MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Senior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) pitched a complete game and sophomore outfielder Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the College of Charleston (19-19, 7-7) earned a 5-4 victory over Appalachian State (22-19, 7-10) in the finale of a Southern Conference softball series on Sunday, April 18.
The College of Charleston got off to a strong start as Mesko set down the first three Mountaineer batters by strikeout in the first inning. The Cougars' hitters then took over in the bottom of the inning as redshirt-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) led off with a single to left and then scored on a deep double to right center field by junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.). She would then come around to score on an errant throw from second base to make it 2-0.
Appalachian State would get on the board in the second inning with a single and a steal from McKenzie Phillips and an RBI double from freshman designated hitter Meghan Smith. It would remain 2-1 until the third inning when CofC pushed across three runs on three straight hits to make it 5-1. Katie Forbes and redshirt-junior catcher Katie Pesature (Brewster, N.Y.) each produced RBI singles while sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) doubled and scored on an error.
The Mountaineers would narrow that margin in the sixth however as they used five singles, three with two outs, to score three runs and close to within 5-4. With runners on first and second and two outs though, Mesko struck out junior third baseman Katie Boyd, the Mountaineers offensive leader, to end the threat.
That would be the only chance at tying the game they would get as Mesko and the Cougars' defense buckled down and retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the 5-4 victory. In that frame, junior shortstop Hillary Stringer (Summerville, S.C.) helped keep Appalachian State from getting a runner on with one out as she made a running over the shoulder catch into left center. Mesko then induced a week pop up to second to end the game.
Sophomore shortstop Megan Rembielak led Appalachian State with a 2-for-3, one RBI day while Meghan Smith and sophomore outfielder Michelle Gorzelle each went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Junior outfielder Sarah Rappe added the only RBI of the day for the Mountaineers and Phillips finished 2-for-4 with a run and a steal. Junior pitcher Hannah Dow started and went 2.1 innings, allowing all five runs, to take the loss and fall to 5-8 on the year.
Forbes 2-for-3, one RBI outing led the College of Charleston while Woodall and Pesature each added an RBI. Terri Mesko earned her fifth straight win to improve to 10-7 as she threw her ninth straight complete in her last nine starts. She struck out five and walked two batters on the day while working around 10 hits.
The College of Charleston travels to Charleston Southern for a non-conference double-header on Wednesday, April 21. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. in Ladson, S.C.
