February 13, 2004
FURMAN SOFTBALL DROPS TWO AT TIGER INVITATIONAL
AUBURN, Alabama -- Evansville's Alicia Laraway singled home Elisabeth Mooney with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Purple Aces a 2-1 victory over Furman in game one of the Tiger Softball Invitational Friday afternoon in Auburn, Ala.
In game two, Austin Peay's Brianna Venable belted a solo home run in the top of the third to lead the Lady Govs to a 2-1 win over the Lady Paladins.
Evansville struck first against Furman in game one. After Booke Luker reached on a walk and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and throwing error in the bottom of the second, Jennifer Duke drove her home to give the Purple Aces a 1-0 advantage.
Furman evened the game in the top of the third. Freshman Lynn Parmer singled to left center, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home to score on Megan Jaudon's double off of the center field fence.
After both teams were unable to score with the international tiebreaker rule (runner on second to start the eighth inning), Evansville broke through when Luker scored the game-winning run in the ninth.
Junior Katie Markle picked up the win foe the Aces (1-0) working four innings of scoreless relief. Jamie Davison paced Evansville at the plate going 3-for-4.
Rachel Henley threw 8.1 innings for the Lady Paladins, allowing seven hits and no earned runs while striking out four.
Freshman Danielle Franklin led Furman at the plate going 2-for-4. She, along with fellow freshmen Lyndy Wilcox, Parmer and Jaudon, picked up her first career hit in the 2-1 defeat.
In game two, Austin Peay took a 1-0 first inning lead when Ami Bush scored from third when teammate Michelle Edmonds drew a throw as she attempted to steal second. Bush reached base when she single to left, advanced to second on a throwing error and moved to third on a wild pitch.
After Venable's homer gave APSU a 2-0 lead, Furman got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs LaKerah Barr reached on an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Catcher Jessica Matthews followed with an RBI double just inside the third base bag driving home Barr. Lady Govs catcher Amy Hale caught Matthews attempting to steal third to end the threat.
Freshman Natasha Anderson went the distance in the circle to earn the win for Austin Peay. The rookie surrendered only one run on seven hits while striking out ten Lady Paladins.
Kristy Goodrich pitched a complete game for Furman allowing just one earned run and seven hits in seven innings.
Furman returns to action on Saturday when it takes on host Auburn in a 1:30 p.m. CST contest at Jane B. Moore Field.