Tina Gonsalves Named 2003-04 CVAC Female Athlete of the Year

THOMASVILLE, NC—Tina Gonsalves continues to be recognized for her outstanding senior season as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference has announced Gonsalves the '2004 CVAC Female Athlete of the Year". Being named the CVAC Female Athlete of the Year only caps off a string of several post-season awards that Gonsalves has won including the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II South Atlantic Region Softball Second Team and the CVAC Softball Player of the Year. Gonsalves also earned First Team All-Conference pitcher honors and a spot on the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State Softball Team. During the year Gonsalves also was named the CVAC Pitcher of the Week four times and CVAC Player of the Week once.

Gonsalves finished the season batting .354 collecting 56 hits in 158 at bats. Tina also had 32 RBI, 31 runs, 10 doubles, six home runs, a .532 slugging percentage, and a .974 fielding percentage. On the mound Gonsalves had a 1.19 ERA in 38 appearances holding opponents to a .208 average. Tina had a 22-10 record with 32 complete games, eight shutouts, one save, 235 innings pitched, and 213 strikeouts.

The Kailua, HI native led most statistical categories for St. Andrews and was amongst the league leaders in most areas. Gonsalves finished fifth in the league in average, seventh in slugging percentage, seventh in hits, fourth in RBI, tied for fourth in homers, and sixth in total bases. From the rubber Gonsalves was first in the conference in ERA, fourth in opponent’s batting average, first in innings pitched, first in strikeouts, first in wins, and first in shutouts.

May 6, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—Senior pitcher Tina Gonsalves was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II South Atlantic Region Softball Second Team on Friday. Gonsalves, who had an outstanding season for St. Andrews Presbyterian College, has racked up many awards this season for her pitching and batting performances.

Two weeks ago Gonsalves was named the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference pitcher. Tina also was a four time CVAC Pitcher of the Week and a one time CVAC Player of the Week this year.

April 22, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—St. Andrews’ senior Tina Gonsalves was named the 2004 CVAC Softball Player of the Year and a first team All-Conference pitcher on Friday. Teammate Kim Makahilahila was also named to the first team All-Conference list at first base.

Gonsalves was outstanding all year long for the Knights and was named CVAC Pitcher of the Week four times and CVAC Player of the Week once. Gonsalves finished the season batting .354 collecting 56 hits in 158 at bats. Tina also had 32 RBI, 31 runs, 10 doubles, six home runs, a .532 slugging percentage, and a .974 fielding percentage. On the mound Gonsalves had a 1.19 ERA in 38 appearances holding opponents to a .208 average. Tina had a 22-10 record with 32 complete games, eight shutouts, one save, 235 innings pitched, and 213 strikeouts.

The Kailua, HI native led most statistical categories for St. Andrews and was amongst the league leaders in most areas. Gonsalves finished fifth in the league in average, seventh in slugging percentage, seventh in hits, fourth in RBI, tied for fourth in homers, and sixth in total bases. From the rubber Gonsalves was first in the conference in ERA, fourth in opponent’s batting average, first in innings pitched, first in strikeouts, first in wins, and first in shutouts.

Makahilahila had a successful season after moving from second to first early in the season. Kim was a CVAC Player of the Week once this year. The Kailua, HI native finished the season with a .313 batting average. Makahilahila also had 24 runs, 19 RBI, 13 doubles, one home run, a .422 slugging percentage, and five stolen bases. Kim was second in the league in sacrifices and fourth in doubles. Makahilahila also pitched a complete game victory in her only performance on the mound all year.

