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Williams Helps Furman Down Appalachian State 4-3, Claim Series Victory
April 22, 2007
Boone, N.C. - Sophomore Vanessa Williams tossed a complete game and Furman pounded out 10 hits to upend Appalachian State 4-3 and claim the rubber game of a three-game Southern Conference softball series Sunday at ASU Softball Stadium.
Furman took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Amber Kiser reached on an error and moved to second on Abby Robertson's single up the middle. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, Stephanie Cushing lined a single through the left side to plate Kiser. Brythe Blankenship upped the lead to 2-0 with an RBI double down the left field line, but Cushing was erased at the plate for the second out and Keri Blackwelder fanned Lana Mackey to end the frame.
Appalachian trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Brittany Gaston and Diana Cook notched back-to-back singles to right and Gaston scored when Cushing could not handle a Kasey Montsinger grounder.
Furman added to its lead in the second. Danielle Franklin drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a groundout. Amber Kiser lined a two-out single up the middle to plate Franklin while moving to third on a throwing error. Robertson followed with a single to center to plate Kiser and give Furman a 4-1 cushion before reliever Kayla Richardson retired the Lady Paladins with a Cushing groundout to shortstop.
ASU threatened with two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth, but Franklin raced into foul territory and reeled in a Gaston fly while crashing into the outfield wall to retire the side.
Cook pulled Appalachian within one in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run homer to center. Lindsay Glover was hit by a pitch to open the frame ahead of Cook's fifth homer of the year. Williams got Montsinger to ground to shortstop before fanning Kristyn Hurt to secure the win.
Williams (2-2) totaled five strikeouts and walked four while allowing only six hits. Robertson, Cushing, Blankenship and Mackey each notched two hits in the victory.
Blackwelder suffered the loss to fall to 2-7. She allowed four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings. Cook went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer to pace the Mountaineers.
Furman improves to 16-27-1 overall and 6-9 in league play. Appalachian falls to 17-32 overall and 9-9 in the SoCon.
Furman returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Blacksburg, Va., for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader against the Virginia Tech Hokies.
