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GC&SU Wins Marathon Game Against
Lenoir-Rhyne for South Regional Softball Championship |
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Courtesy Wingate University, Lenoir-Rhyne Sports Information Offices Georgia College & State University 4, Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (16 inn.) Armstrong Atlantic State University, 2, Wingate 1 Georgia College &
State University 4, Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (16 inn.) Box
Score "I am so shocked, I just don't believe it," said Lady Bobcat coach Ginger Miller. "Lenoir-Rhyne is a great team and they would certainly represent our region well." Chandler, named the tournament's MVP, fanned 23 hitters (a new school record) and allowed just seven hits in the game. She carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Hanes broke it up with a soft single to shallow center field. "Mandy has a lot of heart, in fact our whole team does. She never gave up and we just kept fighting. I am so proud," added Miller. Hanes was almost as dominant. The freshman fanned 15 and walked just two hitters and did not allow an earned run. She pitched a total of 46 innings in the tournament for the Bears. "We played hard and they played hard," said Bears coach Shena Hollar. "Unfortunately I felt we just didn't get the breaks. I am proud of this team, though - it has been a great season." GC & SU (44-11) got a single from Diana Baruffa with one out to start the rally in the sixteenth. Heather Jones then dropped down a bunt to move the runner, but the throw was mishandled at first for an error, putting runners at second and third. Keidra Baitey was intentionally walked and then Nikki Smith reached on another error and two runs scored on the play to make it 2-0. Aundrea Baker then tripled down the left field line to plate two more. LRC (52-12-1) did not go quietly, however. Meredith O'Connor singled to lead off the inning and Leah Krohn followed with a single an out later. After Angela Beard fouled out, Karie Pushard delivered a run-scoring single and brought the tying run to the plate. Chandler coerced a popup off the bat of Chrissy Lunsford to end the game and start the celebration for the Lady Bobcats. Baker and Pushard were the only players for either team to collect more than one hit as the pitchers were in complete control of the game. GC & SU now advances to the Division II Softball Championship beginning Thursday in Salem, VA. It is second trip for the Lady Bobcats after the 2003 team finished as national runners-up. Armstrong Atlantic
State University, 2, Wingate 1 Another thunder shower erupted as soon as the last out was made in the AASU/Wingate game, causing yet another delay in play. The winner of the Armstrong Atlantic State/Lenoir-Rhyne contest will face number 11 Georgia College and State University late Sunday or Monday for the regional championship. AASU plated the game-winning run in the top of the sixth inning, breaking up a 1-1 tie. Pirate senior third baseman Jeana Short (Dewey, Okla.) doubled to left-center with two outs in the inning. Short stole third as she beat a pick-off attempt at second and slid into third safely. Freshman outfielder Ashley Bain (Cleveland, Tenn.) delivered a huge base hit to score Short and make it 2-1. “Every game is a nail biter and I feel that no one is playing any tougher than we are,” AASU coach Ted Evans said. “We are playing more solid and I feel that our strength of schedule in the regular season is really paying off now.” Pirate sophomore pitcher Heather Woods (Dalton, Ga.) did the rest, recording six consecutive outs in the sixth and seventh to earn the win. She allowed one unearned run on three hits Sunday, striking out three and walking four to improve to 13-12 overall on the season. Wingate junior pitcher Ashley Green (Charleston, S.C.) tossed a four-hitter with two walks and two strikeouts to take the tough-luck loss. Green (27-8 overall) allowed two earned runs. AASU took the early lead with a run in the top of the first. Senior outfielder Danielle Bertram (Dublin, Ga.) led off the game with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior shortstop Deanna Beaty (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Pirate junior first baseman Amber Hunt (Greensboro, Ga.) got her home with a fly ball to left field for the 1-0 lead. Wingate tied the game in the fourth inning, taking advantage of an error to go with three hits. Bulldog freshman outfielder Heather Winchester (Waxhaw, N.C.) hit a groundball that was misplayed at shortstop by Beaty, allowing junior outfielder Joy Henry (Virginia Beach, Va.) to score on the play to tie the game. Bulldog junior outfielder Kimee Lewis (Farmington, Utah) and freshman third baseman Hallie Pettigrew (Uniontown, Ohio) each singled after the error to load the bases, but senior shortstop Grace Cunningham’s (Camden, S.C.) fly ball to right field ended the threat. “My hat goes off to AASU - they executed and had the timely hits needed to win this game,” Wingate head coach Michelle Caddigan said. “I cannot feel anything but good about our season. I appreciate each and every player’s efforts during this fantastic season. We will sorely miss our seniors and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.” No player had more than one hit in the game dominated by the two pitchers. Hunt and Bain had the RBI for the Pirates. Officials hope to get at least one more game in on Sunday, but the weather is wreaking havoc with the schedule. Small lines of showers continue to pop up around the Columbus area forcing even more water into an already drenched playing surface. |
Division II South Atlantic Regional GA College & State vs Lenoir-Rhyne May 14, 2006 at Columbus, GA (South Commons) GA College & State 4 (44-11) Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Deidra Baitey cf......... 7 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 Lindsey Swanson dh....... 5 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 Casey Allen ph.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Diana Baruffa ss......... 7 1 1 0 0 3 4 1 0 Heather Jones 1b......... 5 1 0 0 0 2 6 1 3 Chelsea Wilson pr....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Keidra Baitey 3b......... 6 1 0 0 1 0 5 3 2 Nikki Smith 2b........... 7 1 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 Aundrea Baker lf......... 7 0 2 2 0 3 4 0 2 Shelbie Lindsey c........ 7 0 1 0 0 1 25 0 0 Ashley Payne pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brianna Hope rf.......... 6 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 Mandy Chandler p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 57 4 7 2 2 15 48 9 11 Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (52-12-1) Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Taylor Queen cf.......... 3 0 0 0 5 1 4 0 0 Leah Krohn 1b............ 7 0 1 0 0 6 22 0 10 Angela Beard ss.......... 7 0 0 0 1 2 3 11 1 Karie Pushard c.......... 8 0 2 1 0 2 14 1 1 Chrissy Lunsford 2b...... 6 0 0 0 2 3 2 3 2 Lindsay Dehart rf........ 7 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 2 Kim Crowley 3b........... 6 0 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 Casey Hanes p............ 4 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 3 Mindy Gibson pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Meredith O'Connor dh..... 6 1 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 Jessica Luper lf......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Totals................... 54 1 7 1 11 23 48 20 19 Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------------------ GA College & State.. 000 000 000 000 000 40 - 4 7 1 Lenoir-Rhyne........ 000 000 000 000 000 1X - 1 7 6 ------------------------------------------------------ E - Baker; Krohn; Beard 3; Lunsford 2. LOB - Lady Bobcats 11; Bears 19. 3B - Baker. HBP - Jones. SH - Allen; Jones; Hope; Krohn; Crowley; Hanes. SB - Baitey, D.; Queen. GA College & State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- Mandy Chandler...... 16.0 7 1 1 11 23 54 68 Lenoir-Rhyne IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- Casey Hanes......... 16.0 7 4 0 2 15 57 63 Win - Chandler (22-3). Loss - Hanes (30-9). Save - None. HBP - by Hanes (Jones). Umpires - HP: Ernest Pryor 1B: Cindi Arnold 3B: Sidney Ferguson Start: 9:30 PM Time: 1:39 Attendance: 123 Game: SAR14 |
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