April 13, 2004

THOMASVILLE, NC—Tina Gonsalves of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (25-20 overall, 12-8 CVAC) has been selected as the CVAC women’s softball “Pitcher of the Week” for the fourth week this season. After pitching four complete game wins this week senior Tina Gonsalves has become a 20-game winner for the Knights. Gonsalves had a 0.889 ERA this week as the Knights won five out of their six games. Three of Tina’s four wins came against CVAC opponents including a 2-0 shutout against Barton, a 4-0 shutout of Pfeiffer, and a 6-2 victory over Pfeiffer. The Kailua, HI native averaged almost a strikeout an inning this week (0.97/inning). Gonsalves’ other victory, a 13-0 win over St. Augustine, gives her seven complete game shutouts on the year (3 this week). Gonsalves has finished the regular season either on top or amongst the league leaders in every pitching category including wins (20), appearances (33), strikeouts (183), innings pitched (198), complete games (27), and opponents batting average (.205).

April 9, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—Four hits by shortstop Mari Finn helped guide the St. Andrews softball team to a doubleheader sweep over Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference foe Pfeiffer University on Friday afternoon by 4-0 and 6-2 scores. The Knights finish the regular season with a 25-20 overall and 12-8 CVAC record while the Lady Falcons dropped to 9-30 and 6-10.

Game 1

Pitcher Tina Gonsalves helped her own cause in the first inning of game one with a single that scored Finn. The Knights added three more runs in the third to build up a 4-0 lead. Three hits, two sacrifices and two errors led to the three runs.

St. Andrews coasted to the four-run victory with Gonsalves on the mound. Gonsalves allowed seven hits and no walks in her seventh shutout of the season while striking out five.

Finn and Kim Makahilahila led the Knights with two hits each while Sheena Bailey and Crystal Furmaniuk connected for two hits apiece for the Lady Falcons.

Game 2

Once again SAPC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first. This time on an RBI triple by Tara Thomas that scored Makahilahila.

The Knights maintained the one-run lead until the bottom of the sixth when they added five runs on five hits. Bet Smith led off the inning with a single followed by a sacrifice bunt by Natasha Grimm, who reached on an error. Megan Mulligan, who pinch ran for Smith, scored on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Devane Rushing scored Grimm with a double to center field. Tiffany Blanchard loaded the bases with a single and Finn scored Rushing and Blanchard with a double to left-center. Pinch hitter Sara Jones drove in the final run with a single to center.

St. Andrews held the 6-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh when the Lady Falcons made a valiant comeback effort scoring two runs on RBI hits by Erin Furness and Mindy Hartgrove, but could not get any more past SAPC.

Gonsalves, who pitched both games for the Knights, became a 20-game winner for the year with the two victories. Finn and Blanchard tallied two hits apiece for the Knights while the six Pfeiffer hits came from six different batters.

St. Andrews will wait the next week to find out their playoff seeding in the 2004 CVAC Softball Tournament that is played on April 16-18 in Florence, SC.

WILSON, NC—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team split a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference doubleheader with host Barton on Wednesday afternoon by matching 2-0 scores. The Knights currently stand at 21-20 overall and 10-8 in the CVAC while the Lady Bulldogs are 12-26 and 3-13.

Senior Tina Gonsalves pitched a three-hit complete game shutout for St. Andrews in the first game. Gonsalves, who rung up 10 Barton batters, earned her 17th victory of the year and sixth shutout. Starting pitcher Jordan Nesbitt kept the Bulldogs in the game allowing only two runs (one earned) on seven hits.

The Knights scored the first run in the fifth on a triple to right field by Tiffany Blanchard that scored Veronica Bolus. Natasha Grimm added an insurance run in the seventh for St. Andrews scoring from first on an error.

Barton's Jessica Mitchell did not give up a hit until the fourth inning of the finale helping the Lady Bulldogs prevent the sweep. Mitchell allowed only five hits in the complete game shutout.

A lead off single by Ashley Minor in the third started the only scoring of the game. Singles by Jenna Gregory and Mitchell loaded the bases for the Lady Bulldogs. Jennifer Chambers followed with the fourth single of the inning scoring Minor and Gregory. Barton held on to the two-run victory behind Mitchell's pitching.

St. Andrews entertains non-conference foe St. Augustine's tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm.

April 6, 2004

THOMASVILLE, NC—Kim Makahilahila of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (20-19 overall, 9-7 CVAC) has been selected as the NCAA Division II Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) women’s softball "Player of the Week".

Senior Kim Makahilahila put up outstanding numbers for the Knights in their 10 games this week including going 15-for-33 from the plate for a .455 average. Makahilahila also recorded 12 RBI and 11 runs scored leading St. Andrews to a 7-3 week. The senior from Kailua, Hawaii connected for her first home run of the season in a 6-3 win over Limestone. Makahilahila supplied hits in nine of the 10 games this week including five doubles. The first baseman also pitched a complete game victory over North Greenville in her first appearance of the year.

March 31, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—Senior Kim Makahilahila belted three hits in the second game of a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference softball twinbill with Limestone College on Wednesday afternoon helping boost St. Andrews to a 6-3 victory in the finale while the Lady Saints held on to the first game 3-1.

Game 1

Katie Matheis (Beaverton, OR) quickly put Limestone on the board in the first inning with an RBI groundout that scored Amy Yates (Charleston, SC). Lauren Miceli tacked on a second Lady Saint run in the second with a solo homer to right field.

The Knights cut the lead to 2-1 in the third scoring their only run of the game on a single by Celeste Windham (Lamar, SC) that scored Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC), who hit a leadoff double. SAPC had several other chances to score but stranded eight total base runners including three in the fourth after loading the bases with no outs. Miceli drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to give Limestone the two run victory.

Starting pitcher Keisha Powell (Dacula, GA) picked up the win going the distance for the Lady Saints allowing only one run on six hits while striking out four. The Knights Tina Gonsalves (Kailua, HI) scattered three runs on four hits while striking out six in the loss, which snapped a seven game winning streak for the pitcher.

Game 2

In the second game Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) led off the bottom of the first with a single and scored on the ensuing double down the left field line by Makahilahila (Kailua, HI), who would then be driven in on a single by Tara Thomas (San Diego, CA) to put the Knights up 2-0. Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC), who reached on a triple, scored the Knights third run in the second on a single by Makahilahila.

Limestone would score all three of their runs in the top of the third on three hits including a double by Yates, a single by Courtney Silva (Toronto, Canada), and a two-run homer by Powell (her 11th of the season).

Bet Smith (Lexington, SC) quickly put St. Andrews back on top in the bottom of the third with an RBI double. Blanchard and Makahilahila would tack on the final two insurance runs for the Knights in the sixth as they both hit their first home run of the season, both solo shots.Gonsalves (14-6) and Powell (12-10) switched pitching fortunes in the second game as Gonsalves went all seven innings for St. Andrews while Powell pitched the final four in relief of Elizabeth Hawkins (Belton, SC).

The Knights (16-17 overall, 9-5 CVAC) visit conference rival Belmont Abbey tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

March 30, 2004

THOMASVILLE, NC—Pitcher and first baseman Tina Gonsalves was awarded both the CVAC Softball Player of the Week and the CVAC Softball Pitcher of the Week today.

Gonsalves hit a scorching .480 this week in eight conference games connecting for five doubles, two home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored. Tina provided key hits in two big wins over CVAC leaders Coker (1 RBI in a 3-0 victory) and Anderson (2 runs and 1 RBI in a 5-1 victory). Gonsalves finished the week going 4-for-7 in a doubleheader sweep of Mt. Olive pushing the Knights into a 3rd place tie in the CVAC including a rally starting double in the seventh inning to propel SAPC to a 4-2 come from behind in game two.

Right-handed pitcher Gonsalves earned all five St. Andrews wins this week pitching 38 2/3 innings in six games. Tina, who also had a hot bat for the week, allowed only nine earned runs over that span while striking out 27 batters. Five of her six appearances were complete games including one shutout. Gonsalves blanked CVAC leader Coker College on Thursday afternoon allowing only six scattered hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Second place Anderson was only able to gather four hits off of Gonsalves in a 5-1 loss to the Knights. Tina finished the week pitching all 14 innings in a doubleheader sweep of Mt. Olive in which she only gave up three earned runs. With Gonsalves’ five wins this week St. Andrews moves into a third place tie in the CVAC standings.

