In a game that saw the Presbyterian College softball team rally back on two separate occasions, the Blue Hose didn't have enough left at the end to overcome a seven-run top of the ninth inning as Coastal Carolina defeated PC, 14-7, in extra innings this afternoon at the PC Softball Complex in Clinton, S.C.
CCU salvaged a win in the series and improved to 20-28 and 4-8 in the Big South. PC dropped to 24-15-1, 8-7.
Coastal Carolina opened up a 4-0 lead through five innings, which included two runs in the top of the fifth.
PC tied the game in the bottom of the inning with four unearned runs, capped off by a two-RBI double by Brittany Howell (Concrete, Wash.).
The score would remain 4-4 after seven innings as both teams missed opportunities, stranding runners in scoring position on several occasions, including in the seventh when PC couldn't plate Tera Powell (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) from second, after she reached on an error and was sacrificed over, with one out.
Coastal had a chance in the sixth with a runner on third with no outs. PC defense retired the last two batters with a fly out and a ground out to end the threat.
The Chanticleers broke the tie in the eighth with a three-run home run by Jesse Winans, the first of her career, and heading into the bottom of the eighth CCU led 7-4.
PC fought back in the bottom of the inning with Codee Yeske (Lexington, S.C.) leading off the second comeback of the day with a solo home run to center field, her fifth of the season.
Mary Ellen Morris (Georgetown, S.C.) doubled the next at-bat, and two batters later Taylor Staten (Belvedere, S.C.) singled to put runners on first and second with one out. The next better struck out but Powell came through with a clutch single to the second baseman to drive in Morris the next at-bat.
The Chanticleer second baseman overthrew first, attempting to tag out Powell, which enabled Staten to come across the plate for the tying run. The next batter struck out but not before the damage was done and PC was able to plate three runs and extend the game.
Coastal Carolina came out firing and led off the ninth with a single and a home run to quickly go up 9-7. After the next two batters went down in order, CCU collected hits the next six of seven batters, to spot five more runs to take the 14-7 lead.
The Chanticleers struck out two in the bottom of the ninth, to quiet a third PC comeback and take the extra-inning win.
PC threw four pitchers in the game, with Powell coming in relief for just over an inning and surrendering seven runs (three earned) off six hits for the loss (0-1).
Michelle Evans took the win (6-9) for Coastal, going 2.0 innings and giving up just three hits with four strikeouts.
PC is next in action April 30, at Liberty. First pitch of the doubleheader is at 1 p.m.
