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By Michael MacEachern and Ronnie Hiers James O’Connell’s RBI single down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Savannah College of Art and Design a 3-2 non-conference baseball victory over Edward Waters College March 1 at Grayson Stadium. The Bees snapped their three-game losing streak and improved to 11-11. The Tigers fell to 7-13. SCAD returns to the diamond Friday at 6 p.m., when the host No. 4-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in a Florida Sun Conference game at Grayson Stadium. With the game tied at 2, Edward Waters had a chance to push across some runs in the top of the ninth when its two batters reached base; however, reliever Tyler King (3-1) struck out the side to preserve the tie. In the bottom half of the inning, Sean Smith reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second -- his 11th steal of the season. Edward Waters pitcher Chase Hester intentionally walked Steven Argo, who was 2-for-4, and Adam Freeman, who went 2-for-4, reached on an infield single to load the bases. O’Connell then laced a single down the left field line and Smith scored the winning run. Matt Barker also had two hits for the Bees. Thomas University took a baseball doubleheader from the Bees Feb. 26 at Grayson Stadium. The Night Hawks rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth to capture the opener 4-3 and hit three homers in its 8-4 decision in the nightcap. The Bees are 10-11 for the season. SCAD returns to action March 4 with a 6 p.m. Florida Sun Conference game against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Grayson Stadium. In the first inning of the opener, the Bees scored three times on four hits. Andrew Hogin gave the Bees a 1-0 lead on a double to deep center field, while Barker drove in the other two on his double just inside the right field line. Thomas got a run off SCAD starter Ryan Pope (2-3) in the second on an RBI single. It stayed that way until the sixth when the Night Hawks scored three times with two outs to take a 4-3 lead. Freeman and Argo each had two hits for the Bees in the opener. Thomas scored four times in the first against Barker (3-1) in the nightcap. The Bees scored one run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Freeman, who went 2-for-4. SCAD closed to within a run at 4-3 an inning later on a two-run double by Argo, who went 2-for-4. Thomas took a 6-4 lead in the third. Thomas collected 13 hits en route to a 9-0 decision over the Bees Feb. 25. Thomas scored twice in the second inning as four of the first five batters in the inning reached on base hits off SCAD starter Eddie Anderson (0-5). The Night Hawks made it 4-0 in the fourth. The Bees had several chances to score against Thomas but hit into a season-high four double plays. SCAD’s best chance came in the seventh after Barker, who went 2-for-3, reached on an infield single and Argo, who went 2-for-3, walked with one out. Freeman had two hits for SCAD. Areheart kicks off tournament with no-hitter Savannah College of Art and Design’s Sarah Areheart tossed a no-hitter to start the 2005 SCAD Smash Hit Spring Break Softball Tournament. The Bees buzzed by Ursuline College 4-0 in game one of a doubleheader March 1 at the Paulson Softball Complex. SCAD won the second game 4-1. SCAD improved to 11-5 on the season. The Bees will be back in action March 5 when they face Concordia University in a 4 p.m. game at the Paulson Softball Complex. Areheart (5-2) allowed two batters to reach on errors and issued one walk as she struck out seven batters in seven innings of work. It was the fourth no-hitter thrown by Areheart, tying the school record held by Chrissy Way. It was the 11th no-hitter thrown in school history. In the nightcap, Meghan Temple (3-2) surrendered one run on four hits and struck out 12, one shy of the school record, while picking up the win for the Bees. Cristina Morgado was 3-for-6 with four stolen bases on the night while Charity Graham, who was 2-for-6, swiped three bags. The SCAD Smash Hit Tournament, which features 22 teams from the NAIA, NCAA Division II and Division III, runs through March 12. The softball team swept Brewton-Parker College 11-3 and 9-0 Feb. 22 at the Paulson Softball Complex. The Bees improved to 9-5 overall. SCAD returns to action at 4 p.m. March 5 when they host Concordia University at the Paulson Softball Complex. The first game had the looks of a pitchers’ duel with neither team scoring through the first two innings of play. However, Brewton-Parker scored in the top of the third inning off SCAD starter Kerri Lewis (3-2) to take the 1-0 lead. The Bees responded in the bottom of the fourth, knocking in five runs off five hits to take a 5-1 lead. The Barons struck back in the fifth inning, scoring two more runs, but the Bees ended the game by scoring six runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Lewis picked up the win for the Bees after pitching five innings, surrendering five runs on five hits and striking out two. Florida Sun Player of the Week Brittany Kelley, who drove in three runs, led the Bees with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a double and a two-run homer in the fifth, her first of the season. Kayla Timulak, who had 2 RBI, and Whitney Hess were both 2-for-3 at the plate. In the nightcap, the Bees jumped on the Barons early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. SCAD continued to tack on more runs, scoring in every inning but the fourth for the victory. Florida Sun Pitcher of the Week Areheart (4-2) led the Bees on the mound as well as at the plate. She held Brewton-Parker scoreless through six innings of work, allowing only two hits and striking out eight Baron batters. At the plate, Areheart drove in three runs, was 3-for-4 with a double, and hit her second home run of the season. SCAD had five batters with multiple hits. Kelley and Morgado each drove in two runs in the game. Last-second free throw lifts Webber past women’s basketball A last-second free throw lifted No. 2-seeded Webber International University past No. 3-seeded SCAD 67-66 Feb. 25 in the semifinal of the Florida Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament in Lake Wales, Fla. The Bees ended the season at 10-18. SCAD ended the first half with a 40-27 lead; however, the Warriors started the second half with a 17-4 run over the first eight minutes to tie the game at 44. Both teams traded leads throughout the half until Beth Henson scored on an out-of-bounds play with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game at 66. However, the Bees committed a foul and sent Shalunda Coleman to the free throw line with 0.4 seconds remaining. After missing the first shot, Coleman sank the second to give Webber International the win. The Bees shot 11 of 13 from the free throw line in the