MOBILE, ALA. - The Coastal Carolina softball team dropped game one of the three-game Sun Belt Conference series to South Alabama, 4-0, on Friday night at Jaguars Field.
With the loss, CCU dropped to 14-18 overall and 1-9 in conference play. USA improved to 13-14 overall and 6-1 in SBC play.
South Alabama was first on the scoreboard, as a Caroline Nichols lead-off triple in the bottom of the first allowed the Jaguars to score on a passed ball to put the host up 1-0. Mackenzie Brasher drew a walk before
Keirstin Roose made a diving snag followed by a throw to first base to get the double play. Abbey Allen drew another Jags walk before Belle Wolfenden reached on a Chanticleer fielding error before
Kaitlin Beasley-Polko earned her first strikeout of the night to end the inning.
Iyanla De Jesus looked to answer in the top of the second as the junior sent a lead-off single deep into left field but would be left on base.
In the bottom of the third, a solo home run from Victoria Ortiz put the Jaguars up 2-0 before South Alabama added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Nicholas hit a sacrifice fly to center field to send Gabby Stagner home to make the score 3-0 which was followed by a Kamdyn Kvistad single that sent home Emma Kropp to put USA up 4-0.
Madison Hudson singled past second base in the top of the sixth inning for Coastal to put the Chants' second runner of the night on base.
Payton Ebersole would pop-up to the Jaguars' third baseman before
Makiya Thomas laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Hudson, but CCU would again leave the runner stranded.
In the top of the seventh,
Riley Zana extended her hitting streak to five games, as the sophomore singled deep before
De Jesus lined out back to the pitcher.
Abbey Montoya drew a walk to advance Zana to second before
Maddy Jennings singled to center field to advance all runners and load the bases. However, back-to-back strikeouts by the Chants ended the contest.
Beasley Polko suffered the loss (8-6), as the graduate student saw 1.1 innings of work, recording five walks, one hit, and one run.
Raelee Brabham also saw action, recording a season-high 4.2 innings of work along with a season-high five strikeouts. The junior allowed three runs on three hits.
The Chants and Jaguars are set to rematch on Saturday, April 2, at 4 p.m. ET.
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers(Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina at www.GoCCUsports.com.
