Orangeburg, SC—The SC State softball team picked up its first win of the season as they defeated Coppin State, 4-2, in the opening game of the 2009 SC State Lady Bulldog Classic. The classic, which concludes tomorrow, is being contested at the Lady Bulldog Softball Field on the campus of SC State.
Coppin State (1-4) got on the scoreboard first putting up one run in the top of the second. The Lady Eagles put up an additional run in the top of the fourth before the SC State (1-8) put their offense into motion. Sophomore Denitia Carter scored the first run for SC State off a single by senior Krystal Anthony in the bottom of the sixth inning. Anthony scored the Lady Bulldogs second run off an error by Coppin State's catcher. Junior Channell Thompson reached base via a walk and then scored off a triple by senior Emerald Freeman to put SC State ahead by one, 3-2. Freeman scored the fourth run of the inning off a wild pitch. The Lady Eagles was unable to score in the top of the seventh inning hence giving the Lady Bulldogs the 4-2 victory.
Kimberlee Pereira (1-8) picked up the win while Paige Arnold was the loser for Coppin State.
Game two of the classic saw Hampton University defeat the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), 9-6.
Hampton jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the end of three innings. UMES scored two runs in the top of the fourth and one run in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 3. The Lady Pirates regained the one point lead in the bottom of the fifth but it was short-lived as the Lady Hawks put up three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-4. Hampton put up five runs in the bottom of the sixth and held UMES scoreless in the top of the seventh to secure the 9-6 victory.
Amanda Black was the winning pitcher while Inde Whitehurst had the loss.
In the final game of the day, Coppin State University defeated Hampton University 8-6.
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning of the game. The next three innings was a defensive battle, as 2-2 tie remained tied until the fifth inning. Hampton scored three runs in the top of the fifth to go ahead 5-2. Coppin State would not be outdone as they put up two runs of their own in its half of the inning to pull within one, 5-4. The Lady Eagles put up four additional runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead of the Lady Pirates, 8-5. Hampton scored one run in the top of the seventh but could not get over the hump falling to Coppin 8-6.
Paige Arnold picked up the win for Coppin State while Jada Jeffries was the losing pitcher for Hampton.
SC State will start things off at 10 a.m. tomorrow when they host UMES. Coppin State and UMES will meet in game two of the day at 12 noon and SC State will close the classic at 2 p.m. when they host Hampton.