first half, but were only 9 of 19 from the charity stripe in the second. Whitney Hall led the Bees with 15 points and five rebounds. Henson record 14 points and nine rebounds, while Kacie Moreland added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Whitney named Florida Sun Conference Freshman of the Year; Henson, Hennon named to all-conference team SCAD’s Dakota Whitney was named the Florida Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year at the conference tournament banquet Feb. 25 at the Rigel Center on the campus of Warner Southern College. Whitney, a 5-foot-6-inch guard from Fort Collins, Colo., finished second on the team in steals per game (2.5), assists per game (3.0) and total free throws made (75). She finished third in the conference in assists, fourth in free throw percentage (.728) and fifth in steals. She also averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds for SCAD this season. Rachel Hennon and Henson were also honored at the banquet as they were both named to the all-conference second team. Hennon, a 5-foot-5-inch guard from Dalton, led the Bees in steals (2.96) and assists (3.85) per game, as well as finishing second on the team in total points (278). She finished second in the conference in assists and free throw percentage (.796), and third in steals. Henson, a 6-foot-2-inch center from Gainesville, led the Bees in points (12.04), blocks (2.30) and rebounds (8.0) per game. She finished second in the conference in blocks and rebounds and eighth in points. No. 8 Flagler College ends men’s basketball season SCAD had five players in double figures, but No. 8 Flagler College prevailed 85-73 in the semifinals of the 2005 Florida Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Feb. 25 at Flagler Gym in St. Augustine, Fla. The top-seeded Saints improved to 22-6. SCAD ended its season at 11-18. Gerard Bowden led the Bees with 16 points, while Owen Oliver, who was named to the all-tournament team, added 13 points and seven rebounds. Shaun Watson recorded a double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and dished out six assists. Kevin Polit added 11 points, and Stu Melvin tossed in 10. Bowden named to all-conference team Bowden was named to the All-Florida Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Team Feb. 24. Bowden, a 6-foot-4-inch sophomore guard from Christchurch, New Zealand, represented SCAD on the 10-person team that was selected by the head coaches of the six Florida Sun institutions. Bowden led the Bees in scoring (15.3), three-point field goals made (52) and free throw percentage (.755, 105 of 139). He also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals for the Bees this season. Bowden, who was twice named the FSC Player of the Week, is third in the Florida Sun in free throw percentage, fourth in three-point field goals made and fifth in scoring. Elon University takes lacrosse victory The Elon University men’s lacrosse team defeated SCAD 10-4 in a Southeastern Lacrosse Conference Division B match Feb. 26 in Elon, N.C. The Bees’ three-match winning streak was snapped and SCAD fell to 3-3 overall and to 2-2 in Division B matches. SCAD returns to the field March 5 when they host Winthrop University in a 3 p.m. match in Forsyth Park. Pliny Reynolds recorded a hat trick with three goals against the Phoenix. Reynolds leads the Bees with 11 goals this season. Weston Auburn scored the other goal for SCAD. Tennis teams remain ranked The men’s tennis team is ranked No. 16 and the women No. 17 in the latest NAIA Tennis Top 25 Rating. The SCAD women’s team, which is 1-1 on the season, fell one spot in the rating. Defending national champions Auburn University Montgomery remained in first place with 300 points. The men’s team, which is currently 0-1 on the season, moved up two positions in the rating. Azusa Pacific University held down the top spot with 297 points. Both teams return to action March 4 with a noon match against Mercyhurst College at the Bacon Park Tennis Courts. MacEachern is sports information director and Hiers is assistant sports information director.
By Ronnie Hiers The Savannah College of Art and Design is hosting the 2005 Smash Hit Spring Break Softball Tournament through March 12 at the Paulson Softball Complex. The two-week tournament features 22 teams from NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III. Traditionally, around this time of year, northern teams travel south to play softball in a warmer environment. For most, the choices have been Arizona, California, Florida and Myrtle Beach, S.C.; however, colleges can now add Savannah to the mix. “It is a change of scenery for the northern schools bored with their current spring break trips,” said softball coach Terri Knecht. “Savannah is a tourist-based city that provides teams something to do when they are not playing games. Many teams go to Florida and play, but when it rains there is not a lot to do. However, there are plenty of things to do in Savannah even if it rains.” The spring break trip made by these schools is not a typical college spring break trip. Playing softball and winning games against top competition are the main priorities. The tournament features three programs ranked in the top 25 of their respective divisions, including defending NAIA national champion Thomas University. The Bees play 10 games during the tournament, including a 5 p.m. game against Thomas March 11. The Smash Hit tournament isn’t simply set up for northern schools escaping the cold weather. Many regional and Florida Sun Conference schools are participating as well. “Regional schools love the idea of playing somebody new. By playing here in Savannah they face new competition and they don’t have to travel far,” said Knecht. SCAD recently submitted a bid to host the 2006 and 2007 NAIA National Softball Championship in Savannah. The Smash Hit provides the opportunity to showcase the facilities, college and city. “The NAIA will see that SCAD is capable of hosting large events such as the spring break tournament, and I hope it will give us an advantage in the selection process,” said Knecht. In addition to showcasing the college, there will be a positive impact on the local economy. Knecht estimates as much as $250,000 will be pumped into the community between hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Of the 22 teams participating, 10 are staying for seven days, while the rest will stay in Savannah from three to five days. “We are thrilled to be hosting this tournament,” said athletics director Jud Damon. “Coach Knecht has done an excellent job of organizing and promoting the tournament. It is a great opportunity for schools from various regions of the country to come to Savannah and compete.” Hiers is assistant sports information director at SCAD. |
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