March 29, 2004

CHARLOTTE, NC—Tina Gonsalves pitched two complete games to lead St. Andrews Presbyterian College past Queens University of Charlotte 2-1 and 9-3 in CVAC softball action Monday night at Park Road Park. St. Andrews improves to 15-16 overall and 6-4 in the CVAC while Queens falls to 4-21 and 3-5.

Gonsalves allowed just four hits and struck out nine in the first game, which went eight innings. St. Andrews’ Kim Makahilahila had a RBI double in the top of the fifth to break the scoreless game. Queens countered in the bottom half of the inning when Erin Crager scored on an error.

St. Andrews added a run in the eighth inning when Makahilahila scored from third on a passed ball. Queens had a runner on third with no outs in the bottom of the eighth but a double play put an end to the Royals’ hopes. Jessica Churchill had the loss for Queens

.In game two, St. Andrews took a 5-0 lead in the second inning and coasted to a 9-3 win. The Knights were helped by four Royals errors. Gonsalves helped herself going 1-for-2 with three RBI. The senior ace allowed six hits and fanned five Queens’ batters.

The Royals made game two interesting with a three-run third inning, cutting the score to 5-3. But Gonsalves shut the Royals down the rest of the way and St. Andrews added four runs in the seventh inning. Lauren Berst had the loss for Queens.

Mari Finn added three hits in each game for the Knights while Makahilahila and Tara Thomas each had three total hits apiece.

The Knights host CVAC rival Limestone on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

March 28, 2004

MOUNT OLIVE, NC—Tina Gonsalves pitched two complete games and her leadoff double in the top of the seventh of game two ignited a three-run rally as St. Andrews swept a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference softball doubleheader Sunday at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. St. Andrews won the first game 8-1 and came from behind to win the second game 4-2.

Melissa Bright led off the bottom of the first inning with the first of her three singles and Mount Olive (12-20 overall, 5-7 CVAC) had runners on first and second with nobody out, but Gonsalves got out of the inning on a fielder’s choice, a pop-up and a strikeout.

St. Andrews (13-16, 6-4) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth as Mari Finn’s two-run triple keyed a three-run inning. Veronica Bolus’s two-run double sparked a four-run sixth inning as the Knights broke the game open.

Mount Olive avoided the shutout when Liz Recny singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh and scored on a double by Kristie Smith.

In the second game, St. Andrews took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a leadoff home run by Gonsalves, but MOC tied the game in the bottom of the third on a one-out triple down the right field line by Erin Wilson and a single by Smith. The Trojans took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth on Kim Goens’ two-out RBI-single, but the Lady Trojans left the bases loaded.

Gonsalves led off the top of the seventh with a double and scored the tying run on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After St. Andrews loaded the bases, Tiffany Blanchard singled home the go-ahead run and the Knights added an insurance run on an error on the play. Bright led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Gonsalves got out of the inning on three fly outs.

March 25, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—Senior right-fielder Tara Thomas drilled a two-run homer in the second game of a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference doubleheader with Coker College propelling the St. Andrews softball team to a 3-0 victory over the conference leader. The Lady Cobras, who are ranked third in the South Atlantic Region, squeezed out a 2-0 win in the first game off of two unearned runs. The Knights move to 10-15 overall and 3-3 in the CVAC while Coker stands at 29-10 and 14-2.

Game 1

The Lady Cobras took advantage of four Knights errors to score the only two runs of a very quick (1 hr 11 min) first game. Starting pitchers Sara Jones (Roseburg, OR) and Kaylene Fountain (Spokane, WA) only allowed five hits and one walk.

