Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 5, 2006
Final Stats
Summerville, S.C. - The Western Carolina softball team concluded play in the Charleston Southern Spring Softball Tournament on Saturday, going 3-1 in round robin play before falling in bracket competition. The Catamounts pounded out 13 hits, including two homeruns, to defeat Rutgers, 11-3, in the first game of the day, but were unable to continue the hot play, falling to Furman, 7-0 in round robin action and UNC Wilmington, 7-2, in bracket play to conclude the tournament.
Against Rutgers on Saturday morning, the Catamounts would score all the runs it would need in the bottom of the first inning, holding on for the 11-3 victory in five innings. After sitting the Scarlet Knights down in order in the top of the first, freshman Allyson McCubbins led off the home half of the frame with a solo shot to straight away centerfield to give the Catamounts the early advantage. WCU would load the bases with a single by freshman Stephanie Beatty, a walk to sophomore Savannah Filley, and a single through the left side by freshman Lauren Ross, bringing junior Ashley Adams to the plate. With a 0-1 count, Adams blasted a shot over the centerfield fence for the first grand slam in Catamount softball history, giving Western the 5-0 lead.
The Catamounts expanded the lead to eight in the bottom of the second, as Beatty doubled to left center and was advance to third on a single by freshman Jenny Jackson. The two were plated by Filley, who singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by the right fielder. Filley moved to third on a passed ball and Adams drover her in with a single.
A half inning later, Rutgers answered Western's three-spot by scoring three runs on a double up the middle, cutting the lead to 8-3. But the Catamounts put the game away in the bottom of the fourth as Filley, who reached on a fielder's choice, crossed home on a throwing error by the Scarlet Knight pitcher. Ross, who walked, scored when Bost singled up the middle and freshman Samm Keppel, who reached on the miscue that scored Filley, was plated on a single to right by sophomore Heather Pritchard.
On the day, Adams led four WCU players going 2-for-3, adding a game-high five RBI in the win. Also hitting .667 for the Catamounts were Beatty, freshman Jenny Jackson, and junior Nikki Bost, with Bost, Filley, McCubbins, and sophomore Heather Pritchard all driving in a run.
Freshman pitcher Mendy McKenzie threw two and two thirds innings in the starting role, scattering three runs on three hits while striking out four. Filley came on in relief in the top of the third, holding Rutgers scoreless in two and a third only allowing one hit while striking out two.
Western could not get the offense going in its final game of round robin pool play, falling to Southern Conference foe, Furman, 7-0 in non-conference action. Entering the single-elimination bracket play at 3-1 in the tournament, Western surrendered five solo round trippers to the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, falling 7-2 and was eliminated from the tournament.
Jackson suffered her first defeat of the season against Furman, throwing all six innings and giving up seven runs on nine hits while striking out four and walking two. Offensively, the Catamounts only managed three hits against the Paladins, with Pritchard, Adams, and Filley all tallying a single hit in the loss.
Western Carolina returns to action on Tuesday, March 7, hosting the Pittsburgh Panthers in double-header action at the Catamount Softball Complex in Cullowhee. The twin bill is set for a 2:00 pm first pitch.
