Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score (vs. North Carolina A&T) | Box Score (vs. Hampton)

CONWAY, S.C. - The La Salle softball squad grabbed its first win of 2012 in big fashion, batting around the order for a seven-run inning to down North Carolina A&T 7-2 on Saturday in the Chanticleer Showdown at Coastal Carolina. The Explorers were edged by Hampton, 5-4, in the nightcap.

Freshman Alyssa Bitsimis had another big day at the plate, going 4-for-8 with one RBI and two runs scored. Bitsimis is batting .533 in this weekend's tournament, raising her season average to a team-best .364. Fellow rookie Alicia Aughton went 3-for-7 at the plate today with her first collegiate home run in the nightcap against Hampton. Aughton is batting .500 this weekend, upping her average to .333 on the young season.

Overall, six players (three freshmen, including Linnette Siedler) are hitting .300 or better in the Chanticleer Showdown.

Game 1 (vs. North Carolina A&T):

NC A&T (3-12) got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third on a Juanita Jernigan RBI single through the right side to score Dominique Smith, who reached on a walk.

The Explorers (1-10) responded immediately and decisively in the top of the fourth inning, batting around the order for seven runs. Bitsimis knocked a single to left center and advanced on a Breanna DiTommaso sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Shannon Skomorucha got the rally going with a single to left center, scoring Bitsimis for the first run of the inning.

Megan Hodgson drew a walk in the next at-bat, and then Kristin Travers loaded the bases with a single through the right side. Siedler then drove the ball down the left field line for a RBI single, scoring Skomorucha to put the team up 2-1.

With the bases still loaded, Liz Reed drew a walk to score Hodgson. Danielle Cullen extended the rally further with a two-run single to center to bring home Travers and Siedler.

Bitsimis came back up to bat and knocked out her second hit of the inning, a single to right to score Reed. DiTommaso rounded out the seven-run rally with a single to right center, scoring Cullen.

The Aggies came up with one more run in the bottom of the sixth on a Sabrina Edmonds solo home run with one out, but the Explorers shut down any thoughts of an Aggie rally with two quick outs and put together a 1-2-3 seventh for the final 7-2 score.

Aughton pitched a complete game to pick up her first collegiate win. She gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one. Ashira Dobison took the loss for the Aggies, also pitching a complete game. She gave up seven runs (all earned) on nine hits while striking out one and walking two.

Game 2 (vs. Hampton):

The Explorers suffered a one-run heartbreaker, 5-4, to Hampton (6-13) in the nightcap after rallying to tie the game in the fifth inning. The Pirates went up 3-0 in the top of the second on a Kelsei Saunders solo home run and a Travonn Byrd two-run blast.

The Explorers got two runs back in the bottom of the frame. Hodgon blasted a leadoff home run over the centerfield fence, her first homer of the season. One out later, Siedler reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw. She got to third on a wild pitch before being brought home for the inning's second run on a Reed double down the right field line.

Aughton tied up the game at 3-3 with a solo blast in the bottom of the fifth, marking her first collegiate home run. But the Aggies responded with two runs in the top of the sixth. Saunders reached on an error, followed by a Sharde' Estep double. Two consecutive sacrifice fly balls brought both runners home.

The Explorers tried to come back once again, getting a run in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Bitsimis singled just past the Pirate third baseman. With two outs, Heather Brabazon singled to left field, advancing Bitsimis to third. Bitsimis then scored on a throwing error to bring the Explorers within a run before the Pirates ended the Explorer hopes with a strikeout.

Travers went just over six innings in the circle, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits while striking out two and walking three. Aughton came on in the seventh to close out the game, not allowing a hit.

Next Up:

The Explorers close out the Chanticleer Showdown with another matchup with host Coastal Carolina on Sunday at noon.