Coker’s Amy Shelley (Marion, SC) was able to score from second base on a fielding error in left field in the fourth. The Cobras maintained a 1-0 lead until the seventh when they added an extra run with Jamie Clingan (Glen Burnie, MD) reaching on an error and then scoring from second on another error. Shelley led the Lady Cobras with two hits.

Fountain (13-2) allowed three hits in her seven innings of work for the win while Jones (2-10) looked equally impressive allowing only two hits while striking out four for the Knights.

Game 2

St. Andrews quickly got on the board in the second game as Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) led off the bottom of the first with a walk and a stolen base. Tina Gonsalves (Kailua, HI) drove in Finn with single to left field.

After Celeste Windham (Lamar, SC) led off the fourth with a single, Thomas (San Diego, CA) blasted a two-run homer to left field giving the Knights a commanding 3-0 lead.

The three runs were more than enough for Gonsalves (8-5), who recorded her fourth complete game shutout of the season after scattering six hits while striking out three. Starter Somer Bigham (Florence, SC) dropped to 12-7 after allowing three runs off of four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings of work.

The Knights will host CVAC foe Anderson College on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

March 23, 2004

THOMASVILLE, NC—Tina Gonsalves of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (9-14 overall, 2-2 CVAC) has been selected as the CVAC women’s softball “Pitcher of the Week” for the second time this year. Senior right-handed pitcher Tina Gonsalves had a stellar week from the mound including almost pitching a perfect game. Gonsalves pitched in three of four games for the Knights and never gave up an earned run in her 19 innings of work. The Kailua, Hawaii native allowed only five hits and no walks in the 19 innings and only gave up one run (unearned) while striking out 25 (1.3 per inning). Gonsalves almost pitched her first ever perfect game on Monday against Bluefield State retiring the first 19 batters of the game. A Bluefield State batter laid down a two-strike bunt with one out in the seventh to end Tina’s bid at the perfect game. Gonsalves finished the game allowing no runs on one hit and no walks while striking out eight and facing just one batter over the minimum (22). Gonsalves then improved to 2-0 on the week as she helped the Knights pick up their first CVAC win of the year with a 4-1 victory over Lees-McRae on Saturday. In that complete game Tina only allowed one run (unearned) on three hits while striking out 10.

March 22, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—Three late runs helped secure an 8-5 victory for the St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team in the second game of a doubleheader over Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference foe Erskine on Monday afternoon. The victory gave the Knights a split on the day as the Flying Fleet (10-22, 3-5) narrowly escaped with a 5-4 win in the first game.

Game 1

The Knights pulled out to a 3-1 lead in the first game with a single by Kim Makahilahila (Kailua, HI) that scored Tara Thomas (San Diego, CA) and a two RBI single by Bet Smith (Lexington, SC).

Starting pitcher Tina Gonsalves (Kailua, HI) allowed only one hit through the first four innings but the Flying Fleet hitters came alive in the fifth with five singles that scored three runs and put Erskine up 4-3. Both teams scored a run in the sixth and the Fleet held on for the one-run victory.

St. Andrews had several chances to add runs with 13 hits but could not get the key at bats stranding 13 runners on base including two in the bottom of the seventh.

Belinda Oakley (Loris, SC) and Kim Gunter (Batesburg, SC) led Erskine with two hits apiece. Gunter also picked up the win on the mound allowing 4 runs on 13 hits and 5 walks while striking out 6. Gonsalves struck out eight in her 7-innings of work but allowed five runs on nine hits.

Game 2

St. Andrews jumped out to a large 5-0 lead in the third inning of the finale with five hits including doubles by Devane Rushing (Monroe, NC), Natasha Grimm (Sanford, NC) and Gonsalves.

Charlene Ashby (Pickens, SC) quickly got the Flying Fleet back into the game with a big three-run homer to left field in the top of the fourth. After scoring another unearned run in the fourth Elizabeth Miller (Hodges, SC) tied the game up in the fifth with a bunt that scored Jenna Burdete (Iva, SC).

