BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Playing in their first non-conference doubleheader since February 27, the College of Coastal Georgia softball team took care of business on their home field, defeating the Savannah State Tigers in both sides of the Tuesday afternoon slate.
The Mariners (22-8, 5-4 SUN) outscored the Tigers (11-16, 7-8 SIAC) 17-2 in both games as CCGA moved to 12-0 all time against Savannah State in school history.
GAME ONE: CCGA 12, SSU 2
Game one was all Mariners as they ended the game early due to the run rule, scoring 12 runs on seven hits on the afternoon while also taking advantage of four Tigers errors in the contest.
Freshman McKenzie Collins made the start in game one for the Mariners, pitching five complete innings for her sixth win of the season in the circle allowing just two runs on three hits and two errors.
Right away in game one the Tigers got two runners on with a single and a walk, both of which advanced 60 feet after a passed ball. Luckily, Collins had already recorded two outs in the inning and got Starling to strike out to end the inning and the threat.
Seeing the need for a quick start, the Mariners got just that with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Kaitlyn Carolino drew a leadoff walk and stole second, while Rily Andrews followed two batters later with a one out walk to put two on with one out. Using her elite speed, Carolino was able to come across and score on a Rylee Mills groundout to second base as Carolino scored the first run of the game.
After getting another runner to third in the second inning and not scoring, the Mariners exploded the game wide open in the bottom of the third, striking for 11 runs in the inning. 16 Mariners batted in the inning as CCGA got seven hits and used four errors in the inning from the defense to balloon their lead out to 12-0. The first five Mariners that batted singled before Alyssa Haggerty dropped down a sac bunt for the first out of the inning. Emma Jones had a two out, two RBI double in the inning to score Mackenzie Southerland and Ella Romano to score the final two runs of the inning and give CCGA all the cushion they could need in game one.
Neither side made any noise in the fourth inning, and in the fifth, Collins went back out needing just three outs for the game one win. While the Tigers got no hits in the fifth inning, Savannah State scored two runs on two errors and one walk by the Mariners, but it was too little too late as CCGA ended game one early with a 12-2 win in five innings.
Romano and Jones both finished 2-3 from the plate while Carolino walked three times in the game and finished without an official at bat. Jones also finished with a team high and new career high four RBI's.
GAME TWO: CCGA 5, SSU 0
Game two was much more balanced from both sides as neither team committed an error in the second game of the series, unlike the six combined errors in the previous game. Despite being held to seven less runs in the second game, CCGA actually finished with one more hit on the game, leading to a more efficient offensive attack.
Two singles and two stolen bases in the top of the first put Savannah State in a prime position to score early to begin the game. Mills, who started game two in the circle, finally settled in and got a big play at home plate as well as a strikeout to end the inning and strand three runners on base.
In the bottom half, the Mariners once again got runs across, striking for a pair, improving to 8-1 in games where they score in the first inning of a game. Carolino singled to begin the inning and moved to third on a double from Andrews later in the inning. Mills helped her own cause with a sac fly, and Rylie Smith came through with another RBI with a single to score Andrews and put CCGA up 2-0 after one inning.
In the third inning, CCGA got two more runs in the game as Andrews and Mills once again reached base on a free pass, coming in to score on sac fly's from Collins and Alyssa Haggerty, making the score 4-0 after three innings.
With Mills rolling in the circle, the Mariners got their fifth and final run of the game in the fifth inning. After Smith tripled to begin the inning, Jones, who pinch ran for Smith, scored on a groundout from Haggerty to score and put the Mariners ahead 5-0, which ended up being the final score after seven innings.
Smith led the offense in game two going 2-2 from the plate with a walk and an RBI while Andrews went 1-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mills pitched the full seven innings in the second game, allowing four hits, no runs, one walk, and tied a career high with six strikeouts.
The Mariners return to action this weekend as they host the Keiser Seahawks for a three game series in Brunswick. THe series is scheduled for a Friday 1:00 p.m. double header followed by a 12:00 p.m. single game on Saturday.
