College of Charleston
Western Carolina
Cougars Earn Sunday Split; Close Opening Weekend 3-1
2/15/2016 4:21:00 AM | Softball
Savannah, Ga. – The College of Charleston softball team ended its weekend trip to the Peach State with a loss to Western Carolina 9-1, and a thrilling win over Savannah State 9-7.
The Cougars (3-1) faced still opposition on Sunday, as they faced a Western Carolina team that has come out hot in 2016 with a record of 4-1, including their win over The College. CofC owns the all-time series over WCU at 16-12, but the history surely did not matter on this day.
Western Carolina jumped quickly on the Cougars, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning; a score that would last the following four innings. The Catamounts then firmly took the lead in the top of the fifth, when they scraped together six runs with two outs in the inning.
CofC added its only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, but the Cougars simply couldn't muster a comeback in the frigid conditions on this day. WCU added two additional runs in the top of the sixth inning, effectively, and literally ending the game 9-1.
Charleston may have been down, but as a team, they were not out. After a short break, the women were back out on the diamond to take on Savannah State one more time in what amounted to an exciting competition.
The College opened the game with intensity, taking a 4-0 lead on the strength of four hits and a timely error by the Tigers. Jordin Jones, Sara Garcia, and Kashmir Huckaby each contributed an RBI in the top of the first inning.
With two more runs in the top of the fourth, and another in the top of the fifth, the Cougars held a commanding 6-1 lead before Savannah State decided to make a game of it. SSU scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning due to sloppy pitching on The College's part. They allowed four hits, and hit two batters in the inning.
Savannah State would score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, giving them a 7-6 lead and a substantial amount of momentum, but the Cougars fought and retook the lead for the final time in the top of the seventh after Taylor DuPree and Jordin Jones each recorded singles, and Rebecca Mueller brought them home with a deep-flying double.
The Cougars held on, and captured their third win of the season, and their 10th straight win over Savannah State.
After the exciting weekend, CofC will enjoy a few days off before heading to Orlando, Fla. for a three-day slate of games on Feb. 19, 20 and 21.
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