Feb. 16, 2008

Boston College Sweeps Day Two Of Pirate Invitational

GREENVILLE, N.C. - In the second day of tournament play, the Boston College softball team (2-2, 0-0 ACC) beat Maine (0-3), 4-3, and Ohio (2-2), 1-0, at the East Carolina Pirate Invitational in Greenville, N.C.

Sophomore catcher Dani Weir highlighted the day, going 4-for-5 with 2 RBIs, a home run and a double. She started the come-back rally that gave the Eagles their first win of the season, beating Maine in the opening game. Sophomore Taylor Peyton went five strong innings against Maine, allowing only one run and striking out nine Black Bear batters. She also went 1-of-3 at the plate with a single and two walks.

The Eagles were able to pick up a thrilling come-from-behind victory against the Black Bears in the first game, scoring four unanswered runs in the top of the sixth inning. After Maine had scored once in the first, second and fifth innings, Weir started the Eagles' offensive effort by homering to left center.

Maryland Softball Defeats Coastal Carolina, Elon

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Sarde Stewart went 4-4, had 3 RBIs and hit her first home run of the season in the 10th inning to lead the Univeristy of Maryland softball team to a 4-3 victory in 10 innings over Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Saturday. Later in the day, the Terps' Kerry Hickey scored the winning run in the eighth inning to defeat Elon, 5-4.

The Terps (5-1) struck first in the opening game when Niki Lau opened the game with a single and scored on a Stewart single. The Lady Chanticleers (2-5) tied the game in the sixth when Verity Long-Droppert hit a home run to right-center field off Sarah Dooley.

In the eighth inning, the Terps' Jenny Belak was placed on second base per the international tie-breaker rule which applies to extra-inning games and moved to third on Kerry Hickey's sacrifice bunt. Stewart singled Belak home, but Coastal Carolina responded in the bottom of the inning when Allison Cantrell singled home Laicole Walker to tie the game.

Florida State Defeats Bethune-Cookman in Five

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In day two of the Seminole Classic, the Seminoles defeated Bethune-Cookman 14-3 in five innings on JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex. It was the first win of the tournament for Florida State, improving the season to 4-3.

Two Seminoles went 4-for-4 against the Wildcats, senior Whitney Buckmon and junior Jessica Gilmore. Buckmon's four hits and four runs for Florida State set new career records and led the squad. Gilmore also notched new personal bests in those categories with four runs and three hits.

Ashley Stager had another stellar day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a triple in the third and a double in the fourth. The freshman notched two runs and five RBI's, improving her average to .476, second to team-leader Buckmon's .538.

"We came out fired up and ready to play," head coach JoAnne Graf said. "We really showed-up at bat today and I think we looked aggressive throughout the game."

Campana Pitches Wolfpack Past Long Island, 1-0

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Linsday Campana (2-3) picked up her second shutout and allowed just three hits while fanning four batters as NC State topped Long Island, 1-0, at the FAU "Strike-Out" Cancer Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 16. Alyssa Allbritten scored the only run of the game on a passed ball with two outs in the top of the seventh.

State moves to 4-4 on the year with the victory, while Long Island (2-1) takes its first loss.

Jenny Giles (1-1) kept the Pack hitless through 5.2 innings until Shanna Smith placed a two-out single, State's lone hit of the contest, up the middle in the top of the sixth. Giles then struck out Lauren Peters to thwart the development of any scoring opportunities.

Tar Heels Pound Out 16 Runs Against College Of Charleston

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The North Carolina offense continued to post big numbers Saturday morning as the Tar Heels scored nine first inning runs en route to a 16-0 victory in five innings. Faith Sutton was dominant in her second start of the year as she allowed just two hits with nine strikeouts in five innings of work. Carolina will now take on No. 10/11 Florida at 1:30 p.m. in the marquee matchup of the Cox Communications Classic.

The first inning would set the tone for the game as Sutton struck out the side and was given instant run support in the bottom half as the Tar Heels' sticks came to play. After a Breanna Brown ground out, Cassie Palmer battled starter Shannon Howard to a full count and drew a base on balls to get everything going. Emily Troup and Danielle Spaulding connected on back-to-back hits to score Palmer as Troup singled up the middle and Spaulding placed a ball through the left side.

Johnson's Shutout Leads Georgia Tech Past New Mexico, 6-0

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Junior pitcher Tiffany Johnson tossed a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts to lead the Georgia Tech Softball Team (4-5) to a 6-0 win over New Mexico (4-3) tonight in bracket play of the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic. The Jackets scored one run in the sixth and five more in the seventh to turn a pitcher's duel into a comfortable win. The Yellow Jackets will now face No. 2/2 Alabama for the third time in four days at 2:30 PM ET tomorrow in the championship game.

