Bucs Sweep Away Coastal With Pair of Big South Victories

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Strong pitching and timely hitting propelled the CSU softball team to a two-game sweep of visiting Coastal Carolina Monday, April 4 at Buccaneer Field. The Buccaneers posted a 9-1, six-inning victory in game one before downing the Chanticleers by a 6-2 score in the second contest.

CSU earned its second doubleheader sweep of the season to advance its record to 16-21, including a 3-2 Big South record. Coastal Carolina is now 14-19 on the campaign, having lost 13 contests in a row and dropped its first two conference games.

Third-year Head Coach Shane Winkler has now passed Joyce Wellhoefer (2002-05) on the program’s career coaching wins list, as Winkler has amassed 72 victories at CSU.

In game one, CSU capitalized on two Coastal errors in the third inning, scoring six times in the frame to take an 8-1 lead. A bases-loaded single by Trea Steele in the sixth gave CSU the run-rule margin. The Bucs totaled 12 hits in the ballgame, including 11 singles.

Kimberly Hobbs (10-8) allowed just one run on five hits, picking up her 10th win on the season. She is the first CSU pitcher with back-to-back 10-win seasons since Jamie Wellons did so in 2008 and 2009. Michelle Evans drew the loss in game two, allowing eight runs, two earned, on nine hits in three and two-thirds innings.

Jessica Brock and Trea Steele each batted 3-for-4 in the first game, and Brock drove in two runs. Erin Kegley and Stephanie Sbardella registered two hits apiece, while Sbardella chalked up two RBI. Jana Matthews hit an RBI triple and scored three times.

Jazmin Daigle led Coastal with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while Evans hit a solo home run to account for Coastal’s only run.

Coastal stranded a pair of runners in the first inning, but Evans hit a solo home run to left center field in the top of the second, giving the Chanticleers an early 1-0 edge.

After a scoreless CSU half of the second, Coastal Carolina loaded the bases in the top of the third. Hobbs got Cacia Pierre to pop out to end the inning and the scoring chance.

The Buccaneers took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Kegley singled with two outs, and was driven home by a Matthews triple to tie the score. Brock then singled home Matthews for the 2-1 lead.

Hobbs pitched a 1-2-3 fourth, and the Buccaneers promptly added six runs in the bottom of the frame. Two throwing errors by the third baseman allowed a pair of sacrificing players to reach safely and one run to score. Kristin Kelleher, Brock and Sbardella registered RBI singles in order, and Brock crossed the plate on a wild pitch for an 8-1 lead.

Both teams failed to score in the fifth inning, and a scoreless top of the sixth set the stage for Steele’s game-ending hit. Sbardella was hit by a pitch with two outs, loading the bases. Steele singled up the middle, ending the game at 9-1.

Game One Box Score

CSU recorded six runs on five hits in a 6-2 win over the Chanticleers during game two. Megan Lombard posted a career-high-tying four RBI, including a 3-RBI double in the second inning, while Matthews hit a home run in the fifth.

Morgan Dowdy (6-13) pitched her team-leading 11th complete game, yielding two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking five. Ashley Bagwell fell to 7-8 on the season, giving up four runs on three hits in two and one-thirds innings. Katelin Edwards finished the game by allowing two runs on two hits.

Lombard batted 2-for-3 in game two, hitting a double and driving in four runs. Jana Matthews went 1-for-3 with a home run, her team-leading sixth on the year. Melanie Stickney posted a sacrifice fly for CSU’s first run of the game.

Brooke Donovan batted 2-for-3 in the second contest, while Daigle and Desiree Zaragoza recorded one RBI apiece.

Similarly to the first game, Coastal took a 1-0 lead with a run in the second inning, as Zaragoza hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Stacy Snellings.

CSU responded with four runs in the bottom of the second. Singles by Sbardella and Brock, along with a walk to Steele, loaded the bases for Stickney. Stickney then drove in pinch runner Jasmine Conley with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. After a walk to Hayes Holdsworth, Lombard laced a double in the gap in right center, plating all three runners for a 4-1 edge.

The Buccaneers added a fifth run in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Lombard singled to left field, plating Hayes Holdsworth.

Coastal answered with a run during its next time at bat, as a Daigle single drove in Ashley Pisone. Dowdy struck out Chelsea Pineda to end the top of the fifth.

Matthews belted a home run with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, increasing CSU’s lead to four at 6-2.

Coastal Carolina brought the tying run to the plate in the person of Evans in the top of the seventh. Evans promptly flew out to Courtney Konyk in right field to end the game.

Game Two Box Score

Video Highlights

Postgame Interview

The Buccaneers return to action Tuesday, April 5, as the team travels to Columbia, S.C. to face University of South Carolina of the SEC. Tuesday’s game starts at 5 p.m. Coastal Carolina will next play host to College of Charleston Wednesday, April 6 in a doubleheader.