April 30, 2006

Final Stats | 

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina freshman Lauren Ross opened the program's history with a solo home run to straight away centerfield to record the first-ever base hit by a Catamount. On Sunday afternoon, Ross struck again, belting a solo shot to center in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift Western to the 2-1 victory which not only completed the sweep of the second-place College of Charleston Cougars, but also clinched the Southern Conference regular season title.

The Catamounts (40-16, 15-2 SoCon) became the first-ever, first-year program to win the SoCon regular season and lock up the number one seed in the 2006 SoCon Softball Championship, which is scheduled for May 10-13 at Chattanooga's Frost Stadium. Sunday also marked the final home game of the season for WCU, completing its first-ever home season with a record of 19-3 at the Catamount Softball Complex.

"I am so proud of this team and what they've accomplished," said first-year head coach Megan Smith. "Our girls have always believed that this day would come. They were determined to clinch the regular season championship at home so they could share it with all of our supporters. To sweep a team like the College of Charleston took a total team effort."

After taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth, drama played out in the seventh before the Catamounts could clinch. CofC junior Kolby Schooley led off with a line drive single that ricocheted off the glove of freshman Stephanie Beatty at third base. Schooley moved to second on a passed ball, putting the tying run in scoring position with no outs. The next batter, sophomore Jessica Lyness flew out to right field for the first out of the inning. It was ruled on the play that while trying to advance to third, Schooley left second base too early and was called out.

With two gone, leadoff hitter Izmena Cabrera doubled to right center to again put a Cougar runner in scoring position as senior Leshe Russell stepped into the box. After nearly being called out on strikes by an 0-2 pitch, Russell lifted the 1-2 offering to the fence in right center where Western juniors Nikki Bost and Ashley Adams were converging on the play. Adams, coming in from right field, tipped the ball with her glove and shoulder, but maintained enough poise to snare the ball in mid-air with her throwing hand to record the final out and clinch the championship.

Ross finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and both WCU runs scored. Freshman Samm Keppel drove in the first Catamount run on her lone hit of the contest, with Bost tallying one hit with her second double of the season as the bottom half of the order recorded all four WCU hits. The College of Charleston (26-28, 11-7 SoCon) was led by Cabrera with a 2-for-4 performance as the only Cougar to record multiple hits on a seven-hit day. Junior Jennifer Golden delivered CofC's only other extra base hit with a double on a 1-for-3 afternoon.

Western opened scoring in the game in the second inning by manufacturing a run. Ross opened the inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Beatty. The next batter, Bost, nearly beat out a sacrifice attempt, which put Ross on third with two outs for Keppel. The left-handed hitting second baseman slapped the first pitch she saw at third, beating it out and scoring Ross from third base for the 1-0 lead.

The next half inning, though, Western gave the run back as the College of Charleston evened the game at one a piece as Lyness, who singled to open the frame, scored on a passed ball from third.

After playing the next three innings scoreless, Ross provided what would prove to be the game-winner with the one-out home run to center, her 11th homer of the season and Western's SoCon-record 80th as a team.

Western freshman Mendy McKenzie pitched a complete game to secure her SoCon-leading 22nd victory of the season. The Clemmons, N.C., native held the Cougars to one unearned run on seven hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. Cougar rookie, Shannon Howard, was saddled with the loss despite striking out a career-best eight in six innings of work. She held WCU to four hits, but surrendered two earned runs, including the solo HR in the sixth.

Western Carolina will conclude its inaugural regular season next Saturday and Sunday in Statesboro, Ga., facing the third-place Georgia Southern Eagles for a three-game set. First pitch of Saturday's (May 6) doubleheader is set for 3:00 pm, with Sunday's regular season finale scheduled for 1:00 pm.