March 5, 2011
Towson Box Score / Western Carolina Box Score
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team split on the second day of the Coastal Softball Tournament, defeating Towson 3-0 in game one before falling to Western Carolina 7-3 in the night cap. The Chanticleers move to 12-6 on the season and 3-1 in the tournament.
In the first game against Towson, freshman Brooke Donovan started things off in the first inning, reaching first on a fielding error at second base. Junior Sarah Maples advanced Donovan to second and sophomore Jazmin Daigle cleared the bases with a homerun over the centerfield fence, scoring Donovan and Maples to give Coastal a 3-0 lead.
Daigle's dinger proved to be enough as the Chanticleers went on to win the game 3-0. However, the Tigers did not go away without a fight, loading the bases in the top of the fifth. After recording its first and only two hits of the game, Towson ended the inning stranding all three runners after a solid pitching performance by senior Michelle Evans.
Evans got her fourth start in the circle and pitched her first complete game shutout. She allowed no runs on two hits while tying her season-high strikeout total of four. Evans improves to 3-0 on the season in the circle.
Daigle was 3-for-3 against the Tigers with three RBI and sophomore Cacia Pierre went 2-for-3 at the plate. Donovan finished the game going 2-for-4 and Coastal recorded eight total hits against Towson.
In game two, Coastal was first to strike in the bottom of the first inning as Donovan led off with a single to left center. Sarah Maples reached first on a fielder's choice as Donovan was called out at second. Pierre recorded the second hit of the game for the Chants as she singled to first base with two outs, sending Maples to third. Junior Stacy Snellings brought Maples home after reaching first on a fielding error at second. Coastal ended the inning with a 1-0 lead.
Western Carolina answered back in the top of the second, taking a 3-1 lead. The Catamounts led off with a single by Morgan Wyatt and Kelly Braman followed with a double to left center, putting runners at second and third. Shemekia Scotton brought both runners home on a single down the right field line to give Western Carolina a 2-1 lead. The final run of the inning came on a single to centerfield, sending Scotton home.
The Chanticleers cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third as Donovan registered her first homerun of her collegiate career over the right centerfield fence.
In the bottom of the sixth, Coastal tied the game at 3-all. Snellings led off with a single up the middle and freshman Courtney Howell came in to pinch run. Freshman Jessie Winans sent Howell to second on a sacrifice bunt and junior Chelsea Pineda reached first on a fielder's choice and Howell was called safe at third. Freshman Kara Vonatzski came in to pinch run for Pineda and Evans grounded out to the shortstop, but Howell was able to score to tie the game.
With the game tied at 3-all going into the seventh inning, the Catamounts took the final lead on a grand slam by Haley Pace to give Western Carolina a 7-3 advantage.
The Chanticleers were unable to battled back in the bottom of the inning despite a single to left field by Maples, who went to second on a fielding error in left field with two outs. Coastal ended the game on a ground out as the streak continued for the third straight week of the Chants falling in game four of the tournament.
Freshman Ashley Bagwell got the loss for Coastal, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing seven runs on 10 hits to fall to 6-3 overall. She did have a career-high in strikeouts with nine. Senior Katelin Edwards came in to relieve Bagwell in the seventh, striking the final batter to end the inning.
The Chanticleers conclude the Coastal Softball Tournament tomorrow as they face Delaware at 12 p.m.
