Maryland Eastern Shore swept a doubleheader to open up 2013, as the Lady Hawks took a pair of games from Saint Peter's College on Saturday afternoon at Hawk Field. The women used a balanced effort in the two games to sweep their first doubleheader since April 1, 2009. The wins also snapped UMES' 35 game losing streak.
Senior Carmen Gurrola logged 11 innings and did not allow an earned run in either game. The right-hander was credited with both wins after she combined to allow 11 hits, struck out five and walked one. Freshman Vanessa Gomez posted three hits and stole five bags, while senior Jasmine James had three hits, three runs and three RBI. Sophomore Morgan King notched a pair of hits with three RBI.
In game two, UMES took first blood with a four spot in the bottom of the first. With one away, King singled home Gurrola and junior Chelsea Alston . She was brought home on an RBI double by James, before junior Carmen Frazier brought James home on an RBI groundout. The teams were quiet in the second, before Saint Peter's opened its scoring with a single tally in the third.
Senior Belen Benitez opened the game on the hill for UMES and allowed just one earned run on three hits in three innings, but was relieved by Gurrola in the fourth. Gurrolla came in to thwart a Saint Peter's rally after she recorded three consecutive outs.
UMES registered its second big inning of the game with four more runs in the third. The Lady Hawks advantage grew to seven, courtesy of a two-RBI single by Frazier and two wild pitches to score runners. The teams would both register one more run through the mid innings, before Saint Peters notched two in the seventh. The SPC rally was ended after Gurrola induced a soft groundout to give the Hawks the doubleheader sweep.
Saint Peter's was led on the day by Francesca D'Amato, who had three hits, two RBI and one run scored. Shelby Beaver posted three hits as well, with one RBI and one run scored. Beaver collected the loss in game one, while Tori Feorenzo was the losing pitcher in the second game. The Peacocks registered 14 hits, but combined to make six errors on the day.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
SSU Softball Opens Season With Two Wins
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Savannah State opened the 2013 season with two mercy rule wins over Morgan State at the Lady Tiger Softball Field in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday that opened the 2013 Lady Tiger Softball Tournament.
The Lady Tigers blanked Morgan State in game one, 8-0, ending the game early in the bottom of the fifth inning. In game two, SSU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early again, topping Morgan State 10-2.
GAME ONE
In the opening game, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and Savannah State senior, Madison Hedderly led her team to victory with five innings of stellar pitching. Hedderly garnered the win in the circle, allowing only two hits and striking out nine.
Savannah State added one run in each of the first three innings. Katherine Stewart opened the scoring for the Lady Tigers in the bottom of the first with an RBI double. In the bottom of the second, India Morgan doubled to center field, scoring Destiny Webster who reached on a bunt single.
In the third, newcomer Rachel White doubled to left scoring Webster, who walked, to give the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Into the fourth inning, SSU absconded with the lead behind another double from Stewart that scored Michaela Patton. Torrian Wright homered on the next at bat, scoring Patton to give the Lady Tigers a 6-0 edge. Stewart led the Lady Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles.
Savannah State closed out the game in the bottom of the fifth. Imani Gayle singled, scoring Antonette Smith who reached on a single. Back from injury, senior Tiffany Taylor ended the game, blasting a single through the left side, scoring White.
Morgan State's Shanice Crowder was tagged with the pitching loss after two innings of work. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits with one walk and no strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Freshman Amanda McDowell took the mound for the Lady Tigers in the second game, pitching SSU to a win in her first start. McDowell closed out five innings of work with one earned run on one hit, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Morgan State opened the scoring in the top of the first. Tiffany Rubin blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Lady Bears their only lead of the day, 1-0.
Savannah State answered in the bottom of the frame with some small ball offense. Leading off for the Lady Tigers, Morgan and Megan Uhrman both reached on bunts. Stewart brought them both home with her third double of the day to the right-center fence.
Stewart was later scored on a sacrifice fly from McDowell, to give SSU a 3-1 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, McDowell went to work in the top of the third, sitting the first batters down with strikeouts, and forcing a ground out to move to the bottom frame.
The Lady Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the third. White doubled through the left side, to score McDowell who singled and Taylor who doubled. White later scored on a fielding error.
Uhrman doubled to left scoring Morgan, who reached on a fielding error, for a 7-1 SSU lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Rubin walked, and later scored on a fielding error for a 7-2 score. The Lady Tigers went scoreless through the fourth, while Morgan State failed to plate any runners in the top of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, leading 7-2, SSU closed out the game. Gayle doubled to reach, then stole third and home for an 8-2 SSU advantage. Patton singled to left field and newcomer Aaliya Jones, pinch running for Hedderly, scored followed by Stewart who ended the game with the Lady Tigers 10th run.
For the complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Bethune-Cookman Drops A Pair Of Two-Run Games At FSU
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman opened the 2013 season Saturday with a pair of two-run losses Saturday at the Panhandle Invitational.
North Florida downed the Wildcats 3-1, then Jacksonville posted a 2-0 decision.
Aurelia Gamch had four hits for B-CU in the two games, including a 3-3 effort in the opener.
