College of Charleston
Buffalo
Cougars Rise Up to Overcome Buffalo Twice, 3-2, 5-1
3/16/2016 2:59:00 AM | Softball
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Rebecca Mueller recorded four hits on the day, including a triple in the bottom of the seventh inning in a comeback effort that helped lead the Cougars to two wins against Buffalo, 3-2, 5-1, on Tuesday at Patriots Point.
“We needed it” Mueller said of her triple that put her in position to tie the first game in the bottom of the seventh inning. “I knew that if I got into scoring position that I would one of my teammates would be able to bring me home.”
The College (15-10) certainly did need Mueller today, as she was the catalyst for the Cougar's offense against Buffalo (4-17). She hit a double, a triple and walked once in the first game, and recorded two hits in the second game. Mueller has now recorded at least two hits in 12 games this season.
Katie Padilla reached base six times against the Bulls between the two games, recording two singles, one double, two walks and was hit by a pitch. Carly Hansis boosted her streak of reaching base to 12 games, as she four hits on the day.
Samantha Martin also had herself quite a day, as she earned the win in both of Charleston's games. She threw two innings of relief work in the 4 p.m. matchup, and threw a complete seven innings in the Cougars second game.
Game 1: Charleston 3, Buffalo 2
Sydney Shipley got the start for The College in its first game of the afternoon, and after giving up one run in both the second and third innings, smoothed her day out. She tossed five complete innings on the day and struck out three before being relieved by Valerie Cassell. Cassell threw three scoreless innings and struck out three batters as well.
The issue for CofC in the early game was offensively, as they could not muster consistent hitting, leaving 11 runners on base for the third time this season. The College finally got on the board with a run in the sixth inning after a Katie Padilla double put her on second base, and was able to advance home after a throwing error by the Bull's second baseman in the next at-bat.
The game was tied in the bottom of the seventh by an impressive effort from Mueller to record a triple and she was brought home during the next at-bat by a Valerie Cassell base hit that pushed the score to 2-2, and forcing extra innings. Charleston would win the game in the bottom of the tenth inning after Katie Padilla hit a single that loaded the bases before the Bull's shortstop threw an errant toss that allowed Cassell to advance home and take the lead.
Game 2: Charleston 5, Buffalo 1
After a stagnant start in the first game, Charleston came out swinging in the second, posting three runs in the first two innings to take a lead that they would not give up. It was aided by five Buffalo errors that allowed the Cougars to get runners on base, and advance them with ease. Of the five runs the College would score, only one of those runs was credited to the Bull's pitcher.
Rebecca Mueller, Carly Hansis and Taylor DuPree each recorded at least two hits in the twilight contest, and along with four walks, the College had no trouble getting players on base. They would not be able to bring them all home though, setting a season-high mark of 12 runners left on base.
Samantha Martin's relief effort from the first game translated to an impressive start in the second, needing only 87 pitched to toss her ninth complete game of the season. She allowed three hits and only one run, with one strikeout and two walks.
Who's Up Next
Charleston will play next on Thursday, March 17 at 5 p.m. against UConn in the first game of the Cougar Classic Invitational; the third and final tournament that The College will host this season. Other teams that will travel to Mt. Pleasant include Central Connecticut, Brown, Eastern Michigan, and Miami of Ohio. For additional schedule information, and any information regarding the College of Charleston softball team, head to CofCSports.com
-www.CofCSports.com-
