Feb. 26, 2011

Boston College Box Score / Virginia Tech Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team split on the second day of the Coastal Carolina Invitational, defeating Boston College 5-3 in game one before falling to Virginia Tech 8-4 in the night cap. The Chanticleers move to 8-5 on the season and 3-1 in the tournament.

In the first game of the day, the Chanticleers got things started by taking a one-run lead in the top of the second. Cacia Pierre led off the inning with a single down the right field line and freshman Courtney Howell came in to pinch run. Junior Stacy Snellings advanced Howell to second on a sacrifice bunt and junior Chelsea Pineda singled to center field. Freshman Jessie Winans reached first on a fielder's choice as Pineda was called out at second, but Howell advanced to third with two outs. Senior Michelle Evans drove in Howell on a single to left field and senior Ashley Pisone followed with a walk, but the Chants were stopped short and stranded three runners on base.

Boston College answered back in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run homer by Maria Pandolfo to center field, giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

The Eagles added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Ronnie Mae Ayers crossed the plate after a fielding error by the shortstop to give Boston College a 3-1 advantage.

The lead did not last long as Coastal battled back to score four runs in the top of sixth inning. Pierre led off with a single to left field and freshman Nicole Saggiomo came in to pinch run. Pineda reached first on a field error at third base and Saggiomo advanced to third. With two outs, Evans singled down the left field line to score Saggiomo and put runners at first and second. Pisone drew a walk to load the bases and freshman Kara Vonatzski came in to pinch run for Evans. Freshman Brooke Donovan came up with a clutch double down the left field line, scoring Vonatzski and Pineda to give the Chants a 5-3 lead.

The Coastal offense finished the game with 11 hits. Evens went 3-for-3 with two RBI against the Eagles. Pierre and Pineda each had multiple hits in the game while Donovan tallied three RBI.

Evans got her second start of the season, throwing 4.1 inning and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. Her record improves to 2-0. Senior Katelin Edwards came in to pitch in relief for 1.2 innings before freshman Ashley Bagwell finished the game, earning her first save of the season.

In the second game of the day against Virginia Tech, Daigle got Coastal on the board in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homerun to left field, her first of the season.

The Hokies answered back in the top of the third with a solo dinger to centerfield by Kristina Cruz to tie the score at 1-all.

Daigle took back the lead for the Chanticleers in the bottom of third with a two-run shot to centerfield, her second homerun of the game.

With Coastal up 3-1, Dani Anderson cut the Chant lead to one with a solo dinger to right center field to start the fourth inning. The Hokies added another run as Sarah Ashby scored on a single by Betty Rose to tie the score at 3-all.

Virginia Tech took the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs. After back-to-back hits, Anderson singled down the left field line, sending both runners home for a 5-3 lead. The final run of the inning came on a throwing error by the right fielder for a 6-3 Hokie lead.

In the top of the sixth, the Hokies added two more runs to their total, putting them up 8-3.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, freshman Tamara Hawkins cut the Hokie lead to four at 8-4 with a solo homerun to centerfield. It was her first career homerun.

Bagwell earned the start for the Chanticleers, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits. Katelin Edwards came in to pitch in relief in the fifth inning, giving up two runs on one hit in 2.2 innings pitched. Bagwell falls to 5-2 on the season.

The Chanticleer offense had a tough time against Hokie pitcher Jasmin Harrell, who threw a complete game, giving up four runs on three hits while striking out 11. All three hits she gave up were homeruns with Daigle recording two.

Coastal Carolina returns to the field tomorrow for the final day of the Coastal Carolina Invitational, facing Virginia Tech at 12 p.m.