Feb. 19, 2006

Photos from the Inaugural Season Home Opener

Game One Final Stats

Game Two Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Commemorating the opening of the new, on-campus softball facility, the Western Carolina Catamounts swept the home-opening, doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, defeating South Carolina State 10-0 in five innings and 7-1 in seven. The wins push Western to 3-1 on the young season, a perfect 2-0 inside the friendly confines of the Catamount Softball Complex.

Western was led by freshman Allyson McCubbins and sophomore Heather Pritchard, who each hit a combined .500 in the two games. McCubbins was 3-of-6 at the plate, including tallying the program's first double in her first at bat in the bottom of the first inning in game one. She would also add a two bagger in game two. Pritchard went 2-for-4 on the afternoon, leading the team with three RBI. Freshman Samm Keppel recorded the first stolen base in the Catamount program, swiping two on the afternoon.

Game one opened with a rare walk by WCU starter, freshman Mendy McKenzie as leadoff hitter Yeshira Butler drew the base on balls. The free pass was the first - and would prove to be the only - issued by McKenzie on the day and in her career thus far. McKenzie rallied, though, to strike out the second batter she faced, SCSU's Krystal Anthony. After Butler stole second, the Bulldogs grounded back to the mound and McKenzie initiated the 1-6-3 put out, leaving Tiffanie Lewis on first with a fielders choice. The final batter of the inning bounced into a force play at second as short stop Mollie Fowler flipped to Samm Keppel to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Western came out of the box swinging. McCubbins tallied the game's first hit, which was the program's first-ever double. After a fly out to left, Fowler doubled, driving in McCubbins for the early, 1-0, lead. Fowler would score the second run of the inning after a ground out and error, the latter putting freshman Lauren Ross on first. A second error in the frame moved Ross around and Ashley Adams climbed aboard before three-consecutive walks to Keppel, Nikki Bost, and Pritchard plated two additional runs for the 4-0 lead after one.

Western scored at least one run in each of the next three innings, with the lone tally in the bottom of the second coming off a home run hit by freshman Stephanie Beatty, her first and the first in Catamount Softball Complex history. In both the third and fourth, WCU took advantage of walks to push the advantage to 10, ending after the top of the fifth by rule. Pritchard, Beatty, and pinch hitter Beth Hauser, who doubled in the bottom of the fourth, each drove in two runs apiece.

McKenzie (2-0) earned her second win of the season, fanning nine in five innings of work while scattering three hits and walking just the one. In her two starts this season, McKenzie has recorded an ERA of 0.58 while giving up just one run on eight hits with the single walk in 12.0 total innings. South Carolina State starter, Tatrika Polite, was saddled with her second loss of the season, falling to 1-2 after pitching 3.2 innings and allowing all 10

In the second game, Western scored all of its runs in the first three innings to complete the sweep, 7-1. The Catamounts used a three-run first inning to set the tone as Fowler singled and was sacrificed to second by Beatty. Ross drove in her team-best fourth run of the season with a double to right center, plating Fowler for the 1-0 lead. Ross would later score after junior Ashley Adams walked and Hauser and McCubbins delivered back-to-back singles, with the latter earning the RBI. Adams tallied the innings final run, scoring on an error by the Bulldog second baseman.

McCubbins was in the middle of the four-run third for the Catamounts, doubling down the left field line to open the inning and scoring on a Keppel RBI single into right. After stealing second, Keppel moved to third, scoring freshman pitcher Jenny Jackson who drew a walk, when Pritchard singled to left field. The final two runs of the inning came on Bulldog errors as Keppel and Pritchard each touched the plate as direct results of SCSU infield miscues.

South Carolina State (2-5) managed to scratch the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning. With two out and a 1-2 count, freshman Emerald Freeman belted a solo shot over the left field fence to provide the final tally.

Jackson earned her first career win, scattering five hits, including the long ball in the top of the seventh, while striking out and walking three in seven innings of work. Sophomore Yeshira Butler took the loss, giving up seven runs and two walks while striking out five through six innings.

Western returns to action next weekend, visiting the Charlotte 49er First Pitch Classic in Charlotte, N.C. Western is scheduled to face the Drexel Dragons next Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm, with meetings against the host 49ers (2:30 pm) and North Carolina A&T (4:30 pm). Sunday's games include a non-conference match-up with SoCon foe, Appalachian State, at 10:00 am, followed by bracket play to be determined. The Catamounts return home on Wednesday, March 1, hosting St. Francis (Pa.) in doubleheader action at the Catamount Softball Complex starting at 3:00 pm.