March 13, 2004
Furman Softball Downs North Carolina A&T 9-0, Falls to Ohio State 3-0
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Megan Jaudon went 3-for-3 with three RBI and Rachel Henley worked 4.2 innings of hitless relief to lead Furman to a 9-0 victory over North Carolina A&T Saturday afternoon at the Ringor Invitational at Winthrop University. Ohio State shutout the Lady Paladins 3-0 in the nightcap.
Furman opened the scoring in the top of the first inning against North Carolina A&T. Jaudon laced a two-out double over the right fielder's head and scored on a single to center off of the bat of Jessica Matthews.
In the third, LaKerah Barr tripled to center and scored a on a single from Jaudon. With two outs, Matthews increased the lead to 3-0 scoring on a throwing error by the Aggies.
After increasing its lead to 5-0 on a pair of bases loaded walks in the fourth, Furman exploded for four runs in the fifth inning. Valerie Cross singled to start the inning followed by a Kristin White walk. Barr upped the lead to 6-0 with a single to center. Cross came home to score and White and Barr advanced an extra base on a throwing error.
Joni Lockridge's single allowed White to score and Jaudon's third hit of the day, a bunt single, plated Barr. Matthews capped the inning with a single scoring Lockridge for the final 9-0 margin.
Henley (3-8) picked up the victory after entering the game in relief of Erica Nesselroad with one out in the first. Henley struck out six Aggies while allowing just one walk.
Barr, Cross and Matthews all collected two hits while Lockridge drove home two runs.
Latronda Anderson suffered the loss for North Carolina A&T. Anderson allowed eight hits and five runs in only three innings in the circle.
In the nightcap, Chelsea Baker limited Furman to only one hit, a Barr single, while tossing a complete-game shutout in a 3-0 victory for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State got all the offense it would need in the bottom of the first inning. Nycole Koyano singled, stole second and scored on Karissa Evans' single to put the Buckeyes ahead 1-0.
Ohio State added one run in the third and one in the fourth on their way to victory. Meghan Rowlands went 1-for-2 with a triple, run scored and RBI to pace Ohio State.
Nesselroad (0-7) was handed the loss after allowing two runs in 2.1 innings of work. The sophomore struck out five Buckeyes, but issued four walks.
Furman finishes pool play with a 2-2 mark and will participate in bracket play Sunday morning. The Lady Paladins opponent will be determined after all of Saturday's games are completed.