The Knights answered with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead. Gonsalves scored on a wild pitch and Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) scored on a single by Grimm. Blanchard provided SAPC with an insurance run in the seventh with her second hit of the game.

Gonsalves (7-5) picked up the win in relief while E. Miller took the loss. At the plate Gonsalves finished with two hits, three runs scored, and an RBI. Grimm connected for two hits and two RBI.

St. Andrews, 9-14 overall and 2-2 in the CVAC, will host conference rival Coker on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The games were originally schedule for March 16th but were moved because of bad weather.

March 15, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—Sara Jones and Tina Gonsalves only allowed five total hits to the Bluefield State softball team as the Knights won both ends of Monday’s doubleheader 7-0 at the St. Andrews Softball Complex. The Knights improved to 7-12 while the Lady Blues fell to 2-14.

Game 1

Jones (Roseburg, OR) scattered four hits and two walks while striking out three in the 7-inning shutout. The St. Andrews batters helped Jones get her second win of the season with 11 hits in the first game.

Natasha Grimm (Sanford, NC) started the scoring for the Knights driving in Tara Thomas (San Diego, CA) in the first with a single. Celeste Windham (Lamar, SC) added two more runs for SAPC with a double down the left field line in the second. After scoring one more in the third the Knights added their final three runs in the fourth with four hits.

Gonsalves (Kailua, HI) led the Knights with three hits, two runs, and a double. Grimm and Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) finished with two hits apiece while Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) scored two of SAPC runs.

Game 2

Gonsalves (5-4) pitched remarkably in second game carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning. Gonsalves finished throwing a 8-strikeout, one-hit gem, her third shutout of the season.

Thomas put the Knights on the board in the bottom of the second with a deep double to the left field wall that scored Windham from first. Grimm and Gonsalves increased the SAPC lead to 3-0 with RBI’s in the third.

Veronica Bolus (Folley Beach, SC) added another run in the fourth scoring Blanchard with a single. Bethany Smith (Lexington, SC) ripped a two RBI double down the left field line and Blanchard drove in the Knights final run in the fifth. Thomas, Smith, and Bolus all finished with two hits each and Windham scored twice.

Gonsalves and the St. Andrews defense did not allow a base runner until Kimberly Potts reached with a single. With one out in the top of the seven and in a seven run game Potts needed to lay down a surprise bunt to break up the perfect game.

“Jones and Gonsalves pitched outstanding games for us as they hit their spots which helped lead to easier out,” explained head coach Stevan Hernandez after the game. Hernandez added, “We have played a lot of good competition lately (the FMU tournament) and frontloaded our schedule to help us get ready for the conference season that begins tomorrow. If we just stay consistent and composed we should have a very enjoyable second half of the season.”

The Knights will look to carry their momentum into tomorrow afternoon when the host their first Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference doubleheader against Coker at 2:00 p.m.

March 8, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team needed only 11 innings to complete a doubleheader sweep of visiting Alderson-Broaddus College. The Knights, who improve to 4-8 overall, won the first game 9-1 in six innings and the second 8-0 in five innings. The Battlers start their season 0-2.

Game 1

Alderson-Broaddus grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first game with a sacrifice fly from Veronica Lansden scoring Talia Tabor. That would be the last run the Battlers would score.

The Knights answered in the second with five runs including a three run double to left field by Mari Finn. SAPC added three more in the fifth and tallied the final run with one out in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded Natasha Grimm connected for the game winning single scoring Megan Mulligan.

Tina Gonsalves led the Knights with three of the teams 13 hits. Grimm finished with two hits, one run, and one RBI while Brandi Ankney ripped an RBI triple in the fifth.

Sara Jones (1-5) picked up her first win of the season while only allowing one run on four hits. Casie Waskey (0-1) received the loss allowing nine runs (only four earned).

Game 2

Gonsalves (3-3) recorded her second complete game shutout of the season as the Knights cruised to the 8-0 victory in the second game. Gonsalves was perfect through three innings and only allowed one hit in five complete innings of work while striking out eight.

