April 1, 2006

Western Carolina vs. Appalachian State - Game One

Western Carolina vs. Appalachian State - Game Two

Boone, N.C. - Using two different methods on Saturday, the Western Carolina softball team swept the doubleheader against rival Appalachian State, assuring the Catamounts of their second-straight Southern Conference series win. In the first game, Western pounded out four, three-run home runs to defeat the Mountaineers in six innings, 13-5, then rode the right arm of freshman pitcher Jenny Jackson before rookie Stephanie Beatty delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning, winning 3-1 in a pitcher's duel.

The Catamounts improve to 24-12 overall, 5-0 in the SoCon, while the Apps fall to 14-20, 3-5 in league play.

Junior Ashley Adams added to her team-lead with her 11th home run of the year, blasting a three-run shot in the top of the first inning to give Western the early lead that it would never relinquish in game one of the twin bill. Adams finished 1-for-2 with two walks, three runs scored and the three RBI.

After being held scoreless in the second, Western added to its lead when Jackson added the second, three-run bomb in the top of the third to push the Cats advantage to 6-0. The Apps would push a run across in the bottom of the third to whittle the deficit to five, 6-1, and managed to slice the lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Bt in the visiting half of the sixth, the Catamounts struck again with the long ball with sophomore Savannah Filley and freshman Lauren Ross adding to their totals with 10 and nine, respectively, also hitting three-run home runs. Filley drove in junior Nikki Bost and freshman Allyson McCubbins, both of which drew walks to get on base. Ross came to the plate after back-to-back free passes were handed to Adams and Jackson, belting the three-run shot to give WCU the 12- lead. Pinch hitter Beth Hauser made the Mountaineers pay for their fifth walk of the frame when she drove in Beatty with a double down the left field line.

Appalachian managed to score two runs in the home half of the sixth, including a lead-off home run, but it wasn't enough to overcome the run rule, with the Catamounts earning the victory in six innings. Freshman Mendy McKenzie earned her 13th win of the season (13-3), throwing all six innings allowing five runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits while striking out four and walking just one.

The second game played to a 0-0 tie at the end of regulation, with the Catamounts tallying three runs in the top of the eighth and holding on for the 3-1 victory. Western starter, Jenny Jackson, threw all eight innings, scattering four hits and only allowing one run with eight strikeouts and three walks.

In the top of the eighth, pitching hero, Jackson, reached on a one-out error by the ASU third baseman, Glover. Ross then singled through the right side, putting two on with just one gone in the frame. The two runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball before Beatty delivered a two-out single to the right field wall, plating Jackson and Ross for the games' first runs and a 2-0, Catamount lead. Western would end the frame up by three as the next batter, freshman Sam Keppel, singled to center, driving in Beatty.

Appalachian State tried to rally in the bottom of the inning by loading the bases with no outs thanks to a WCU error and back-to-back singles. Jackson struck out the next batter she faced for the first out of the inning, and then induced a ground ball to Beatty at third, who threw on to first for the force but did allow one run to sneak home. With first base open, the Catamounts loaded the bases with the intentional walk before Jackson got ASU's Motsinger to fly out to center field to end the game.

Western out hit the Apps 7-to-4 in the second game. Ross led the way, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Beatty hit 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI and Keppel recorded the final RBI in the eighth inning.

Saturday's finale marked the second in the three-game history between WCU and ASU that has taken extra innings to determine a victory. Appalachian won the first meeting in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a Catamount fielding error, with WCU evening the score with Saturday afternoon's win.

Western, who swept the Furman Lady Paladins in their opening weekend, will look for its second-straight SoCon sweep on Sunday afternoon in Boone. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.