LAURINBURG, NC—Kristal Shelton had an outstanding first season with the St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team including being a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) First Team All-CVAC selection and North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State Softball Team member.
Shelton, a junior transfer from Yakima Valley Community College, batted .375 in 2004 with 25 RBI, 22 runs, 15 stolen bases, 12 doubles, five home runs and a triple. Kristal was the Knights team leader in RBI, doubles, homers and stolen bases. Shelton finished the season with a .6 34 slugging and .474 on-base percentage.
The catcher also made her presence known in the field with a .968 fielding percentage. Shelton only had five errors in 155 chances and threw out 16 base runners. Kristal played and started in all 42 games for the Knights.
Shelton was named a First Team All-CVAC honoree as voted upon the conference’s head coaches. The All-State Softball Team was nominated by North Carolina sports information professionals and selected by NCCSIA members.
“Kristal did an outstanding job for us this year,” said St. Andrews Head Coach Skip Gurtler. “She was a leader both on the field and in the dugout. Kristal also excelled in the classroom, where she carried a 3.2 GPA. I am looking for her to step up next year and lead our team by example and continue her success here at St. Andrews.”
Knights softball wins one in CVAC Tourney
April 23, 2005
HARTSVILLE, SC—After losing in the opening game of the 2005 CVAC Softball Tournament 2-0 to No. 8 seed Pfeiffer, the No. 8 seed St. Andrews softball team defeated No. 10 seed Mount Olive 11-1 and almost completed a late rally against No. 3 Erskine but was eliminated 6-5.
The Knights finished the injury plagued season with an 11-31 mark. Kristal Shelton was named to the CVAC All-Conference First Team at catcher and Mari Finn was selected to the CVAC All-Conference Second Team at utility.
No. 9 St. Andrews vs. No. 8 Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer had St. Andrews number this year winning all four meetings including a 2-0 decision in the first round of the conference tournament on Friday. Jody McCurdy drove in both of the Falcons runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer to right-center.
It was all the run support Dacia Ijames needed as she pitched a complete game shutout for Pfeiffer. Ijames scattered six hits over 7.0 innings with a walk and a strikeout.
The Knights left seven base runners on base and Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) led the Knights with two hits including a double. Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) allowed two runs on five hits in the loss on the mound for SAPC.
No. 9 St. Andrews vs. No. 10 Mount Olive
After sleeping on its shutout loss, St. Andrews answered with 11 runs on 12 hits in just four innings defeating Mount Olive, 11-1, on Saturday morning.
The game featured four home runs by the Knights including back-to-back-to-back blasts in the second by Shelton, Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) and Bet Smith (Lexington, NC). Shelton started the six run inning with a grand slam to left-center. Blanchard followed with her fourth of the season and Smith connected for her first of the season.
Shelton led the Knights with seven RBI after hitting her second homer of the game in the third to right-center. Shelton’s three run bomb was her fifth of the season. Blanchard and Smith each finished with two hits and two RBI. Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) had two hits while scoring a team-high three times.
Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) improved to 4-7 on the season with the complete game victory. Tanji allowed one run (unearned) on three hits over 5.0 innings.
No. 9 St. Andrews vs. No. 3 Erskine
The Knights made a valiant effort at staying alive in Saturday’s second game, rallying from a 5-0 deficit in the top of the seventh with five runs but Erskine held on, 6-5, with a game-winning single by Rebecca Clontz in the bottom of the seventh.
Ashlee Lafontaine gave the Flying Fleet an early lead with a leadoff homer in the first. Erskine took a 3-0 lead in the second with two unearned runs and Clontz extended the Erskine advantage with a two-run homer in the third.
The score remained 5-0 until the top of the seventh, when St. Andrews ripped off five runs. Wolfe led off with a walk and Tanji reached on a fielding error. Allison Hendrix (Hickory, NC) loaded the bases with a single and Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC) plated Wolfe and Tanji with a single to center. After Finn hit into a fielders choice, a throwing error allowed Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC) to reach safely and Bolus score from second. Shelton tied the game up with a double to right-center that scored Finn and Haugen.
At that point Erskine brought in a new pitcher, Kimberly Hannon, who retired the next two Knights batters. In the bottom half, Jana Craft started the game-winning rally with a one-out single. After a fly out, Jenna Burdette singled advancing Craft into scoring position. Clontz followed with the game ending single to left.
Hannon picked up the win in relief of starter Kim Gunter. Wolfe took the loss for St. Andrews.
