University of Delaware Softball Drops a Pair of Close Ones on First Day of Coastal Carolina Tournament
March 4, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Western Carolina-Delaware Boxscore
• Delaware-Coastal Carolina Boxscore
CONWAY, S.C. -- The University of Delaware softball team opened the Coastal Carolina Tournament with a pair of tough losses Friday, falling to Western Carolina 1-0 in the opener and dropping a 4-2 decision to the host Chanticleers in the second game.
Delaware (2-7), which had a two-game wins streak snapped, will continue action in the tournament Saturday when the Hens take on Colonial Athletic Association foe Towson at 11 a.m. and Western Carolina at 1 p.m. The Hens will take on Coastal Carolina once again on Sunday at 12 noon. All games are being played at the CCU Softball Field.
The Hens collected six hits in each of the game but could only come up with two runs on the day. Western Carolina won the opener with a single run in the third inning while Coastal Carolina used a one-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning by Stacy Snellings to break a 2-2 tie and down the Blue Hens.
In the nightcap, Coastal Carolina (11-5) got on the board first with a single run in the third inning. Brook Donovan registered a one-out walk, moved to third on a double by Sarah Maples, and scored on a wild pitch.
Delaware tied things up in the fourth inning when Michelle Grap tripled to the gap in right center with one out and scored one batter later when Jenny Richards (at right) singled her home.
Coastal Carolina went back up 2-1 in the fifth inning when Maples opened the inning with a double and then scored on an RBI double by Cacia Pierre. Delaware pitcher Amanda Stacevicz avoided further trouble when she forced Chelsea Pineda to ground out with two runners on.
The Blue Hens tied things for the second time in the top of the ninth when catcher Gina Knutson belted her third home run of the season with a solo shot to deep centerfield with no out. However, the Hens could not get another run across to take the lead.
Coastal Carolina took advantage, grabbing the win in the ninth. Jazmin Daigle led off the inning with a single up the middle and Ashley Pisone ran for her. A sacrifice bunt by Pierre moved Pisone up to third. Snellings then came to the plate and deposited a home run over the leftfield fence for the win.
In the opener, Western Carolina (10-6) looked to open the scoring in the top of the first inning when a single by Jordan Fulton and a double by Morgan Wyatt put runners on second and third with one out. But Blue Hen pitcher Anne Marie Pagano got Erin Foster to pop out to second and Shemekia Scotton to ground out to first to escape the jam unscathed.
The Catamounts then scored the only run of the game by pushing across a tally in the top of the third inning. Amelia Griffin led off the frame with a single to left, and after she stole second, she moved to third when Jordan Fulton grounded out. Morgan Wyatt then lofted a sacrifice fly to center field, driving home Griffin with the game-winning run.
Western Carolina looked poised to add an insurance run in the sixth, as Foster led off with a single up the middle and Scotton followed with a double to right. However Blue Hen rightfielder Samantha Pettie fired to second baseman Michelle McKinnon, who nailed Foster at the plate. Meanwhile Scotton attempted to advance on the throw, but she was gunned down at third by UD catcher Brittney Noons.
After avoiding the threat, Delaware looked to answer in the bottom of the frame as Knutson worked a one-out walk and Lara Andrews followed with a single up the middle. Stacevicz then flied out to center, but Grap walked as the Blue Hens loaded the bases. However Western Carolina pitcher Amber Steinhardt got Rachel Jones to fly out to center as the Catamounts maintained their one-run advantage.
Western Carolina again looked to be in business in the seventh when Robyn Burnette led off with a double, but after she went to third on a ground out, Pagano got Griffin to hit into a double play to work out of the jam.
Delaware rallied again during its final at bat as a single to right center by Noons, a sacrifice bunt by McKinnon and an infield single by Pettie put runners on the corners with one out. But Steinhardt retired Richards on a flyout to center and Knutson on a groundout to second to thwart the rally and hold on for the victory.
Steinhardt improved to 5-2 after allowing six hits and three walks while striking out two for the Catamounts. Pagano was the hard-luck loser for Delaware, dropping to 1-2 despite giving up just one earned run on nine hits.
Andrews led the Blue Hen attack by finishing 2 for 3, while Richards added a double.
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