Coastal Carolina softball fell short to Georgia Southern in game two of a three–game series, dropping its record to 18-17 on the season.
Georgia Southern wasted no time getting on the board as catcher Valerie Combs and center fielder Emma Davis delivered back-to-back RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead. Coastal’s starting pitcher McKennah Metzger stranded two runners in scoring position to keep the deficit at a minimum.
Georgia Southern stayed on top in the second inning with a three-run home run to dead center by shortstop Delanie Thames, increasing the lead to 5-0.
An RBI bloop single to left field by Coastal center fielder Clara Hudgens cut the deficit to 5-1 in the bottom of the second inning.
After a scoreless frame by Metzger in the top of the third, Coastal Carolina shortstop Brie Normandin took advantage of a two-out error that loaded the bases. Normandin followed with a three-RBI triple down the right field line, making it a 5-4 game heading into the fourth inning.
After a slow start to the game, Coastal fan Nick Matuszak was impressed by the team’s rally.
“I think it’s good camaraderie with the team. The players in the dugout are really cheering them on. The crowd gets fired up, and they came back,” Matuszak said.
However, Georgia Southern answered in the top of the fourth. Davis drove in her third run of the game with a two–RBI single up the middle that deflected off Normandin’s glove. Combs followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, extending the lead to 8-4.
Georgia Southern added another run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single to left field by the second baseman Kayla Christensen, pushing the score 9-4.
After finding themselves down by five runs again, CCU wasn’t able to plate a run for the rest of the game.
From the stands, CCU supporter John Zink admired the team’s ability to keep the score close but noted the offensive struggles.
“They’re a scrappy team; we just could not seem to find a way to crawl back in the game offensively to take the lead,” Zink said.
Despite allowing four runs, Georgia Southern starting pitcher Alana Barnard pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits, one earned run and zero walks.
Coastal fan Sandy Burdett had high praise for Barnard’s outing.
“You can’t say anything about that other than it’s a fantastic pitching performance,” Burdett said.
CCU will take on Georgia Southern at home in the final game of a three-game series at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
