March 31, 2007

Box Score Game 1

Box Score Game 2

ELON, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (14-21, 1-4 SoCon) dropped a pair of close games in its doubleheader with Southern Conference foe Elon (21-15, 5-0 SoCon) on Saturday. The Catamounts fell 1-0 and 3-2 at East Field.

Western Carolina lost the first game 1-0 in a heartbreaker. With two outs and a runner on third base, Elon pitcher Melanie Helterbran popped up a ball to shallow center that dropped in for a single. It allowed Tracey Dahlen to score the winning run in the game.

There were just 10 hits between the two teams, with the Catamounts accounting for four of them. Western Carolina strung together three of those hits in the top of the sixth inning. Stephanie Beatty led off the inning with a single but she was out when Savannah Filley hit into a double play. Lauren Ross hit a two out single to keep the inning alive and Fowler followed with a double to left field. The inning ended when Ross attempted to go home, when Fowler doubled, but she was thrown out at the plate.

Ross took the loss in the game and falls to 6-6 on the season. She went 6.2 innings allowing one run on six hits and struck out one.

There were three scoreless innings in the second game, before Western Carolina broke the game open. Beatty drew a walk and Filley was awarded first after being hit by a pitch to open the fourth inning. A sacrifice bunt by Ross placed runners on second and third, which set up the first runs of the game. Mollie Fowler hit a sharp ball to the pitcher, but the ball hit off the back off of Elon hurler Carol Lilley for a single and an RBI, scoring Beatty. Kayla Kelley hit into a fielder's choice but picked up an RBI when Filley scored.

Helterbran cut the lead in half in the Phoenix's half of the fourth inning. She took pitcher Mendy McKenzie's 1-0 offering over the left field wall for the only homerun of the day.

A Catamount miscue handed Elon the opportunity to tie the game. With two outs and a runner on second, Debbi Zeigler popped up a ball that was bobbled and dropped to allow Patti Webber to score the unearned run.

Elon took the lead (3-2) in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jamie Rao led off the inning with a double and moved to third off a sacrifice bunt by Laurin Smith. Rao scored off an RBI single by Brandi Jones.

Western Carolina attempted a rally in the top of the seventh inning. Pinch hitter Jamie Swank led off the inning with a single to center field and advanced to second off a wild pitch. Danielle Reese hit a ball to the third baseman, but she threw the ball high above the first baseman's head. Swank moved to third and attempted to go home but was thrown out. On the same play, Reese tried to go to third and was also thrown out. McKenzie's fly ball to the outfield ended the game.

McKenzie took the loss in game two and falls to 6-14 on the year. She allowed two earned runs on seven hits and struck out four.

Western Carolina completes its three-game series with Elon on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. at East Field.