Columbus, GA - In a marathon pitchers' duel of epic proportions here Sunday night and early Monday morning, Georgia College & State University finally broke through in the 16th inning with four runs and went on to a 4-1 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in the championship game of the South Atlantic Regional. The rally broke a scoreless tie in a duel between freshmen hurlers Mandy Chandler of GC & SU and Casey Hanes of LRC.
"I am so shocked, I just don't believe it," said Lady Bobcat coach Ginger Miller. "Lenoir-Rhyne is a great team and they would certainly represent our region well."Chandler, named the tournament's MVP, fanned 23 hitters (a new school record) and allowed just seven hits in the game. She carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Hanes broke it up with a soft single to shallow center field. "Mandy has a lot of heart, in fact our whole team does. She never gave up and we just kept fighting. I am so proud," added Miller.
Hanes was almost as dominant. The freshman fanned 15 and walked just two hitters and did not allow an earned run. She pitched a total of 46 innings in the tournament for the Bears."We played hard and they played hard," said Bears coach Shena Hollar. "Unfortunately I felt we just didn't get the breaks. I am proud of this team, though - it has been a great season.
"GC & SU (44-11) got a single from Diana Baruffa with one out to start the rally in the sixteenth. Heather Jones then dropped down a bunt to move the runner, but the throw was mishandled at first for an error, putting runners at second and third. Keidra Baitey was intentionally walked and then Nikki Smith reached on another error and two runs scored on the play to make it 2-0. Aundrea Baker then tripled down the left field line to plate two more.
LRC (52-12-1) did not go quietly, however. Meredith O'Connor singled to lead off the inning adn Leah Krohn followed with a single an out later. After Angela Beard fouled out, Karie Pushard delivered a run-scoring single and brought the tying run to the plate. Chandler coerced a popup off the bat of Chrissy Lunsford to end the game and start the celebration for the Lady Bobcats.
Baker and Pushard were the only players for either team to collect more than one hit as the pitchers were in complete control of the game. GC & SU now advances to the Division II Softball Championship beginning Thursday in Salem, VA. It is second trip for the Lady Bobcats after the 2003 team finished as national runners-up.
Source: Columbus State University Sports Information
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