May 6, 2002

FURMAN TOPS GEORGIA SOUTHERN 7-2 BUT FALLS TO CHATTANOOGA IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP; BARR, HENLEY, AND MORRISON EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS

CHATTANOOGA, TN - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs won the 2002 Southern Conference championship with a 9-0 victory in the final game over the Furman softball team. For Furman, LaKerah Barr, Rachel Henley, and Kate Morrison were named to the all-tournament team.

Furman started the day with an elimination game against Georgia Southern, topping the Eagles 7-2.

Georgia Southern opened the game by taking a 1-0 lead. Stacie Cooper reached first after being hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a Lady Paladin error.

Furman answered Georgia Southern's quick start as the first four Lady Paladins reached base in the bottom of the first inning. LaKerah Barr scored her tournament-leading sixth run of the weekend on Ali McNulty's bases-loaded single. Melissa Hutton grounded to shortstop scoring Kristin White, and Jessica Matthews scored on Meagen Johnson's sacrifice fly to give Furman a 3-1 lead.

Georgia Southern cut the Furman lead to 3-2 in the top of the third inning. Stacie Cooper doubled to left center and then scored her second run of the game on a single by Kelli Blazi.

Furman increased its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third as Melissa Hutton drove in Kristin White for the second time in the game. White led off the inning with her second hit of the game and advanced to third on a Jessica Matthews single and a Kate Morrison sacrifice. White would then score on Hutton's groundball to second base.

The Lady Paladins tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase the lead to 6-2. Jessica Matthews and Kate Morrison led off with back-to-back singles and Melissa Hutton reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Designated player Meagen Johnson singled to deep left center knocking in Matthews and Morrison for her second and third RBIs of the game.

LaKerah Barr got her ninth hit of the weekend in the bottom of the seventh inning and eventually scored for Furman on a Georgia Southern error.

Rachel Henley earned her fourth win of the tournament for the Lady Paladins, improving her record to 14-11 on the season. Henley struck out six Eagles, allowing only two runs on four hits.

Kristin White led the way for Furman, going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs.

With the win, Furman tied the Southern Conference Tournament record for consecutive wins and advanced to take on Chattanooga in a rematch of the 2001 Southern Conference Tournament championship.

In the championship game, Chattanooga got an early opportunity in the bottom of the second inning as Jill Crawford and Ashleigh Herman both singled, putting Lady Mocs on first and third with two outs. Furman pitcher Meagen Johnson ended the inning, catching a line drive right back at her for the third out.

After two rain delays lasting a combined 33 minutes, Chattanooga loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Paige Cochrane singled up the middle, scoring Melissa Ramirez and giving the Lady Mocs a 1-0 lead.

Chattanooga broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth as the Lady Mocs again loaded the bases with only one out. Melissa Ramirez tripled to centerfield and clearing the bases. When the inning ended, Chattanooga had scored five runs on four hits and two hit batters, giving them a 6-0 lead.

Chattanooga added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run homerun by Jill Crawford.

Furman set two tournament records and tied another during the weekend.The Lady Paladins tied the consecutive games won record with three, and scored a tournament-record 23 runs while collecting a tournament-record 47 hits.

Furman's LaKerah Barr, Rachel Henley, and Kate Morrison were named to the all-tournament team. Barr set new tournament marks with 10 hits and seven runs scored. Henley went 4-1 at the tournament pitching 31 innings. Morrison finished the weekend 6-for-16 at the plate with three runs scored and 6 RBIs.

Furman finished the 2002 season 24-24, with an 11-10 record in conference play.