BRUNSWICK, Ga. - The Coastal Georgia softball team scored eight unanswered runs in the final four innings of the game to storm back and complete the three game sweep of the Florida Memorial Lions, winning game three by a final of 9-5.
The Mariners (28-6, 9-3 TSC) trailed 5-1 going into the bottom of the third, but rallied late scoring two in the third, two in the fourth, and four in the seventh to complete the comeback win.
The game started as bad as you can dream of for head coach
Mike Minick and starting pitcher
Bryce Peacock, as the Lions (18-16, 3-9 TSC) got a single by Ciera Taylor followed by a two-run home run from Heidy Olivo, immediately busting open the game. A single and a walk immediately followed, and FMU was threatening again. Later in the inning, an RBI single from Bryanna Curry capped off a three run, four hit inning for the Lions and gave them a three run lead into the bottom half.
The Mariners got one back in the bottom half, thanks to a one out solo home run by
Rori Rhodes, her first of the season.
Rylee Mills followed two batters later with a single, but could not come around to score and the Mariners trailed 3-1 into the second.
Peacock sat down the Lions in order in the second, and
Rily Andrews singled with two outs in the bottom half, but was stranded.
In the third, FMU added a pair of runs to pad their lead. Morales started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt from Ciara Justice. One batter later, Kylie Enrique unloaded on a ball over the left field fence for a two run home run, extending the Lions lead to 5-1.
Elizabeth McGovern took over in the circle after the home run and got two groundouts, ending the inning.
Trailing 5-1, the Mariners finally strung some offense together in the bottom of the third.
Sarah Thinger and Rhodes led the inning off with back-to-back walks, followed by a bunt single from Peacock. Mills singled in a run in her at bat, and
Julianna Batts drew a walk to bring home Rhodes. The Mariners ended the inning with a pair of runs, cutting the Lions lead to 5-3.
CCGA caught a break in the top of the fourth, turning a massive double play off a single into center, and McGovern turned the game over to her offense.
In the bottom half, the Mariners finally tied the ballgame back up a five a piece.
Emma Jones started the inning with a leadoff double, followed by a single from Thinger. Rhodes singled for her third hit of the day to score Jones, and Mills singled again as well to score Rhodes. Batts later walked to load the bases, but a flyout from
MacKenzie Kagee ended the inning and stranded the bases loaded.
Both sides went down in order in the fifth, and in the sixth, the Mariners took their first lead of the game.
Rhodes started the inning off with a single and Peacock followed with a bunt single to put two runners on and nobody out. Mills grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with one out.
Alyssa Haggerty stepped up next after re-entering and delivered an RBI single to give the Mariners their first lead of the day. Batts added a single to load the bases, and
Rily Andrews delivered the knockout punch, a three RBI double to right center to give the Mariners a 9-5 lead into the top of the seventh.
In the final frame, Mills did allow a leadoff double, but got the next three batters out in order to complete the comeback and the sweep of FMU.
Rhodes finished 3-3 at the plate with two RBI's and four runs scored, including her first career home run. Mills went 3-4 with a pair of RBI's, and Andrews finished 2-4 with three huge RBI's.
McGovern picked up win number five with 3.2 flawless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and no runs with a pair of strikeouts.
The Mariners return to action when they travel to Lake Wales, Fla. to take on Warner in a three game weekend series. First pitch is set for Friday at 4 p.m.
