Bats Go Quiet for Hornets in Road Swing Finale
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Looking to end a seven-game road trip on a high note, the Delaware State softball team (19-12) struggled at the plate for a combined six hits to drop both games in Wednesday’s doubleheader, 8-1 and 2-0, to the ACC’s Virginia Cavaliers (6-32).
In game one, the Cavaliers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first, sparked by a Madison Labsher (5) two-run blast off Tara Tursellino (8-4).
With the score now 5-0 after an Iyana Hughes RBI-single to left field in the fourth, UVa’s offense continued to thrive in the fifth, beginning with Labsher’s (6) second bomb of the day to lead off the inning. The Cavaliers would go on to seal the win later in the frame with a Megan Harris RBI-single down the left field line and outfielder Heidi Velk churning out an RBI-single to shortstop Chloe Oro with the bases loaded.
At game’s end, Tursellino’s rough outing included 11 hits and three walks allowed, whereas her counterpart in Aimee Chadelaine (5-26) surrendered four hits, a walk and tallied two strikeouts to pick up the shutout victory.
Game two, meanwhile, featured Virginia once again took an early lead in the first, this time with Velk scoring from third off a DSU error. In the third, same score, UVa’s Lindsay Mayer increased her team’s lead to two with a RBI-singled through the left side off starter Vanessa Ciocatto (7-5).
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, that would be just enough as Chadelaine (6-26) mowed down the Hornets to allow just two hits, with both coming off the bat of outfielder Jessica Madrid, and a walk, to go along with two K’s. The Hornets, however, managed to get game-tying run with Tursellino at the plate, but Chadelaine forced a ground out to third to end the game.
Despite the loss, Ciocatto turned in a solid outing in the circle to yield five hits, one earned run, a walk and total two strikeouts.
Coming up, the Columbia Blue & Red will return home to face MEAC foe Coppin State for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.). Sunday’s finale at 3:30 p.m., however, will be aired on ESPNU/ESPN3. Be sure to check your local listings.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Coppin State earns split with McDaniel
WESTMINSTER, Md. – Gabrielle Ziller drove in three runs and homered to help the Coppin State softball team earn a split at McDaniel College in a non-conference contest Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision in the opener before pulling away late to win 8-3 in the nightcap.
Ziller and Alyssa Barker hit back to back home runs in the sixth inning to help Coppin State (9-14 overall) break free from an early 2-2 tie. Candice Van Horn and Ziller had two hits each to pace the Eagles attack. The Eagles took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Alanna Williams and Caitlyn Isenberg laced consecutive one-out doubles.
Williams came home with the eventual game-winning run. Ziller and Barker provided breathing room in the sixth by smashing homers to right center and left center, respectively. Coppin State put the game away with three runs in the seventh inning as Lauren Rogers, Van Horn and Smith delivered consecutive two-out RBI singles.
Heather Josker two scoreless innings to earn the winning decision and Van Horn earned the save after throwing two innings.
Coppin State will return to action Saturday afternoon when it visits Delaware State in a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Sunday’s series finale which starts at 3:30 p.m. will be shown live on ESPN3.com and at 6:30 p.m. on tape-delay on ESPNU.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Bethune-Cookman drops historic game to North Florida
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman dropped a 2-1 decision to North Florida Wednesday in a 12-inning contest – the longest in Wildcat history.
North Florida (23-18) used consecutive doubles from Danica Mandaro and Ashley Holton to break a 1-1 tie. The Wildcats (15-24) loaded the bases on Breanna Chavez and Destinee Williams walks followed by a Calesha Shelley infield single, but the Ospreys registered a double play on an outfield liner to preserve the victory.
Shelley had three hits for the Wildcats, who got runners into scoring position in the seventh and tenth, and had a chance to win in the 11th, but Kaitlin Alamprese was thrown out at the plate after Melissa Berouty’s singles.
Bailey Conner and Sabrina Anguiano combined for 10 strikeouts.
The 12 innings surpassed the previous high of 11 on two occasions, a March 6, 2002 victory over Florida A&M (4-3) and a 1989 loss (4-3) to FIU. The game time of three hours, seven minutes was the third longest behind a 4:05 game against Howard in the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament and a 3:40 game against Winston-Salem State in 2007.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com