March 18, 2011
Providence College Box Score / Georgia Tech Box Score
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team dropped its first two games of the Chanticleer Challenge Friday, March 18, as it fell 5-2 in game one and 12-0 in the second game. The Chanticleers fall to 14-8 on the season.
The first game of the day against Providence started as a pitchers duel between freshman Ashley Bagwell and Corinne Clauss. Both pitchers held the opposing team scoreless until the fifth inning and allowed only three hits each.
Providence College was first to strike as the Friars drove in five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After three hits in a row to load the bases, Jen Abrams singled through the left side to bring in the first run of the inning. Michelle Huber followed with a triple down the right field line, bringing three runs home to give the Friars a 4-0 lead with no outs. Senior Katelin Edwards came in to relieve Bagwell for the Chanticleers after the triple. Justine Stratton sent the final run of the inning across the plate on a sacrifice bunt to give Providence a 5-0 lead. Coastal got of the inning on a double play.
The Chanticleers answered back, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth. Junior Stacy Snellings doubled to right center and freshman Jessie Winans followed with her third triple of the season, sending Snellings home. Junior Chelsea Pineda drew a walk with one out and senior Michelle Evans singled up the middle, scoring Winans to putting runners at first and second for the Chants. However, it wasn't enough to keep the comeback alive as Coastal ended the inning stranding two runners.
Bagwell falls to 7-4 on the season after allowing five runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings pitched. Edwards closed the game, throwing the final two innings and giving up only two hits. Clauss improves to 3-6 after allowing two runs on six hits and striking out six.
The second game of the day started out similar to the first as Evans and Georgia Tech's Kristen Adkins engaged in a pitching duel for the first four innings, each allowing only three hits. In the top of the fifth inning, the Yellow Jackets finally broke the ice, scoring five runs. After back to back hits and a walk, Georgia Tech loaded the bases before Shannon Bear tripled down the right field line, bringing home three runs. Hope Rush followed with a two-run homer to right center for a 5-0 Yellow Jacket lead.
Coastal tried to cut the lead as freshman Nicole Saggiomo singled to third base and freshman Brooke Donovan drew a walk, giving the Chants runners at first and second. It would not be enough as Coastal ended the inning on a fielder's choice, stranding two runners.
In the sixth inning, Georgia Tech added seven runs to its total. Kelsi Weseman started things off with a home run to left field with one out. Following the second out, Caroline Hilton came in to pinch hit for Ashley Thomas and drew a walk. Thomas reentered the game and stole second before Christy Jones sent her to third on a bunt. Kate Kuzma drove in the second run of the inning on a single to right center, forcing Edwards to take over in the circle for Evans. Georgia Tech kept the inning alive after Bear reached first on wild pitch after striking out, scoring Jones. Rush followed with a single up the middle and Kristine Priebe cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left center giving the Yellow Jackets a 12-0 lead to end the game after the inning.
Evan started in the circle for the Chanticleers and picked up her first loss of the season to fall 4-1 after giving up nine runs on 10 hits. Edwards came in to close, throwing 0.1 innings and allowed three runs on two hits.
Kristen Adkins pitched a complete game for Georgia Tech moving to 10-2 after giving up just four hits and leaving the Chants scoreless.
Coastal returns to action for day two of the Chanticleer Challenge on March 19 as it faces Providence College again at 4:30 p.m. and Kansas at 6:30 p.m.