Bethany Smith put St. Andrews on the board with an RBI single in the second. Veronica Bolus followed with a two run single pulling the Knights lead to 3-0 after two.

Tara Thomas started a two run rally in the third with a double to left-center field. Gonsalves drove in Thomas with a single down the left-field line. St. Andrews would get one more in the fourth building the lead up to 6-0.

Celeste Windham started the fifth with a single. After a pitch hit Mulligan, Smith reached on an error loading up the bases. Ankney would drive in Windham with a single. With no one out Bolus hit a fly ball to right field that resulted in a double play. However, the ball was deep enough to score Mulligin from third to end the game.

Bolus finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Windham crossed home plate twice while Thomas and Tiffany Blanchard each collect a hit and scored a run.

The Knights are off until this weekend when they play in the Francis Marion Tournament in Florence, South Carolina. St. Andrews will face Georgia College (5:00 pm) and UNC Pembroke (9:00 pm) on Friday and North Florida (1:00 pm), USC Aiken (3:00 pm), and Columbus State (7:00 pm) Saturday.

Gonsalves Awarded Pitcher of the Week Honors

March 2, 2004

THOMASVILLE, NC—Tina Gonsalves of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (2-6 overall, 0-0 CVAC) has been selected as the CVAC women’s softball “Pitcher of the Week”. Senior Tina Gonsalves had an outstanding performance on the mound for St. Andrews Tuesday afternoon against UNC Pembroke. In a pitchers duel, Gonsalves sparkled in the 1-0 victory over the Lady Braves. Tina pitched a complete two-hit shutout game. The Kailua, Hawaii native also recorded seven strikeouts. Tina’s victory gave the Knights their second win of the season and improved her ERA to 1.48 after 28.1 innings of work. For the season, Gonsalves has given up 6 earned runs and 9 walks to post a 2-2 record with 26 strikeouts.

February 24, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team rebounded from a 4-2 loss in game one against UNC Pembroke with a hard fought 1-0 victory in the second game on an overcast Tuesday afternoon. With the split of the doubleheader the Knights hold a 2-6 record while the Lady Braves remain one-game under .500 at 5-6.

Game 1

UNC Pembroke scattered 11 hits in the first game tallying a run in the first, second, fifth, and seventh. Wendy Cochran (Charlotte, NC) gave the Braves a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with an RBI double to left field.

Tina Gonsalves (Kailua, HI) tied the game up in the bottom half of the first with a sacrifice fly scoring Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI). Brookes Musser (Wilmington, NC) quickly put UNCP back on top with her fourth homerun of the season, a blast to left field in the second.

The Knights scored their last run in the second as Brandi Ankney (Waynesburg, PA) and Finn hit back-to-back doubles.

The Braves scored the game-winning run in the top of the fifth off a wild pitch from Sara Jones (Roseburg, OR) and tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Cochran drove in another run with her third hit of the game.

Danielle Peters (Vass, NC) went 3-for-4 in the win and scored two runs. Amanda Busch (2-1) picked up the win pitching five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks. Heather Riley (McKeesport, PA) recorded her first save of the season allowing only one hit in the final two innings. Jones (0-4) took the loss after pitching the complete game.

Game 2

The second game featured two pitchers with ERA’s under two. Both lived up to the expectations as each allowed only two hits in the game.

Gonsalves (2-2) helped snap the Knights three-game losing streak and end the Braves three-game winning streak with her performance on the mound. Gonsalves, who only gave up two hits and three walks in the complete game shutout, had a no-hitter going until Brandy Reese (East Bend, NC) hit a single with two outs in the fourth.

Nicole McCorkle (Half Moon Bay, CA) was equally impressive giving up only one unearned run on two hits and three walks. There were a combined 15 strikeouts between the two pitchers, eight by McCorkle (2-2).

Two errors in the bottom half of the third cost Pembroke the only run of the game. Kim Makahilahila (Kailua, HI) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Ankney to third. A throwing error on the play allowed Ankney to come around third and score the deciding run.

