April 12, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (9-29, 3-11 SoCon) junior pitcher Lauren Ross celebrated her 21st birthday in grand fashion by tossing a no-hitter in the first game against College of Charleston (24-27, 6-5 SoCon) Saturday at Catamount Sports Complex. The Catamounts won the first game against the Cougars, 8-0, and dropped the second game 9-2.

The no-no for Ross was one error and two walks short of a perfect game. The Cougars opened the contest with Tiffany Harmon drawing a walk, and Ross proceeded to sit down nine consecutive batters before College of Charleston could place another base-runner on. A Catamount error put Kristi Woodall on base in the fourth inning and a walk to Kristie Shifflett had something cooking for the Cougars with one out. But Ross would have nothing of that, striking out the next two batters to end the inning.

Ross's no-hitter was accompanied by a solid offensive output by Western Carolina. Jamie Swank led off the Catamount's half of the first inning with a double to left field. With two outs, junior Beth Hauser hit her first homerun of the season, a two-run shot over the right centerfield wall.

Western Carolina unleashed for five runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, freshman Amber Hawkins reached first on a throwing error by the Cougars and moved to second on a single by Hauser. Junior Stephanie Beatty followed with a walk to load the bases. Mollie Fowler capitalized on the bases loaded with a grand-slam to right field, her fifth homerun of the season, and the second grand-slam by the Catamounts in a week.

Hauser picked up her third hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Her RBI single scored Danielle Reese who singled up the middle to start the inning.

Ross tossed five innings, thanks to the shortened game, striking out seven and walking two. She improves to 4-14 on the season.

The second game was all College of Charleston. The Cougars exploited Catamount freshman starting pitcher Lilly McDonagh for four runs on five hits in just 2.1 innings pitched. McDonagh was replaced by Michelle Tating who went two innings allowing three runs on four hits. Ross came into the game for 2.2 innings allowing four hits and two runs, however both the runs were unearned. McDonagh took the loss and falls to 1-9 on the season.

College of Charleston scored nine runs on 13 hits in the second game.

Western Carolina was able to push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Back-to-back College of Charleston errors put Swank and Reese on first and second to open the third. After Hawkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Cougar pitcher Terri Mesko walked Beth Hauser to send Swank home for the first Catamount run. A sacrifice fly by Beatty allowed Reese to score the second.

The win in game one, over College of Charleston, was the first home victory for Western Carolina this season. The Catamounts will play the rubber match with College of Charleston at 1 p.m. Sunday and try to pick up its second consecutive Southern Conference series.