Against North Florida, the Wildcats got on the board in the seventh when Michelle Banuelos-Smith led off with a double and scored on a throwing error after Simone Ceasar singled.
B-CU had a pair of early scoring opportunities. In the first, Gamch hit a one-out double but was left stranded while in third, Calesha Shelley singled and stole second, but was thrown out at home trying to score on Gamch's single.
Against Jacksonville, B-CU loaded the bases in the first when Shelley bunt singled, Ceasar singled and Banuelos-Smith singled, but the Wildcats couldn't capitalize.
Banuelos-Smith and Kelsey doubled and walked to lead off the fourth, but were left stranded.
Shanel Tolbert picked up the loss in both games, giving up three earned runs in 10.1 innings. Samantha Gale worked two scoreless innings in relief.
For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
NCCU Drops Two During Second Day Of Subway Classic
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -North Carolina Central dropped a pair of games during day two of the USC-Upstate Subway Classic in Spartanburg at Cyrill Stadium. The Lady Eagles started off the day with a five-inning loss to the University of Missouri-Kansas City (0-9), followed by an evening game against Western Carolina where NCCU fell 13-2.
During the first game of the day the Lady Eagles faced the Kangaroos from UMKC where they were held scoreless in a five-inning loss.
Junior transfer London Germ lead NCCU during the Lady Eagles offensive struggle going 2-for-3 at the plate, earning two of NCCU's four total hits during the game. Freshman Amber Krikland and sophomore Tiphani Jackson also collected a hit a piece during game one for NCCU.
Freshman London Booker (0-1) received her first collegiate loss, throwing a complete game in the circle for the Lady Eagles. Booker pitched five innings, allowed ten hits, eight runs, one which was earned, walking two batters and striking out three 'Roos.
UMKC third baseman Marlee Maples led the Kangaroos offensively going 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring 2 runs and earning one RBI. Katie Kelley pitched a shutout in her first-career start for UMKC while allowing four hits, surrendering no walks and striking out five NCCU batters. At the plate Kelley also went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
During game two of the day, and NCCU's third game during the Subway Classic, the Lady Eagles faced their first North Carolina opponent of the season, taking on the Lady Catamounts from Western Carolina.
WCU dominated offensively throughout the contest while also capitalizing on five NCCU errors, scoring nine runs after two complete innings.
Three of the Lady Eagles four hits off of Lady Catamount pitcher Mallory Broome were doubles. Kirkland earned the first hit for NCCU with a double to left center in the top of the second inning. The Raleigh, N.C., native hit 1-for-3 against WCU while scoring one run for the Lady Eagles.
Senior Bianka Molina (0-2) took home her second loss of the season after pitching one complete inning against the Lady Catamounts. Molina allowed three WCU hits, six runs, four earned runs, walked three batters while striking out one Lady Catamount swinging.
Molina's relief, Booker, threw the remaining three innings for NCCU while giving up seven WCU hits, seven runs, one earned run and walking two Lady Catamounts.
WCU was led offensively by senior designated hitter Shemekia Scotton who finished the contest hitting 3-for-3, with two doubles and a triple. Scotton scored three runs for the Lady Catamounts and earned four RBIs.
For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Hampton Opens Season In LSU Tiger Challenge
BATON ROUGE, La. -Hampton opened the 2013 season on Friday and Saturday at Tiger Park with four games in the LSU Tiger Classic Challenge, including a pair of games against ranked teams.
The Lady Pirates fell 3-0 to Tulsa and 4-0 to Purdue on Friday, before falling 10-0 to No. 22 North Carolina and 9-3 to No. 10 LSU on Saturday.
Hampton (0-4) was the only team to score on LSU over the weekend.
The host Tigers were up 7-0 on Hampton after two innings - thanks in large part to a five-spot in the opening frame - but the Lady Pirates got on the board in the top of the third inning after an RBI double to left-center from senior Carla Trimble.
Hampton scored two more runs in the fourth, when senior Adrianna Scott hit a two-run home run down the right-field line to cut LSU's lead to 7-3.
The Tigers added a run in the fifth and run in the sixth to take a 9-3 lead.
The Lady Pirates had five hits against LSU, and sophomore Jailynn Jackson threw four innings of relief and recorded two strikeouts.
Hampton opened play on Friday against Tulsa, and the game was scoreless until Tulsa pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a wild pitch and an RBI single. Another RBI single in the fifth gave Tulsa a 3-0 lead.
Lacey Middlebrooks held the Lady Pirates to just one hit.
Jackson struck out three in five innings of work in her first outing of the season.
Hampton and Purdue were scoreless through four innings on Friday afternoon, before the Boilermakers pushed across a run in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly. Purdue added two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-run single from Paris Andrew, before adding one more run in the seventh.
Senior Shine Huwe led Hampton at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort, while freshman Bobbi Langlois went six innings in her collegiate debut.
Saturday's first game saw the Tar Heels score six runs in the first inning against the Lady Pirates, before adding two runs in the second inning to go up 8-0 after two frames. UNC added a run in the third and a run in the fourth, as the game only went five frames.
Scott and sophomore Bianca Vallejo each had a hit for the Lady Pirates. Jackson struck out two in 3.2 innings of relief work.
For the complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com