March 20, 2011
Kansas Box Score / Lipscomb Box Score
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team dropped its two final games of the Chanticleer Challenge, falling 6-2 to Kansas in game one and 6-4 to Lipscomb in game two. The Chanticleers fall to 14-12 on the season.
In game one against Kansas, Coastal Carolina was first to strike in the bottom of the second as junior Chelsea Pineda singled to left field. Freshman Kara Vonatzski came in to pinch run and freshman Jessie Winans reached first on a throwing error at third base. Vonatzski advanced to third on the error and sophomore Olivia Piccirillo singled through the right side, sending both Vonatski and Winans home. The Chanticleers finished the second inning with a 2-0 lead.
Kansas retaliated in the top of the third when Kendra Cullum struck out swinging, but reached first on a wild pitch. Cullum then advanced to second on a ground out and Rosie Hull followed with a single to second base, sending Cullum to third. Cullum scored on a single up the middle by Brittany Hile to cut the Chant lead to one at 2-1.
In the top of the fifth, Kansas tied the game up at 2-all as Hile hit a homerun to left field.
Kansas took the lead in the top of the seventh on a grand slam by Maggie Hull after the Chants loaded the bases following two fielding errors and a Jayhawk hit to give Kansas a 6-2 lead.
Kristen Martinez pitched the entire game and took the win for the Jayhawks, improving her record to 12-1. She allowed two runs on five hits, striking out four Chanticleers.
Senior Michelle Evans recorded her fourth complete game of the season, but took the loss, falling to 4-3. She allowed six runs on 12 hits while striking out two.
In game two, Lipscomb started things off in the bottom of the first sending two Lady Bisons home on a Coastal error, giving Lipscomb a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Lady Bisons added two more runs to their total as Vanessa Medina doubled down the left line, sending two Lipscomb players home for a 4-0 lead.
Coastal finally got on the board in the top of the fourth as Evans hit her second homerun of the season to left field, cutting the Lipscomb lead to 4-1. Junior Chelsea Pineda followed with her third homerun of the season, which sent sophomore Cacia Pierre home to cut the Lipscomb lead to one at 4-3.
The Lady Bisons struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Courtney Billington doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Billington scored on a sacrifice fly for a 5-3 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Evans singled through the right side and freshman Courtney Howell come in to pinch run. Howell stole second and scored on a wild pitch, cutting the Lady Bisons lead to 5-4.
Lipscomb added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Breanna Thurman hit a homerun out to left center for a 6-4 lead.
Whitney Kiihnl pitched the entire game and got the win for the Lady Bisons, improving her record to 9-6. She allowed four runs on five hits while striking out eight.
Freshman Ashley Bagwell got the start in the circle for the Chanticleers, pitching the first two innings, but picked up the loss, falling to 7-5 on the season. Bagwell allowed four runs on four hits while striking out three. Senior Katelin Edwards pitched in relief, giving up two runs on six hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
Coastal will close its 23-game homestand on Tuesday, March 22, as it hosts South Carolina at 6 p.m. at the CCU Softball Field.