Barton softball sweeps St. Andrews
April 15, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—Freshman Maddy Danesi (Hammonton, NJ) provided a team-high three hits on Friday helping the Barton College softball team to a 4-2 and 5-4 CVAC doubleheader sweep of host St. Andrews Presbyterian College.
The Bulldogs (14-19 overall, 6-8 CVAC) broke a scoreless tie in the first game with four unearned runs in the fifth that was capped off by a two-run double by Emily Sale (Welcome, NC).
Barton pitcher Jordan Nesbitt (Greely, Ontario, Canada) had a no-hitter going until Bet Smith (Lexington, SC) singled to right field to start the fifth. The Knights (10-25, 5-11) ended the shutout attempt in the sixth when a Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) single up the middle that scored Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC) from second, who reached on her own single.
The Knights rallied with back-to-back singles by Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) and Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) to start the seventh. Barton recorded the next two outs before Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) plated Tanji with her second single of the game. However, the game ended on a hard hit liner by Haugen that was caught by the shortstop.
Nesbitt (4-6) picked up the win after allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four. Wolfe (4-15) took the loss even though she did not allow an earned run in the complete game.
St. Andrews jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the nightcap on a two-run single by Blanchard that scored Finn and Haugen.
The Bulldogs tied everything up at two apiece with a run in the second and in the third. Jennifer Mitchell (Creedmoor, NC) drove in Sale with a single to right-center in the second. Barton got its second run on two Knights errors in the third.
The Knights regained a slim 3-2 lead in the fourth when Allison Hendrix (Hickory, NC) singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC), and scored on a single by Finn.
Barton jumped ahead of St. Andrews for good with three runs (one earned) in the sixth. The Bulldogs took advantage of three consecutive Knights errors in the inning. The sixth was highlighted by a leadoff triple by Courtney Bunch (Gatesville, NC) and a sac fly by Jennifer Chambers (Stem, NC).
SAPC cut the deficit in half in the home part of the sixth with Wolfe leading off with a triple down the right field line and scoring on a Tanji single.
Starter Jayme Beachum (Ayden, NC) ended the rally by retiring the next three batters. Jessica Mitchell (Creedmoor, NC) pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn her fourth save of the season while Beachum improved to 7-6. Tanji (3-5) took the loss for St. Andrews.
The Knights finish the regular season this weekend visiting CVAC rival Erskine (Due West, SC) on Saturday and Anderson (Anderson, SC) on Sunday. Both twin bills are slated for 2:00 p.m. starts.
Finn named CVAC softball Player of the Week
April 13, 2005
THOMASVILLE, NC—Mari Finn of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (10-23 overall, 5-9 CVAC) has been selected as the NCAA Division II Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) softball Player of the Week.
Senior Mari Finn had at least one hit in all six games for St. Andrews this week helping the Knights to its best week of the season with four CVAC wins. Finn went 12-for-19 (.632) with eight runs, four walks, three RBI, two doubles and a triple in the six games. Finn had a .842 slugging and .696 on-base percentage for the week. In a 4-1 and 4-3 doubleheader sweep of Mount Olive on Monday Finn went 3-for-5 with two walks, two runs, and one RBI. The Lahaina, Hawaii native continued her outstanding week with a team-high four hits on Wednesday as the Knights split with Queens 3-2 and 4-5. During the Royals twin bill Finn walked and scored twice and drove in one run. Finn capped the week perfectly with a 4-for-4 performance in a 16-0 route of Lees-McRae on Sunday. Finn leads the Knights with a .397 batting average and 20 runs scored.
The St. Andrews softball team will host CVAC rival Barton College in its home finale on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Knights post 16 runs in blowout over Lees-McRae
April 10, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team responded to a 3-1 extra inning loss to Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference foe Lees-McRae with a 16-0 drubbing of the Lady Bobcats in Sunday’s nightcap to earn the split on ‘Senior Day’.
The Knights, who have won four of their last six with both losses coming in extra innings, have improved to 10-23 overall and 5-9 in the CVAC. The Lady Bobcats sit at 6-24 and 1-14.
St. Andrews wasted no time in the second game posting all 16 runs in just four innings including three in the first, two in the second, five in the third, and six in the fourth.
After being honored between games the two Knights seniors provided a show for the fans. Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI. Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) showcased three RBI singles while scoring twice.
Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) supplied the highlight of the game with her first collegiate home run, a lead-off blast to left field in the fourth. Wolfe finished the game with three hits, two runs and two RBI. Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC) scored four times.
Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) improved to 3-4 on the mound for the Knights with her first complete game shutout.
St. Andrews grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game on a Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) single up the middle that scored Haugen.
Lees-McRae quickly tied the game up at one apiece in the second with a Sara Travis groundout that plated Greta Turner. The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the first extra frame when Ashlyn Birmingham and Turner drove in the game-winning runs for the Bobcats.
Blanchard led the Knights with two hits in game one. Wolfe took the loss after scattering five hits and three runs over eight innings.
St. Andrews hosts CVAC rival Barton College on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in its home regular season finale.
SAPC Softball splits CVAC twinbill with Queens
April 6, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—The Queens University of Charlotte softball team rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the second game of Wednesday’s Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference doubleheader for a 5-4 extra-inning victory against host St. Andrews to escape with a split after the Knights took the first game 3-2.
The Royals (15-17 overall/6-4 CVAC) took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the first game on a single by Britne’ Stubbs that scored Danielle Woodford.
The Knights (9-22/4-8) went from one down to one up with two runs in the third. Amme Mason (Georgetown, CA) started the rally with a single and Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) followed with a double. Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC) reached on a fielders choice as Mason was tagged out at home plate but with smart base running advanced to second during the play. A fielding error by the Royals shortstop allowed Finn and Haugen to score.
Melissa Stuhr tied everything at two with a single up the middle in the fifth that plated Cynthia Ochoa, who led off with a single to center.
Allison Hendrix (Hickory, NC) put the Knights on top for good with a two-out single to left field that scored pitch runner Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC). Bolus subbed for Bet Smith (Lexington, SC), who led off with a single through the right side.
Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) picked up her fourth win of the season after scattering six hits and two runs over seven innings while striking out three. Lauren Berst took the loss in relief of starter Jennifer Churchill.
The Knights looked to keep the momentum to start the second game scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) ripped an RBI triple down the left field line in the first and scored on a wild pitch. Finn drove in Hendrix with her own triple to right in the second and scored on a single by Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC).
Queens cut its deficit to 4-3 in the fourth on an Erika Brummel RBI double and on a Knights error that plated two more Royals.
Woodford knotted everything at four apiece with a solo homer in the top of the seventh. Queens completed the comeback in the eighth. Stubbs was placed on second to start the inning because of the international tiebreaker rule; advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt; and scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Brittany Harkey.
Meg Barker picked up the win in relief of starter Shea Chaffee. Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) took the loss after allowing eight hits and five runs (two earned) over eight innings while striking out three.
Finn led SAPC with two hits and a run in each game. Finn also had three stolen bases, a triple, a double, and an RBI on the day.
The Knights host CVAC rival Lees-McRae College on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Knights fastpitch sweeps Mount Olive
April 4, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—Junior catcher Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to break a 3-3 tie in Monday’s nightcap to lead the St. Andrews softball team to a doubleheader sweep of CVAC rival Mount Olive by 4-1 and 4-3 scores.
The Knights (8-21 overall/3-7 CVAC) took a 3-0 lead in the first game with three unearned runs in the third. Senior outfielder Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) ripped a two-run double to left that plated Amme Mason (Georgetown, CA) and Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI). Blanchard ended up scoring on an error later in the inning.
Outfielder Emily Escolas (Rockingham, NC) provided the Lady Trojans (12-25/4-10) only run in the fifth. Escolas singled down the left field line; stole second; advanced to third on an error; and scored on an RBI single by Melissa Bright (Portsmouth, VA).
Shelton added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth after walking and eventually scoring during a stolen base attempt by Blanchard.
Freshman Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) led the Knights with two hits and a complete game, seven-hitter on the mound. Tanji improved to 2-3 while Mount Olive starter Ashley Napoles (Miami, FL) fell to 2-10.
St. Andrews scored one run in each of its first three innings in the second game to take a 3-1 advantage. Finn doubled in the first and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blanchard. Finn’s single in the second drove in Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC). Consecutive two-out singles in the third by Bet Smith (Lexington, SC), Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) and Tanji gave SAPC its third run.
The Lady Trojans knotted everything at 3-3 in the fourth. Jamie Pruitt (Portsmouth, VA) led off with a single and scored on a triple to right field by Jackie Wyman (Virginia Beach, VA), who then scored on a double by Kim Goens (Charlotte, NC).
Shelton provided the eventual game-winning heroics in the bottom of the fifth, drilling the solo shot over the left field fence. Shelton has three homers on the season. Finn and Wolfe led the Knights with three hits apiece.
