April 30, 2011

Game One Box Score / Game Two Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team swept Gardner-Webb in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 30, defeating the Runnin' Bulldogs 3-0 in game one and 11-3 in game two. The Chanticleers improve to 22-28 overall and 6-8 in the Big South while Gardner-Webb falls to 15-26 and 5-12 in the league.

Coastal was first to strike in game one of the doubleheader against Gardner-Webb, scoring one run in the second inning. Sarah Maples got things started, recording the first hit of the game down the left field line. Ashley Pisone followed with a single to left field, sending Maples to second. With one out, Michelle Evans reached first on a fielder's choice as Maples was called out at second. Olivia Williams brought Pisone home with a single through the right side for a 1-0 Chanticleer lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Chants added two more runs to its total. Stacy Snellings led off with a single through the right side and went to second on an illegal pitch. Evans followed with a single up the middle and Kara Vonatzski came in to pinch run. Vonatzski went to second on a wild pitch giving Coastal runners at second and third with no outs. Brooke Donovan brought Snellings home with a hit up the middle and Chelsea Pineda singled to left field, sending Vonatzski home for a 3-0 Coastal lead.

Ashley Bagwell threw her 14th complete game and third shut out of the season. She allowed only two hits while striking out a career-high 13 batters, including registering two strikeouts in every inning but the fifth. Bagwell moves to 11-13 on the season.

Cindy Boomhower earned the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs to go to 6-14 overall. She gave up three runs on 12 hits and struck out one Chant.

Nine Coastal players recorded hits against Gardner-Webb in game one with Donovan, Jessie Winans and Evans recording two hits each.

Both teams went scoreless for the first three innings in game two until the Bulldogs scored one run in the fourth. McKenzie Morenus led off the inning with a double to left field and went to third on a wild pitch. Morenus scored on Kelsy Witter's single through the right side for a 1-0 lead.

The Chanticleers answered back in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Daigle started things off with a single to second and Courtney Howell came in to pinch run. Pisone cleared the bases with her first home run of the season.

Gardner-Webb battled back to regain the lead after scoring two runs in the top of the fifth. Rachel Jablonski drew a lead off walk and went to second on a pass ball. Melinda Dulkowski singled and stole second to give the Bulldogs runners at second and third. After back-to-back errors by the Chanticleers, Jablonski and Dulkowski scored to take a 3-2 lead.

Coastal did not go away easily and tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Donovan doubled to right center to lead the inning off and Winans sent her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Daigle brought Donovan home after singling to right center.

In the sixth inning, the Chants went on a hitting spree, scoring eight runs to end the game an inning early. Pisone started things off with a walk and she stole second before Stacy Snellings doubled to left field. Evans followed with a double down the left field line, sending Pisone and Snellings home. Beth Kassuhn came in to pinch run for Evans forcing Gardner-Webb to change pitchers. Following the pitching change, Williams doubled to left field, allowing Kassuhn to score and Nicole Saggiomo came in to pinch run for Williams. Donovan singled to center field, advancing Saggiomo to third and Winans brought in a run on a double to left center. Pineda followed with a singled to left field allowing Donovan to score and went to third on a throwing error in left field as Winans scored on the error. The Bulldogs changed pitchers for the second time of the inning and Daigle singled through the left side, bringing home Pineda for a 10-3 lead. Kassuhn drove in the game-ending run on a hit up the middle, her first hit of her collegiate career, to end the game 11-3 in the sixth.

Bagwell earned her second win of the day and moves to 12-13 on the season after relieving Michelle Evans in the fifth inning. She gave up two runs, none earned, on one hit while striking out six in two innings pitched. Evans got the start in the circle, allowing one run on four hits and striking out two.

The Bulldogs threw a trio of pitchers in the second game with Jessica Childers taking the loss to fall to 9-11 overall. Childers threw five innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits while striking out six. Alyssa Gutierrez pitched in relief giving up four runs before Presley Wesson came in to finish the game.

Coastal had nine players record hits with Donovan going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Overall, the Chanticleers combined for 27 hits on the day compared to the Bulldog's seven.

Coastal returns to the field for the final game of the three-game series Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m.