May 1, 2011
Box Score
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University softball team fell 8-7 in the final game of the three-game series to Gardner-Webb on Sunday, May 1 at the CCU Softball Field. The Chanticleers move to 22-29 overall and 6-9 in the Big South Conference while the Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 16-26 and 6-12 in the league.
Coastal got out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Brooke Donovan started things off for the Chanticleers by reaching first on a fielding error at second base. Jessie Winans advanced Donovan to second on a sacrifice bunt and Chelsea Pineda moved her to third on a double to left field. Jazmin Daigle brought both runners home on a double to left center for a 2-0 Coastal lead with one out. Sarah Maples followed with a double down the left field line and Stacy Snellings singled up the middle to send Daigle home. Michelle Evans drove in the final run of the inning with a double through the right side.
The Bulldogs cut the Chant lead to three in the top of the third, scoring its first run of the game. Rachel Jablonski drew a lead off walk and Melinda Dulkowski followed with a bunt single to give Gardner-Webb runners at first and second with no outs. Samantha Meenaghan drove in Jablonski with a double to left center.
Gardner-Webb added another run in the top of the fourth as Jablonski singled up the middle to bring home Kelsey Witter, who led off the inning with a double to right center.
Coastal matched the Bulldogs, scoring one run of its own. Donovan started it off with a double to left field, advanced to third on a pass ball and came home on a wild pitch for a 5-2 Chanticleer lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to chip away at the Chanticleer lead, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Jordyn Arrowood led off with a single to second base and McKenzie Morenus followed with a single through the left side. Morgan Baker brought in the first run of the inning after doubling through the left side, scoring Arrowood and Jane Savage earned the second RBI on a ground out that allowed Morenus to score.
With Coastal only up by one run at 5-4, the Chants answered back in the bottom half of the fifth with two runs of its own. Ashley Pisone hit her second home run of the series over the left centerfield fence to put the Chants back up by two at 6-4 with two outs. Snellings kept the hitting going with a single to second and Evans singled up the middle, reaching third on the throw to third. Cacia Pierre recorded an RBI after singling up the middle allowing Snellings to score and put Coastal ahead at 7-4.
In the top of the sixth, Gardner-Webb cut the Coastal lead to one on a two-run homer by Morenus to left center. It was first home run of the series for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs kept battling back and finally took the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs. Michelle Primm drew a lead off walk and Emily Bowman came in to pinch run. Bowman was called out at second as Jabonski reached on a fielder's choice and Dulkowski singled through the left side, sending Jabonski to second. Meenaghan followed with a single to right field, loading the bases. Arrowood drove in two runs on a hit up the middle to take an 8-7 lead.
Coastal tried to answer back in the bottom half of the inning, but were stopped short as the Bulldogs took the final game of the series.
Ashley Bagwell got the start in the circle for Coastal, throwing 4.2 innings and giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out four. Katelin Edwards pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and Evans finished out the game giving up two runs on three hits in the seventh. Evans took the loss and falls to 6-10 on the season.
Cindy Boomhower started for the Bulldogs and gave up seven runs on 11 hits in five innings pitched. Jessica Childers earned the win after throwing the final two innings, allowing only one hit while striking out three. Childers moves to 10-11 on the season.
Both teams combined for 28 hits on the day with Gardner-Webb tallying 16 of those hits. The Bulldogs had nine players record hits, including five with multiple hits while the Chanticleers had eight players register hits.
Coastal is back in action May 7-8 as it concludes the regular season with a three-game series against Liberty. The Chanticleers will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday.
