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Charleston Sweeps Furman Softball 9-1, 8-6
April 14, 2007
Greenville, S.C. - College of Charleston pounded out 24 hits and scored 17 runs in a 9-1, 8-6 doubleheader sweep of Furman in Southern Conference softball action Saturday at Pepsi Stadium.
The sweep improves Charleston to 24-17 overall and 8-3 in the SoCon while Furman dips to 14-23-1 overall and 4-7 in league play.
In game one, the Cougars broke open a 1-0 game by plating eight runs in the top of the fifth to down the Lady Paladins 9-1.
Charleston took advantage of seven hits, an error and a bases loaded walk to create the eight-run outburst. Leadoff hitter Izmena Cabrera struck the big blow of the inning, a two-run double to right-center, to cap the frame and give the Cougars a 9-0 lead.
Terri Mesko limited Furman to only one run on five hits over five innings to earn the victory and improve to 12-7. Mesko fanned five batters and issued three walks.
First baseman Jennifer Golden ignited the Cougar offense going 3-for-4 with a double and her 10th homer of the campaign. Mesko, Brittany Small, Amber Shifflett and Kristie Sifflett each collected to hits for CofC.
Abby Robertson went 3-for-3 with a double and Stephanie Cushing notched a safety and an RBI for the Lady Paladins. Lana Mackey (7-10) suffered the loss for Furman after allowing four runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings.
Charleston jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two on a fielder's choice by Golden and a dropped line drive. A single, sacrifice, walk and wild pitch set the Cougars up with runners on the corners. Golden bounced into a fielder's choice to plate Cabrera and Shannon Howard's liner to center was dropped allowing Golden to scamper home.
After CofC stretched the lead to 3-0 on Cabrera's second inning RBI single, Megan Jaudon blasted a solo home run to left to get Furman on the board.
The Cougars added to the lead with a four-spot in the fourth inning. A one-out walk and single set the table for Kristie Shifflett who uncorked a three-run homer to left-center to put the Cougars ahead 6-1. After Charleston loaded the bases with one out, Jessica Batten came on in relief of starter Blake Murray and retired the side with only one more run scoring on a ground out.
Furman mounted a charge in the fifth. Megan Schonhar reached on an error and Amber Kiser reached on a one-out bunt single. Robertson hit s bouncer to short that was misplayed allowing Schonhar to score and Kiser to move to third. Cushing singled to right to plate Kiser and cut the lead to 7-3. Jaudon followed with a ground out to the pitcher, but starter Katie Sansouci walked Brythe Blankenship to load the bases with two outs. Mackey greeted reliever Shannon Howard with a three-run double into right-center field to clear the bases and trim the lead to one run.
Golden immediately gave the Cougars some breathing room in the sixth with a leadoff homer to center. Howard and reliever Terri Mesko combined to strand four Furman runners in the final two frames to secure the 8-6 win.
Howard (6-7) who worked 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, earned the victory while Mesko tossed a scoreless inning to notch the save. Cabrera went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs while Golden went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Kristie Shifflett recorded three RBI.
Murray dropped to 6-12 after suffering the loss for Furman. She allowed six earned runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work. Batten managed to limit Charleston to one run on four hits in 3.2 innings in the circle.
Kiser collected three hits for Furman while Mackey went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
The finale of the three-game series is slated for Sunday afternoon at 1:00 at Pepsi Stadium.
