CONWAY, S.C. - Sophomore outfielder Courtney Johnson hit a walkoff, three-run homerun to lead the Towson University softball team to 8-0 victory in five innings over Purdue University in the Tigers's first game of the day on Saturday afternoon at the Kickin' Chicken Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina.
In the second game of the day, the Tigers (4-2) dropped a tough 6-2 decision to the host Chanticleers.
Against Purdue, the teams had strong performances from its respective starting pitchers. The Boilermakers' Lexy Moore and Towson's Missy McCormick each did not allow a run through four innings.
However, the Tigers struck for eight runs in the fifth inning, prompting the end of the game due to the run rule.
The scoring started with runners on the corners for senior outfielder Maureen Hepner, who laced a single through the left side, allowing Johnson to score the game's first run. McCormick, Delanie Dunham, Nicole Delgado and Macie McGeehan. Then, with two on two out, Johnson smacked her first homer of the season to give the Tigers the 8-0 win and end the game.
McCormick was excellent yet again in the circle for Towson, allowing just three hits and one walk in five shutout innings. This season, McCormick's earned run average is a tremendous 1.94.
Freshman catcher Holiday Cahill led Towson with two hits, while Johnson scored two runs to go along with her three runs batted in.
Against Coastal Carolina, the Chanticleers scored three times in the third inning and three times in the fifth.Junior Kory Hayden hit a three-run homerun for the Chants in the bottom of the third inning to give Coastal Carolina a 3-1 lead. It was her fifth homer of the season.
Towson took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Hepner. She went 3-for-3 in the game and was the only Tiger with multiple hits against Coastal Carolina pitcher Kiana Quolas. Hepner raised her batting average to a team-leading .611 this season.
Quolas was excellent in the victory for the Chanticleers, pitching all seven innings and allowing six hits with one earned run. She struck out six and walked one.
Towson plays two more games on Sunday to complete the tournament. The team faces Purdue at 10 a.m. followed by Virginia at noon.
