The #6-seed Presbyterian College softball team survived a late inning rally by the Chanticleers to earn the 5-3 upset win over #2 Coastal Carolina and remain in the winner's bracket of the Big South Softball Championship presented by Musco Lighting.
The win marked the first time the Blue Hose have posted two victories in the league tournament.
PC, which improves to 24-24, plays either #5 Charleston Southern or #3 Winthrop at 10 a.m., Saturday, while CCU, which drops to 32-23, faces#4 Liberty at 9:30 Friday night in an elimination game.
Back to back singles in the bottom of the sixth set up Coastal Carolina for a rally. A PC error plated one of those runs, with a Bri Chiusano single to first making it a 5-3 game. Kensley Loudermelk retired the next two of three batters to end the inning, with PC clinging to the two-run lead.
PC responded with back to back singles of its own with one out in the seventh inning. After a groundout for the second out, Kelsey Dominik struck out the last batter to quell the threat.
Loudermelk and the PC stepped it up in the bottom of the seventh as the Blue Hose retired the side in order to preserve the 5-3 win and stay in the winner's bracket.
PC opened the game with a hit by Jill Mclean and a walk by Shelby Petik. Erin Ruff would reach off a fielder's choice that saw McLean tagged out at third, but that would be it as the next batter struck out to strand two Blue Hose runners on base.
Chiusano led off the bottom of the first with a single that just passed the outstretched arms of Ruff. After being sacrificed to second, she scored off a Kory Hayden single to left. That would be it as Petik saved a multiple base hit with a sliding catch on a line drive by Morgan Noad. The next batter grounded out to short to end the inning, as CCU came away with the 1-0 lead.
A walk by Blaire Miller, another base hit by McLean and a sacrifice bunt by Jenna Harris put runners on second and third to open the third inning. Petik made Coastal pay with a single through the left side that brought home Miller and tied the game at 1-1. The Blue Hose would strand two more runners, though, as the next two PC batters grounded out to third and struck out swinging to end the inning.
The first two CCU batters reached base to lead off the bottom of the third. After a Noad foul out, Hayden lined to third, with Kersten Legacki right there to make the quick catch for the second out. A PC error loaded the bases, but it was Sydney Seigler pitching out of the jam, forcing a strike out for the third out.
Singles by Hope Rogers, Katie Brown and Miller loaded the bases with an out in the top of the fourth. McLean hit into a fielder's choice with the runner being tagged at home, but the Coastal catcher overthrew first attempting to get McLean out, allowing Brown to score the go-ahead run.
The Chanticleers threatened in the bottom of the fourth with back to back singles that put runners on first and second with just one out. It was for naught as the next two batters flied out to left.
Petik hit for the second time in as many tries, this one a single up the middle to lead off the fifth. Ruff, quickly sent her home with her team-leading ninth home run of the season to give PC the 4-1 lead.
After PC retired the Coastal Carolina side in order to end the fifth inning, McLean got things going in the sixth after reaching first on a CCU error. Padgett Harrington, pinch hitting for Harris, laced a single through the right side to send McLean to third. Petik continued her offensive onslaught with a RBI single to right to bring home McLean, and PC took the 5-1 lead.
Loudermelk pitched four innings to pick up the win (14-9) after surrendering no earned runs and five hits. Seigler has a solid outing in 3.0 innings of work. She gave up one earned run off four hits.
The Blue Hose collected 12 hits, with Petik pacing the team with a three-for-three effort and two RBI. Ruff recorded two RBI as well, with McLean and Rogers coming away with two hits apiece.
Coastal Carolina recorded nine hits, with Chiusano coming away with three to pace the team. Hayden and Kailey Mellen each posted two hits apiece as well.
Kiana Quolas took the loss for CCU, giving up three earned runs and eight hits in 5.0 innings.
Presbyterian College 5, Coastal Carolina 3 (May 08, 2015 at Buies Creek, N.C.)
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Presbyterian College 001 121 0 - 5 12 2 (24-24)
Coastal Carolina.... 100 002 0 - 3 9 2 (32-23)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - SEIGLER, Sydney; LOUDERMELK, Kensley(4) and .
Coastal Carolina - QUOLAS, K.; DOMINIK, K.(6) and .
Win-LOUDERMELK, Kensley(14-9) Loss-QUOLAS, K.(17-11) T-2:10 A-0
HR PC - RUFF, Erin (9).
Weather: 81F Partly Cloudy
