Sunday, April 13, 2003

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (April 13, 2003) - Jacquie Rothey went four-for-four to lead the Cougars to an 8-1 victory over the East Tennessee State Bucs in softball action this afternoon at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The win puts the Cougars at 34-5 and 11-1 in the Southern Conference. The 11 SoCon wins break the record for most conference wins in a season of 10, set last season. The Cougars also increased their home winning streak to 24 and have won their last 24 of 25 games. The Bucs drop to 16-19 on the year and 3-8 in the conference. The Cougars scored first with three in the first after Keyta Lawson led off the inning with a single and was brought home when Rothey singled to center field. Melissa Creeger, who went one-for-three on the day with three RBI, doubled in Jessica Schwartzkopf and Amanda Cone. East Tennessee State answered in the top of the third with a run as Janine Sprague (Hillsborough, N.C.) doubled to left field and came home off and errant throw by the pitcher the next at bat. Charleston responded promptly with four runs in the bottom of the third. Rothey singled to lead off the inning and came home when Creeger sacrificed her in. The next at-bat Lauren Rabun doubled in Schwartzkopf and Cone and came home when Katie Scott hit a single through the left side. The Cougars scored in the fifth to increase the total to 8-1 after Mallory Davis scored off an error by the right fielder. East Tennessee State will host Winthrop at Kiwanis Park in Johnson City on April 16 in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.