Feb. 21, 2007

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina captured its first victory of the 2007 season, downing Winston-Salem State, 9-0 in five innings in what was originally scheduled to be the first game of a twin bill Wednesday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex. However, lightning and heaving rain forced the second game to be halted in the top of the fourth inning with Western leading, 5-0. As the downpour continued on an already damp field, a decision was made to cancel the game with neither team counting stats nor win/loss.

The win on Wednesday was also the first for WCU head coach Christine Hornak and staff.

Catamount sophomore pitcher Mendy McKenzie earned her first no-hit, shutout victory on the day, tossing five solid innings in the circle while giving up just two walks and a hit batsman, while striking out eight. The Clemmons, N.C., native helped her own cause by going 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, three runs scored and a RBI.

WCU (1-5), which scored all of its runs after two were out in each inning, broke through in the home half of the second inning. With two on and two out, sophomore Heather Pritchard singled to left center to score both McKenzie and senior Nikki Bost, who each had drawn walks.

Leading 2-0 in the home half of the fourth, the Catamounts again rallied with two out as McKenzie singled down the left field line and advanced to second when Pritchard drew a walk after running the count full. Freshman Serena Smith was first-pitch swinging and laced a singled down the right field line to move Pritchard to third and scored McKenzie from second. On the ensuing play, Smith took a huge walking lead off of first, eventually stealing the base which allowed Pritchard to dash home on the throw to second giving Western a 4-0 advantage.

Still in the fourth, with two on following a Stephanie Beatty walk, junior Savannah Filley belted the Catamounts' first home run of the season, a three-run shot to left center to push WCU ahead, 7-0.

Western pushed the game to the mercy rule one inning later, tallying a pair of runs on two hits in the top of the fifth. Again with two gone, Bost doubled down the left field line before McKenzie roped her first-career triple to drive in her teammate from second base. WSSU's throw back in from the outfield skipped across the infield and rolled into Western's dugout, by rule scoring McKenzie from third and thus ending the game.

In addition to McKenzie's perfect day at the plate, Filley went 2-for-3 with the homer and three RBI, with Pritchard driving in a pair on a 1-for-2 showing with a walk. Beatty was walked three times on the afternoon, with Bost scoring twice on a 1-for-2, one walk outing.

For Winston-Salem State (1-6), Amber Shore suffered her third defeat of the season (1-3) after going four and two thirds innings, allowing nine runs - eight earned - with six walks and striking out five.

Western returns to action in tournament play this weekend at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic. The Catamounts are scheduled to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd this Friday (Feb. 23) at 10:00 am before facing the host 49ers at 4:30 pm.