Mason (3-5) scattered five hits for the complete game victory while Mount Olive’s Shauna Cowdrey (Alta Loma, CA) dropped to 5-11 in the loss. Goens had two hits for the Lady Trojans.
The Knights return to action on Wednesday when they host CVAC rival Queens University of Charlotte at 2:00 p.m. MOC hosts league foe Barton on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.
Saints softball sweeps St. Andrews
April 3, 2005
GAFFNEY, SC—The Limestone College softball team (17-22, 8-2 CVAC) swept a CVAC doubleheader with St. Andrews Presbyterian College (6-21, 1-7) to remain on top of the conference standings. Limestone won game one 8-3 and held off a late rally to take the nightcap 7-4.
In game one, Limestone led 1-0 entering the bottom of the third when Heather Wood ripped a two-run double to put the Lady Saints ahead, 3-0. The Knights plated 2 unearned run in the fourth to pull within one, but Missy Hampson padded Limestone’s lead with a 2-run double in the fifth.
The Lady Saints plated two more runs in a sixth inning that was highlighted by a two-run triple from Amy Yates.
Elizabeth Hawkins (5-10) earned the win by working seven innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out two. Amme Mason (Georgetown, CA) took the loss allowing eight runs (four earned) on 12 hits in six innings of work.
Courtney Silva went 3-for-4 for Limestone. Yates and Hampson each went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) went 2-for-3 for the Knights.
In game two, the Knights took advantage of a Limestone error to take a 1-0 lead. The Lady Saints answered in the bottom of the first by plating three runs on an RBI triple from Yates and a two-run double from Hampson. Yates plated another run with a double in the second, and the Lady Saints scored two more in the third on Jessica Brown’s second home run of the year.
Both teams would score one more run to send the game to the seventh with Limestone leading 7-2. The Knights rallied in the final frame with a two-run homer from Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC), but it was not enough and Limestone came away with the 7-4 win. It was Blanchard’s third homer of the season.
Keisha Powell (9-9) earned the win by working seven innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out three. Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) was tagged with the loss allowing seven runs on nine hits and eight walks.
Hampson capped an outstanding day by going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Shelton went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for St. Andrews.
The Knights host CVAC foe Mount Olive College on Monday at 2:00 p.m. It’s a reschedule game from earlier in the year.
Knights softball splits two with the Crusaders
March 24, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—St. Andrews out slugged Belmont Abbey College 9-3 in the second game of Thursday’s CVAC doubleheader to gain the split after the Crusaders took the first game 8-6.
The Knights (6-19 overall, 1-5 CVAC) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one on a run producing double by Crystal Shelton (Yakima, WA) and a single by Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC).
Belmont Abbey scored four runs in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead including a three-run homer by Leigh Carter.
St. Andrews cut the deficit to 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single by Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) and a Crusader error.
BAC built its lead back up to 8-4 in the seventh with two-out RBI hits by Stefanie Spink, Cameron Greene and Abby Threatt.
The Knights took one last shot at catching the Crusaders in the bottom of the seventh as Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) scored on an error and Bethany Smith (Lexington, SC) scored Tanji with a single. However, the rally was ended by a caught stolen base attempt.
Wolfe took the loss on the mound for SAPC but did strike out six Crusader batters.
St. Andrews took command of the second game early with three runs in the first, four in the second and one in the third.
Knights pitchers Amme Mason (Georgetown, CA) and Tanji combined to only allow three Crusader runs as St. Andrews picked up its first conference win.
Shelton led the Knights offensively going 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBI including here second homer of the season. Smith drove in two on three hits. Blanchard and Mason scored twice.
The Knights host non-conference Le Moyne College on Thursday, March 31 at 2:00 p.m.
Knights Fast pitch dominates Meredith
March 14, 2005
RALEIGH, NC—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College softball team plated 25 runs in a doubleheader sweep at Meredith College Monday afternoon. The Knights won 8-2 and 17-5 to improve to 5-18 while the Angels fell to 5-8.
SAPC tallied two runs in four different innings to pull away in the game-one victory. Senior infielder Mari Finn (Lahaina, HI) drove in a game-high three runs for the Knights on two doubles. Junior catcher Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) connected for three hits including a triple. Senior Tiffany Blanchard (Indian Trail, NC) added two hits, one RBI and one run.
Freshman Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) picked up her second win of the season after scattering six hits and two runs over seven innings of work.
Meredith jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second game. Jill Nester led the Angel attack with a two-run single in the first and an RBI double in the second. Laura Pavlovich had three hits for Meredith.
