The Presbyterian College softball teams scored multiple runs in the first three innings, which included a three-run home run from Hope Rogers in the second, to take the 9-1 win in five innings in game two of a Big South doubleheader with Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers broke open a 4-4 tie with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 9-4 win in game one.
PC improves to 15-11 overall and 1-1 in the Big South, while Coastal Carolina moves to 14-14, 1-1. Both teams play each other in the final game of the series Monday, March 21, at 9 a.m.
Game 1: CCU 9, PC 4
Coastal Carolina struck early in the first with a lead-off single by Bri Chiusano. Morgan Noad brought her home with a single two batters later, with Kelsey Dominik following it up with a double to right, putting two runners on base. Annie Robinson knocked a single to right the next at-bat, bringing in Noad and giving the Chanticleers the early 2-0 lead. Sydney Seigler settled down, striking out Alexis Alvino and forcing a ground out by Kailey Mellen to end the inning.
PC responded in the bottom of the frame with a Madison Longanecker single. A single and fielder's choice sent Longanecker to third, with Megan Anderson singling her in. A single by Ruff and a CCU error plated Rogers, while Kylie Young laced her second double of the season, sending in the third and fourth runs for the Blue Hose. The next two batters grounded out and struck out, but not after PC took the 4-2 lead headed to the second.
After a second-inning opening double from Adriana Toro and a walk by Chiusano, Taty Forbes cleared the bases with a single up the middle to tie the game up at 4-4.
Both teams threatened in the next couple of innings, including a triple from Angela Buccelli in the fourth, but it wasn't until the top of the fifth that the Chanticleers used a walk and double to put two runners on base with two outs. Mellen took advantage with a two-RBI single to left to make it 6-4 in favor of the visitors.
Coastal added three more in the sixth off a PC error and a two-run home run by Noad to make it 9-4.
PC used a single by Erin Ruff and a walk by Kersten Legacki to put runners on base in the bottom of the sixth but a fly out ended the threat and the inning.
After Coastal's first 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh, the Blue Hose opened the bottom of the seventh with Longanecker reaching on a CCU fielding error with one out. That was it as the next two batters struck out and flied out to end the inning and the game with the Chanticleers taking the 9-4 win.
Seigler pitched a complete game for PC, taking the loss (5-6) after giving up 13 hits and nine earned runs, with seven strikeouts. Dominik earned the win (9-7), going 7.0 innings and surrendering six hits and four earned runs with four strikeouts.
Chiusano, Noad, Alvino and Buccilli paced CCU with two hits apiece, with Noad collecting three RBI. Anderson and Ruff led PC with two hits each, with Young recording a team-leading two RBI. PC finished with six hits and two errors, with Coastal finishing with 13 hits and two errors.
Game 2: PC 9, CCU 1 (5)
Coastal loaded the bases to open the first off a single and two walks, but a strikeout by Katie Brown, her second of the inning, kept the Chanticleers at bay. Back to back walks, a strikeout, and another walk loaded bases for PC with one out in the bottom of the first. After Ashley Guillette's second of three strikeouts in the frame, Legacki stepped up and laced a double to left field, brining in two runs to give PC the early 2-0 lead.
The Blue Hose got on the board again in the bottom of the second off a three-run home run from Rogers, her eighth of the season, plating Ruff and Kelsie Sanchez, both of whom had reached on singles, to give PC the 5-0 lead.
After Forbes led off the third with a walk, Noad brought her home with a double to right and Coastal got on the board, 5-1.
Legacki drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the third, with Rebekka gross moving her to second with a single to left. Two batters later, Miller cleared the bases with a two-WBI double to right to give the Blue Hose the 7-1 lead. After Miller stole third, she came home off a Sanchez single and the Blue Hose made it 8-1.
Mari Cook drew a walk to open the fourth but a nice 4-6-3 double play and a subsequent line out ended the inning with nothing to show for it.
After a 1-2-3 inning for Coastal in the fifth, PC opened the frame with a walk from Miller, with a Coastal error and a stolen base sending her to third over the next two at-bats. Sanchez, with her third hit of the game, recorded her second RBI with a double to center to bring home Miller and end the game early with PC taking the 9-1 win.
Brown went 5.0 innings, giving up just one earned run off two hits with two strikeouts. Guillette went 2.2 innings, surrendering eight runs off six hits, with six strikeouts.
Leading PC on offense was Sancehez with three hits and two RBI. Rogers added three RBI off one hit, while Miller recorded two RBI off one hit as well.
Chiusano and Noad each posted a hit apiece, with Noad giving Coastal a RBI as well.
PC finished with nine hits and no errors, while CCU posted two hits with one error.
