Feb. 11, 2011
Furman Box Score / USC Upstate Box Score
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team (1-1) split on the first day of the Palmetto State Showdown, defeating Furman 6-4 in the first game before falling to USC Upstate 8-0 in the nightcap.
The Chanticleers got their first hit of the 2011 season in the first inning up the middle from junior Sarah Maples. However, the Chanticleers could not capitalize on the hit, leaving the runner stranded.
Furman was first to get on the board, scoring one run in the bottom of the second, but Coastal answered back with a run of its own in the top of the third. Freshman Brooke Donovan registered her first collegiate hit to lead off the inning. Maples followed with a single to right field, advancing Donovan. Junior transfer Chelsea Pineda loaded the bases with two outs, drawing a walk and freshman Jessie Winans drew a walk to bring Donovan home, tying the score at 1-all.
In the top of the fourth, the Coastal offense came alive scoring three runs to put the Chants up 4-1. Freshman Tamara Hawkins led off with a double to centerfield and freshman Nicole Saggiomo reached base on a fielder's choice, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Donovan loaded the bases for the Chanticleers with a single to right center and Maples drove in Hawkins on a sacrifice fly to center. Sophomore Jazmin Daigle singled down the left field line allowing Saggiomo to score before junior Stacy Snellings drew a walk to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Donovan scored on a Winans walk to bring in the final run of the inning.
The Paladins answered back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs to cut the Chants lead to one at 4-3.
Both teams remained scoreless until Furman tied the game up 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth on a solo homerun by Lauren Collier.
Neither team could get a run across the plate in the seventh, forcing the game into extra innings.
Coastal was first to score in the top of the eighth as Maples doubled to left field, scoring Saggiomo, who was placed on second due to the international tie breaker rule. Snellings added an insurance run with two outs, doubling to left and sending Maples home.
Furman could not answer back as Coastal went on to win 6-4 in eight innings.
Senior Katelin Edwards got the start in the circle for the Chants, throwing three innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Freshman Ashley Bagwell registered her first win of the season as she pitched in relief, throwing five innings and giving up only one run on two hits while striking out five.
The Chants had five player record hits in the game with Donovan and Maples each tallying three. Maples and Winans each finished the game with two RBI.
In the second game of the day, USC Upstate held Coastal hitless, blanking the Chanticleers 8-0. Upstate's Morgan Childers registered her first no hitter of the season, shutting down Coastal at the plate. Childers pitched six innings and tallied 14 strikeouts.
USC Upstate took an early three run lead on a three-run homer by Cheyanna Quevedo in the top of the first. The Spartans added another run to the scoreboard on a solo homerun by Katie Zauner in the third, giving Upstate a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Quevedo hit a two-run dinger over the right field fence to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead. The Spartans scored their final two runs of the game in the top of the sixth.
The Chanticleers return to the field Saturday, Feb. 12 for a 12:30 p.m. match up against tournament host South Carolina.