St. Andrews took control of the game in the fourth with eight runs. Junior Bet Smith (Lexington, SC) and Finn each had two-run doubles in the inning. Blanchard, Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC), Amme Mason (Georgetown, CA) and Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) all had RBI singles.
The Knights did not stop there as they posted nine more in the sixth. The onslaught was capped off by a three-run blast by Shelton. It was Shelton’s first home run of the season.
Tanji had three hits, two runs and two RBI; Finn drove in three and scored twice; Haugen chipped in with two RBI singles; and Blanchard supplied two hits and two runs.
Mason earned her first win of the season in the complete-game victory.
St. Andrews hosts CVAC rival Belmont Abbey on Thursday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Lady Pacers’ softball sweeps St. Andrews
March 7, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—Sophomore Ashley Dyches (Aiken, SC) had two hits in both games of Monday’s softball doubleheader, leading visiting USC Aiken to 2-1 and 3-0 victories over St. Andrews Presbyterian College.
Dyches gave the Lady Pacers (13-7) an early 1-0 lead in the first game with an RBI double in the second. Freshman Amber Driggers’ (Round O, SC) double to right-center in the fourth plated Deidre Simmons (Aiken, SC) for the eventual game-winning run.
Freshman Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) cut the Knights (3-16) deficit in half with a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the fourth that drove in sophomore Devane Rushing (Monroe, NC), who started the rally with a double.
Rushing just missed tying everything in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out blast that went off the centerfield wall. Rushing had to settle for her second double of the game.
Sophomore Samantha Blair (Deltona, FL) improved to 4-3 after holding St. Andrews to one run on six hits. Blair had five strikeouts in the complete game. Freshman Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) allowed eight hits, two walks and two runs over seven innings for the Knights while striking out two.
USCA junior righty Stacie Oakley (Burlington, NC) was the story of the second game allowing only two hits in the complete game shutout. Oakley fanned 10 SAPC batters and did not allow a walk to improve to 5-2.
Dyches’ single in the top of the second gave the Lady Pacers a 1-0 advantage. Aiken added its final two runs in the fifth with an RBI double down the left field line by Driggers and a single up the middle by Ragen Reeves (Greenwood, SC) that scored Driggers.
St. Andrews visits CVAC rival Pfeiffer University on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
Knights fast pitch splits at Newberry
February 19, 2005
NEWBERRY, SC—Newberry College’s Rebecca Backman (Columbia, SC) and Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, FL) belted solo home runs over the left field wall to send the Lady Indians past St. Andrews Presbyterian College 3-0 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at the Newberry Softball Complex. St. Andrews (2-8) won the first game, 1-0, in eight innings.
Centerfielder Allison Hendrix (Hickory, NC) was the only Knight to register a RBI on the day, and it came on a controversial play in the top of the eighth inning of the first game. With Bethany Smith (Lexington, SC) on third, Hendrix placed a rolling grounder down the third base line that appeared close to foul territory when it bounced over the bag. The umpire ruled fair, and Hendrix scored the games only run.
St. Andrews’ Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) picked up the Knights second win of the season with three strikeouts while Christina Kirby (Delmar, DE) dropped to 1-3.
Wolfe and Hendrix each had two hits for the Knights in game one.
Newberry (3-5) dotted the first, second, and sixth innings of the second game with single runs. Sophomore Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, SC) walked from the leadoff spot, moved to second on Courtney Lindler’s (Irmo, SC) sac bunt, stole third, and plated when a Kirby shot to third could not be handled. Backman took the 2-1 fastball out of the park in the third inning, and Lynch knocked a 1-2 pitch to nearly the same spot.
St. Andrews advanced only one batter as far as third base in the game. Senior Kayce McLeod (Newberry, SC) allowed three hits and struck out three to even her record at 2-2. SAPC’s Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) lost her first appearance of the year while striking out five.
On the day, no Indian was more productive than Backman. The versatile sophomore batted .500 (3-for-6) with a 1.333 slugging percentage.
The Knights visit Hartsville, SC, on Sunday for its opening CVAC doubleheader against Coker at 2:00 p.m.
Knights Softball splits twinbill against Wingate
February 16, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC— St. Andrews Presbyterian College held onto a 4-1 victory over visiting Wingate University in Wednesday’s softball finale to earn its first win of the season. The Lady Bulldogs won the first game 9-1 in five innings.
