April 6, 2007

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Freshman Mollie Fowler hit a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel Western Carolina softball (18-22, 3-4 SoCon) to a 5-4 victory over Southern Conference leading Chattanooga (24-22, 5-2 SoCon) Friday at Catamount Complex. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. to close out the three-game series.

The Catamounts are now riding a four-game winning streak, their longest of the season. The club also hit four homeruns against Chattanooga the most in a game this year.

Western Carolina looked to have the game in the bag in the top of the seventh, as the team enjoyed a 4-1 advantage over the Lady Mocs. Things got interesting in the seventh, however, when pitcher Lauren Ross, who had tossed six strong innings, began to waiver a bit. She gave up a walk to Brittney Whittier and then a homerun when Laci Upchurch launched a rocker over the left field wall.

With Chattanooga now just down by one run, Head Coach Christine Hornak replaced Ross with relief pitcher Savannah Filley. Lady Moc Jeannie Cochran drew a walk off Filley and then advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs, Cochran scored off a ground out to tie the game.

Western Carolina didn't waste anytime getting on the board, scoring in the bottom of the first. With two outs, sophomore third baseman Stephanie Beatty hit her seventh homerun of the year to give the Catamounts an early 1-0 lead.

The lead swelled to 2-0 thanks to lone senior Nikki Bost in the bottom of the third inning. Bost hit her second homerun of the season when she nailed Lady Mocs' pitcher Ashley Frizzell's offering over the left field wall.

Chattanooga got a run in the fifth inning. With one out, Cochran singled up the middle and scored off an RBI single by Tia Blosser.

Bost accounted for the Catamounts third run of the game. With one out she earned a walk and stole second. She moved to third on a fly out by Beatty and scored off a throwing error by Chattanooga.

Fowler would score her first key run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. She hit a homerun over the left field wall to give the Catamounts their fourth run in the game. The run would be momentous for Western Carolina because Chattanooga would rebound and score three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at four.

Ross got the start in the game lasting six inning allowing three runs on four hits and striking out five. Since Ross left with the Catamounts leading 4-3 and Filley gave up the tying run, she gets a no decision. Filley gets the win and improves to 4-4 on the year.

Frizzell started the game for Chattanooga and was replaced by Brooke Loudermilk. Frizzell also gets a no decision and Loudermilk takes the loss, falling to 14-9 on the season.

Fowler was huge for the Catamounts in the win. She was 3-for-3 with two homeruns, two RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Heather Pritchard also had a multiple hit game with two singles.