April 18, 2007

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - A stellar performance, on the mound, by Mendy McKenzie highlighted a doubleheader split between Western Carolina softball (21-27) and Georgia State (26-23) Wednesday at the Catamount Complex. The Catamounts won the first game 5-4 and lost the second game 12-4.

Mendy McKenzie pitched a masterful game in the Catamounts' first contest against Georgia State. The sophomore hurler tied her career-high with 11 strikeouts, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. She improves to 9-14 on the season.

Western Carolina got some clutch hitting in the game as the Catamounts scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take game one in extra innings. Down 4-2, and working with the international tie-breaker rule, sophomore Stephanie Beatty was placed on second to start the eighth. Savannah Filley tied the game with one swing hitting a booming homerun over the centerfield wall. With two outs, Jamie Swank notched her first hit of the game to put the winning run on first base. It was a perfect setting for Heather Pritchard who hit a double to centerfield to score Swank and win the game.

McKenzie's only serious miscue, to take a bit of shine off her performance, was a walk-off homerun she gave up to Jessica Gowin in the fifth inning. It broke a scoreless tie between the two clubs.

The Catamounts took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nikki Bost and Beatty had back-to-back singles to place runners on first and second. Filley laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to place runners on second and third. With one out, Mollie Fowler hit a ball to the Panther's second baseman and it went through her legs and dribbled to the outfield. The Georgia State miscue allowed Bost and Beatty to score and give Western Carolina the lead.

Western Carolina looked to have the game sewn up in the top of the seventh inning after McKenzie forced Allison Bradford to ground out and struck out Gowin for the two quick outs. Holly Willis kept Georgia State alive when she hit a single to the right side. Georgia State tied the game on two Western Carolina errors. Willis stole second and the throw down to second by Catamount catcher Danielle Reese was wide and went into the outfield. Willis moved to third and then went home to tie the game on Western Carolina's second error on the play.

Georgia State had the momentum in the top of the eighth inning. Lauren Fetters was placed on second, Danielle Roddy drew a walk and Mary Kathryn Branan singled to load the bases. McKenzie gave up a walk to Nichole Griffin to walk in a run, scoring Fetters. The Panthers added a second run with an RBI single by Rachel Cunnigham.

Homeruns assured a Georgia State victory in the second game. After two consecutive errors by Western Carolina to start the second game, Griffin hit a three RBI homerun to give the Panthers the early lead.

McKenzie opened the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off double. With one out, Beatty hit an RBI double to score McKenzie.

In the third inning, Georgia State added two more runs again thanks to a homerun. Fetters hit a two-run homer to add to the Panthers lead. Lily Skelton hit the Panthers third homerun of the game, a solo shot in the fifth inning.

Western Carolina pushed across a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Catamounts had bases loaded and one out but could only produce one run. Beatty hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Pritchard who led off the inning with a single.

Georgia State blew the game open with five runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Facing a shortened game, with Georgia State leading by nine runs, Lauren Ross hit a towering homerun over the center field wall. Ross now leads Western Carolina with eight homeruns this season. Fowler followed with a double and then moved to third on a ground out by Jamie Swank. Pritchard beat out a bunt to place runners on first and third to extend the inning. An RBI single to centerfield by Reese scored Fowler for the second run of the inning.

The Panthers tacked on an additional run in the seventh inning.

Filley started the second game and took the loss. She fell to 4-6 on the season pitching five innings. Ross came in to toss the sixth inning and McKenzie pitched the seventh inning.

Western Carolina travels to Charleston, S.C. this weekend to take on Southern Conference foe College of Charleston. The doubleheader on Saturday begins at 1 p.m. and the single game is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.