March 28, 2007

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Western Carolina softball (14-20) swept South Carolina State (2-27) 10-1, 10-0 Wednesday at Lady Bulldog Field. It was the first time this season the Catamounts have pulled off a doubleheader sweep. Western Carolina is also riding its longest winning streak of the season, having won three consecutive games. Western Carolina returns to action on Saturday when the club travels to Elon in Southern Conference play. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and the single game of the three-game series starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The games had a couple of momentous occasions, besides the pair of wins. Sophomore Heather Prichard returned to the lineup for the first time since February 21, having sat out due to an injury. It also saw the first long ball of the season for Mollie Fowler, who hit a two run shot in the second game.

Lauren Ross and Mendy McKenzie both had stellar performances on the mound. Ross tossed the first game going five innings allowing one run on five hits and striking out six. She improves to 6-5 on the season. Savannah Filley closed out the shortened, six inning game, tossing one inning and fanning three of the four batters she faced. In the second game, McKenzie hurled her second shutout of the season, tying her season-high with nine strikeouts. In five innings, McKenzie allowed just two hits and improves to 6-11 on the season.

McKenzie drew a walk and Kayla Kelley was hit by a pitch to begin the first inning of the opening game with South Carolina State. The Lady Bulldogs recorded two outs but wouldn't get out of the inning until Lauren Ross put the Catamounts on the scoreboard. She hit a shot to centerfield, just missing going over the fence, for a two RBI double.

In the second inning a walk would again come back to haunt the Bulldogs. Senior Nikki Bost walked to start the second inning and she stole second to put her in scoring positing. A double by Danielle Reese to left field plated Bost.

With one out, Reese got her second hit of the game in the fourth inning. There were runners at first and second when McKenzie slapped the ball to right field. With two outs, an errant throw by the Bulldogs allowed Stephanie Beatty to reach first base and Reese to score. A single by Savannah Filley scored McKenzie. Then inning ended when Beatty tried to go home as well but she was thrown out at the plate.

South Carolina scored one run in its half of the fourth. With one out, Krystal Anthony hit a single to right field and she scored off an RBI single by Janae Palmer.

The sixth inning saw the return of Catamount sophomore Pritchard as a pinch hitter. She popped up to the pitcher, but the significance of her return far outweighs her performance at the plate, as she will help the short-staffed Catamounts as the season continues.

Reese continued her hot-hitting by knocking her second double of the game and third of hit of the game, in the sixth, and McKenzie notched her second consecutive hit to put runners at first and second. Kayla Kelley picked up just her second hit of the season and it was an RBI single that scored Reese. Ross kept the inning alive when she hit a single to right centerfield to push across her third and fourth RBIs of the game. Mollie Fowler got into the hitting action as well, hitting a double to centerfield scoring pinch runner Beth Hauser and Ross.

Western Carolina picked up where it left off in the scoring department to start the second inning. The Catamounts posted four runs to open the game, all with two outs. With runners on first and second, Ross singled to right field to score Beatty. Filley also scored on the play off a Lady Bulldog error. With Ross at second, she had a short run around the bases when Fowler hit a homerun over the left field wall to score the final two runs of the inning.

The Catamounts added three runs in the second inning. With two outs and runners on first and second Beatty hit an RBI single to right field to score McKenzie. Filley's frozen rope to centerfield scored Kelley and Beatty.

With one out Bost hit a single and then advanced to second off a perfect bunt by Jamie Swank. A single by Reese to left field moved Bost to third and she motored home off a Bulldog error.

Western Carolina tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth inning. A hits batsman and a pair of walks loaded the bases with Catamounts. A single to centerfield by McKenzie scored Bost and Pritchard was out at third when she tried to advance. A wild pitch moved McKenzie to second and Reed to third. The second consecutive passed ball by Lady Bulldog pitcher TaTareka Polite allowed Reese to score.