College of Charleston
Furman
College of Charleston softball falls 4-3 to Furman in 11 innings
5/2/2010 9:00:00 PM | Softball
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Senior pitcher Terri Mesko (McDonough, Ga.) pitched all 11 innings, tying the program single game record, and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts as the College of Charleston (22-24, 9-11) dropped a 4-3 decision to Furman (23-21, 11-9) in a marathon 11 inning Southern Conference softball game on Sunday, May 2.
Redshirt-senior second baseman Amber Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) got the Cougars on the board in the second inning as she singled down the right field line with the bases loaded to make it 2-0. Furman answered right back in the top of third, notching a run on a two-out error and narrow the gap to 2-1. Senior pitcher Lana Mackey then led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left field, tying the game at 2-2.
That would be the end of the offense in regulation for both teams as the College of Charleston managed only three hits over the next five innings while the Paladins were held to one hit. In the top of the ninth, Furman loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single before Mesko struck out sophomore outfielder Stephanie Field to end the inning and send the game to the 10th inning.
Beginning in that frame, each team has a runner placed on second base to start the inning as a result of the international tiebreaker. The Paladins quickly took advantage of their runner, scoring her on a double to left field by senior first baseman Brythe Blankenship and taking a 3-2 lead. That would be all they would get in that frame however, leaving the Cougars within striking distance.
In the home half of the inning, CofC benefited from a wild pitch that allowed junior shortstop Hillary Stringer (Summerville, S.C.), who was pinch running at second, to advance to third with no outs. She then came home on a ground out on the next play by freshman outfielder Kristy Giragosian (Charlotte, N.C.), tying the game at 3-3.
A bunt single to lead off the 11th put runners on the corners for Furman. Sophomore outfielder Alyssa Williams then poked a single to right field to score the run from third and give the Paladins back the lead at 4-3. A slick double-play turned by Amber Shifflett on a pop up to the right side and a ground out then got the College of Charleston out of the inning.
Junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.), running at second to start the bottom of the 11th for CofC, advanced to third on a groundout but a strikeout and a pop out in foul territory ended the threat and gave Furman a slim one-run victory.
Blankenship went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk to lead the Paladins while Alyssa Williams finished 2-for-6 with the game-winning RBI. Mackey added the only other RBI on her solo homerun in the fourth and pitched seven innings out of the bullpen, ringing up 11 strikeouts and allowing only three hits to claim the victory and improve to 16-9 on the year.
Amber Shifflett was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for the College of Charleston and added a pair of walks while Giragosian had the other RBI on her 10th inning groundout. Sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) finished 2-for-6 on the day and Kristi Woodall and senior designated hitter Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) each recorded six at bats. Those marks tie for the second most at bats in a single game in team history.
Terri Mesko took care of the pitching for the Cougars as she went all 11 innings, notching a season-high 11 strikeouts and giving up one earned run to suffer the loss and fall to 11-8. Her 11-inning outing ties the program record that she holds along with Kenzie Kohler (1998-01). Mesko threw 11 innings against Appalachian State on May 10, 2007 while Kohler accomplished the feat twice. The 11 strikeouts tie for the 10th most in program history.
The College of Charleston is back in action when they host Presbyterian in a non-conference double-header at Patriots Point on Thursday, May 6. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
NOTES
In a time of 3:20, the game was the longest of the season for both teams ... the 11 innings ties for the second longest game in program history, accomplished three times previously and last on May 10, 2007 against Appalachian State ... the only game CofC has played that went longer was a 13-inning affair with Furman on April 23, 2006 ... Kristie Shifflett enters the Presbyterian double-header one walk shy of tying the single season record of 33 set by Amanda Cone (2001-04) in 2004.
