March 7, 2012

Game 1 Box Score l Game 2 Box Score

CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina softball team swept South Carolina at home on Wednesday winning 2-1 and 5-2 to move to 15-4 on the season. The Chanticleers last swept the Gamecocks in 2006 when they won 2-1 and 6-5 (8) at home on April 13.

The Chanticleers fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning as Evan Childs hit a double to left field that scored Samie Garcia.

Coastal and the Gamecocks then struggled during the remainder of the game to pick up hits as the Chanticleers recorded only three through the first six innings of play, while South Carolina posted two more following its hit in the first.

During the top of the seventh inning Lacey Rother hit a single to the shortstop, but the Gamecocks were unable to get any more offense going in the inning.

Chelsea Pineda reached first on a single as the first batter up for the Chanticleers in the bottom of the inning. Cacia Pierre then hit a home run following a 1-2 count to score Beth Kassuhn giving Coastal the 2-1 win. The home run by Pierre was her first of the season.

Pineda finished the game with two hits in two at bats. Pierre posted one hit and one run in three at bats. Sara Rasley recorded 11 putouts, while Jessie Winans had five assists.

Kiana Quolas earned the win for the Chanticleers on the mound to move to 8-1 on the season. Quolas struck out three, while giving up four hits and one walk in 27 batters faced.

Taking the loss on the mound for the Gamecocks was Katelynn Howser who struck out five, walked two and gave up five hits in 25 batters faced.

The Chanticleers used a strong second inning during the second game to go ahead 4-0, as Beth Kassuhn scored the first run on a single through the right side by Sara Rasley. Coastal earned its second and third runs on a single to right field by Sarah Maples that scored Rasley and Kelsey McNaughton. Jazmin Daigle then hit another ball to right field that advance Jessie Winans home.

South Carolina had runners in scoring position during the third inning, but the Gamecocks were unable to capitalize.

Coastal extended its lead to five in the fifth inning when Brooke Donovan scored on Kory Hayden's single to center field.

South Carolina made a comeback in the seventh inning when Olivia Lawrence hit a home run that scored Shelby Gonzales to put the score at 5-2. The Gamecocks picked up a single on the next at bat, but recorded the third out before cutting further into the Chanticleers' lead.

Hayden finished the game with two hits and one RBI in three at bats, while Winans recorded one hit and one run in two at bats, as well as eight assists. Rasley ended the game with one hit, one run and one RBI in three at bats, along with 12 putouts.

Mastriania, who entered the game coming off of her first collegiate no-hitter, pitched seven innings for the Chanticleers, striking out two, while giving up six hits and one walk in 29 batters faced in the win.

Kierstyn White pitched 1.2 innings for the Gamecocks, allowing five hits, one walk and no strikeouts in 11 batters faced to record the loss.

"I was pleased that our team showed up today and stepped up to the challenge in facing a good team and not only beating them once, but twice," said head coach Kelley Green.

"The two wins against South Carolina are huge for us and say a lot about our team right now. I'm happy with our performance, especially how our pitchers performed today," finished Green

The Chanticleers return to action on Thursday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. against La Salle University.