April 5, 2006

Western Carolina at Mercer - Game One

Western Carolina at Mercer - Game Two

Macon, Ga. - Western Carolina struggled to find a rhythm offensively in game one of a twin bill, then got on track at the plate but could not defend nine walks in the second, falling in doubleheader action at Mercer, 8-0 and 5-4, Wednesday night in non-conference action.

The Catamounts (24-15) could only muster two hits versus five strikeouts in the opening game, five-inning run rule shutout against the Bears, while Mercer touched up Western's pitching for eight runs on 11 hits. Tallying the two hits for WCU were freshman Stephanie Beatty, who doubled, and starting pitcher, freshman Jenny Jackson. In the circle, Jackson surrendered six runs, five of which were earned, on six hits with one walk in just two and a third innings to suffer her third loss of the season, falling to 8-3. Sophomore Savannah Filley threw the final two and a thirds in relief holding the Bears to two runs, both earned, on five hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Giving up a run in the bottom of the second, Western trailed by just one entering the bottom half of the third. However, Mercer managed to push across five runs in the home half of the third inning, including a three-run home run to right by Jamie Madruga that chased Jackson. The Bears plated two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth and had two on with two out when the game was called by run rule.

Western appeared more like itself in the night cap, regaining its offensive prowess by pounding out nine hits, including WCU's lone homer of the doubleheader, before late inning pitching woes allowed the Bears to mount the come from behind victory, 5-4.

Jackson put the Catamounts on the board in the top of the first with short-lived, 1-0, lead, grounding out to drive in the game's first run from third. The Bears took advantage of a bases loaded walk by WCU starter Mendy McKenzie in the home half of the frame to knot the game at one, which is where it stood until the top of the third. With one on, junior Ashley Adams belted her team-leading 12th home run of the season, clearing the wall in left center off Bear starting pitcher, Stephanie Rossman, to give the Catamounts the 3-1 lead.

WCU added a fourth run to its lead an inning later when freshman Allyson McCubbins lifted a sacrifice fly to the outfield, scoring Beatty for the 4-1 advantage which it would hold until the bottom of the sixth. Down to its final six outs, Mercer rallied by first taking advantage of free passes which plated two runs to slice the deficit to one, 4-3. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Bears' Kristin Talamantes ripped a shot into left field scoring two and giving Mercer its first lead of the game, 5-4.

April Cunningham, who relieved Rossman in the fifth, worked quickly in the seventh and struck out the final batter to pick up her first collegiate win as the freshman struck out two in three innings of hitless relief.

McKenzie suffered the loss for Western, her second-straight defeat dating back to game three of the series in Boone against Appalachian State, despite holding the Bears at bay for five solid innings. The Clemmons, N.C., native tossed five and two thirds innings, running into the most trouble in sixth. She was credited with allowing all five runs on just four hits while striking out five, but did surrender a career-worst nine walks. Filley threw the final two thirds innings in scoreless and hitless relief.

Freshman Heather Pritchard led the Catamounts at the plate in the second game, going 2-for-4 with her fourth double of the season, a stole base and a run scored, with freshman Samm Keppel finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Adams led four players with a single hit in the contest, driving in a team-best two runs.

Western, currently tied atop the SoCon with a 5-1 league record, returns to conference play this weekend with a three-game set against the Elon Phoenix. WCU and Elon will play two on Saturday, with the first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 1:00 pm, and conclude the series with a 1:00 pm start time on Sunday at the Catamount Softball Complex.