March 28, 2008

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LAURINBURG, N.C.—Limestone College scored three runs late to win the first game of Friday’s Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader at St. Andrews Presbyterian College by a score of 5-2. The Knights (8-27 overall; 3-11 conf.) held off the Saints (18-22; 7-5) 5-4 in the nightcap to earn the split at Knights Field.

Saints’ sophomore Chelsea Anthony (Pickens, S.C.) led all players with five hits on the afternoon including a home run in the finale. Knights’ junior Tiffany Capone (Jacksonville, N.C.) had a team-high three hits on the day for St. Andrews.

St. Andrews will celebrate ‘Senior Day’ on Sunday afternoon when they host Coker College in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. Limestone visits non-conference UNC Pembroke on Sunday at the same time.

GAME 1: Limestone 5, St. Andrews 2

The two teams traded a pair of runs in the third. Limestone grabbed a 2-0 lead on an RBI-double by Anthony and an RBI-single by junior Christina Woolgar (Orangeville, Calif.). St. Andrews answered in the home half scoring its first run on an RBI-single by sophomore Brianna Shurtleff (Colton, Calif.). The Knights then plated the tying run when senior B. Shurtleff scored from first on a single by senior Mika Tanji (Honolulu, Hawaii) that was fumbled by the outfielder for an error.

The Saints regained a two-run advantage, 4-2, with unearned runs in the fifth and sixth. Woolgar picked up her second RBI of the game after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth. Senior Brittany Owen (Pasadena, Md.) concluded Limestone’s scoring with a bases loaded walk in the seventh.

Limestone collected nine total hits including three by Anthony but the Saints still left 12 runners on base.

B. Shurtleff was the only St. Andrews batter with two hits.

Saints starter Emily Wallace (Winchester, Ky.) earned her 10th win of her freshman campaign allowing just two unearned runs on eight hits while striking out four. Knights’ senior starter Samantha Stewart (Ft. Pierce, Fla.) was tagged with the loss allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits over 6.0 innings of work.

GAME 2: St. Andrews 5, Limestone 4

St. Andrews exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third inning and then held off Limestone for a one-run victory in the nightcap. SAPC sent 11 players to the plate in the surge with the Knights tallying five base hits and three batters hit by pitches. Tanji highlighted the outburst with a two-run double while later scoring on a delayed double steal. Capone and sophomore Morgan Farroll (Newton Grove, N.C.) also added run-producing singles in the third.

Sophomore Jordan Goodman (Mississaugua, Ontario, Canada) gave the visitors an early lead with a ground-rule double in the first inning that scored freshman Hannah Mills (Richmond, Va.).

Mills crossed home plate again in the third on an error to double up Limestone’s lead to 2-0 before the Knights answered with their five-run rally.

The Saints attempted a comeback with lone runs in the fourth and sixth but Stewart held off Limestone just enough to earn her sixth win of the season. Stewart pitched the final 4.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits. Tanji pitched the first three innings and left the mound with the lead but was ineligible for the win being she did not pitched the required four innings for a starter.

Anthony drilled her third home run of the season to straightaway center field in the fourth. The Saints final run came in the sixth as senior Lindsay Gladden (York, S.C.) ripped a two-out triple to center and then scored on a single by Owen.