleers battled back as Daigle led off the top of the sixth with a walk and advanced to second after a successful sacrifice bunt by Stacy Snellings. Daigle was brought home on a single by Pierre and a fielding error, tying the game at two.

In the top of the seventh, Ballard led off with a bunt down the right field line, reaching first successfully. Pisone moved Ballard to second on a sacrifice bunt and Daigle kept the Chanticleers alive, drawing a walk with two outs. Snellings tried to bring Ballard home on a hit to left field, but Ballard was called out at home to end the inning.

Liberty made the game interesting in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases, but the Flames could not come up with the clutch hit as the game went into extra innings.

The Flames ended the game in the bottom of the eighth as a sacrifice bunt by Keely McMillion put Kaylee West, who was placed on second due to the international tie breaker rule, in scoring position. Meredith Baisden ended the game with a hit off the pitcher's leg, sending West home to win 3-2.

Katelin Edwards pitched the second game, allowing three runs on seven hits, falling to 11-10 on the season. Tiffani Smith got the start for Liberty, allowing two runs on seven hits, but Katrina Johnson came in to pitch the eighth and got the win, improving to 10-4 on the season.

Coastal will finish up the three-game series against Liberty tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Liberty Softball Field.