Coastal shuts out Bryant in USF finale

Coastal Carolina shuts out Bryant, 10-0, in USF Tournament finale

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Kiana Quolas limited the Bryant University softball team to three hits to compliment an eight-strikeout performance, as the Bulldogs fell, 10-0, in a five-inning game against the Chanticleers in Sunday morning's USF Tournament finale at Eddie C. Moore Field.

Bryant wraps up its stint in Florida with a 4-6 mark over 10 games to move to 4-11 on the season, while Coastal Carolina improves to 22-8 on the year.

Bulldog junior Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) got the nod for the Black and Gold and surrendered 10 hits and seven earned runs while striking out two and walking four. Quolas - who entered the game with an impressive 0.53 ERA - went five innings and allowed three hits while garnering eight 'K's and walking none.

Coastal managed to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second after a fielding miscue prolonged the inning for the Chanticleers. Jacob plunked Quoloas at the start of the inning before a sacrifice moved the runner to second.

But Jacob fought back to induce a groundout against the next batter, but walked two straight to load the bases with two outs. Coastal then drew first blood after the fielding error at first pushed a run across, and Jacob barely missed on a 3-2 changeup, allowing another run to score on a bases-loaded walk before a groundout ended the inning.

The Chanticleers padded their lead on a three-run homer and tacked on another five scores for an eight-run third inning, giving Coastal an 8-0 edge. Quolas began the rally with a single down the left field line before Cacia Pierre made it first-and-second with a single through the right side. That set up Chelsea Pineda's heroics, as the Coastal catcher homered to left on a 1-2 count to make it 5-0.

After three singles loaded the bases, Coastal's most potent bat – Kory Hayden – made it a 9-0 game after barely missing a homer to center. Instead, it bounced off the wall and cleared the bases for a three-RBI double. Quolas rounded out the scoring with an RBI groundout to hand the Chantincleers a 10-0 advantage going into the fourth.

Bryant had a chance to break up the shutout bid in the fourth after Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) led off with a single and Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) made it first-and-second with a base hit through the left side, but that was the farthest they would reach after a deep fly out to left ended the inning.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University softball, check back online at www.bryantbulldogs.com; also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.