March 20, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (6-17) picked up its first doubleheader sweep of the season defeating North Carolina A&T (11-8-1) 4-0, 11-7 Thursday at the Aggie Softball Complex.

Junior transfer Michelle Tating got the starting nod in the first game and notched the first shutout of her Catamount career. She tossed seven scoreless innings allowing three hits, striking out eight and giving up just one walk. The Catamount offense offered up four runs to help secure Tating the victory.

Western Carolina got on the board early in the first game as senior Jamie Swank led off the first inning with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by Danielle Reese and a ground out by Amber Hawkins placed Swank on second and third, she scored off an RBI double by Beth Hauser. Junior Stephanie Beatty singled through the right side to score Hauser.

The Catamounts tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Hauser led off the inning with a single and after a pair of groundouts, Rachel Drawdy singled up the middle to keep the inning alive. Hauser moved to third on the play and Drawdy advanced to second on the throw. Redshirt sophomore Mollie Fowler hit a two RBI single up the middle to score Hauser and Drawdy.

Hauser and Drawdy each had two hits in the game and the Catamounts ended the game with 10 hits.

Freshman hurler Lilly McDonagh got the start in the second game against North Carolina A&T. She went 4.1 innings allowing four runs on seven hits and left the game with the Catamounts down 4-2. McDonagh was replaced by Michelle Tating who completed the game and picked up the winning improving to 5-3 on the season.

Western Carolina jumped on the board early just like the Catamounts did in the first game. Swank opened the first inning reaching first off an Aggies error and after a pair of walks by Camp and Hawkins the bases were loaded with no outs. Fowler hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to scored Swank and pick up the RBI. Beatty hit an RBI single that scored Camp for the second run of the inning.

North Carolina A&T tied the game in the bottom of the second inning and took the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth.

Western Carolina responded by taking the lead back in the top of the fifth unloading on the Aggies with nine runs. Reese and Swank led off the inning with a pair of singles and a double steal placed them on second and third. Hauser hit a two RBI single through the right side that tied the game. Hawkins double RBI not only scored Hauser but also gave the lead back to the Catamounts. Western Carolina continued the scoring onslaught with three consecutive extra base hits. Fowler hit an RBI double, Beatty hit an RBI triple and Lauren Ross hit an RBI double. After a single by pinch hitter Ashley Steinel scored Ross, Reese picked up the extra base streak with an RBI triple. Swank hit the last RBI of the inning with a single that scored Reese.

North Carolina A&T added three runs in the top of the seventh.

Swank, Beatty, Ross and Reese each had a pair of hits in the second game. Hauser, Fowler and Beatty led the club with two RBI. As a team, the Catamounts had a season-high 15 hits and 11 runs.

Western Carolina returns home to try and host its first home games of the season as last week's contest with Florida Gulf Coast was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Catamounts host Elon on Saturday and Sunday in Southern Conference action. The doubleheader on Saturday begins at 1 p.m. with the single game on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. as well.