March 9, 2007

Western Carolina vs. Buffalo - Final Stats

Western Carolina vs. #18 Southern Illinois - Final Stats

Tallahassee, Fla. - Western Carolina used two, four-run innings and a complete-game pitching effort from sophomore Mendy McKenzie to take its opener at the Florida State Invitational, 8-5, over Buffalo on Friday afternoon. In the second game, the Catamounts were blanked by the 18th-ranked Southern Illinois Salukis, 12-0, in five innings to give WCU a split on the day.

The loss to SIU marks Western's first-ever game against a nationally-ranked opponent in the program's two-year history. The Catamounts (5-11) will face its second top 25 team on Saturday when it squares off against the 21st-ranked Georgia Bulldogs at 11:00 am. Play will continue at 1:30 pm against Florida A&M before bracket pairings are determined.

McKenzie allowed five earned runs while scattering nine hits and striking out five to secure her third victory of the season.

Trailing 2-0 after the Bulls (1-12) took the initial lead, scoring a duo of runs in the bottom of the second Western got hot in the top of the third. McKenzie helped her own cause with her lone hit of the game, leading off with a double to left center. The next batter, freshman Serena Smith, scored McKenzie with an RBI double, also to left center field. With one out and two on, sophomore Beth Hauser delivered a three-run home run to right field to put WCU ahead, 4-2.

Buffalo plated one run in the home portion of the fifth to cut the deficit to one, 4-3, before another four-spot in the top of the seventh pushed Western ahead by five. Back-to-back singles by Smith and sophomore Stephanie Beatty, followed by a walk by junior Savannah Filley loaded the bases with no outs. Two batters later, junior transfer Jamie Swank grounded out to short for the second out of the frame, scoring Smith from third. Two Bull errors that allowed freshmen Tatum Hargett and Danielle Reese to reach base also allowed three runs - two by Hargett and three by Reese - to touch the plate.

Things were kept interesting in the bottom of the seventh, though, as a lead off single was followed by a one-out walk and a two-out hit batsman loaded the bases for Buffalo. McKenzie struck out UB right fielder Samantha Gaetano swinging, but a dropped third strike allowed her to reach and a run to score. A passed ball during the next at bat plated a second run for the Bulls, moving runners to second and third with a walk again loading the bases. However, McKenzie pitched out of the jam, inducing an infield pop-up to short to end the threat and the game.

Smith continued her hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in. The Mooresville, N.C., native added a stolen base on the afternoon. Hauser led the team with three RBI, all coming on her three-run homer which was her first of the season.

Buffalo's Sharon Barr suffered her fifth loss of the season, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits with two walks and one strikeout in seven innings.

In the second game, Western never got on track offensively, falling to the 18th-ranked Southern Illinois Salukis 12-0 in five innings. Sophomore hurler Lauren Ross suffered the defeat, falling to 2-3 on the season.