MOBILE, ALA. – The Coastal Carolina softball team never gave up, but fell to South Alabama 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.
With the loss, the Chanticleers dropped to 14-19 overall and 1-10 in Sun Belt Conference play, while the Jaguars improved to 14-14 overall and 7-1 in SBC play with the win.
South Alabama struck first for the second day in a row, as the Jaguars recorded three straight singles to load the bases before a Chanticleer error advanced all runners and allowed both Mackenzie Brasher and Caroline Nichols to cross the plate and put the hosts up 2-0. Back-to-back outs by freshman Keirstin Roose, including her second double play of the weekend, would end the home half of the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Brasher doubled to right field before Kamdyn Kvistad flew out to left field. However, Brasher was doubled-up trying to advance by Payton Ebersole's throw to second base.
Abbey Montoya broke up the Jaguars' no-hitter in the top of the fifth inning, as the senior singled to center field before Maddy Jennings reached on a fielder's choice for the Chants. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the Chants' push in the fifth as Coastal left two runners on base.
Roose singled up the middle for her first hit of the series in the sixth inning but would be left on base.
In the bottom of the sixth, Victoria Ortiz singled to left field to start the home portion of the inning before Gabby Stanger flew out to left field and advanced Ortiz. Ortiz advanced to third on a wild pitch, before Emma Kropp singled past first base to send Ortiz home and make the score, 3-0.
Iyanla De Jesus sent her team-leading ninth home run of the season deep over the wall in left field to put Coastal on the board in the top of the seventh inning and make the score 3-1. Jennings drew a walk followed by a Shae Schreckengost single to left field that advanced pinch-runner Da'Vidria Robinson to second. Abby Jankay popped up to left field which allowed Robinson to advance to third. Ebersole's RBI-single down the right-field line sent pinch-runner Mady Volpe to second and Robinson home to make the score 3-2. Makiya Thomas sent a shot to the left-field wall but South Alabama's left fielder made the snag to end the contest.
Nicolette Picone (5-8) threw the second complete game of her career against the Jaguars as the true freshman suffered the loss in the circle. The Bethpage, N.Y. native saw 6.0 innings of work in which she allowed three runs and just one walk.
At the plate, five different Chanticleers recorded hits against the Jaguars with Ebersole and De Jesus each tallying an RBI.
Coastal Carolina and South Alabama will meet for the series finale on Sunday, April 3, at 1:00 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.
