LADY
BLUE HOSE ELIMINATE USC SPARTANBURG 3-2 TO
ADVANCE TO ELIMINATION BRACKET FINAL
PC
plays Armstrong Atlantic State at 12 noon on Saturday
KENNESAW, GA – No. 4-seed Presbyterian College scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and added a run on an acrobatic play at the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Blue Hose defeated No. 5-seed USC Spartanburg 3-2 in an elimination game at the 2004 South Atlantic Regional Championships at the Bobbie Bailey Athletic Complex.
The Lady Rifles (38-16) led 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but PC (47-12) rallied with two outs to tie the game. Nickie Templeton (1-for-2) singled and was followed by a pinch-hit single by Whitney Hannon (1-for-1). Haley Brooks (1-for-2) then lofted a single to left field scoring Templeton and making the score 2-1. Rachel Bailey (1-for-4) drove in the tying run on a ground ball into the hole that USC Spartanburg shortstop Tera Goswick knocked down but in which she had no play.
After the Lady Rifles’ scoreless eighth inning, Presbyterian’s Amanda Teal (2-for-4) led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Peterka. Lauren Hixson (2-for-4) followed with a slicing single into right field that didn’t look deep enough to score Teal. But Head Coach Jeff Nickerson gambled and waved Teal around third base. The throw from Lady Rifles’ right fielder Becky Albers beat Teal to the plate, but Teal faked a turn inside and slid to the outside of home plate and around the tag to score the winning run.
USC Spartanburg took the lead in the fifth inning when they scored their only two runs of the game on back-to-back bases loaded walks to Evan Miller (0-for-3) and Kacey Ayers.
Lady Blue Hose starter Megan Wheelus (13-4) got the win, allowing only two hits in 3.2 innings of relief. USC Spartanburg’s Jennifer Whited (15-5) picked up the loss after retiring only one batter before giving up the winning run. Starter Kasey Heron gave up seven hits and two runs in seven innings, but got the no decision.
Presbyterian will play Armstrong Atlantic at 12:00 PM with the winner playing Kennesaw State for the 2004 South Atlantic Regional Championship at 2:30 PM.