Box Score - Georgia Southern vs. College of Charleston
Junior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) threw a complete game shutout and senior designated hitter Shannon Howard (Carmichael, Calif.) went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as the College of Charleston (6-11, 2-1) defeated Georgia Southern (8-12, 1-2) 4-0 in the final game of their Southern Conference series on Sunday, March 8.
Charleston took the early lead in the first inning as senior outfielder Tiffany Harmon (Lynn Haven, Fla.) singled to lead off the inning and was driven in by a double to left center by Howard. The lead would stay at 1-0 until the third inning when sophomore outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) singled to lead off and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Junior third baseman Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) then singled to left and advanced to second on an error, putting two runners in scoring position for Howard. Eagle pitching still did not have an answer for the Cougars hottest hitter as she singled to right field to make it a 2-0 ball game. GSU then got out of the inning without further damage on a fielders choice.
Mesko was dominant through the game's first three innings as she faced the minimum nine batters, allowing one hit before the runner was erased on a caught stealing. In the top of the fourth inning, however, it was Georgia Southern's turn to mount a challenge as they loaded the bases on a single, double and intentional walk with no one out.
At that point, Mesko induced a fly to center, fielder's choice and a fly out to left field to shut the Eagles down and deny them their only legitimate scoring opportunity. CofC answered back in the fifth with Howard's third RBI of the day as she singled home Woodall from third base to make it 3-0. The Cougars would add one more run, this one on a single by Harmon in the sixth, to reach the final margin at 4-0.
For Georgia Southern, no batter had more than one hit as the Cougars scattered three singles and a double by freshman centerfielder Marie Fogle. In the circle, sophomore pitcher Brianna Streetmon, who picked up the victory in the series opener, gave up nine hits and all four runs to fall to 3-4 on the season.
Howard led the way for the Cougars with her second straight strong performance at the plate. The Carmichael, Calif. native went 3-for-3 with three RBIs while Harmon was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI. Woodall finished the day 2-for-3 with a career-high tying two runs scored. Mesko pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only four hits, three of them singles, as she struck out three and walked one to move to 3-7 on the season.
Her three strikeouts bring her to 461 for her career and move her into second place all-time. She passed Kenzie Kohler's mark of 460 and is two strikeouts away from passing Rachael Stern's record of 462 and becoming the College of Charleston's all-time strikeout leader.
Charleston will be back in action on Tuesday, March 10 with at double-header at Charlotte. Start time for the twin-bill is 3:00 p.m.
