Thursday, May 10, 2007

DeLand, Fla. - The 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola is underway in Central Florida. Today's action will feature six games from Stetson's Patricia Wilson Field.

#3 ETSU vs #4 Lipscomb
The No. 3 seed ETSU Lady Bucs defeated the No. 4 seed Lipscomb Bisons 3-2 in the opening game of the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

The Bisons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, led by Leigh Little's second home run of the season. The Bucs rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning with a RBI single by first-team All-Atlantic Sun infielder, Stephanie Gaynord. Cheniece Cason scored on a fielders choice when Gaynord induced the Lipscomb defense into a pickle between first and second base. The Bucs loaded the bases in the 7th inning and scored the winning run on an error. The big hit in the final inning was Gaynord's double to advance the winning run to third base.

Lipscomb moves on to what will be an elimination game for the Bisons against the winner of Stetson vs. Mercer at 8:00 p.m. Thursday. ETSU advances to play the winner of GWU and Campbell at 6:00 p.m.

#2 GWU vs. #5 Campbell
The No. 2 seed Gardner-Webb Bulldogs completed the tournament's first run-rule game with a 8-0 win in six innings over the No. 5 Campbell Fighting Camels at the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Taryn Beck threw a complete game for the Bulldogs striking out three batters. Melody Harrell led the way for the Bulldog offense going 4-4 with 6 RBI.

Courtney Quinn had 2 hits for the Fighting Camels. The last time Campbell lost in the opening round of the A-Sun tourney, was in 1997 when the Camels lost 8-0 to Jacksonville State. Campbell advanced through the loser's bracket all the way to the championship round to face JSU again.

Gardner Webb moves on to play the No. 3 seed ETSU Lady Bucs at 6:00 p.m. Campbell will play the loser of No. 1 seed Stetson and No. 6 seed Mercer in an elimination game at 4:00 p.m.

#1 Stetson vs. #6 Mercer
DeLand, Fla. - The top-seeded host, Stetson Hatters, beat the No. 6 seed Mercer Bears 5-1 in the third game of the day at the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Heather Colding, who is now leading the A-Sun with a 1.73 ERA, went the distance for the Hatters striking out seven batters for the win. The Stetson offense was led by Andrea Migliori and Nicole Forbes. Miglori hit a two-run homer, her fifteenth of the season, and Forbes went 2-3 with an RBI. Mercer's lone run was scored on a home run by Ashley Anderson in the second inning, her second of the season.

Stetson will play No. 4 seed Lipscomb in a must win for the Bisons tonight at 8:00. Mercer will turn right around and play No. 5 seed Campbell in an elimination game at 4:00 p.m.

#5 Campbell vs. #6 Mercer
The No. 5 seed Campbell Fighting Camels have eliminated the No. 6 seed Mercer Bears from the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola by a score of 6-3. Mercer is the first team eliminated from the championship.

Lauren Caviness collected the win for the Camels pitching all seven innings and striking out 5 batters. Catcher, Amanda Littlejohn, and right fielder, Courtney Quinn, each had two RBI in the winning effort. Kelley Bretscher led the Bears offense with two hits and an RBI in the 6-3 loss. Campbell scored all six of their runs in the first two innings. Mercer mounted a ninth inning rally, which brought the tying run to the plate, but it fell short.

Campbell will play at 3:30 p.m. on Friday versus an opponent to be determined. Mercer finishes their 2007 campaign with an overall record of 14-46. The Bears finished the conference season 7-11.

#2 GWU vs. #3 ETSU
DeLand, Fla. - The No. 2 seed Gardner-Webb Bulldogs bullied their way past third-seeded ETSU by a score of 7-4 at the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Allison Coffey earned the win pitching six innings and striking out 3 batters. Angie Walls earned her first career save for the Bulldogs pitching the final inning. Melody Harrell tallied her eighth RBI of the tournament batting 1-4 with twoRBI against the Bucs. Left fielder Jessi Williams also had two RBI for the Bulldogs. Amanda Hackworth led the Lady Bucs with two hits, while Amanda Haverman reached base three times in the losing effort.

Both teams will be playing on day two of the A-Sun Championship. Opponents and game times for Friday will be determined by the outcome of the Stetson vs. Lipscomb matchup, which is the final game of Friday.

#1 Stetson vs. #4 Lipscomb
DeLand, Fla. - The No. 2 seed Stetson Hatters are one win away from the championship round after eliminating the Lipscomb Bisons by a score of 4-0. Lipscomb is the second team eliminated from the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship.

Stetson's Andrea Migliori connected on her second home run of the tournament and 16th of the season. Her 16th home run set a new Stetson single-season record. Blythe Golden also homered in the Hatters four-run first inning, knocking the ball over the scoreboard in left-center field. Erica Demers pitched a gem for the Hatters allowing no runs on three hits in a complete game effort.

Lipscomb's Kristie Sirus, Heather Collins and Abby Keese had the only hits for the Lady Bisons. Lipscomb finishes the season 25-28-1 with a 9-8-1 conference record.

Stetson will play at 1:00 p.m. on Friday versus the No. 2 seed Gardner-Webb Bulldogs. The winner will advance the the championship round undefeated.

Check the Atlantic Sun Softball Championship page for a full coverage of all the action at the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Check back Friday for more results from the 2007 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola.