Feb. 26, 2006

Final Stats

Charlotte, N.C. - The Western Carolina softball team split a Saturday doubleheader at the Holiday Inn First Pitch Classic, falling to host team Charlotte (11-3) and defeating North Carolina A&T (9-1) later in the day. The Catamounts will face Appalachian State Sunday at 10 am in a non-league meeting. If WCU were to beat ASU, the Catamounts will play for the championship of the three-day event later in the day.

In game one, Charlotte's Becky Matthews hit two triples and Kristi Killough added one to give the Niners five three-baggers on the day, as the Charlotte 49ers downed Western Carolina 11-3.

Kristen Bowen scattered eight hits and allowed just three runs for Charlotte over six innings to pick up the victory, her third of the year for Charlotte (4-4).

Kaycie Jones and Karianne Huffstetler each drove in a pair of runs, while Evan Miller, Matthews, Killough, Cee Brooks and Emily Forbes added single RBI. For the Catamounts, Stephanie Beatty was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Jenny Jackson and Samm Keppel each drove in one. Savannah Filley (1-2) suffered the loss.

In game two, Beatty once again led Western offensively, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Jackson also had two hits (in three at bats) and two RBI, while Keppel added two RBI as well as hitting the program's first triple.

Mendy McKenzie pitched all five innings and improved to 3-0 on the season. She only allowed two hits and one run, while fanning nine with zero walks.

The Catamounts jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, thanks largely to Keppel's two-run triple. While the Aggies cut their deficit with a single tally in the bottom of the first, Western added two runs in the second and four in the third to provide the winning margin.