First year head coach Skip Gurtler picked up his first win at the helm of the SAPC program. The Knights hold a 1-7 record while Wingate remains at .500 with a 3-3 mark.
The Lady Bulldogs struck early and often in the first game posting five runs in the opening frame. Highlighting the inning was a base’s clearing double by Cameron Langston (Goldsboro, NC) and an RBI triple by Megan McPhail (Fayetteville, NC).
The Knights would score its only run of the game in the second with a Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC) single to center field that scored Devane Rushing (Monroe, NC); who led off the inning with a single and two stolen bases.
Wingate tacked on two more runs in the third and in the fifth to take a 9-1 lead. Junior Lauren Powell (Midlothian, VA) pitched two perfect innings in relief of Ashley Green (Charleston, SC) for the win. Green had five strikeouts in her three innings of work.
McPhail and Grace Cunningham (Camden, SC) led Wingate with three hits apiece.
St. Andrews started the scoring in the second game with three runs in the bottom of the third. Veronica Bolus (Folly Beach, SC) led off with a single. Mika Tanji (Honolulu, HI) and Erin Haugen (Fort Mill, SC) followed with walks to load the bases with Knights. Bolus crossed home plate on a Wingate error and Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) and Rushing drove in the next two runs with singles up the middle.
Rushing made it a 4-0 lead for the Knights with another RBI single in the fifth. Shelton scored on the play after doubled to left-center.
Courtney Wagner (Myrtle Beach, SC) took advantage of a St. Andrews’ error that would have ended the sixth, with an RBI double to give the Bulldogs it’s only run of the game.
Wolfe (1-3) picked up her first collegiate win for the Knights after scattering seven hits in seven innings of work. Powell (1-2) took the loss.
St. Andrews visits non-conference Newberry College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. while Wingate hosts Belmont Abbey at the same time on Saturday.
Catawba softball spoils Knights home opener
February 13, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—The Catawba College softball team outlasted host St. Andrews Presbyterian College 3-1 in a 10-inning marathon Sunday. The Lady Indians improved to 2-2 with the doubleheader sweep of the Knights, who are 0-6, with a 12-3 victory in the finale.
The first game featured a pitchers duel between Catawba’s Lindsay Ettinger and St. Andrews’ Lucy Wolfe (Aiken, SC). Both pitchers held the competition scoreless during regulation and the teams were headed to extra innings with the international tie breaker rule in effect.
The Lady Indians struck first in the top of the ninth when Jacquiline White doubled to center field and drove in free base runner Lindsay Gay to take a 1-0 lead.
Allison Hendrix (Hickory, NC) started on second base for St. Andrews in the bottom of the ninth and was sacrificed to third by Mika Tanji (Honalulu, HI). Amme Mason (Georgetown, NC) tied the game with the Knights only hit of the game, a single to right field that scored Hendrix.
With two runners on and two outs in the top of the tenth, Janie Motsinger drove in the game-winning runs for Catawba with a single to center.
Ettinger (1-1), who was within one out of a no-hitter, struck out three in the win while Wolfe (0-3) had two strikeouts for St. Andrews.
The Lady Indians exploded for eight runs on eight hits in the second inning of the nightcap and never looked back. The inning featured two run homers by Katie Phelps and Lacey Waldroop and an RBI triple by Shannon Handy.
Sophomore outfielder Devane Rushing (Monroe, NC) cut the Knights deficit to 8-3 in the bottom of the third with a three-run blast to left-center. It marked Rushing’s first collegiate home run. Tanji and Kristal Shelton (Yakima, WA) poked singles before Rushing’s homer.
Catawba scored four unearned runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 12-3. Shelton kept the Knights hopes alive with a two out single in the bottom of the fifth, but a fielder’s choice ended the game.
Shelton and Waldroop went 3-for-3 for their respective teams. Shannon Handy (1-1) picked up the win while Mason (0-3) had four strikeouts in the loss.
The Knights host non-conference Wingate College on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
Pembroke softball sweeps Knights
February 12, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—Sophomore Danielle Peters collected four hits, three RBI, and two stolen bases on Saturday afternoon, leading the UNCP softball squad to a doubleheader sweep of visiting St. Andrews. After winning 3-2 and 9-2 the Lady Braves start the season 0-2 while the Knights fell to 0-4.
Nicole McCorkle struck out 12 batters in game one and picked up her first win of the season, while freshman Liz Hatcher recorded her first collegiate win in game two.
In game one, two errors in the top of the third gave the Knights an early 2-0 lead without the benefit of a hit. McCorkle struck out six of the first eight batters she faced and did not allow an earned run.
