Recap: 2/12/10
Softball
Southeastern CC vs. USC Salkehatchie
The USC Salkehatchie Indians Softball Team opens up Region X play with a double header sweep over the visiting Southeastern Community College Rams. Friday's wins, marked the Lady Indians 50th victory in school history. The 50th win mark's a huge milestone in the Lady Indians four years of NJCAA play.
Game 1:
On Friday February 12, 2010, with snow on the way and the temperature falling below 30 degrees the USC Salkehatchie Indians softball team took on the Southeastern Community College Rams from Whiteville, N.C. in Allendale, S.C. and it didn’t take long for the Lady Indians to get the fire going.
In the bottom of the first inning and two outs, Symone Nettles (So., Lamar, S.C.) reached first base safely with a single to left field. After a walk to Marquita Wilson (Fr., West Columbia, S.C.), Crystal Long (Fr., Myrtle Beach, S.C.) would get the second base hit of the inning, scoring Nettles from second and Wilson would then cross the plate after the left fielder would miss the grounder. The Lady Rams would record the third out of the inning, but first blood had already been drawn with the Lady Indians taking the lead 2 – 0 at the end of the first inning.
In the bottom of the third, the Lady Indians would fire up the offense again on the cold afternoon. After Alyssa Chambers (So., Goose Creek, S.C), reached off an error, and a sacrifice bunt by Gwenell Crawford (Fr., Yulee, Fl.) to move Chambers into scoring position, Nettles would rip a 1 – 1 pitch off the wall in left field for a double, scoring Chambers from second. Wilson (1) would step to the plate next and blast the 1 – 0 pitch over the center field wall for a two run homer and her first collegiate home run. After a fielder’s choice and an error, Leigha Hite (Fr., Leesville, S.C.) would rope a two strike pitch into left field to score Long from third. Dannon Reese (Fr., Aiken, S.C.) would knock in the final run of the inning as she recorded a single up the middle scoring Kandyce Ranew (Fr., Early Branch, S.C.) from third to make the score 7 – 0.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Lady Rams would show some form of life after the first batter of the inning would reach second off of an error. After a sacrifice bunt to put a runner on third and a walk, the Rams had runners at the corners. The Lady Rams would score after an attempt to steal second and an errant throw by the catcher would allow the runner to score from third. The Lady Indians would get out of the inning with only giving up one run to make the score 7 – 1.
The Lady Indians would not take long to get the run back along with some insurance. In the bottom of the fourth, Crawford would record a single to right center field and advance to second off of a pass ball. Nettles would then get her third hit of the day with a double to right center field. With a pass ball advancing Nettles to third, Wilson would record an infield single, scoring Nettles. With yet another infield single, Ranew would reach putting runners at the corners and Hite would help her own cause with a single to center, scoring Wilson.
Next, Reese would ground out to third base leaving runners at second and third. Amanda Karn (So., Taylors, S.C.) would step to the plate and drive them in with a single to center field to make the score 12 – 1.
The Lady Rams would only be able to muster one run in the bottom of the fifth as the USC Salkehatchie Indians would take the win in five innings by virtue of the 8 run rule, 12 – 2.
Hitters for the Lady Indians would include Nettles going 3 for 3 at the plate with 3 runs scored, 2 rbi’s and 2 doubles. Wilson would go 2 for 2 in the game including a home run, scoring 3 runs, 2 rbi’s and a walk. Long would also record a two hit game going 2 for 3, a run scored and a rbi. Hite would help her on performance with a multi hit game going 2 for 3, a run scored and 2 rbi’s. Crawford, Ranew, Reese, and Karn would all record a hit in the game.
Hite (2 – 2) would take the victory on the mound going 5 innings, giving up a hit, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 walks and 6 strike outs on the day.
Game 2:
With sleet starting to fall and very little time before the snow was to arrive, the two teams took the field again and Southeastern got things started early.
