April 13, 2008

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (9-30, 3-12 SoCon) dropped the rubber match with College of Charleston (25-27, 7-5 SoCon) 9-2 Sunday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Cougars take the Southern Conference series over the Catamounts.

College of Charleston scored in five of the seven innings and rocked Western Carolina's pitchers for nine runs on 11 hits. Lauren Ross, who had a brilliant performance on the mound Saturday throwing a no-hitter, hit a rough patch against the Cougars in her start on Sunday.

Ross lasted 2.2 innings allowing seven runs, four earned, on seven hits and walked three, and was replaced by Michelle Tating who went 4.1 innings giving up two runs on four hits and striking out one and walking one. Ross took the loss and falls to 4-15 on the season.

Starting Cougar pitcher Shannon Howard tossed five scoreless innings and was working on a no-hitter before Stephanie Beatty and Mollie Fowler ended her strive for perfection. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Beatty took Howard's offering over the left field wall for the Catamounts first run and hit of the game. Fowler quickly followed with a rocket over the right centerfield wall for her second homerun of the series and sixth homerun of the year.

Western Carolina returns home on Tuesday hosting Presbyterian College. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex.