April 21, 2007

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Western Carolina softball (21-29, 5-9) dropped two close games to College of Charleston (29-17, 11-3) Saturday at Patriot Point. The Catamounts lost 3-2 and 2-1. Western Carolina closes out its series with College of Charleston on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start.

A walk-off homerun by College of Charleston's Jennifer Golden broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning of the first game of the doubleheader. Golden took relief pitcher Savannah Filley's first pitch offering over the center field wall to win the game 3-2.

Western Carolina's rally in the sixth inning tied the game and set up Golden's heroics in the seventh. College of Charleston pitcher Terri Mesko, who had been commanding early in the game, gave up four walks in the inning to load the bases and walked in Stephanie Beatty to give the Catamounts their first run of the game.

With two outs, and bases still loaded, Danielle Reese stepped to the plate and proved why she is one of the hottest hitters on the team. She hit a single between shortstop and second to score pinch runner Kayla Kelley to tie the game. The Catamounts attempted to take the lead when Head Coach Christine Hornak sent Mollie Fowler home as well but she was tagged out at home plate.

College of Charleston took the early 2-0 lead in the first inning of the game. Starting pitcher Lauren Ross had a rocky start giving up a lead-off walk and then a single to place runners on second and third. A Catamount error scored the first run of the game and an RBI single by Shannon Howard scored the second run of the game for the Cougars.

Ross only lasted 1.1 innings allowing one earned run and walking four. She was replaced by Filley who tossed 4.2 scoreless innings before giving up the homerun to Golden. Filley took the loss and falls to 4-7 on the season.

After four scoreless innings in the second game, Western Carolina struck first in the top of the fifth inning. Ross drew a lead off walk to start the inning. Jamie Swank got her first hit of the day when she hit a bloop single over the first baseman's head to place runners at first and second. Heather Pritchard reached first on a fielder's choice and Ross was out on the play. With two outs, Mendy McKenzie knocked an RBI single to left field to score Swank. Pritchard tried to score on the play as well but she was out at home.

College of Charleston answered in its half of the fifth inning with two runs to take the lead. Catamount pitcher McKenzie hit Kobe Schooley to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brittany Small. Izmena Cabrera singled and an RBI single by Amber Shifflett scored Schooley to tie the game. The Cougars took the lead thanks to a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Golden.

McKenzie took the loss in the game and fall to 9-15 on the game. She went six innings allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four.