Statesboro, Ga. - Despite home runs by Shannon Howard and Katie Nutaitis, the College of Charleston softball team fell to Georgia Southern, 4-3, at Eagles Field Sunday afternoon.
The Cougars (19-23 overall, 5-1 SoCon) will travel to Conway, S.C., to take on Coastal Carolina Wednesday, April 2. With the win, the Eagles improve 21-21 overall and 3-3 in the conference.
The Cougars struck first with two runs in the top of the fourth. Kristi Woodall got on with a bunt to third base to bring Howard to the plate. The junior from Carmichael, Calif., belted a two-run homer to deep center to put Charleston up 2-0. Howard's home run was her fifth of the season.
The Eagles responded with runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to even the score. Third baseman Robyne Siliga and right fielder Lindsey Hopkins each scored for GSU.
Nutaitis hit s a solo homer to left-center in the sixth inning to push the Cougars back on top. The homerun was the second of the season for the freshman Vienna, Va., native.
The game turned into a slugging match when Amanda Hall hit a two-run bomb to left-center, giving GSU a one-run advantage and bringing the game to its final score of 4-3.
Terri Mesko (8-12) pitched a complete game striking out six Eagle batters through 24 at-bats. Melissa Laliberte struck out six batters in seven innings through 28 at-bats.
