Softball Postseason Run Ends in Regional Semifinal

DURHAM, N.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team split a doubleheader at the NCAA Durham Regional, defeating Howard 9-1 before its season came to an end with an 16-8 loss to No. 14 national seed Duke.
 
Game 1: Howard 1, Coastal 9 (5 innings)
 
Howard struck first in the top of the first inning when Alyssa Vasquez hit a two-out solo home run over the left-field wall to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Coastal answered in the bottom of the second inning. Keirstin Roose cracked a double into left field and advanced to third on a throwing error. Maddy Jennings then drove her home on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the third Delaney Keith laced a single through the right side, followed by a two-run home run from Georgia Hood to give the Chanticleers a 3-1 lead.
 
CCU added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Livi Payne lined a sacrifice fly into center field, driving in pinch runner Emma Skovran to make it 4-1.
 
The Chanticleers sealed the win in the bottom of the fifth when Roose ripped an RBI single through the left side to extend the lead to 5-1. With the bases loaded, freshman McKennah Metzger crushed a walk-off grand slam to send Coastal into the regional semifinals with a 9-1 victory.
 
Nicolette Picone improved to 29-9 in the circle, allowing one run on five hits over 5.0 innings.
 
Game 2: Duke 16, Coastal 8 (8 innings)
 
Duke opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a solo home run to center field by Aminah Vega to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Metzger tied the game in the bottom of the second with her second home run of the day, this time over the right-center field wall to make it 1-1.

The Blue Devils regained the lead in the top of the third, scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field and a throwing error to go ahead 3-1.

 

The Chanticleers responded in the bottom of the third with an offensive surge. After Pippin reached on a walk, Keith smashed a two-run home run over the right-field wall to tie it 3-3. Hood then followed with a solo shot to give Coastal a 4-3 advantage.

 

The hits kept coming in the bottom of the third when Roose doubled down the left-field line and Jenning launched Coastal’s third home run of the inning, extending the lead to 6-3.

 

Duke rallied in the top of the fourth with a five-run frame, scoring on a pair of singles and a three-run double by Thessa Malauʻulu to retake the lead at 8-6.

 

The Chants narrowed the gap in the bottom of the fifth inning when Keith reached on walk and advanced to third on a passed ball and a groundout. The third baseman was then able to cross home plate on a Duke fielding error to make the score 8-7.

 

Coastal looked to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning after singles from Metzger and Payne put runners on base, but the Blue Devils held strong to record the final out and preserve their 8-7 lead.

 

The Chanticleers showed their grit in the bottom of the seventh when Keith singled and Hood reached on an intentional walk. Metzger followed with a single to second base, and pinch runner Baxter came home on an errant throw to tie the game once again at 8-8.

 

Duke put the game away in the top of the eighth, bringing home eight runs on a double, two fielder’s choices, a single, a walk, and a passed ball to secure the 16-8 victory.

 

Picone took the loss in the circle, falling to 29-11 on the season after allowing nine runs on six hits.

 

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUSports.com.