May 11, 2006

Final Stats

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Western Carolina grabbed an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double by freshman Samm Keppel in the bottom of the second inning, but eighth-seeded UNC Greensboro rallied for four runs in the top of the fourth and it was all Spartan freshman Hannah Angel would need as UNCG knocked off the top-seeded Catamounts, 5-3, in the Southern Conference Softball Championship opener on Thursday morning at Jim Frost Stadium.

Western (41-19) drops into the loser's bracket in its first-ever championship appearance and will face fifth-seeded Appalachian State (27-29) at 4:00 pm at Frost in a second-round match-up after the first round was rained out on Wednesday. The Mountaineers dropped a 5-1 decision to fourth-seeded Chattanooga at Hargraves Field. The game can be heard in Cullowhee on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5, or on-line at www.WWCUFM.com with a 3:45 pm air time.

The story of the game was the pitching of UNCG's Angel and the four-run third inning. Angel pitched a complete game six-hitter, striking out six batters and giving up just two earned runs to earn her seventh win of the season (7-17). The win was the first for UNCG (20-40) in the postseason since beating UNC Wilmington 5-0 in the 2003 SoCon Tournament, snapping a six-game losing streak overall.

Western also stranded a total of 11 runners on the day in suffering its second-straight loss on the year and third in its past four games after rattling off 10-straight to win the regular season championship.

The Catamounts got on the board first, finding a run in the bottom of the second inning, as Keppel slapped a double to right center field to plate SoCon Freshman of the Year, Jenny Jackson, who singled to left to open the frame, as the Cats garnered the first run of the contest and take the early 1-0 advantage.

Half an inning later, the Spartans mounted a charge to take its first lead, one it would not relinquish. Centerfielder Krista Judge started things with a bunt single to take first base. Adrienne Audley followed it with a shot to right field off Western Carolina starting pitcher Mendy McKenzie that caromed off the top of the fence to give Audley her second home run of the season and the Spartans a 2-1 lead.

UNCG was not done, however, scoring two more runs in the inning to go up 4-1 and force the SoCon Pitcher of the Year out of the game. McKenzie gave way to Jackson in the top of the fourth, departing the game having surrendered nine hits and four earned runs in three innings pitched.

Western Carolina gained one run back in the bottom of the third inning after first team All-SoCon shortstop, freshman Heather Pritchard led off with a walk and was eventually scored from third on an RBI ground out by Jackson back to the pitcher, one of her two runs driven in on the day.

In the bottom of the fourth, Western managed to load the bases with one out after freshman Stephanie Beatty was hit to lead off the inning and junior Nikki Bost walked to put two on with no outs. Two batters later, McCubbins added to her SoCon-lead in walks drawing the free pass to load the bases. However, the Catamounts were unable to produce a run as UNCG's Audley wisely threw home on a hot shot to short by Pritchard to force out Beatty at the plate and Angel was able to get sophomore Savannah Filley to pop up, also to the shortstop, to end the inning.

UNC Greensboro added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when Judge singled in Vanessa Oakes to give the Spartans a 5-2 lead.

Junior Ashley Adams moved the Catamounts within reach in the bottom of the sixth inning when she singled in McCubbins on a two out single to right to make the game 5-3. Despite three hits in the inning, Western couldn't close the gap any further as Jackson struck out with runners on the corners to keep the game at the eventual final of 5-3 entering the seventh and final stanza.

McKenzie suffered the defeat, lasting just three innings and surrendering four earned runs on nine hits while striking out three to run her season total to 210, nine shy of moving to fifth on the SoCon's single-season charts. Jackson threw the final four innings in relief, allowing one earned run on four hits and also fanning three. The Fremont, N.C., native also led the team at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and two RBI. Three other Catamounts registered 1-for-3 showings as McCubbins, Pritchard, and Keppel each tallied one hit, Pritchard's being her seventh double of the year.

Western continues play at 4:00 pm today (Thursday) battling rival Appalachian State at 4:00 pm at Frost Stadium. The Catamounts took two of three from the Mountaineers earlier this season in Boone. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee or on-line at www.WWCUFM.com. Daniel Hooker and Josh Thompson will have the call with a 3:45 pm air time.