STATESBORO, Ga. – Sixth-seeded UNCG came up just short in its bid to reach the Southern Conference Softball Championship title game, falling 2-0 to No. 4 seed College of Charleston in an elimination game on Saturday at Eagle Field.
UNCG finishes the season with a 26-32 record and fell one win shy of reaching the SoCon tournament title game for the second straight season. The Cougars will face top-seeded Chattanooga for the title.
CofC (37-20) drew first blood in the top of the first inning to stake SoCon Pitcher of the Year Alexa Datko to the only run she would need. Carly Corthell drew a walk to open the game then went to second on a sacrifice. After Katie Forbes singled through the right side to put runners at the corners, Kelsey Hodgson dropped a bloop single into left center to bring in Corthell.
UNCG starter Cory Mattson struck out the next batter for out No. 2, and after Kristi Woodall reached on a Heather Robb error, Robb recovered to nail Forbes at the plate on the play to end the inning.
The Cougars added an insurance run in the top of the fourth, as Katie Pesature snuck a triple just inside the right field line and Woodall singled to left center to bring her in.
UNCG's scoring chances were few and far between. Alex Emeterio was stranded at first base after two-out single in the first inning, and the same fate befell Kaitlin Merkt after she reached on an error to lead off the second.
The Spartans' best scoring chance came in the fourth inning. After Emeterio smoked a drive to center that Woodall snared on the run, Eileen Horsmon followed with a line drive that dropped into center for a single. Markt singled through the left side to put runners at first and second, and Horsmon moved to third on Jordan Jewett's flyout to right.
Datko would recover, however, getting one of her eight strikeouts on the day to end the inning and keep the shutout intact.
Freshman catcher Katelyn Bedwell had UNCG's final hit of the afternoon, a single to the gap in left center with two outs in the seventh. She was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double to end the game.
Mattson (14-15) turned in yet another strong effort at the tournament, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four. Mattson started all four of UNCG's games at the tourney, going 2-2 with a 1.20 ERA.
Datko (17-8) pitched like the league pitcher of the year, allowing just four hits and no walks, striking out eight.
Woodall was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Cougars at the plate.
UNCG won two games at the tournament for the school-record fifth straight season and won its first two games for just the second time ever. The Spartans had one of the tougher roads through the tournament, facing the Nos. 1, 3 and 4 seeds in addition to No. 7 seed Samford. UNCG knocked off No. 3 seed and tournament host Georgia Southern in first-round action on Wednesday.
AGATE
Coll. of Charleston 2, UNCG 0 (May 14, 2011 at Statesboro, Ga.)
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Coll. of Charleston. 100 100 0 - 2 6 1 (37-20)
UNCG................ 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (26-32)
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Pitchers: Coll. of Charleston - Alexa Datko. UNCG - Cory Mattson.
Win-Alexa Datko(17-8) Loss-Cory Mattson(14-15) T-1:36 A-0
Weather: 83 degrees, mostly sunny
- UNCG -