The Braves rallied around their star pitcher in the fifth. Megan Rusk led off the inning with a single and promptly stole second. Shortstop Kelly Jo Fields plated Rusk with a double to left-center and advanced to third on a Meredith Veglia fly-out. Peters' RBI single to left field would score Fields and knot the game at 2-2.
McCorkle continued to dominate on the mound over the final two innings, allowing only one infield single in the seventh.
Fields led off the bottom of the final frame with a single to right field. Speedster Ashli Kern came on to pinch run for Fields and advanced to second on a Veglia single. Peters followed with yet another hit, loading the bases for pinch hitter Jenny White. White then delivered the game winning hit with a line drive to left field that scored Kern and gave UNCP the 3-2 win.
Game two again saw SAPC jump out to a two-run lead in the top of the third. Freshman Erin Haugan (Fort Mill, SC) and junior Amme Mason (Georgetown, CA) each picked up an RBI in the inning, Mason's coming on a sac-fly.
UNCP answered quickly in the bottom of the inning. Fields led off with a single and later scored on a Debbie Aguiar single to right. Sophomore Wendi Cochran tied the game with an RBI double to right-center that plated Aguiar.
It would be all Braves over the final three innings. UNCP scored three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth to secure the 9-2 final.
Hatcher settled in the throw five innings, giving up two runs (both earned), only one hit and striking out five. Amanda Busch came on in relief to toss two scoreless innings.
Haugen led the Knights offensively with a hit in each game.
The Knights host Catawba College tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
Knights’ softball drops opening twinbill
February 8, 2005
FLORENCE, SC—Senior leadoff hitter Betsy Bouknight and sophomore third baseman Janine Allen collected four hits apiece to lead Francis Marion University to a doubleheader sweep over St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 8) in college softball action, handing first-year FMU head coach Stacey Johnson her first collegiate victories.
The Patriots (2-0) never trailed in either game winning game one, 8-0, in five innings before taking game two, 10-2, in six frames. St. Andrews (0-2) was also opening its 2005 season under first-year head coach Skip Gurtler.
Sophomore second baseman Tatjana Slawson highlighted a five-run second frame in the opener with a three-run double to left centerfield. Four runs in the inning were unearned following a two-out St. Andrews’ error.
Slawson went two-for-two with four runs batted in during game one, while Bouknight had a pair of singles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Allen added a two-run single in the fifth inning to give FMU sophomore righty Jessica Johnson (1-0) the win. Johnson allowed only three hits, while fanning four.
St. Andrews junior Amme Mason (0-1) took the loss in game one. Mari Finn, Kristal Shelton and Tiffany Blanchard picked up St. Andrews’ hits.
In the second game, Bouknight collected two hits, including her fourth career home run, while scoring three times and driving home three runs. Allen banged out three hits and scored three times, while sophomore righty Sam Goff (1-0) tossed a two-hitter and struck out four Knights batters.
Left fielder Tiffany Blanchard accounted for the St. Andrews’ runs with a two-run homer over the left-field fence in the fifth inning. Third baseman Bet Smith scored on the homer after reaching with a double. Right-hander Lucy Wolfe (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
St. Andrews visits UNC Pembroke on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
SAPC Softball Picked 7th in Preseason CVAC Poll
January 25, 2005
THOMASVILLE , NC — The St. Andrews Presbyterian College women’s softball team has been picked seventh in the 2005 Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Pre-Season Softball Poll as voted up by the head coaches.
First year head coach Greg ‘Skip’ Gurtler takes over a Knights team that finished fifth in the CVAC last season with a record of 28-22 overall and 12-8 in the conference. St. Andrews finished third in the 2004 CVAC Tournament. The Knights return five letter winners from last season and have added five freshman and two junior college transfers.
T he Coker College softball team has been voted the preseason favorite in the CVAC. Coker finished the 2004 season at 36-16 with a 16-4 conference mark. The Cobras topped the standings after the regular season to take the regular season championship but again tasted disappointment in the CVAC Tournament, where they were eliminated by Belmont Abbey who received the NCAA tournament automatic bid. Five starters return for Coker that includes 1 st Team All-CVAC honorees Christan Morabito and Somer Bigham, and 2 nd team members Brandi Holder and Amanda Shelton. Bigham, named CVAC Freshman of the Year, and Shelton give the Cobras solid pitching to go along with what should be a good defensive squad. Seven freshmen joined the team in the fall and will be counted on to replace several starters who graduated.
