March 6, 2007

Western Carolina vs. LaSalle - Final Stats

Western Carolina vs. Lehigh - Final Stats

Orlando, Fla. - Western Carolina used two runs in the top of the sixth inning to down the La Salle Explorers, 2-1, in the first of back-to-back games Tuesday morning in the 2007 Spring Rebel Games. In the second game, a seventh-inning balk allowed Lehigh to take a 1-0 victory over the Catamounts.

WCU (4-10) finished 2-2 in four games at the large collegiate tournament which spans most of the month of March and encompasses teams from all three NCAA Divisions and NAIA schools.

After surrendering a run to La Salle in the bottom of the fifth inning off two singles and an infield RBI, Western (4-10) claimed the lead for good in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Beth Hauser singled and raced home on a double to left center by junior transfer Jamie Swank, who advanced to third on a throw home. The next batter, freshman Tatum Hargett, plated the go ahead run with an RBI single to right center for the 2-1 margin.

Sophomore pitcher Mendy McKenzie earned her second win of the season after going the distance, scattering five hits and allowing just one run while striking out six Explorers.

In the first game, sophomore Lauren Ross was the hard-luck loser, as Lehigh scored one unearned run on a balk in the top of the seventh inning. The Mountain Hawks took advantage of a base hit and a wild pitch to move the runner into scoring position before the pitching error occurred on a cross-up between the hurler and rookie catcher, Danielle Reese. Overall, Ross tossed seven solid innings, walking two and striking out a pair in the defeat.

In the home half of the final inning, WCU managed to load the bases but could not manage the tying run.

On the day, Hargett led WCU by going 3-for-5 with a walk and an RBI while Hauser was 3-for-5 with a run scored. McKenzie helped her own cause in the first game, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk.

Western Carolina returns to action this weekend in the Florida State Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla. The Catamounts face Buffalo and Southern Illinois this Friday beginning at 1:30 pm, and are scheduled to face the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida A&M on Saturday before bracket play that afternoon.