April 15, 2006

Final Stats

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Western Carolina continued its run through the Southern Conference on Friday night, posting a 5-0 shutout win over perennial league power, Chattanooga, at Frost Stadium. The Catamounts hit back-to-back homeruns in the fifth inning to stand at 65 as a team on the season, setting a conference record with subsequent homer the remainder of this year.

Western (29-15, 8-1 SoCon) got on the board in the top of the first as freshman Jenny Jackson lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring classmate Allyson McCubbins from third after a hit batsman and two walks had the bases loaded. The Catamounts broke the league homerun record in the fifth with back-to-back round-trippers, both with two outs. With freshman Samm Keppel aboard with one of her two hits in three plate appearances, freshman Heather Pritchard put the Catamounts into the record book with a blast that cleared the left field fence for a two-run homer. The next batter, sophomore Savannah Filley, followed that with a homerun of her own to make it 4-0 Catamounts.

The Cats would add an insurance run in the top half of the seventh as Keppel belted a one-out double to left field then advanced to third on an arrant throw by the Lady Moc left fielder. Two batters later, Pritchard singled to short, driving in Keppel and pushing the lead to 5-0.

After recording the first two outs in the home half of the seventh on a strike out and ground out, the Lady Mocs (26-28, 4-6 SoCon) tried to rally its way back into the game with two away. Toni Hutchison reached on an infield single and Laci Upchurch hit a shot that bent foul over the left field fence. She was walked to put a pair of runners on, but the Catamounts ended the rally with an unassisted out at third.

On the night, Pritchard went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Keppel went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Filley was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Jackson had the remaining RBI.

Freshman Mendy McKenzie earned her SoCon-leading 16th win of the season, surrendering just four hits to Chattanooga striking out six and walking three.

Jeannie Cochran, Brittney Whittier, Ashlan Clarkson and Hutchison each picked up hits for the Lady Mocs. Ashley Frizzell struck out nine batters and gave up four earned runs on five hits.

The two teams will be back at it Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm at Frost Stadium for a doubleheader. Western will look to tie its longest winning streak of the season, six games, in the first game of the twin bill.