HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The long season drew down to one final game as the #2 seed Erskine College took on the #5 seed Lees-McRae College. Erskine took home the tournament championship as they defeated Lees-McRae 2-1.
Lees-McRae battled hard, but only managed two hits off the Fleet. Lees-McRae righty senior Magen West (Whitney, TX) took to the circle for the Bobcats and threw a complete game. West allowed only two runs on five hits, while striking out two. Junior outfielder Kierstie Moon (Oxford, GA) scored the Bobcats’ only run. Senior catcher Paige Coleman (Thomasville, NC) went 1-for-3 with a run batted in.
Erskine sophomore Kelsey Spurrier (Charlotte, NC) cruised through seven innings of two hit ball. Spurrier allowed only one run while striking out four. Sophomore catcher Larissa Shannon (Newberry, SC) went 2-for-3 with a home run, a run scored, and two runs batted in. Senior short stop Jocelyn Smith (Greer, SC) went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Spurrier was a force to be reckoned with all-tournament as she earned Tournament MVP. This is the first ever Conference Tournament championship for Erskine College.
“Almost surreal, just in the moment right now,” Erksine head coach Alleen Hawkins said after the game, “these kids worked really, really hard. When you come to the tournament everyone is equal.”
Erskine played well all tournament long, shutting out their opponents on two different occasions.
“We did get in some jams, we got behind,” Hawkins said, “and they didn’t lose their frame of mind. They continued to do the things they’ve been doing all year. That’s been the key to our success.”
Erskine College will advance to the Southeast Regional Tournament. The location of the tournament has yet to be decided.
2011 Conference Carolinas Softball All-Tourament Team
Kelly Minshew- Mount Olive
Sydney Greenwalt- Coker
Allison Braswell- Pfeiffer
Melanie Conkilin- Pfeiffer
Keeya Turner- Queens
Brandy Jester- Queens
Paige Coleman- Lees-McRae
Laurel Gregg- Lees-McRae
Kierstie Moon- Lees-McRae
Morgan Purcell- Erskine
Larissa Shannon- Erskine
Lindsey LaPrad- Erskine
MVP- Kelsey Spurrier- Erskine
GAME 14- BOX SCORE
#2 Erskine- 2
#5 Lees-McRae- 1
FINAL DAY RESULTS- Sunday, April 17
GAME 13- BOX SCORE
#5 Lees-McRae- 3
# 4 Queens- 1
**Queens Eliminated
In an elimination game #4 seed Queens played #5 seed Lees-McRae in a rematch of the opening game of the tournament. Lees-McRae defeated Queens 3-1.
Queens junior Chantel Dodge pitched seven innings allowing three runs, on three hits, while striking out five. Junior outfielder Keeya Turner (Fayetteville, NC) went 2-for-3 and scored the only run for Queens. The Royals only managed two hits in the game.
Lees-McRae junior Kim Coley went 2-for-3 with a solo home run. Senior right fielder Meagan Knowles (West Palm Beach, FL) went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. The Bobcats broke the stalemate in the fifth inning, scoring all three runs in the fifth. Sophomore righty Laurel Gregg (Mars Hill, NC) pitched seven innings surrendering just the one run on two hits.
After allowing the first two runners on to start the bottom of the seventh Gregg struck out the next three hitters to end the game. Lees-McRae will play #2 seed Erskine in the championship game at noon.
GAME 14- BOX SCORE
#2 Erskine- 2
#5 Lees-McRae- 1
LIVE STATS