CU softball splits against ranked opponents

From staff reports

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Cumberland started the Gulf Coast Invitational with a 10-3 win over No. 10 Houston-Victoria but fell 3-1 to No. 3 Brenau Friday afternoon at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

Shawnee Kirk produced two RBIs along with two hits on the day while Devon Jamerson and Kacy Hobbs each tallied two hits along with an RBI.

Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Week Courtney Maynard (6-1) picked up the win with three strikeouts, 13 hits and three walks.

Houston-Victoria began the game with two fly outs but then produced four consecutive singles, scoring two runners and beginning the game with a 2-0 lead over Cumberland.

The Bulldogs made the most of Jaguar pitcher Megan Carter early on, loading the bases with Megan Lavery, Allison Blackwood and Sydney Broderick, all on walks. Another walk, this time to Hobbs, brought in Lavery and a Sarah Murray single to left field allowed both Broderick and Blackwood to score. A pitching change brought Dawn Villegas to the mound, but she did not fare any better, lettingHobbsscore by way of an illegal pitch to Kirk, putting the Bulldogs ahead, 4-2.

The bottom of the third was huge for CU, with five Bulldogs earning runs for a 9-2 advantage. Kirk’s double was the first hit to bring in runners, with Kaleigh Pearce and Amber Mayne making it across the plate. A Jamerson single to left center allowedHobbsto score. Again the Jaguars sent in another pitcher, this time Tanya Carlson, but luck would not change for Houston-Victoria, as Jamerson advanced to second base and Kirk scored on a passed ball. Jamerson made it another base on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly by Garcia sent her all the way home for a seven-run lead.

The Jaguars managed another run in the fifth, butCumberlandpushed the lead to 10-3 on another Lavery score in the bottom of the sixth, and CU closed things out in the top of the seventh for the victory.

The Bulldogs struggled against number-three Brenau University, totaling seven hits on the day, including a team-leading two from Blackwood, while Lavery, Broderick, Jessica Roper, Hobbs and Kirk accounted for the others.

The game started slowly for CU, with Jamerson the only Bulldog to get base by way of a walk.  Brenau’s Tiffany Schandera was the first batter on base by a throwing error, reaching second, and Elizabeth Schneider was able to bring her in on a groundout, putting Brenau ahead, 1-0. The Tigers quickly took advantage of  throwing error number two in the bottom of the second, with Lydia Gerrin bringing home Katie Bolin on a bunt. Caitlyn Glenn made it to first on a walk, advancing Gerrin to second. Both Glenn and Gerrin then made it to second and third base, respectively, on a Tiger groundout, and a sacrifice fly by Schandera brought Gerrin in for a 3-0 Brenau lead.

In the top of the third, Kirk hit a single and advanced to third after a Lavery hit and a Tiger throwing error. Kirk made it home by way of an RBI by Garcia, closing the score to 3-1. CU mustered two more hits in the innings but both were left on base.

Curran stepped in for Blackwood in the bottom of the fifth, allowing only one Tiger hit the rest of the game, but the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize offensively.

Blackwood (2-1) suffered the loss in four innings for CU, giving up three runs, five hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Caroline Curran also stepped on the mound, pitching two innings, giving up one hit.

Anna Maness earned the win for the Golden Tigers, pitching all seven innings, allowing one earned run, seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

The Bulldogs will continue play in the invitational today, taking on Spring Hill College at 11 a.m. and Columbia College at 1 p.m.