March 19, 2011

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team dropped two on day two of the Chanticleer Challenge on Saturday, March 19, falling 2-1 to Providence in game one and 8-2 to Kansas in the nightcap. The Chanticleers fall to 14-10 on the season.

In game one against Providence College, Morgan Culver singled to left field to get things started for the Friars, but was out on Ava Pandiani's fielder's choice. After back to back walks, the Chanticleers loaded the bases and Alaina Thomas drew a walk to bring in the first run for the Friars in the second inning.

In the top of the fifth, Thomas singled to third base and then stole second. Jen Abrams reached on a fielding error at third base, sending Thomas to third. Abrams advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, giving the Friars runners at second and third with two outs. Thomas came home on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Chants tried to get their offense started in the bottom of the third, but left the inning stranding two runners. Coastal finished the game stranding a total of seven runners as it left two runners on base in both the fifth and the sixth innings.

Coastal finally scored in the bottom of the seventh as sophomore Olivia Piccirillo earned her first homerun on the season to cut the lead to one. However, it would not be enough as Providence went on to win 2-1.

Alicia Grosso got the win for the Friars, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three Chanticleers to improve to 4-7 on the season.

Senior Michelle Evans earned the loss after pitching a complete game, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out five to fall to 4-2 overall.

In game two, Kansas started off strong in the bottom of the first with Rosie Hull drawing a walk. Brittany Hile singled to right field, advancing Rachel Hull to second. Liz Kocon followed with a single to centerfield advancing both Hile and Hull forward. Mariah Montgomery flied out to centerfield to bring in a run to give Kansas a 1-0 lead. Maggie Hull singled through the left side and then advanced to second on a fielding error in left field, sending Kocon to third and Hile home, making the lead 2-0. After a fielding error at third, Kocon scored, increasing the score to 3-0 in the first inning.

In the bottom of the second, Alex Jones was hit by pitch and Hile walked to give the Jayhawks runners at first and second with two outs. Kocon followed with a double to left center, sending both Jones and Hile home to give Kansas a 5-0 lead.

The Jayhawks kept things going in the bottom of the third as Maggie Hull singled through the right side to lead the inning off. Marissa Ingle doubled to left center, advancing Maggie Hull to third and Kendra Cullum laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Maggie Hull home, increasing the Jayhawk lead to six.

The Chanticleers finally brought a run home in the top of the fourth as freshman Jessie Winans singled down the left field line and then advanced to second on single through the left side by Sarah Maples. Sophomore Cacia Pierre drew a walk to load the bases and Winans scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Jazmin Daigle, cutting the lead to 6-1.

Kansas answered back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring one run. Hile, who singled to the pitcher, came home on a sacrifice fly by Maggie Hull, giving the Jayhawks a 7-1 lead.

Coastal added another run to its total in the top of the fifth as junior Chelsea Pineda registered her second homerun on the season, cutting the score to 7-2.

The final run of the game for Kansas came in the bottom of the fifth as Cullum hit a homerun out to left field for an 8-2 Jayhawk lead.

Alex Jones got the win for Kansas after pitching four innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four. She improves to 4-0 on the season. Allie Clark came in to close for Kansas, giving up only three hits and striking out three Chanticleers.

Senior Katelin Edwards got the loss for Coastal after allowing five runs on four hits and striking out two in two innings pitched. She falls to 3-4 on the season. Freshman Ashley Bagwell came in to pitch in relief for Edwards in the third giving up three runs on five hits while striking out two.

The Chanticleers return to the field on Sunday, March 20 for the final day of the Chanticleer Challenge. Coastal will face Kansas at noon and Lipscomb in the final game scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.