College of Charleston
North Carolina
Softball Drops a Pair on Final Day of Gamecock Invitational
2/15/2015 3:25:00 AM | Softball
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team dropped games against North Carolina and South Carolina on Saturday at Beckam Field to conclude the two-day Gamecock Invitational.
The Cougars (4-3) won the first game of the invitational, 8-0, over Presbyterian Friday night but could not keep the momentum moving into Saturday after North Carolina jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in game 1, eventually winning, 13-2.
It was the opposite in the nightcap as the Cougars took an early 4-0 lead against South Carolina. CofC wouldn't score another run the rest of the game and the Gamecocks completed a 5-4 comeback to take the tournament finale.
“It's always tough losing two games, but we take some valuable lessons away from the day,” Head Coach Linda Kalafatis said. “We had an opportunity to have a big win if we could have made a couple more plays, but I was really proud of the way we opened the ball game with a four-run inning and how we pitched. We need to continue to improve and I think this team is willing to put in that work.”
The College hosts the Cougar Classic next weekend Feb.20-22, which features matchups against UMass, Pittsburgh, Bowling Green, Appalachian State and Winthrop. The midweek matchup with Coastal Carolina scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18 has been postponed to a later date due to weather conditions.
Cougars fall to UNC 13-2 (Box Score)
Columbia, S.C. – The College suffered a 13-2 setback to North Carolina in their first game of the Gamecock Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
CofC did not get out to a good start as the Tar Heels put up seven runs in the first and six runs in the third including a grand slam in each of those innings.
The Cougars had a tough time against Kaylee Carlson who brought a no-hitter into the fifth inning for UNC. The College manufactured their first run in the fourth inning when Carly Hansis knocked in Taylor DuPree on a fielder's choice.
Katie Padilla broke up the no-hitter in the fifth with a double to left center. She would later score on an RBI single by Taylor DuPree but the effort was too little, too late, as the Tar Heels had already stretched out to a 13-1 lead.
CofC Softball Drops Heartbreaker To South Carolina (Box Score)
The College jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning but it wasn't enough to upset the Gamecocks. The Cougar bats went to work after an error got Taylor DuPree to second base. After stealing third, Rebecca Mueller knocked in DuPree for the first run of the game.
After Carly Hansis singled up the middle, Sara Garcia picked a great time to hit her first career home run, a three-run shot over the left field fence.
The Gamecocks started their comeback in the bottom half of the inning after Alaynie Page hit an inside-the-park home run. South Carolina would slowly chip away after that, picking up one run in the third, two in the fourth, and the eventual game-winner in the fifth.
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