Both teams will host Bluefield State College (West Virginia) for doubleheaders this weekend. UNC Pembroke will take their shot Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and St. Andrews will take theirs on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

February 19, 2004

WINGATE, NC—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team split an NCAA Division II doubleheader with host Wingate University on Thursday afternoon. The Bulldogs won the first game 8-0 in six innings. St. Andrews rallied to take the second game 5-4. Wingate is 3-1 overall, while St. Andrews is 1-3 overall.

Game 1

Wingate senior pitcher Katie Wallace tossed a one-hitter as the Bulldogs took the first game victory. An All-SAC and All-South Region choice in 2003, Wallace struck out four and walked one. She gave up a single to St. Andrews junior shortstop Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) to lead off the game.

Four Bulldogs had multiple hits in the first game. Sarah Carleton was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Stephanie White was 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI.

Wingate ended the game in the sixth inning with a single run. White and Carrie Rountree started the inning with singles. White scored the game's final run when Carleton stroked an RBI double to right center.

Game 2

St. Andrews rallied from a 4-0 deficit to take the second game win and earn the split. Winning pitcher Tina Gonsalves (Kailua, HI), who improved to 1-1, helped her own cause with a two-RBI single in the Knights' three-run fifth inning.

The visitors scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the victory. With one out, Knight freshman third baseman Natasha Grimm (Sanford, NC) doubled and stole third base. Senior outfielder Brandi Ankney (Waynesburg, PA) reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners.

SAPC freshman designated player Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC) hit an RBI sacrifice fly to the shortstop to score Grimm and move Ankney to second. Finn singled to put runners at first and third. Senior second baseman Kim Makahilahila (Kailua, HI) laced an RBI single to right field to score Ankney for the winning run.

Finn, Makahilahila, Gonsalves and sophomore catcher Bethany Smith (Lexington, SC) had two hits each for St. Andrews. Smith had a double for the visitors.

Gonsalves went the distance, scattering nine hits over seven innings. She allowed four earned runs, striking out three and walking one. Layne Grout took the loss pitching six innings, allowing five runs (only two earned) on nine hits. She struck out two and walked two.

St. Andrews will travel to Salisbury Sunday to face Catawba College. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

February 11, 2004

LAURINBURG, NC—The Francis Marion University softball team opened its season with a pair of victories over host St. Andrews on Wednesday afternoon by scores of 4-3 and 5-0.

Game 1

The Patriots took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Heather Garrison (Hartsville, SC) drilled a single to center field that scored Betsy Bouknight (Leesville, SC).

Tina Gonsalves (Kailua, HI) kept St. Andrews in the game from the mound and the plate. Gonsalves pitched seven innings giving up two earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out 11.

After FMU scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth, making it 2-0, Gonzalves tied the game up with her first homer of the season in the bottom half. Tara Thomas (San Diego, CA) led the inning off with a single before Gonzalves ripped the two-run shot to right-center. Thomas and Gonzalves each finished with two hits for the Knights.

Both teams tacked on an extra run in the fifth before the Patriots tallied the final run of the game in the seventh. Bouknight scored the deciding run on a fielding error by the Knights.

Sam Goff (Patterson, NY) picked up her first collegiate win for Francis Marion giving up only two earned runs over seven innings.

Game 2

Jessica Johnson (Palm City, FL) pitched a gem helping the Patriots coast to a 5-0 victory in the second game. Johnson went seven innings giving up no runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

FMU scored two runs in the second and one in the fifth to go up 3-0. The Knights had a great chance to get back into the game in the sixth with the bases loaded but could not convert.

The Patriots scored two insurance runs in the seventh to win by five.

Garrison finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run driving in while Ashleigh Duffy (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada) scored two runs for Francis Marion.

The Patriots (2-0) will host Anderson College on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. while the Knights (0-2) will not play again until Tuesday when they travel to Wingate at 2:00 p.m.