CSU Softball Opens PBC Play

By CSU Sports Information
Published: March 11, 2010

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Florence, S.C. -- Francis Marion's Michaela Wolf tossed a three-hit shutout at Columbus State in the first game of a Peach Belt Conference double header, and CSU left 10 runners on base in game two as the Patriots swept the Cougars 8-0 and 7-4 on Wednesday. FMU moves to 15-7, 7-5 in PBC player, while CSU drops to 9-14-1 overall and 0-2 in league play.

The only Cougar hitter to figure Wolf out in the opener was Rocky Hemmer. The junior catcher went 2-3 in the game, as only Christie Thompson was able to collect another hit. Wolf fanned six and walked three in the game.

FMU scored two in the first on a pair of unearned runs, then added three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings. The three-spot in the sixth ended the game by mercy rule. All three of those runs were also unearned after two fielding miscues by the Cougars.

Kristi Bullard took the loss as she allowed four earned runs in five-plus innings of work with four walks and three strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Patriots built a 6-0 lead over the first four innings before CSU finally pushed across some runs to make a game of it.

In the fifth inning, the Lady Cougars strung together four hits to put four runs on the board. Kristi Bullard drove home two runs with a double that one-hopped the wall in right field to make it 6-2 and put runners at second and third. Brittany Leverett (single) and Thompson (walk) scored on that hit. Hemmer then plated Bullard and Carrie Jones (single) as she narrowly missed a homerun when her shot caromed off the wall in left-center for a double. CSU had two runners aboard again after a walk to Kori Waugh, but could not get another hit in the frame and left two on. The Cougars also left two runners on in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings.

Leverett, Jones, and Hemmer had two hits each in the game as CSU collected 11 as a team.

Brittni McCall took the loss as she allowed five earned runs in 3.2 innings of work. Courtney Darr finished the game and allowed one earned run on three hits in two and a third innings.

CSU will finally play its first home contest on Sunday, hostiing another tough Peach Belt Conference opponent in Augusta State. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at the CSU Softball Field.