College of Charleston
Western Carolina
CofC Set To Host Western Carolina in Southern Conference Series
3/26/2009 1:00:00 PM | Softball
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Following four games against Big South opponents Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, the College of Charleston softball team is set to host Western Carolina in a Southern Conference series March 28-29 at Patriots Point Stadium in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
The two teams will play a double-header on Saturday, March 28 with the first game starting at 1:00 p.m. and will play the final game of the series at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, March 29.
Team Capsules
College of Charleston Cougars
2009 Record: 10-16, 3-3
2008 Record: 33-33, 12-8 (3rd in Southern Conference)
During their week out of Southern Conference play due to a new nine-team alignment, the College of Charleston played a pair of double-headers vs. Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina. The Cougars split both series, taking a 5-4, eight-inning affair from the Buccaneers before dropping a 5-4 decision in the night cap on March 18.
Facing the Chanticleers, CofC's offense came to life with a 10-6 victory that featured 15 hits, three of which were home runs. Senior designated hitter Shannon Howard (Carmichael, Calif.), sophomore outfielder Kristie Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) and freshman outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) each put balls over the fence. For Lonergan, it was her first career home run while Howard belted her sixth of the season. Woodall's marked a career-high as it was her second this season. Howard finished the game 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs while junior third baseman Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
In the second game, the Cougars rallied from a 9-3 deficit to pull to within 9-8 with the tying run on third base in the seventh inning before finally surrendering to CCU. Freshman outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs while redshirt-junior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Howard added a second home run and contributed two RBIs while Woodall was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Kristie Shifflett leads the Cougars in most every significant offensive category with a .378 batting average, .689 slugging percentage, .471 on-base percentage and 23 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with six home runs. Howard also has six home runs and has 21 RBIs on the season to go along with a .564 slugging percentage. Amber Shifflett is third on the team with 14 RBIs and has three stolen bases. Senior shortstop Christal Kotchman (Seminole, Fla.) leads the team with five steals.
In the pitching circle, Terri Mesko leads every major pitching category. She is 6-8 on the season with a .247 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. Mesko is also limiting opposing batters to a paltry .226 batting average. Shannon Howard is 3-8 on the season with a 4.13 ERA and has 38 strikeouts in 61.0 innings.
Western Carolina Catamounts
2009: 7-17, 3-3
2008: 19-36, 7-14
Western Carolina enters the weekend at 7-17 following a double-header sweep at the hands of Lipscomb on March 24. The Bison notched convincing 11-6 and 12-0 victories to earn the sweep. The Catamounts opened the season 1-5 with losses to George Mason, Kansas, Villanova, Bradley and Maine before notching a 4-3 victory over Virginia Tech on February 21. WCU also traveled to Hawai'i where they defeated Mt. Saint Mary's 11-3 before falling to Hawai'i 6-0 and Mt. Saint Mary's by a score of 10-5. In Southern Conference play they dropped two of three games vs. UNC Greensboro and took two of three from Georgia Southern .
The Catamounts are led offensively by Mollie Fowler who is batting .339 and has hit four home runs with 13 RBIs. All three are team-highs and she is currently first in home runs against Southern Conference competition with four. Amber Hawkins is second on the team with a .329 batting average while Danielle Reese is second in RBIs at 11. In the pitching circle, Lauren Ross is 4-6 with a 4.34 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 71 innings and Katie King is 3-6 with a 5.64 ERA. She has struck out 25 in 53.1 innings of work.
Series History vs. Western Carolina
Western Carolina holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series, dating back to the Catamounts first season of play in 2006. The Cougars, however, currently have a two-game win streak with a pair of 9-2 victories on April 12 and 13 of 2008.
Charleston Series Records Against Western Carolina
vs. Western Carolina: 4-5 (Last Meeting: April 13, 2008 ? W, 9-2)
All-Time Series Results vs. Western Carolina
WESTERN CAROLINA
Date Winner Score
4/29/06 Western Carolina 8-6
4/29/06 Western Carolina 2-1
4/30/06 Western Carolina 2-1
4/21/07 Coll. of Charleston 3-2
4/21/07 Coll. of Charleston 2-1
4/22/07 Western Carolina 4-1
4/12/08 Western Carolina 8-0
4/12/08 Coll. of Charleston 9-2
4/13/08 Coll. of Charleston 9-2
