No. 8 West Texas A&M 17, Newman 5
No. 8 West Texas A&M 8, Newman 0
CANYON, Texas -- The Lady Buffs remained perfect on the season as junior first baseman Allie Cranfill tied the NCAA Division II career record for grand slams in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Newman during the 2014 Lady Buff Invite at Schaeffer Park in Canyon. The Lady Buffs extend their best start in program history to 17-0 while the Jets fall to 5-5.
During the first game, The Lady Buffs started off the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as they showed discipline at the plate as Kaisha Dacosin and Allie Cranfill walked with the bases loaded for the early 2-0 lead, the Jets threatened in the top of the second inning as their first two batters reached base before a Jessica Sipe diving play on a bunt in front of the plate followed by a lineout to end the inning.
WT added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning as Renee Erwin doubled to center field to drive in Brittany Gehle and Alyssa Lemos followed by Erwin stealing third base and scoring on an errant Newman throw, Cranfill tripled off of the top of the center field wall to drive in two runs followed by a Mallory Wyatt sacrifice fly to right to make it 9-0 after two innings.
The Jets scored their first runs of the game in the top of the third inning on a two run double to the left center field gap with two outs to know WT starter Rita Hokianga out of the game, Tori Bayer entered from the bullpen and got out of the jam with WT leading 9-0.
In game No. 2, The Lady Buffs started off the scoring in the bottom of the third inning as Lemos scored on an errant throw by the Jets followed by a Sipe RBI single to left and another Newman error for the 3-0 lead with no outs, Sipe scored on an illegal pitch from third base followed by a Gehle RBI groundout before Lemos tripled to right center to drive in two runs for the 7-0 lead.
Hannah Newcomb continued to roll in the circle for the Lady Buffs, allowing her first hit of the game to leadoff the top of the fourth inning but she got out of the jam with three straight outs including a double play to third base. The Lady Buffs ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as Callie Gerdes recorded her first career homerun to right field for the walkoff 8-0 victory in five innings.
No. 1 Central Oklahoma 2, Midwestern State 1
No. 14 St. Mary's (Texas) 2, No. 1 Central Oklahoma 0
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- It was another split for Central Oklahoma on the second day of the Rattler Invitational on Saturday as the Bronchos trimmed Midwestern State 2-1 in their first game before falling to No. 14-ranked St. Mary's (Texas) 2-0.
Kalynn Schrock pitched UCO out of a big seventh inning jam against the Mustangs, but the Bronchos suffered their second shutout loss of the season in the second game of the day.
MSU tried to rally in its final at bat in the first game, opening the seventh inning with a double and a walk. Both runners advanced on an illegal pitch, but Schrock got out of trouble with a pop up to shortstop, a strikeout and a ground out to second base.
Schrock went the distance in the circle, giving up seven hits and no earned runs while striking out six.
Devyn Frazier, Sam Cool, Hannah Justus and Brooke Zukerman had two hits apiece to lead a 10-hit attack.
UCO took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Frazier had a one-out infield second, went to second on a groundout and scored on Zukerman's single.
The Bronchos made it 2-0 in the second on Frazier's RBI base hit that scored Ashleigh Tramel, who had earlier reached on a fielder's choice.
Schrock pitched all seven innings against the Rattlers and gave up just three hits while fanning nine.
SMU took advantage of two walks, a passed ball and an illegal pitch to score a first inning run and made it 2-0 in the fourth.
Ally Dziadula had two of UCO's four hits.
Tusculum 2, No. 2 Kutztown 0
Virginia-Wise 8, No. 2 Kutztown 0
GREENEVILLE, Tenn -- Kutztown dropped its pair of games on the second day of the Pioneer Classic, hosted by Tusculum.
Kutztown battled the tournament host Tusculum to a 2-0 defeat for Saturday's opener, unable to bring a run across the plate. KU had a tougher contest in Saturday's afternoon matchup, falling to Virginia-Wise in five innings 8-0.
