April 17, 2011
Box Score
RADFORD, Va. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team dropped both games of the doubleheader at Radford on Sunday, April 17 at the RU Softball Field, losing 4-2 in game one and 8-1 in game two. The Chanticleers fall to 17-25 overall and 3-5 in the Big South while the Highlanders improve to 27-14 and 8-2 in the league.
In the first game, Radford was first to strike, scoring one run in the bottom of the third. Kristen Shifflett led off the inning with a single up the middle and went to second on Nicole Beall's groundout. Shifflett stole third, but was called out coming home after Taylor Cunningham hit the ball back to the pitcher. Shannon Keefe earned the first RBI of the game on a double to left center sending Cunningham home for a 1-0 lead.
The Chanticleers had a good opportunity to score in the top of the fifth as Sarah Maples led off the inning with a single through the left side. Cacia Pierre sent Maples to second on a bunt with both runners safe and no outs. Stacy Snellings advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Radford ended the inning with a double play without giving up a run.
Coastal got on the board, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Jessie Winans singled to centerfield and went to third on Chelsea Pineda's double down the left field line. Kara Vonatzski came in to pinch run so with runners at second and third, Jazmin Daigle singled through the left side, sending Winans home to tie the game at 1-1. Vonatzski came home after an error in centerfield on Daigle's single to give Coastal a 2-1 lead.
The Highlanders answered back in the bottom of the sixth after a three-run homer by Michelle Beall for a 4-1 Radford lead to take game one.
Ashley Bagwell started in the circle for Coastal, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits while striking out two. Bagwell falls to 9-11 on the season. Radford's Jackie Jenkins earned the win to move to 12-2 on the season after giving up two runs on six hits while striking out four.
The Chanticleers took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Brooke Donovan led off with a single through the left side and she scored on a single up the middle by Pineda.
Radford answered back, taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Shifflett drew a lead-off walk and went to third on a single through the right side by Nicole Beall. Beall stole second and Shifflett came home after an error at shortstop to tie the second game at 1-all. The Highlanders added two more runs as Beall and Cunningham both crossed the plate.
In the second inning, Hannah Ojeda got around to third after an error at shortstop and she scored on a groundout by Lauren Williams for a 4-1 Highlander lead. With one out, Shifflett singled through the right side, but was caught stealing for the second out. Nicole Beall followed with a double to centerfield and was sent home on a single by Cunningham down the left field line to give Radford a 5-1 lead.
Radford added three more runs in the bottom of the third for an 8-1 lead. Vicki Madden singled to the shortstop and Ryndee Ruch came in to pinch run. Ruch scored on a sacrifice fly by Williams. Maureen Hepner singled to right field and Ojeda reached first on a fielder's choice. Both Hepner and Ojeda scored on Nicole Beall's double to left field to give the Highlanders a seven-run advantage.
The Chants kept Radford scoreless for the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but could not come back from the seven-run deficit, falling 8-1 in the second game.
Michelle Evans started the game in the circle for Coastal, throwing 2.2 innings and giving up eight runs, three earned, on eight hits. Katelin Edwards pitched in relief, allowing only one hit in 3.1 innings. Evans recorded the loss falling to 5-9 on the season. Stephanie Dameron earned the win for Radford to move to 11-3 on the season. Dameron pitched a complete game, allowing one run on six hits while striking out three.
Coastal will return to the field for the final game of the three-game series at Radford Monday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
