LOCAL SPORTS
EAGLES TAKE 2 FROM COYOTES
By CSC Sports Information
Mar 26, 2008 - 5:32:13 AM
The Chadron State College softball team earned a pair of 1-run wins at the University of South Dakota on Tuesday.
The Eagle turned back the Coyotes 1-0 in the first game before claiming a 4-3 victory in 10 innings in the finale. CSC is11-9-1 on the season, 5-1 in games decided by one run, and unbeaten against non-conference opponents since bringing the softball program back last year.
“We had to battle the wind a little bit and the elements, but only a couple balls really affected us,” said first-year CSC head Rob Stack. “But for the most part, we played well and thanks to some good pitching and timely hits, we got the wins.”
In the first game, Chadron State’s Casey Williams had a sparkling performance in the circle. The junior from Sydney, Australia, threw a complete game and allowed just two hits, while striking out 12 and walking none.
Williams also provided CSC’s only RBI when she knocked Katelyn Moore in from third base with a single to center field.
Although the Eagles scored only one run in the first game they were able to tag South Dakota’s Mel Johnson for eight hits. Williams and shortstop Jamie Mazankowski were each 2-for-3, and Cassie Humphrey, Blair McEndaffer, Allison Hendricksen and Moore each had a hit.
In the second game, CSC trailed USD 1-0 after the first inning, but Erica Colbert and Humphrey each hit solo home runs to put the Eagles on top after three innings. However, South Dakota answered with one run in the fifth and sixth innings to take back the lead, 3-2.
The Eagles didn’t go away, though, and in the top of the sixth they tied the game. Hendricksen led the inning off with a double to right field and Andrea Wyman came on as a pinch runner and advanced to third after Williams hit into a fielder’s choice. Jennica Seville then drove Wyman in with a single to left to tie the game.
The two teams didn’t score in the next three innings and so the international tie breaker rule came into effect in the top of the 10th. In the international tie breaker, each team begins its half of the inning with a runner on second base and no outs.
CSC started the 10th with Katelyn Moore on second and Humphrey laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to third. McEndaffer, who was hitless coming into her at bat, roped a single between the shortstop and third baseman to score Moore.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Coyotes went down in order. With a runner on second, Callie Roan popped a bunt up to Hendricksen at third base for the first out and Emily Chvatal flew out to center. The final out came by Kendra Schomer, who struck out swinging.
“It feels good to get two good wins, especially on the road,” Stack said. “Our defense was inconsistent in our four-game series with Adams and so it’s good to get these wins at USD and hopefully build our confidence back up.”
Williams, who pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief of Humphrey, earned the win. She scattered three hits and struck out five.
The Eagles will be back in action this weekend at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The teams will play a four-game set beginning Friday.
Copyright by Double Q Country Radio
|