Mars Hill, Carson-Newman, Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne Advance In Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament
WINGATE, N.C. -- The fifth-seeded Bulldogs of Wingate University notched their second victory of the day, holding off Newberry College 2-1 in the final game on day two of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at the WU Softball Complex. The Bulldogs improve to 35-14 on the season, and will meet Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 11 a.m. Newberry falls to 31-13 overall.
Senior shortstop Debra Grijalva (San Jose, Calif.) was one-for-two with two RBI to spark the Wingate offense. Senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.) was one-for-three with a run scored for the Bulldogs. Junior right-hander Brittany Blankenship (Midlothian, Va.) allowed only three hits in the complete-game victory.
Senior infielder Jessica Reid (Walhalla, S.C.) was two-for-three with an RBI to lead the Newberry attack. Senior catcher Tiffany Pigage (Lexington, S.C.) was one-for-two with a run scored for the scarlet-and-gray.
Newberry threatened in the top of the first, with runners on second and third with one out. A bunt from senior pitcher Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.) was fielded by Wingate catcher Brittany Barrineau (Monroe, N.C.), who threw to first. Sophomore Gina Ager (Columbia, Md.) was covering first, recorded the out, then threw home to Barrineau who tagged out junior outfielder Aissa Gatewood (North Charleston, S.C.) at the plate to end the inning.
The Bulldogs were able to score a pair of runs in their half of the first. McClain singled to lead off the inning, then stole second. She reached third on a fielder's choice by freshman designated player Kasey Pendley (Marion, N.C.), who was also safe on the play, and went to second on an error. Grijalva followed by lining a single to center, plating both runs.
Newberry got on the board in the third when Pigage led off the inning with a walk, went to second on a sacrifice, then scored on an RBI single from Reid to make it 2-1.
That would be all of the scoring in the game. Newberry had two on with one out in the fifth, via a single and a Wingate error. The rally was once again halted by a double play, as Gatewood lined out to Wingate senior third baseman Leyila Myers (Marietta, Ga.), who threw to first in time for the inning-ending double play.
The scarlet-and-gray got the leadoff hitter on in the seventh inning via a hit batsman. Blankenship would induce a popout, register a strikeout, then end the game with another infield popout.
Blankenship improves to 19-8 on the season. She allowed one run on three hits in seven innings of work, striking out three while walking two. Huckestein took the loss, falling to 19-8 on the year. She allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings of work, striking out three and walking two.
The Bulldogs and Bears will meet Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner of that game advances to take on the winner of Saturday's Mars Hill vs. Carson-Newman game at 4 p.m. All of Saturday's action will take place at the WU Softball Complex.
Lenoir-Rhyne 5, Lincoln Memorial 3
WINGATE, N.C. -- The seventh-ranked Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University rallied from a 3-0 deficit to notch a 5-3 win over the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University on day two of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Tournament Friday afternoon at the WU Softball Complex. The Bears improve to 46-7 overall and will play Saturday at 11 a.m. LMU completes the 2010 campaign 28-23 overall.
Sophomore catcher Sarah Atkins (Newport News, Va.) led the LRU attack, going one-for-three with a homer and three RBI. Junior infielder Kat Rivers (Royston, Ga.) was one-for-two with a run scored, while junior outfielder Heather Brock (Yadkinville, N.C.) was one-for-three with a run scored.
Junior outfielder Jackie Adams (Columbus, Ohio) was two-for-four with an RBI and run scored to lead the LMU attack. Freshman infielder Ashley Legge (St. Paris, Ohio) and sophomore infielder Bridget Eicher (Hicksville, Ohio) each went one-for-three with a run scored for the Railsplitters.
LMU got on the board first in the second, getting a solo homer to left center from Eicher to make it 1-0. An RBI single from Legge in the third made it 2-0. The Railsplitters took a three-run lead on an RBI single from Adams in the third.
Lenoir-Rhyne did all of its damage in the fifth, taking advantage of three LMU errors. The first two runs scored when Rivers reached on an error. Atkins followed with a three-run homer to put the Bears on top 5-3.
Freshman right-hander Alex Smith (Cocoa, Fla.) got the win, improving to 21-4 overall on the year. She allowed one run on three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work in relief, while striking out four. Freshman right-hander Meghan LaFevor (Columbia, Tenn.) took the loss, falling to 17-13 on the season. She allowed five unearned runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work, striking out six.
