March 18, 2007

Western Carolina vs. UNC-Wilmington - Box Score

Western Carolina vs. Radford - Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (10-17) won the Second Annual Best Western Catamount Classic with a 6-3 victory over Radford (21-14) Sunday at Catamount Complex. The club advanced to the championship game against the Highlanders by defeating UNC-Wilmington 11-3 in the first game of the day.

Catamount sophomore Stephanie Beatty was named the 2007 Tournament MVP. In five games she had a .500 batting average with eight hits, four doubles, one homerun and six RBI. Fellow sophomores Mendy McKenzie and Lauren Ross were named to the All-Tournament team. Western Carolina went 3-2 in the tournament with a team batting average of .343.

Radford took the early lead in the championship game with a run in the bottom of the second. Cassie Rhodes hit a homerun over the left field wall for the early advantage. A triple by Nikki Bost in the fourth inning set up the tying run for the Catamounts. Beatty's sacrifice fly to right field scored Bost to tie the game at one.

Radford posted two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to retake the lead. Pitcher Ashley Taylor hit a two RBI double to help her cause on the mound. Western Carolina came back in the top of the fifth inning to notch four runs on four hits.

Back-to-back singles by Tatum Hargett and Jamie Swank put runners on first and second and a perfect sacrifice bunt by Ross moved Hargett and Swank to second and third. With two outs, McKenzie slapped the ball up the middle between first and second to score Hargett and Swank. Bost drew a walk to extend the inning and Beatty hit a shot to centerfield for the two RBI double.

Ross helped the Catamounts add to their lead in the top of the seventh with a solo homerun over the centerfield wall. It was her second long ball of the day, as she hit a three-run bomb against UNC-Wilmington, and her third of the season.

McKenzie earned the win on the mound going the distance in the game. She allowed three runs on four hits and struck out seven. She improves to 5-9 on the season.

Western Carolina advanced to the championship game of the Best Western Catamount Classic for the second consecutive year with an 11-3 victory over UNC-Wilmington. The Catamounts defeated the Seahawks in five innings.

The shortened game was thanks to a three-run effort in the bottom of the fifth. Hargett singled to centerfield to start the inning and after Swank struck out looking, Ross drew a walked to place runners on first and second. Danielle Reese hit a two RBI double which plated Hargett and Ross and then advanced to third off a UNC-Wilmington error. Mollie Fowler came in as a pinch hitter and delivered a single to place runners at first and third. Bost ended the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield which allowed Reese to score.

UNC-Wilmington opened the game scoring two runs in the top of the first. A two RBI double by Lisa White scored the pair of runs for the Seahawks.

Western Carolina tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Bost drew a one out walk and Beatty reached on a fielder's choice and Bost got to second off an error by the Seahawks. Savannah Filley's double to left field scored Bost and Beatty to tie the game.

The Seahawks took the lead in the top of the third inning after Krista Searle drew a walk and scored off a Catamount error.

The Catamounts exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Beatty led off the inning with a solo homerun, her second of the season. Filley came up and hit her second double of the game and Beth Hauser and Hargett drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Swank's single to left centerfield scored Filley and Hauser. Ross followed with a three-run homerun.

Ross picked up the win on the mound improving to 3-4 on the season. She tied her season-high with eight strikeouts in the game, allowing just three hits and two earned runs.

Western Carolina travels to Gardner-Webb on Wednesday in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C.

CONSOLATION GAME - Detroit 7, UNC-Wilmington 1

Detroit won the consolation bracket with a 7-1 victory over UNC-Wilmington. The Titans had 13 hits in the game and got homeruns from Kaleigh Rafter and Adrienne Baran.

All-Tournament Team

Stephanie Beatty (WCU) - Tournament MVP

Mendy McKenzie (WCU)

Lauren Ross (WCU)

Sarah Himan (Radford)

Ashley Carlson (Radford)

Michelle Baggio (Detroit)

Carley Hughes (UNC-Wilmington)