March 25, 2006

Game One Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Battling through wintry conditions including snow, wind, and cold temperatures, the Western Carolina Catamounts made their Southern Conference softball debut on Saturday afternoon, winning game one, 5-1, over the Furman Lady Paladins with the second game of the twin bill halted in the top of the eighth inning due to hazardous playing conditions.

Western (20-10, 1-0 SoCon) trailed in the second game, 5-0, after the first two innings before rallying with one run in the bottom of the second, two in the third, and taking its first lead with a four-spot in the home half of the fourth inning. The Lady Paladins scored one run in each of the final three innings to tie and take the lead, 8-7, entering the bottom of the seventh. WCU freshman Lauren Ross then delivered a lead-off home run to right center field to tie the game at eight, but the Catamounts would strand two runners at first and second, forcing extra innings.

The second game of the three-game series will resume at 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon with Furman coming to the plate in the top of the eighth inning. The final game of the series will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the halted contest.

In game one, Furman (18-18, 2-2 SoCon) manufactured a single run in the top of the first inning, with Western Carolina answering a half inning later with three runs en route to the 5-1 victory. The win was WCU's first-ever in SoCon action and pushed the all-time series with FU to 2-1.

Trailing 1-0, freshman Allyson McCubbins opened the game by running the count full, then belting a double to left center. After moving to third on a passed ball, McCubbins was plated when junior Ashley Adams hit a RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Adams would later score when freshman Heather Pritchard drew a full count walk to drive in the go-ahead run, 2-1. Left fielder Jenny Jackson, who also walked to get on base, was driven home by an RBI single to center by junior Nikki Bost to give WCU three runs in the opening frame.

The Catamounts pushed across two insurance runs in the sixth inning when sophomore Savannah Filley singled and Adams drove in pinch runner, freshman Sam Stepp, on a two-run blast to left center. The home run was Adams' team-leading ninth of the season.

Freshman right hander Mendy McKenzie improved her record to 11-3 on the season working all seven innings, only allowing the single run and scattering three hits. She also struck out nine and gave up one walk on the day. Offensively, Bost and Filley led the team with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate, while Adams went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Bost and Pritchard also accounted for two runs driven in, with McCubbins and Jackson each tallying a double on the afternoon.

Again, the halted game will pick up where it left off in the top of the eighth inning, tied at eight apiece. The final game of the SoCon series will begin 30 minutes following the completion of the first game.