The Bears will face the winner of the Wingate vs. Newberry game Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Lenoir-Rhyne is the defending tournament champion.
Mars Hill 6, Lenoir-Rhyne 5
WINGATE, N.C. -- The fourth-seeded Mars Hill College Lions upset the top-seeded and seventh-ranked in the nation Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University 6-5 on day two of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at the WU Softball Complex. The Lions improve to 28-13 overall and will return to action Saturday. Lenoir-Rhyne falls to 45-7 on the season and will be back in action Friday at 2:15 p.m.
Senior outfielder Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) led the Mars Hill attack, going two-for-two with a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Junior infielder Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) had a double and three RBI for the Lions, while senior outfielder Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) added a double and two RBI. Senior infielder Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.) scored a pair of runs at the top of the Mars Hill order.
Sophomore infielder Brittany Davidson (Fort Defiance, Va.) was one-for-two with a double and three RBI to spark the LRU offense. Senior outfielder Brittany Cherry (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and junior infielder Kat Rivers (Royston, Ga.) each hit solo homers for the Bears.
Lenoir-Rhyne struck first, getting a leadoff homer from Cherry in the first to make it 1-0. Rivers added a solo shot, her league-best 18th homer of the year, to make it 2-0.
Mars Hill answered in the third, getting an RBI triple from Angell to make it 2-1. She would score on a sacrifice fly from Seawell to tie it at two.
The Lions plated four runs in the fifth to take the lead. Seawell got it started with a two-run double to make it 4-2. Two batters later, James lined a double to left center to put the Mars Hill on top by four.
The Bears responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. They loaded the bases via a hit batsman and two walks. Davidson cleared the bases with a double to centerfield to cut the lead to one.
Mars Hill freshman right-hander Taylor Morris (Weddington, N.C.) would come in to shut the door on Lenoir-Rhyne. She pitched the final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a hit while striking out three, notching her third save of the year. Junior right-hander Tara West (Urbana, Ohio) got the win, improving to 14-7 on the year. She allowed five runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking seven. Freshman Alex Smith (Cocoa , Fla.) took the loss, falling to 20-4. She allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking four.
Mars Hill returns to action Saturday, taking on Carson-Newman at 1:30 p.m. The Lions and Eagles are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the tournament. The winner of that game moves on to championship Sunday.
Carson-Newman 4, Newberry 1
Wingate, N.C. - The 22nd-ranked Carson-Newman Lady Eagles defeated Newberry College 4-1 on day two of the 2010 Food Lion SAC softball tournament at the WU Softball complex. The Eagles improve to 35-8 on the season, and remain in the winner's bracket, returning to action Saturday. Newberry falls to 30-12 overall and will return to action Friday afternoon.
The win was Carson-Newman's 10th consecutive SAC Tournament victory.
Senior first baseman Sara Little (Calhoun, Ga.) led the Carson-Newman attack, going two-for-two with a homer and three RBI. Senior infielder Jessie Howard (Knoxville, Tenn.) was one-for-three with a run scored.
After Newberry stranded a pair of runners in the top of the first, the Lady Eagles answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Howard led off the inning with a single, while sophomore outfielder Cassidy Skeen (Powell, Tenn.) reached on a walk. Little followed by driving a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left center to make it 3-0. Little now has seven homers on the season.
Newberry responded with a run in the second. Senior outfielder Whitney Wiles (Iva, S.C.) led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, then scored on a Carson-Newman error to cut the deficit to two.
The Eagles had the answer in the bottom of the inning. Junior outfielder Leah Price (Spring City, Tenn.) hit a grounder back to the pitcher, who threw the ball into the right field corner. Another Newberry throwing error on the same play would allow Price to score, making it 4-1.
That would be plenty for sophomore right-hander Mary Shealy (Clinton, S.C.). She moves to 14-4 on the season, after allowing one unearned run on three hits in seven innings of work. She has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings of work in the tournament. Senior right-hander Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, FLa.) took the loss, falling to 19-7 on the season. She allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out 11 in six innings of work.
The Lady Eagles will return to action Saturday at 1:30 p.m., facing the winner of the Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Mars Hill game. The winner of that matchup will advance to Sunday's championship. Newberry returns to action at 4:30 p.m., facing the winner of the Wingate vs. Catawba game.
