Cullowhee, N.C. - Junior outfielder Kristi Woodall’s three-RBI day helped lead the College of Charleston (15-18, 5-6) to a convincing 17-3 victory over Western Carolina (5-32, 1-13) in the final game of a Southern Conference softball series. C of C pounded out a season-high 17 runs on 16 hits, which was one shy of their season best.
The Cougars jumped out in front early as redshirt-senior second baseman Amber drew a leadoff walk and advanced on a sacrifice before senior designated hitter Kristie Shifflett laced an RBI single to right center to make it 1-0. Redshirt-senior catcher Katie Pesature singled in the next at bat to put runners on first and third. With two outs, C of C benefited from an overthrow at third base that resulted in both runners coming around to score.
Trailing 3-0, Western Carolina earned a leadoff walk from freshman outfielder Jordan Fulton, who then stole second and advanced to third on a single to short by freshman third baseman Haley Pace. With one out, the Catamounts would get on the board on an inning ending double play as the batter lined out first to third and the runner at first got a late break from the bag. Fulton crossed the plate prior to the final out being made at second base, making it 3-1.
Another leadoff single, this one by sophomore outfielder Katie Forbes, and a two-base error on the following batter put runners on the corners with no outs. After a fly out and a steal by Forbes, Woodall lined a two-RBI double to the right centerfield gap for a 5-1 lead.
Pace then led off the fourth with a single and came around to score on a double by freshman first baseman Colby Liles to narrow the gap to 5-2. The Cougars responded quickly in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan and sophomore third baseman Kelley Dillon to lead off the frame. Lonergan then scored on a ground out by Forbes and sophomore shortstop Hillary Stringer pushed the lead to 7-2 with an RBI single up the middle.
The Catamounts pulled to within 7-3 on a two-out RBI triple by freshman shortstop Robyn Burnette the following inning but it would be as close as they would get. C of C exploded for 10 runs over the final two innings, pushing across seven on five hits in the seventh inning, to push to a 17-3 margin. In the seventh, the Cougars had RBI singles from Woodall, Lonergan, Kristy Giragosian, Stringer and a two-RBI single by Dillon.
Senior pitcher Terri Mesko then wrapped up the victory with an easy bottom of the seventh for her eighth straight complete game.
Pace led Western Carolina with a 2-for-3, one-run day and Liles finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Burnette added the only other RBI for the Catamounts while senior catcher Danielle Reese went 2-for-3. Sophomore pitcher Katie King started and went two innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits to take the loss and drop to 1-17 on the season.
Longergan tied her career highs for hits and at bats with a 3-for-5, two-run, two-RBI performance for the College of Charleston while Woodall and Giragosian each delivered three RBIs. Woodall went 2-for-2 with a double, a pair of runs and two walks while Giragosian notched career-highs in hits and RBIs with a 2-for-2 day.
Dillon equaled her career mark in hits and set a new one for at bats with a 3-for-5 performance that included two RBIs, a pair of runs and a stolen base. Stringer posted a career day as she went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. All were career bests except for the at bats, which tied the most she has had. Shifflett finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and closed out the offensive production with an RBI.
Mesko dominated the pitching circle as she threw all seven innings, scattering seven hits and allowing three earned runs and a pair of walks, to pick up the win and improve to 7-7 on the season.
NOTES
It is the most runs C of C has scored since a 17-0 victory over South Carolina State on March 10, 2007.