The MEAC Softball Championship Tournament action continues today with the following games. Check back often for updates at the conclusion of each game.
Game 9: #2N Coppin State def. #3S Norfolk State, 1-0
Coppin State junior Paige Arnold pitched a one-hit shutout leading Coppin State to a 1-0 victory over Norfolk State.
Arnold allowed only a fourth-inning single to Morgan Boyd to improve to 16-10 on the season. She didn't walk a batter, struck out two and didn't allow a batter to advance beyond second base.
The Eagles scored their run in the top of the second inning. Charma Robinson, who had two hits, hit an infield single and advanced to third when the throw traveled down the rightfield line.
After a pop out, Tiffani Whaley scored Robinson with an RBI groundout.
NSU got its lone hit of the day in the top of the fourth with a Boyd single. Coppin State threatened to add to its total in the top of the seventh, but junior center fielder Danielle Wright threw out Patrice Williams at home plate, as freshman catcher Kathy Cortez held onto the ball.
The Lady Eagles had eight hits on the day, but only tallied the one run against Norfolk State starter Casey Pomeroy.
Stacey Burgos and Robinson had two hits for the Lady Eagles, while Heather Josker, Amber Miller, Erica Washington and Patrice Williams each had one hit.
Coppin State advances on in the tournament and will face Howard at 3 p.m. in another elimination game.
After finishing 14-28 last season, NSU ended its 2011 campaign 23-25 overall, tied for the third-most wins in the Division I era. Coppin State improved to 18-15 on the year.
Game 10: #4N Howard def. #2S Florida A&M, 7-0
Howard defeated Florida A&, 7-0, in the in the double-elimination bracket of the tournament.
The Lady Bison posted nine hits each, including Marisa Coats' three run home run in the top of the fifth inning. Coats hit a fastball from Florida A&M's Lindsey out the park to left center, to put the game away. Rebecca Kirshner and Lorae Robinson also collected two hits apiece for the Lady Bison.
The Lady Rattlers never could organize a rally as they only mustered three hits off of Howard's Samantha Gatson (8-7).
Christina Robbs, Jennifer Lindsey and Erika Garcia registered hits for the Lady Rattlers in the loss. Whitney Robinson (15-11) took the loss for the Lady Rattlers, giving up three runs and three hits in three and one-third innings. Jennifer Lindsey came on in relief for two and two-thirds innings.
Gatson, went the distance for Howard. She gave up only three hits, while striking out six and walking one.
Game 11: #1N Delaware State def. #1S Bethune-Cookman, 2-1
Delaware State defeated the defending MEAC Champion Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats in the semifinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Championship tournament at the Ormond Beach Sport Complex in Ormond Beach, Fla.
The Lady Hornets (32-17), who won the MEAC title in 2008, will compete in their fifth MEAC championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. Bethune-Cookman (30-24) snapped an eight game winning streak and will face off against the winner of Coppin State/Howard matchup tonight at 6 p.m.
It was a defensive battle between the two top seeded teams. Ashton Hinds got Bethune-Cookman on the board first off an Aureila Gamch RBI. The Wildcats held the lead heading into the fifth until the Lady Hornets broke out and scored two runs. Ashley Davis scored first for DSU off a Leslie Pleasanton RBI. Delaware State scored what would be the winning run when Kelsey Lewis crossed the plate on an Andrea Waters' single.
All-MEAC second team selection Ashlyn Campbell (10-4) earned the win allowing five hits, one earned run and one strikeout in 5.2 innings. Stephanie Sarris pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two hits.
2011 MEAC Pitcher of the Year Allison Garcia (23-11) took the loss, allowing six hits and two earned runs.
Game 12: #4N Howard def. #3N Coppin State, 1-0
Rebecca Kirshner singled in the winning run in the top of the 10th inning and Carly Martin outdueled Paige Arnold as Howard defeated Coppin State 1-0 on Friday at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Championship tournament at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
The loss eliminated the Eagles from the tournament, but not before CSU recorded two victories in the MEAC Tournament for the first time in school history.
Howard advances and will meet Bethune-Cookman in an elimination game at 6 p.m.
Arnold held the Bison without a run for nine innings before finally allowing a run in the 10th inning. The run scored by Howard snapped a 23-inning scoreless streak by Arnold.
Martin matched Arnold pitch for pitch as she held the Eagles to just four hits while striking out six batters.
With one out, Lorae Robinson drew a walk to begin the Howard rally. She advanced to third base when Marisa Coats singled to right field.
Kirshner then lofted a single to left that scored Robinson with the game's only run.
The Eagles tried to rally in the bottom of the 10th inning, but came up short.
Tiffani Whaley singled with one out and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Erica Washington, but Martin induced a groundout to end the game.
Coppin State finished the 2011 season with an 18-16 overall record marking the first winning season in school history.
Stacey Burgos, Charma Robinson and Patrice Williams all had base hits for the Eagles. It also marked the final game in a Coppin State uniform for seniors Jade Dudley, Robinson, Amber Miller and Burgos.
Game 13: #1S Bethune-Cookman def. #4N Howard, 17-0
The defending MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman Wildcats eliminated Howard Friday evening in the double-elimination bracket of the MEAC Softball Championship tournament.
A 2-1 loss to Delaware State earlier in the day sent the Wildcats to the loser's bracket, but B-CU came back and blasted Howard 17-0 after a three-hour lightning delay to earn a rematch with Delaware State Saturday at 1 p.m. B-CU needs to win that game and a second game at 3:30 p.m. to defend their conference championship title.
Against Howard, B-CU (31-24) scored 13 runs in the second inning as Aurelia Gamch drove in four runs and Kelsey Rodney added three. The Wildcats sent 17 batters to the plate in the inning.
Ashton Hinds drove in three runs while Allison Garcia threw a six-hit shutout for B-CU in the Howard win.