Feb. 14, 2007

Final Stats

Columbia, S.C. - Western Carolina junior Savannah Filley broke up South Carolina pitcher Kate Pouliot's bid for a no-hitter with a pinch hit single in the top of the seventh inning. Then, an RBI double to center by sophomore Lauren Ross put the Catamounts on the board, but it was not enough as the Gamecocks plated a pair of runs in home half of both the fifth and sixth innings to thwart WCU sophomore Mendy McKenzie's valiant pitching effort as Western fell 4-1 Wednesday afternoon at Beckham Field.

The loss was Western's fifth-straight to open the season, matching the longest skid in the program's two-year history.

Western (0-5) went toe-to-toe with the SEC's Gamecocks with dueling no-hitters through four and both pitching shutouts until the bottom of the fifth inning. After McKenzie struck out the first two batters in the frame, South Carolina's Adele Voigt reached on an error by Catamount second baseman, freshman Tatum Hargett. Instead of being out of the inning, the next batter, McKenna Hughes, belted her 25th career home run to give the Gamecocks the 2-0 advantage.

South Carolina managed to plate two additional runs in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a hit batsman and a WCU error, to pull ahead 4-0. Half an inning later, Filley pinch hit for senior Nikki Bost, sending a shot up the first base line to break up USC's no-hitter. Following back-to-back strikeouts - and with Bost substituted back in to run for Filley - sophomore Lauren Ross lined a double into centerfield to score the runner from first.

Prior to the seventh inning rally, Western's best opportunity to score came in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore Heather Pritchard drew a lead-off walk to represent the Catamounts' first base runner of the day. After back-to-back swinging strikeouts, Pritchard stole second to move into scoring position, but a third strikeout ended the threat.

Filley and Ross were the lone Catamounts to post hits on the afternoon, with Pritchard representing the only other base runner for WCU.

McKenzie was saddled with her third loss of the season despite throwing six solid innings, surrendering four runs - only two of which were earned - with seven strikeouts and five walks. USC's Pouliot earned her fourth victory of the season (4-0) after tossing seven innings of one-run softball with 11 K's and one free pass.

Western will try to snap the five-game skid in one week, opening its 2007 home schedule next Wednesday, Feb. 21 with a double-header against Winston-Salem State. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 2:00 pm at the on-campus Catamount Softball Complex.