March 7, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
CONWAY, S.C. – A second-inning, two-out rally proved to be the difference as Coastal Carolina (15-4) posted a 5-2 win over South Carolina (16-6) in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at the CCU Softball Field.
The four runs for the Chanticleers in the second came on five singles, with Kory Hayden starting the frame with one. With two down and runners at the corners, Sara Rasley singled through the right side to start the scoring. After Jessie Winans singled off the Gamecock pitcher Kierstyn White (6-4) to load the bases, Sarah Maples dumped one into right to score two more. Jazmin Daigle followed with another hit to right to make it 4-0.
Coastal Carolina added another run in the fifth when Hayden hit a ball deep to center to score Brook Donovan after she drew a two-out walk and took second on a passed ball. Hayden was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit to a double.
The Gamecocks tried to mount a comeback in the seventh when junior catcher Shelby Gonzales beat out an infield single, bringing up freshman first baseman Olivia Lawrence, who drove the 1-2 offering over the wall in center for her first career homer to make it 5-2. Junior shortstop Samie Garcia followed with a hit deep in the hole at shortstop to extend her hitting streak to 21 games, but the Chanticleers got the final out on a close play at first when senior centerfielder Lauren Lackey hit one to short and nearly beat the throw.
White took the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits and a walk in 1.2 innings of work. Chanticleer starter Morgan Mastriania (3-1) got the complete-game victory, giving up two earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out two.
South Carolina opens up Southeastern Conference play against Arkansas this weekend. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m., with start times slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday against the Razorbacks.
