Highlanders Downed by Coastal in Big South Tournament, 6-3

Rock Hill, S.C. - Fourth-seeded Coastal Carolina used a 12-hit attack and scored six unanswered runs to defeat second-seeded Radford, 6-3, in Game Seven of the Big South Softball Championship. With the victory, the Lady Chanticleers advance to Game Nine and will face Liberty in an elimination game at approximately 5:30 pm. The Highlanders’ season ends at 39-25.

Coastal Carolina trailed 3-0 entering the fourth inning and posted a four spot to take the lead for good and added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to cushion its lead. Sara Hostetler, Allison Cantrell and Kimberly Cillis each had two hits for the Lady Chants, while Meagen Johnson settled down after allowing a three-run home run in the third to earn the victory.

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Johnson allowed just five hits, one after the round tripper, struck out seven and walked two to improve to 8-4 on the season. RU’s Breanna Felix suffered the loss, allowing six runs on 10 hits, striking out five and walking two in 5.2 innings. Ashley Taylor tossed 1.1 innings of shutout relief, striking out one and giving up two hits.

Radford took the lead initially after registering a two-out, three-run rally in the third. Ashley Carlson singled off Johnson and moved to third on Ashley Smith’s single off the glove off a diving Katey Allen in center. Taylor stepped up and hit a three-run home run just over the leftfield fence, giving RU a 3-0 lead.

Coastal Carolina responded with four runs top of the fourth. Kelly Feely blasted a game-tying three-run round tripper to left center with one out, scoring Sara Hostetler and pinch runner Carla Hood. After a single and a fielder’s choice, Allen tripled home Danyelle Gerdts with the go ahead run.

The Lady Chants added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Delaine Grainger led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to second. Cantrell doubled off the top of the fence to score Grainger. With two outs and the bases loaded, Hostetler poked a single to right scoring Allen and giving CCU a 6-3 lead.