In the first game, the Golden Bears (2-6) had an early opportunity in the top of the second with two on after singles by Marka Ballard and Lindsey Kelley, but grounded out on the next at-bat to retire the side.
Tusculum (6-7) capitalized in the bottom of the inning, rallying of three hits and bringing in a run off a RBI double to left field. The Pioneers lit up the scoreboard once again in the third, bringing in the game's final run off a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single.
KU notched one more hit in the top of the sixth, a single by Rachel Lawes, but couldn't rally for the comeback.
Dominique Ficara (2-3) is credited with the loss for the Maroon and Gold and Savannah Nierintz closed out the final four innings on the mound with two strikeouts. Kelly King was the winning pitcher for the Pioneers in a complete game.
In the second game against Wise (3-2), Kutztown struggled at the plate, recording one hit and leaving five runners on base.
Kutztown had a chance to rally in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a single to left field by first basemen Colleen Smith. Danielle Sienko and Stephanie DiNolfi reached second and first with a fielder's choice bunt and a walk, followed by another walk to load the bases. However, the Cavaliers ended the game after KU grounded out to second.
Winona State 6, No. 3 Grand Valley State 5
No. 3 Grand Valley State 2, Lewis 1
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Grand Valley State opened the 2014 softball campaign at the Lewis Dome Tournament on Saturday. GVSU dropped the opener to Winona State by a 6-5 score, but came back with a 2-1 victory against Lewis in the second game.
The Lakers fell to Winona State 6-5 in eight innings in the opener. Junior Lauren Gevaart pitched effectively in her first start for the Lakers, but was tagged with the loss. Freshman 2b Jenna Lenza was 4-4 with a solo HR that came in her first collegiate at bat. RF McKenze Supernaw was 2-4 with a double and an RBI, while freshman catcher Marianne Deppe was also 2-4 with a double and RBI.
GVSU claimed a 2-1 victory against Lewis in the second game of the day. Lewis took a 1-0 lead in the fifth, but the Lakers tied the game in the top of the sixth and senior 3B Miranda Cleary provided the game-winner with a solo HR in the top of the seventh. Cleary was 3-4 in game two, while freshman Kelsey Dominguez drove in the first run with a sac fly. Sophomore Sara Andrasik went the distance, yielding two hits en route to picking up her first win of the season.
No. 4 Humboldt State 2, Cal State Monterey Bay 1
Cal State Monterey Bay 4, No. 4 Humboldt State 0
SEASIDE, Calif. -- It is tough to be a quality opponent when your bats go silent. Even with posting only 10 hits in 14 innings, Humboldt State posted its second split with Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday.
In the top of the seventh, Julie Pena laced a leadoff double and scored on an Alison McKibbon run-scoring single with the game-winning run for a 2-1 opening Lumberjacks victory. The Otters' Lindsey Clarkson shut down the visiting bats with a four-hitter to help her team to a 4-0 late contest win.
Queens (N.C.) 4, No. 5 Armstrong Atlantic 7
No. 5 Armstrong Atlantic 10, Queens (N.C.) 2
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Armstrong Atlantic set a Peach Belt Conference record with four home runs in one inning as the Pirates defeated Queens (NC) 10-2 in five innings in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at the Armstrong Softball Field. Queens (NC) took game one of the doubleheader 7-4.
The Pirates (8-4) rebounded from the game-one loss to the Royals (5-3) in a big way, breaking open a 1-1 tie in the third inning with an eight-run frame that included a school- and Peach Belt-record four home runs. Kat Vogler began the inning with a solo shot, then Alexis Mercer added a two-run shot to make the score 4-1. Lacye Walker and Hannah Reppert then went back-to-back with solo home runs to push the lead to 6-1. Vogler would add an RBI single in the inning and Kacie Patterson and Mercer each drew bases-loaded walks to make the score 9-1.
The previous Peach Belt record of three home runs in a game had been set five times before, the latest coming on February 5, 2011, with Augusta State hitting three against Charleston.
