CLINTON, S.C. ? Presbyterian College and Charleston Southern split a twinbill on Saturday afternoon at the PC Softball Complex. The Blue Hose won game one 8-6 and CSU rallied for a 9-7 win in game two.
Both games were defined by strong offensive performances as the two teams combined for 51 hits on the day. PC outhit CSU in both games, ending their efforts with one more hit (12-11) than the Buccaneers in game one before outhitting CSU 15-13 in their game two loss.
The two teams, who are scheduled to play six times in the 2008 season, ended Saturday an even 2-2 against each other thus far.
PC with the split on Saturday is now 9-18 on the season, while CSU is 14-22 on the year.
Game One
The Blue Hose had five players finish with multiple hits in their game one victory over Charleston Southern. Amanda Miller (Orlando, Fla.), Laura Tate (Spartanburg, S.C.), Katie Anderson (North Augusta, S.C.) and Jenny Box (Fruitland Park, Fla.) all recorded two hits in the game one victory.
Paige Cassady (Orlando, Fla.) ended the first game going 2-for-3 from the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.
CSU scored first in game one before PC plated eight over the next three innings to take an 8-3 lead that they would never relinquish.
The Blue Hose kicked things off in the bottom of the first with three runs. Cassady picked up the first two of her four RBIs in the frame when she singled to bring in Tate and Taylor Staten (Belvedere, S.C.). Tate had singled through the left side to get on base, while Staten was walked by CSU starting pitcher Caitlin Allen.
Anderson shortly thereafter singled in Cassady to give PC a 3-1 advantage.
PC scored five runs two innings later in the top bottom half of the third frame. Cassady picked up her other two RBIs when she singled in Morgan White (Orlando, Fla.) and Tate. Two batters later Box hit what would turn out to be the first of three extra-base hits on the day for her to bring in Cassady and Cari Clark (Lafayette, La.).
Miller then singled to left center to bring in Kayla Handy (Gainesville, Fla.) a few batters later to give PC the commanding 8-3 lead.
CSU would score one run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but it would not be enough as the Blue Hose would hold on for the 8-6 victory.
Mary Gordon (Vernon, Conn.) pitched seven strong innings for PC from the circle in game one to improve to 6-8 on the season. Gordon fanned three CSU batters.
Game Two
The Blue Hose used the long ball in game two to net the majority of their runs, hitting three in the loss. The Blue Hose overall had five extra-base knocks in game two.
Box continued her offensive onslaught in game two to conclude her day with five hits. She was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored in game two. Tate was a perfect 4-for-4 in game two with two RBIs.
The Blue Hose scored three of their first four runs via the long ball. Down 1-0 to CSU in the bottom of the third inning Box gave PC its first lead of the game when she hit a two-run jack to left centerfield to give PC a 2-1 lead. The home run was the first of Box's PC career.
An inning later, Anderson picked up PC's first of two runs in the bottom half of the fourth when she hit her second home run of the year.
CSU then scored four in the top of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. The Blue Hose would not let the lead last long.
In the bottom half of the fifth Miller connected on her third home run of the year to tie the game at 5-5. Tate then singled in Box, who had doubled to get on base, to put PC back ahead at 6-5.
CSU then scored four in the top half of the sixth to earn the victory. The Blue Hose would score one more in the bottom of the sixth with a Tate RBI double, but it would not be enough and CSU emerged with the 9-7 win.
Cassady took the loss from the circle for PC, but she did manage to end her day with eight punchouts.
Next Up
The Blue Hose next travel to Johnson City, Tenn. for a doubleheader with East Tennessee State on March 26. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 4 p.m.
