CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team (33-15, 9-9 Sun Belt) cruised past the College of Charleston Cougars (17-28, 9-9 CAA) 5-3 on Tuesday at St. John Stadium.
The Cougars did not look sharp in the bottom of the first inning when an error, a passed ball, and a wild pitch allowed
Diamond Williams to cross home plate to give CCU a 1-0 lead.
CofC leveled the score in the top of the second inning when Ariz Roman slotted a single up the middle to drive in one run to make the score 1-1.
Coastal pushed ahead in the bottom of the third inning when
Delaney Keith smashed a double down the right-field line and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch.
Iyanla De Jesus joined her teammate on base after being walked on the following play. The Chants added one more run to the scoreboard after pulling off a double steal in which pinch-runner
Jay Wrightsman reached second and Keith stole home to put CCU up 2-1.
The Chants scored one more run in the inning after
Keirstin Roose's ground out allowed Wrightsman to reach home to extend CCU's lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, CCU added two insurance runs when
Indya Smith blasted a two-run double deep into center-field to increase the Chants' lead to 5-1.
The Cougars came out swinging in the top of the seventh inning when Karlee Hughes smoked a leadoff triple to right-center field. Malaka Belser immediately followed with a home run over the left-field wall to clear the bases and narrow the gap to 5-3. However,
Raelee Brabham entered the circle and took care of business, striking out the final three hitters to secure the win and her fourth save of the season.
Nicolette Picone (9-3) notched her ninth win of the season, recording two strikeouts while refusing to give up a single run in her 3.1 innings of work in the circle.
The Chanticleers will return to conference action this weekend where they will face the No. 25 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in a three-game SBC series at St. John Stadium.
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 Athletics at goccusports.com.
