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College of Charleston, Appalachian State Win in Extra Innings
College of Charleston Outlasts Furman in Eight Innings
STATESBORO, Ga. - In the first extra inning of the Southern Conference Softball Championship presented by Carolina Ford Dealers in Statesboro, Ga., the College of Charleston Cougars outlasted the Furman Paladins 4-2 in eight innings.
Cougar catcher Katie Pesature hit a two-run home run that bounced off the top of the left field wall in the top of the eighth innings. With a runner on second base and Charleston threatening, Furman's pitcher Kayla Suskauer put Pesature in the hole with a 1-2 count, but the Cougar senior lined the next pitch for her fifth homer of the season and her 17th and 18th RBI to give the Cougars the 4-2 win.
The Paladins tried to respond in the bottom of the eighth when they put their leadoff hitter on base as Stephanie Field legged out an infield single. Unfortunately for Furman, Field couldn't get past second base as Stephanie Saylor retired the next three hitters to advance the Cougars in the bracket.
College of Charleston wasted no time jumping on Furman starting pitcher Hannah Bradley as the Cougars struck for an early 1-0 inning in the top of the first. After drawing a one out walk, shortstop Lizzy Vaughn advanced to second on a single by Katie Forbes and was sent home after Pesature ripped a single down the third base line for her first of three RBI for the game.
After only getting one hit in the first three innings, Furman's Jessie Homesley tied the game with one swing of the bat as she knocked her fourth home run of the year to left field. The homer caused Charleston to go to the bullpen after the inning to bring in Stephanie Saylors to go the rest of the way.
Katie Nutaitis led off the Cougar seventh inning by reaching on a fielding error by Hannah Pace. Charleston sent Ashton Jarrett in to pinch run for Nutaitis, and Jarrett moved to third quickly after a steal and a Kristy Giragosian ground out to first base. With one out in the inning, Jarrett scored on a wild pitch by Furman relief pitcher Kayla Suskauer.
Furman followed Charleston's lead in the bottom of the inning with Morgan Hughey reached on an error by Kristi Hodgson and advanced to second on the throw. The Paladins sent Lauren Collier to pinch run for Hughey, and Collier advanced to third on a throwing error by Vaughn as Katie Michaels legged out a single. Collier crossed home after an Alex Bimonte single, but Furman could not score anymore for the win.
College of Charleston (34-20) advances to play tomorrow at noon and will face the loser of the UNCG and Samford game. Furman finishes its season with an 18-35 overall record. Live stats will be available on the Southern Conference Championship page.
Appalachian State Comes Out Victorious in Pitching Exhibition Against Georgia Southern
STATESBORO, Ga. - In the Southern Conference Softball Championship presented by Carolina Ford Dealers in Statesboro, Ga., a pitchers' gem went to extra innings, as the Appalachian State Mountaineers scored two in the ninth inning to defeat Georgia Southern, 4-2.
Appalachian State used small-ball in the 9th inning to figure out Georgia Southern pitcher Allie Miles. After Miles walked Katie Boyd on four-straight pitches to start the inning, Megan Rembielak sacrificed Boyd to second. Boyd moved to third after Meghan Smith reached on an error, and the Mountaineers had runners on second and third after Smith swiped second. Allie Cashion brought home the two Appalachian State runners with a single through to right field.
Miles pitched a complete-game for the Eagles, setting a career-high in innings pitched and tying a career-high with 15 strike outs. Miles threw 149 pitches and gave up only three earned runs on nine hits.
Not to be outdone by her counter-partner, Appalachian State's Hannah Dow pitched all nine innings for the Mountaineers and gave up only two runs on six hits and struck out four hitters on 93 pitches. In the longest outing of Dow's career, the senior did not give up a walk in the game.
Appalachian State jumped out on top in the top of the first inning with a blast over the left field wall by Cashion. After Boyd walked to lead off the game, she was later caught stealing right before Rembielak singled to the left side. Rembielak would steal second base and then come home off Cashion's eighth home run of the year.
Georgia Southern responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home from first baseman Megen Smith. Marie Fogle led off the Eagle inning a double to right center and brought all the way around with Smith's homer for her 25th and 26th RBI on the season.
The Mountaineers' Cashion had a memorable day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and all four RBI for Appalachian State.
Appalachian State improved its record to 25-23 and will play tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. The Mountaineers will face the loser of the Chattanooga and Elon game, which will be played later this afternoon. Georgia Southern ends its 2011 campaign with a 28-29 overall mark. Live stats for tomorrow's elimination game will be available on the Southern Conference Championship page.