College of Charleston
Eastern Kentucky
CofC Opens 2017 Home Softball Season with Wyndham Garden Cougar Classic
2/16/2017 3:27:00 PM | Softball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – On the heels of four wins at the River City Leadoff in Jacksonville last weekend , the College of Charleston opens its 2017 home softball season when it hosts the Wyndham Garden Cougar Classic beginning Friday at Patriots Point.
The Cougars will face Eastern Kentucky on Friday at 7 pm, take on Monmouth (1:30 pm) and Lipscomb (8 pm) on Saturday and close out tournament action on Sunday with a 1:30 pm contest against Winthrop. Illinois-Chicago (UIC) is the fifth team visiting Charleston but will not take on CofC.
The 4-0 start is the first for the Cougars since 2004, and the team has never started a season with five straight wins in the 25-year history of the program. CofC exploded for 32 runs and 48 hits while stealing 13 bases in as many attempts in Jacksonville. The pitching staff limited foes to seven earned runs in 26 innings for a 1.88 ERA.
Taylor Belfiore led the way for the Cougars, going 9-for-14 (.643) with five RBI and was selected the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week. Jordin Jones went 9-for-15 (.600) and Taylor DuPree began the season 8-for-16 (.500) with four stolen bases, giving her 57 in her three-year career.
Brittany Violette worked 9.2 innings in two appearances and allowed four hits and one earned run. She went eight innings to earn her first college win in the Jacksonville game. Sydney Shipley won both of her starts, while freshman Izzy Berouty had five scoreless frames in a win over George Mason in the opener.
Here is a look at the rest of the tournament field.
Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels are making their season debut this weekend after going 37-17 last season. Paige Murphy was named first team All-Ohio Valley Conference in 2016 after leading the league with a .395 average and stealing 32 bases. Alex Sallberg ranked eighth in the nation with eight saves and added 10 wins, a 2.90 ERA and 100 strikeouts. EKU and CofC have met once with the Colonels winning in 2006.
Lipscomb
The Lady Bisons are 2-3 after defeating Furman twice at the Unconquered Invitational in Tallahassee. Caitlin Plocheck went 6-for-15 (.400) with three doubles, a home run and three RBI, and Peyton Ward and Sarah Higgins also homered last weekend. Lipscomb went 26-29 last year, and Abby Fenichel hit eight homers to earn first team All-Atlantic Sun honors. The Cougars and Lady Bisons have never met.
Monmouth
The Hawks have not played yet this season and were 29-21 in 2016, reaching the championship round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. Justene Reyes paces the Monmouth offense after batting .342 with nine homers and 46 RBI last year, and Amanda Riley is the ace of the pitching staff with 11 wins and 167 strikeouts. CofC and Monmouth have never played each other.
UIC
The Flames went 5-0 last weekend at the Total Control Sports Invitational in Rosemont, Ill., a year after going 33-18 and winning the Horizon League regular season title for the third time in four years. Kayla Wedl was the league's player of the week (.538, 3 HR, 6 RBI), and Elaine Heflin was the pitcher of the week (2-0, 16 strikeouts). Lexi Watts is the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year after batting .362 and stealing 37 bases. CofC and UIC have never met.
Winthrop
The Eagles are 1-4 in the early stages of 2017 after defeating East Carolina last weekend. Winthrop returns five of its top six hitters, including Leah Young (9 HR, 37 RBI, 8 SB), while Maddie Antone returns after a redshirt season. She was the 2014 Big South Freshman of the Year and entered this season with a .367 career average, 14 homers and 58 RBI. The Cougars hold a 13-10 lead in the all-time series.