West Florida 2, No. 6 Valdosta State 6
No. 6 Valdosta State 10, West Florida 6
VALDOSTA, Ga. -- Valdosta State opened up a weekend series against West Florida with a 2-6, 10-6 split in Gulf South Conference Softball action on Saturday.
In what initially appeared to be a quiet game one third inning, West Florida strung together a two out rally that plated three runs to break the 0-0 tie and give the Argonauts a three run advantage. Following the first two outs of the half inning, UWF teamed up for a series of at bats that included a walk, a single, and back to back doubles by Jessica Wilkinson and Elizabeth Nugent to cap off the three run barrage.
The Lady Blazers were unable to break through in the top half of the fourth inning, and the Argonauts expanded VSU's deficit in the bottom half of the fourth thanks to a two run homer off the bat of Jenna Belser, her first of the year. The long ball brought in Jordan Camp, who pinch ran for Lou Barnard after her leadoff single, and gave the Argonauts a 5-0 advantage after four.
An additional insurance run for West Florida in the fifth inning came in the form of a solo shot by Wilkinson, which broke open a six run lead for the Argonauts.
The Blazers were held scoreless until the top of the sixth when Shelby Altman blasted a two run shot to center field for her second of the season, which cut the deficit to 6-2 and brought in April Collins, who finished the game a perfect 2-for-2.
Brianna Hancock suffered the loss for Valdosta State and fell to 6-3 on the year, while Argonaut pitcher Taylor Bailey's seven strikeout, complete game effort improved her season record to 4-5.
In game two, Valdosta State opened up the scoring right away in the top half of the first inning. Collins continued her .500 day with a one out single and advanced to second on a walk by Kiley Rusen. In the ensuing at bat, Karson King walked to load the bases, and Altman followed with a come backer that deflected off the pitcher, allowing the second baseman to make a play at first as Collins scored from third for the Blazers first run.
The Blazers teamed up for an offensive onslaught throughout the rest of game two, scoring runs in four of the next six innings, with the biggest number coming in the top half of the final inning, as the Blazers scored four runs to break out to a 10-2 lead.
The final push for Valdosta State featured a seventh inning in which five Blazers reached safely. The big blow in the frame came from Altman, who lifted a long ball over the right center field wall with two aboard. The homer for the Blazer shortstop was her third of the day and accounted for three of the four runs scored in the half inning.
The Argonauts responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh, but the deficit proved to be too much to overcome, as the Blazers held on for the four run win.
Maci Fletcher's complete game effort gave the freshman her second win of the year to improve her record to 2-0 on the season.
No. 9 Alabama-Huntsville 8, Lee 1
No. 9 Alabama-Huntsville 9, Lee 4
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Alabama-Huntsville ensured itself a series victory in its first Gulf South Conference home series of the year as it swept visiting Lee by scores of 8-1 and 9-4 on Saturday afternoon at Charger Park. The wins improve UAH to 10-2 (3-2 GSC), while Lee slips to 5-8 (2-3 GSC).
Tyler Harrison was especially impressive in the doubleheader, going a combined 5-for-6 at the plate including two doubles while driving in six runs. Also strong at the dish was Macie Couey who was 4-for-7 with a triple and the team's first homer of the season.
No. 10 Southern Oklahoma State 4, Ouchita Baptist 2
Ouchita Baptist 1, No. 10 Southern Oklahoma State 0
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- Southeastern Oklahoma State opened the series with Ouachita Baptist with a 4-2 win, but was unable to sweep the twin bill, falling 1-0 in nine innings in game two on Saturday afternoon.
The Savage Storm moves to 6-5 overall on the season and 1-1 in Great American Conference play.
Lacie Cook turned in a 3-for-4 performance with a run scored and a stolen base, while Sydney Kramer and Laramie Beal each turned in two-hit outings.
Jessica Simmons, Haley Strawn and Conner Harmon each added hits in the win.
Neal and Strawn each finished with two RBI.
