C of C softball searching for consistency

College of Charleston softball coach Shelly Hoerner says her team has lacked consistency, but the Cougars will need to develop some in a hurry if they want to play beyond this weekend.

The Southern Conference softball tournament begins today at Patriots Point with the third-seeded Cougars playing No. 5 Furman at 5 p.m.

"We've been inconsistent all year, but we've shown some great things at times. This is put up or shut up. Do or die. Win or go home. Bottom line, have no regrets. Leave everything on the line, every pitch, every swing, every at bat."

The other first-round matchups in the double-elimination tournament pair No. 4 seed Elon against No. 5 UNC Greensboro at 10 a.m., No. 1 Chattanooga vs. No. 8 Western Carolina at noon and No. 2 Georgia Southern vs. No. 7 Appalachian State at 3 p.m.

The tournament concludes on Saturday with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

"The parity is so great in our conference," Hoerner said. We're the No. 3 seed. We've beaten the No. 1 and No. 2 seed, but then we lost to the No. 8 seed. Anything can happen. It's who comes to play as a team who will win this tournament."

Hoerner is hoping that it's going to be her team that comes to play, and the home field could give the Cougars an edge.

Charleston is 31-31 this season, but 20-9 at home.

"It's nice because we're comfortable here," Hoerner said. "But a field is a field and we've got to go out and play catch on that field."

Charleston pitcher Shannon Howard believes the Cougars may be on the verge of playing their best.

"I think we've got the potential," she said. "This is what we've prepared for all year. Once we're finally here, I think it's going to all come together."