Feb. 25, 2006

Final Stats

Charlotte, N.C. - Western Carolina plated seven runs in the top of the first inning, but needed a two RBI double by freshman Samm Keppel in the top of the seventh to knot the game nine to force extra innings. In the top of the eighth, sophomore Savannah Filley blasted a two-run home run then held the Dragons at bay to earn her first career victory as Western defeated Drexel, 11-10, on Friday afternoon at the Phillips Complex.

Western Carolina starting pitcher, defending Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week freshman Mendy McKenzie, threw the first four innings, allowing six runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits while striking out three. Lifted in the fifth for Filley, McKenzie received no decision on the afternoon. Filley scattered four runs, including one in the bottom of the eighth, on five hits with a strikeout to earn the win.

Freshman Allyson McCubbins led Western offensively, going 4-for-4 on the afternoon with a run scored and driven in. Freshman infielder Samm Keppel was 2-for-4 at the plate, but drove in three runs with two doubles and a stolen base, while McKenzie was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Western opened scoring in the top of the first after drawing three walks in the first four batters, putting McCubbins on first, Mollie Fowler on second, and defending SoCon Player of the Week, Lauren Ross, on first. Junior Ashley Adams reached first, scoring McCubbins for the game's first run, keeping the bases loaded. The next batter, McKenzie, helped her own cause with a single, riving in two runs. Freshman Jenny Jackson singled to left field, scoring Adams, and McKenzie was plated on a double by Keppel. Jackson and Keppel would also tally runs in the first giving WCU seven runs on four hits with one Dragon error in the opening frame.

Drexel answered in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs on three hits, and then again in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to cut the Catamount lead to one, 7-6.

After holding Western scoreless for four innings, Drexel pulled ahead in the bottom of the fifth. Filley replaced McKenzie on the mound at the inning's outset, striking out the first batter she faced, but a dropped ball and an error on the ensuing throw to first put a runner at first. The tying run was sacrificed to second and advanced to third and later scored on back-to-back singles. Two additional runs were pushed across on an RBI double down the left field line to give the Dragons the 9-7 lead.

Down to its final three outs, Filley opened the top of the seventh inning with a walk and took advantage of a passed ball to move into scoring position at second. Jackson singled, putting runners on the corners as Filley moved to third. It was then that Keppel delivered the two-run double to tie the game at nine. WCU had a chance to go ahead before the inning concluded, as McCubbins singled to again put runners on the corners with one out, but a pop up and an unassisted ground out to first ended the Catamount threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, right fielder Jenny Jackson recorded all three outs, with a two out single sandwiched in between to force extra innings.

With international tiebreaking rules in effect, Fowler opened the inning at second base in the visitor half of the eighth. Ross grounded out to her counterpart at first unassisted and Adams struck out before Filley delivered a two-run blast to push WCU ahead, 11-9.

In the home half of the eighth, the Dragon runner on second scored on a one out single up the middle, but a pop-up to first and a fly out to left field ended the game, giving WCU its third-straight victory.

The Catamounts continue play in the Charlotte First Pitch Classic on Saturday afternoon, facing the host 49ers at 2:30 pm and North Carolina A&T at 4:30 pm. WCU is scheduled to play Appalachian State in a non-conference game at 10:00 am on Sunday before wrapping up the tournament with bracket play on Sunday afternoon.