It was a scoreless game through the first five innings as Johnson and New Mexico pitcher Kelly Ninemire were locked up in a pitcher's duel. Ninemire had retired 14 straight batters until senior Stephanie Butler led off the top of the sixth inning with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Tech perfectly executed a slap and run as Butler took off for second base and freshman Christy Jones slapped the ball through the vacated hole in the right side of the infield.

Virginia Tech Takes Two at Green & White Classic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Virginia Tech softball team took a pair of wins Saturday on the first day of the Green & White Classic, being hosted by UNC Charlotte. In the first game, Tech had to work an extra frame en route to a 2-1 win over the host 49ers and then rolled past Presbyterian, 9-0, in six innings in the final game.

In the opener, a single through the left side by Charisse Mariconda in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Hokies to a 2-1 win over the previously undefeated Charlotte 49ers.

Charlotte took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on a pair of hits, capped off by a double by Tenaya Tucker. The Hokies (5-2) tied the game up in the bottom of the inning. Jenna Rhodes reached on an infield single and moved up on Erin Ota's single to the gap. Rhodes came around to score on a single to centerfield by Jessica Everhart.

Georgia Tech Falls To No. 2/2 Alabama, 9-5

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior Savannah Brown was 2-for-3 with four RBI as the Georgia Tech Softball Team (3-5) fell to No. 2/.2 Alabama (9-0) 9-5 this afternoon in the final pool play game of the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic. The Yellow Jackets had a 3-0 lead in the third, but saw the Crimson Tide score two runs in the third and seven in the fourth to remain undefeated. The Jackets will now play New Mexico in bracket play tonight at approximately 6:30 ET.

Tech struck first for three runs in the top of the third inning. It marked the first runs that Alabama pitcher Kelsi Dunne had given up in 21.2 innings pitched to start the season. Senior Stephanie Butler led off the inning by reaching on an error and moved to second base when senior Aileen Morales singled up the middle. Two batters later, they were at second and third with two outs when junior Whitney Haller walked to load the bases. Brown then delivered the clutch, two-out hit with a two-run single into left field. Junior Tiffany Johnson made it 3-0 with a RBI single of her own into left.

NC State Drops 11-2 Decision to Miami (Ohio)

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Unable to generate any offense, NC State fell to Miami (Ohio), 11-2, on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the FAU "Strike-Out" Cancer Tournament. State put together just three hits, while the Redhawks supplied 11.

The decision pushes State to 4-5 on the year, while Miami climbs to 1-2. Mendy McKenzie (2-2) took the loss while Meredith Linch (1-1) grabbed her first victory on the year.

Halle Popson drew a leadoff walk to begin the game, and Meghan Mann moved her to third with a double off of the wall in right field. Popson then crossed home plate to give the Redhawks an early 1-0 advantage when Christine Bills fouled out to Ashleigh Davis in left field.

Tar Heels Drop 4-0 Decision To Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - North Carolina fell behind 4-0 after the opening inning and were never able to battle back Saturday against No. 10/11 Florida in the Cox Communications Classic. The Tar Heels fell 4-0 in their first loss of the year. Carolina will have a chance to redeem the loss on Sunday when it faces the Gators at 11:15 a.m. in the Tar Heels' final contest of the tournament.

Carolina put runners on first and third with just one out to open the game but were unable to come up with a clutch hit as back-to-back strikeouts ended the first. Florida kept that momentum going into the bottom half as they rattled off six hits and scored four runs to jump out to the early lead.

Cavaliers Lose Three on Day Two of Kajikawa Classic

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Virginia softball team (0-4) lost three games Saturday, the second day of the Kajikawa Classic, in Tempe, Ariz. The Cavaliers opened the day with a 14-4 setback to fifth-ranked Arizona State. UVa then dropped two one-run games, falling to Oklahoma State 10-9 in 10 innings and No. 25 Oregon State 7-6.

In game one, the Sun Devils opened the contest with a five-run first inning. Virginia rallied back to score one in the second and two in the third, to cut the deficit to 5-3. Arizona State answered in the bottom half of the third with two more runs to go up 7-3, and had a seven-run fourth inning to expand its lead.

Third-year Carly Winger led Virginia at the plate, going 3-for-3 on the day, while teammate Lindsey Preuss added a pair of singles as well. Fourth-year Whitney Holstun pitched three innings for the Cavaliers before first-year Alle Rife made her college debut in the circle, pitching an inning of relief.