Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 26, 2006
Western vs. Furman - Game Two
Western vs. Furman - Game Three
Cullowhee, N.C. - Using three home runs by three different players, Western Carolina completed the Southern Conference-opening series sweep of the Furman Lady Paladins on Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex. Sophomore Savannah Filley blasted a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give WCU the win in the completion of Saturday's halted game two. In the third and final game, freshman Lauren Ross tied the game at one with a leadoff homer and freshman Heather Pritchard pushed the Catamounts ahead with a three-run shot of her own in the fifth inning as Western won, 4-1.
The win in game two of the series completed on Sunday, was the 100th in the head coaching career of WCU skipper, Megan Smith. The Walkertown, N.C., native came to Western with 79 career wins after two seasons at Young Harris College. She finished the weekend with 101 career wins over 51 career losses.
Trailing by five after the first two innings in game two on Saturday afternoon, Western (22-10, 3-0 SoCon) rallied 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 in the frame forcing extra innings at which point the game was halted.
Picking up where the game had left off on Sunday, neither team could break through in the eighth inning, with Furman stranding a runner at first and the Catamounts leaving the bases loaded without scoring. Freshman Mendy McKenzie, who earned wins in game one as the starter and game two in relief, sat the Lady Paladins down in order in the top of the ninth.
In the home half of the ninth, Pritchard tallied a one-out single to center field to bring Filley to the plate. On the 3-1 pitch, Filley belted a shot over the fence in left center to give WCU the win with the programs first-ever walk-off home run. Filley finished the day 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored. Pritchard went 3-for-5 with freshmen Allyson McCubbins and Jenny Jackson each accounting for two RBI apiece, and Ross and freshman Samm Keppel each driving in one.
The Catamounts again used home runs to complete the sweep, hitting two long balls in a four-run fifth inning to win 4-1 Sunday afternoon in game three.
The Lady Paladins (18-20, 2-4 SoCon) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning using three singles to score freshman Abby Robertson from second base. However, Furman was unable to build on its lead, stranding nine base runners through the first five innings while holding the Catamount scoreless with just two hits during that same span.
In the fifth, Ross tied the game at one with her second lead-off home run of the series, hammering a 2-1 pitch to straight away center. The next batter, junior Nikki Bost, drew a walk and was moved to second when Keppel slapped a single into center field, chasing Furman starter Vanessa Williams. Paladin reliever, Erica Nesselroad, induced a ground ball by McCubbins, forcing Bost out at third for the first out of the inning. With two on and a 2-1 count, Pritchard then hit the base clearing, three-run homer to left field to give WCU the advantage it would never relinquish.
After taking the lead, Filley only allowed two FU base runners on just one hit over the final two innings to secure the victory. Filley, who replaced the starter McKenzie after the third inning, tossed the final four innings scoreless while scattering three base hits and walking and striking out two. McKenzie threw the first three innings, surrendering the lone run on five hits while fanning and walking one.
For Furman, Williams was saddled with the loss as the two base runners in the fifth inning were charged to her. She pitched four innings allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three. Nesselroad was only credited with a third of an inning, surrendering the home run to Pritchard. Sophomore Blake Murray threw the final inning and two thirds only allowing two hits with two strikeouts.
Pritchard finished the finale 2-for-3 with her fourth home run of the season and three RBI. Keppel was the only additional Catamount to record a multiple hit game, going 2-for-3 with her fourth double of the season. Ross accounted for the fourth RBI of the game on her solo homer, which was her seventh this year.
Not only did Western Carolina sweep its first-ever SoCon series, the Catamounts were also the first team in the league to reach the 20-win plateau. WCU is currently tied atop the SoCon standings with Elon and the College of Charleston, who also swept their weekend conference series (Elon over UNCG; CofC over UTC).
Western returns to action this Tuesday, March 28, as it visits East Tennessee State in non-conference action. The two were originally scheduled to play last Tuesday in Johnson City, Tenn., but inclement weather forced the cancellation. Western and ETSU will play a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.
