March 23, 2004
Coastal Carolina Sweeps Twinbill From Lady Paladins 2-1, 8-4
Conway, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on its way to an 8-4 victory and doubleheader sweep of visiting Furman Tuesday evening in Conway, S.C.. With the wins, CCU moved to 13-15 on the season, while the Lady Paladins dropped to 5-28.
In the opening game, Furman got on the board in the top of the first inning. LaKerah Barr opened the game being hit by CCU starter Danyelle Gerdts. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to second, Jessica Matthews singled her home for a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Chants responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own. Katey Allen singled to third base, moved to second on a ground out and then scored on Kristina Sheppard's single up the middle to knot the game at one.
CCU got the game winner in the bottom of the sixth, with Allen again being the spark for Coastal. Allen had a bunt single in the lead-off spot. After a sacrifice bunt moved Allen to second, Sheppard singled to left field to put runners on the corners. Kelly Feely then singled to left center to bring home the game winner.
Gerdts picked up her fourth win in the last five starts and moved to 4-6, giving up just two hits and striking out seven in the victory.
Rachel Henley took the loss to go to 4-12, giving up six hits while striking out three.
Coastal kept the momentum going early in the nightcap, pushing across three runs in the first two innings, with RBIs by Diana Mendez, Sara Hostetler and Sheppard to build a 3-0 lead through two innings.
Furman fought back with three runs in the top of the third as Megan Jaudon's single to right field scored both JoDee Eichelberger and Barr. Matthews followed with a double to left center to score Jaudon and tie the game 3-3.
The Lady Chants blew the game open with a five-run fifth inning for an insurmountable lead. Back to back singles by Brittany Nelson and Irene Finley gave Coastal baserunners at first and second. After a Jennifer Britton Walk to load the bases, the Lady Paladins looked like they would get out of the inning after a pair of force outs at home until Hostetler's walk drove in one run and Delane Oscarson scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3.
The big blow of the game came from Sheppard, as her three-run shot over the center field fence, her fifth of the season, pushed the lead to 8-3.
Furman scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh with two outs, as Kristin White doubled to left center and then scored on a fielding error by CCU, but could get no closer.
Nelson advanced her record to 5-6, striking out eight and giving up just four hits and two earned runs. Goodrich fell to 1-7 after throwing two innings in relief, giving up five runs and four hits. Starter Erica Nesselroad pitched four innings for Furman allowing just one earned run while striking out nine.
White led the Furman attack going 2-for-3 with a double and an infield single.
Furman opens Southern Conference play Saturday afternoon when it travels to UNC Greensboro for a 1:00 doubleheader. The Lady Paladins and Spartans will conclude their three-game series with a single game at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.