In the top of the first inning, the leadoff batter reached on a single to left field. With one out and a runner at second, two out of the next three batters would record doubles to make the score 2 – 0.
The Lady Indians would not wait long to get a run back. In the bottom of the first, with two outs, Symone Nettles (So., Lamar, S.C.) would reach first base via the walk. Next, Marquita Wilson (Fr., West Columbia, S.C.) would hit a ground ball to the second baseman and after and errant throw by the second baseman, Wilson and Nettles would be on second and third. With two outs, the Lady Rams would try to pick off Nettles from third, but a wild throw by the catcher would allow Nettles to walk home. At the end of the first inning, the Rams would lead 2 – 1.
With Samantha Martin (Fr., North Charleston, S.C.) settling in after a rough first inning, the Indians were back on the attack in the bottom of the third.
With one out Alyssa Chambers (So., Goose Creek, S.C) would get her first hit of the day with a single up the middle and Gwenell Crawford (Fr., Yulee, Fl.) would follow up with her first triple of her collegiate career, scoring Chambers from first. After an error of the bat of Nettles, Crawford would score to make the score 3 – 2. With the inning and the Indians not done yet, Crystal Long (Fr., Myrtle Beach, S.C.), would record a single to left field, scoring Nettles from second base to make the score 4 – 2.
The Lady Indians would score again in the bottom of the fourth as Amber Hiers (Fr., Hampton, S.C.), would get things going with her first career hit. With two outs in the inning, Amanda Karn (So., Taylors, S.C.), would reach off of a fielder’s choice and would later score as Chambers would record her second hit of the game to make the score 5 – 2.
In the top of the fifth, the Rams would plate their last run of the game as a costly error due to the weather would cost the Indians an unearned run.
The Lady Indians would get the run back in the bottom of the fifth as Wilson, whose bat seem to carry fire on such a cold day, would rip a pitch opposite field for a double. Kandyce Ranew (Fr., Early Branch, S.C.) would follow up with a two out single to center field, scoring Wilson to make the score 6 – 3.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Indians would drive the nail in the coffin as Karn would lead the inning off with a single to left and Chambers would hit the 0 – 1 pitch to left field for her third single of the game. After a passed ball moved the runners into scoring position, Crawford would get her second hit of the game with a single to left field, scoring both Karn and Chambers to make the score 8 – 3, which would prove to be enough for the Indians to take the sweep the Rams from Southeastern Community College.
Chambers would lead the way for the Indians going 3 for 4 at the plate with 2 runs scored. Crawford would finish the game going 2 for 4 with a triple, a run scored, and recording 3 rbi’s. Wilson would collect a double in the game. Long, Ranew, Hiers and Karn would all record a hit. Nettles and Karn would score twice a piece in the contest.
Samantha Martin (2 – 2) (Fr., North Charleston, S.C.), would get her second win of the season going 7 innings, giving up 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, a walk and recording 7 strike outs.
The Lady Indians are now 4 and 4 on the season with a region record of 2 and 0.
The USC Salkehatchie Lady Indians will be back in action February 19th – 21st in Aiken, S.C. at Citizen’s Park at the Aiken Tech Ringor Invitational. The first game is slated for Friday, February 19, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. on field 7 at Citizen’s Park II against the number 2 ranked team in the nation, Wallace State. The second game is on the same field and is set for a game time of 4:00 p.m. against Young Harris College. On Saturday February 20, 2010, the Indians will take the field again against Region X foe Spartanburg Methodist College for a non-conference match up at 10:00 a.m. on the same field.
After the three pool games are played, the Indians will be placed in a double elimination bracket play according to how they placed in pool play and game times are yet to be determined. Whatever time it is, the Indians will most likely play one more game on Saturday afternoon and at least one game on Sunday.
If you are in Aiken, S.C. on February 19th – 21st, the Lady Indians would like to invite you out to Citizen’s Park to cheer them on as they will face some of the nation’s top competition. There will be a gate.
GO INDIANS!!!
