CofC Softball Returns to SoCon Action
Cougars host Elon in three-game weekend set at Patriots Point
MT. PLEASANT, SC March 15, 2013 – The College of Charleston softball team returns to the diamond for a three-game Southern Conference series against Elon at Patriots Point this weekend. The Cougars and Phoenix will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16 and single-game finale on Sunday, March 17. First pitch for both days is slated for 1 p.m.
Elon (9-9, 0-3 SoCon) @ College of Charleston (11-9, 3-0 SoCon)
Saturday, March 16 • 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
Sunday, March 17 • 1 p.m.
Patriots Point (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
Webstream – Live Stats – Twitter
LEADING OFF
The Cougars are looking to bounce back from a Thursday afternoon doubleheader in which they were overwhelmed by an impressive Mississippi State team. The Cougars were silenced by the Bulldogs’ effective pitching corps which came into the games ranking in the top 20 nationally in a handful of statistical categories.
The lone bright spot on the day was a third-inning blast from freshman Carly Hansis (Little River, S.C.) in game two, marking the first homer of her career in only her fifth collegiate at-bat. Her blast towered over the fence in left center and accounted for one of just three Cougar hits on the day – along with doubles by Mackenzie Maples (Corona, Calif.) and Kelsey Hodgson (Woodstock, Ga.).
The Cougars are unblemished in SoCon play, however, after an opening-weekend sweep of Furman in Greenville, S.C., last weekend. The Cougars swept the Saturday doubleheader by 3-0 and 4-1 counts and sealed the sweep with a 3-2, eight-inning victory on Sunday.
Sophomore Hope Klicker (Walla Walla, Wash.) threw two complete games and senior Stephanie Saylors (Easley, S.C.) went the distance in her outing as well as the pair combined to strike out 15 while limiting the Paladins to 13 hits and just two walks in the entire series.
The Cougar numbers declined slightly after Thursday’s games and the group now bats .232 on the season. Freshman Chandler Frisbie (Lawrenceville, Ga.) continues to lead the bunch at the dish with a .333 batting average. Hodgson leads the pack in RBIs (16) and slugging percentage (.679) and is next-best after Frisbie with a .321 batting average this year.
SCOUTING THE PHOENIX
Elon fell to 9-9 overall on the season and 0-3 in SoCon play after last weekend’s series against league preseason favorite Georgia Southern. The Phoenix and Eagles went 11 innings in the first game of a doubleheader last Saturday, but Elon fell in an 8-5 setback. In game two, the maroon and gold rallied late, but was unable to overtake the Eagles in a 6-4 defeat. Georgia Southern would complete the sweep with a 5-2 win in the series finale on Sunday.
The offensively-oriented Phoenix still lead the SoCon in home runs (22), slugging percentage (.492), and on-base percentage (.388) while ranking second in RBIs (84) and batting average (.302).
Senior outfielder Tomeka Watson has stretched her current hitting streak to 15 games and is leading the conference with a .466 batting average. She also leads the SoCon in home runs and runs scored with 23 while she and teammate Johanna Spencer are tied for the league lead in RBIs (20).
Watson also became the program’s all-time leader in runs scored and is nine hits shy of tying the all-time career mark with Dani Concepcion (2002-05). The Jackson, Ga., native has 27 hits on the year and has 220 in her career for the Phoenix.
On Monday, the NCAA released its first Division I statistics rankings for the 2013 season. Watson currently ranks third in the nation in home runs per game, fourth in total homers and fifth in slugging percentage.
In the circle, Kayla Caruso leads the staff in wins (four) and innings pitched (54.1) over nine appearances. Chelsea White paces the pitching unit with a 2.78 ERA in her 22.2 innings of work.
BEAT CANCER WITH A BAT
On Saturday, the Cougars will be clad in special-edition pink game jerseys in order to raise funds and awareness to support cancer research. During the game, the Cougars will auction off their game-worn pink jerseys with all of the proceeds going directly to cancer research. Pink lemonade will also be sold and personal donations will be accepted to raise money for the cause.
The day is being held in honor of Charlotte Klicker, mother to CofC pitcher Hope Klicker and breast cancer survivor. Charlotte will throw the game’s ceremonial first pitch to her daughter.
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE FOR THE SERIES
The production team will be back in action this weekend with a full web-based broadcast of the games. The production will be available through CofCSports.com as well as live stats with animated play-by-play.
The broadcast requires a subscription but offers a multiple-camera broadcast with play-by-play commentary and analysis. The live stats are available at no charge.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Another great way of keeping up with the CofC softball team is through the team’s own Twitter account (@CofCSoftball). The account provides pictures, team activities, statuses when the team is on the road and in-game thoughts and updates.
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