Belmont Abbey College , the 2004 CVAC Tournament Champions settle in at the second spot in the preseason coaches’ poll. Coming off their first CVAC title in school history, the 2005 Belmont Abbey softball team will have to adjust from being the hunter to the hunted. The Crusaders finished the 2004 season at 31-26, and won their final 12 games leading into the NCAA tournament. Leading the way will be junior third baseman Leigh Carter. Carter led the Crusaders in batting average, hits, home runs, doubles, and runs, earning 1 st Team All-CVAC and 2 nd Team All-Region honors in the process. First baseman and lone senior Stefanie Spink also returns, coming off a junior season in which she made 2 nd Team All-CVAC. The Crusaders return three other starters, juniors Kelly Schafer, Cameron Greene and Sara Rodgers. Newcomers expected to make an immediate impact include freshman pitcher Shallyn Duffy, freshman outfielder Kristen Taffi and junior infielder Amy Sturch. Head Coach Lee Swanson has brought in eight new players to give the team quality depth needed to make a push for another CVAC title.
The 2005 Limestone Softball team is primed for an outstanding season as they place for their highest preseason poll rating in school history at the #3 spot. Limestone returns an excellent core to go with a strong recruiting class. The Saints return two of the CVAC’s premier hitters in Amy Yates and Keisha Powell as both were 1 st Team All-CVAC members in 2004. Both sluggers ranked among the league’s leaders in batting average, homeruns, and RBI last season. Courtney Silva is also back for her senior year and will anchor the Saints outfield. Also returning from last year are a pair of sophomores including 2 nd Team All-CVAC selection Lauren Miceli and pitcher Elizabeth Hawkins. Both Miceli and Hawkins are coming off outstanding freshman campaigns. Among the team’s newcomers are Jessica Brown, Brittany Owen, Heidi Odom, Heather Wood, Haley Rape, Lindsay Gladden, Keisha Thompson, and Samantha Weaver.
Rounding out the softball preseason poll 4-12 were: Anderson, Queens, Erskine, St. Andrews, Mount Olive, Pfeiffer, Barton and Lees-McRae respectively.
CVAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First place votes in parenthesis)
1. Coker College (7) 97
2. Belmont Abbey College (1) 83
3. Limestone College 74
4. Anderson College (2) 71
5. Queens University of Charlotte (1) 67
6. Erskine College 52 7. St. Andrews Presbyterian College 47
8. Mount Olive College 40
9. Pfeiffer University 34
10. Barton College 22
11. Lees-McRae College 18
SAPC’s Gurtler Promoted to Head Softball Coach
January 5, 2005
LAURINBURG, NC—St. Andrews Presbyterian College Athletic Director Carl Ullrich announced the promotion of Greg Gurtler from assistant coach to head coach of the Knights softball program beginning at the start of 2005.
“With the decision to allow Stevan Hernandez to concentrate his coaching efforts on men's soccer, we needed to find someone who could continue the good work Steven has started in bringing the St. Andrews women's softball program closer to the top of the CVAC softball standings. Greg "Skip" Gurtler is a perfect fit,” says Ullrich.
Gurtler expressed his happiness on taking over saying, “It’s a great opportunity for me and I appreciate the opportunity that St. Andrews has given me to work at the NCAA level.”
Gurtler worked closely with the softball team last semester as an assistant while former head coach Stevan Hernandez coached the Knights men’s soccer team. Hernandez will continue to work for St. Andrews as the soccer coach.
Before coming to SAPC, Gurtler spent five seasons as the head coach of the Yakima Valley Community College in Yakama, Washington. While rebuilding the program at Yakima, Gurtler increased recruitment, helped redesigned the softball field and had a 78 percent graduation rate.
Prior to that, Gurtler spent six seasons coaching the East Valley High School softball team. Gurtler put together an impressive 85-29 record at East Valley and was the league’s Coach of the Year in 1996.
“I believe my knowledge and abilities can help take the softball program to new heights based upon what Stevan has started.” Gurtler continued with, “I plan to build the program and will strive to make it successful including leading the team to some CVAC titles.”
Ullrich concluded with, “ St. Andrews welcomes this fine young coach and we know that he will be successful in continuing the improvement in our softball program.”
Gurtler graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s of Education degree in 1995 and continued his education at CWU earning a Master’s of Education degree in 2000.
Gurtler will also teach in the PE department after working in the Yakima Valley School System for about 10 years.