Wingate 8, Catawba 7
MARSHVILLE, N.C. -- Wingate University survived a late rally by Catawba College to stay alive in the elimination bracket of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference softball tournament on Friday afternoon at Forest Hills High School. The Bulldogs claimed an 8-7 win to improve to 34-14 overall. The Catawba Indians end their season at 29-24 overall.
Catawba grabbed the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Senior shortstop Kathryn Geouge (Canton, N.C.) led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on a two-out single by senior second baseman Allie Marshall (Pleasant Garden, N.C.). The 1-0 edge would be the only lead for the Indians as Wingate scored twice in the second, picked up two more in the third and scored three in the fourth to go up 7-2.
Four straight two-out hits in the second put Wingate on top and sophomore utility player Joya Wortham (Creedmoor, N.C.) added a two-out, two-run double in the third for a 4-2 lead. Bulldog freshman first baseman Brittany Loudermilt (Stony Point, N.C.) picked up a two-run single with two outs in the fourth to stretch the advantage to 7-2. Catawba began to rally back, but came up a run short.
The Indians got two runs back in their fourth on a pinch-hit single by senior Kristyn Funderburke (Kings Mountain, N.C.) and a RBI from Geouge. Wingate got one more two-out RBI in the sixth before the final Catawba push in the seventh.
Senior outfielder Callie Gordy (Oak Ridge, N.C.) and junior outfielder Carly Sabat (Warren, Ohio) opened the Catawba seventh with singles before Marshall popped up. Senior first baseman Brittney Thornburg (Kings Mountain, N.C.) reached on an error that forced in a run and freshman catcher Tara Gibbs (Waynesville, N.C.) followed with a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 8-6.
Sophomore designated player Alli Justice (Bishopville, Md.) got home the final Indian run with a single, but freshman third baseman Mollie Kovalcin (Latrobe, Pa.) lined out to third to end the game. Justice and Gordy led the 10-hit Catawba attack with two hits each.
Wingate collected 12 hits, three each by Loudermilt and senior outfielder LaRonda McClain (Kings Mountain, N.C.). Loudermilt drove in three runs. Wortham had two hits and two RBI. The Bulldogs overcame six errors with junior pitcher Allison Smith (Daleville, Va.) getting the win in relief. She allowed five runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings. Smith struck out three and walked one.
Lincoln Memorial 2, Tusculum 1
MARSHVILLE, N.C. -- Lincoln Memorial University stayed alive in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference softball tournament Friday morning, taking a hard-fought 2-1 losers' bracket victory over Tusculum College at Forest Hills High School. LMU (28-22 overall) will face number seven Lenoir-Rhyne University in an elimination game later Friday afternoon. Tusculum concludes the 2010 season 17-27 overall.
Lincoln Memorial freshman pitcher Meghan LaFevor (Columbia, Tenn.) tossed a complete game, scattering nine hits and improving to 18-12 overall on the season. She struck out five and walked one, allowing only one earned run. Tusculum senior pitcher Holli Cadenhead (Van Vleck, Texas) took the loss, tossing six innings. She gave up two earned runs on six hits, striking out six and walking one for the Pioneers.
The Railsplitters posted a single run in the bottom of the first inning. LaFevor started the frame with a walk. Junior outfielder Jackie Adams (Columbus, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice, forcing LaFevor. Adams stole second and scored on an RBI single by senior designated player Ashley Legge (St. Paris, Ohio).
Tusculum tied the contest in the top of the fourth frame. Pioneer sophomore designated player Phlyscia Powell (Loxahatchee, Fla.) singled up the middle to start the inning. She hustled to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Racheal Wilburn (Chuckey, Tenn.). Powell scored on an RBI groundout by junior first baseman Shanda Kimbrough (Morristown, Tenn.).
LMU posted the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, sophomore outfielder Chelley Christian (Kingsport, Tenn.) singled up the middle. She moved to second on a LaFevor ground out. Christian scored on an RBI single from Adams.
Tusculum got two hits in the top of the seventh, but the Pioneers could not push a run across the plate. Three Pioneers had two hits each, but TC left nine runners on base. Legge had two hits to lead the Railsplitters' attack. LMU also posted three stolen bases, pushing the team's season team theft total to 94 stolen bases.