Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 19, 2008
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
STATESBORO, Ga. - Western Carolina softball (14-31, 4-13 SoCon) spilt its Southern Conference doubleheader with Georgia Southern (29-25, 9-5 SoCon) Saturday at Eagle Field. The Catamounts took game one 6-4, and lost the second game 4-3 in 10 innings.
Lauren Ross had a no-hitter through four innings and Western Carolina exploded for five runs in the top of the second to help the Catamounts win game one of the doubleheader with Georgia Southern. The Catamounts halted the Eagles four-game Southern Conference winning streak.
The second inning was an offensive explosion for Western Carolina. Beth Hauser led off with a walk and an Eagle error at second base, on Stephanie Beatty's fielder's choice, had runners on first and second for WCU. With one out, Ross singled through the left side to load the bases. Freshman Alesha Clayton hit a frozen rope past third base to score Hauser and Beatty. Jamie Swank's RBI single with two outs plated Ross and runs four and five were driven in by a single to the right side by Danielle Reese.
After holding the Eagles hitless for four innings, Ross gave up a hit in the fifth inning, a double by Amanda Hall. After Hall was forced out by a fielder's choice and Ross hit Lindsey Hopkins, she caused Stephanie Peet to pop up to shortstop Heather Pritchard to end the Eagles scoring threat.
In the top of the sixth inning Mollie Fowler, who had been hitless in her previous two at bats, took Eagle pitcher Melissa Laliberte's offering over the left field all for her seventh homerun of the season.
Georgia Southern battled back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After holding Western Carolina scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Eagles attempted a rally thanks to Hopkins lead off single. Ross forced a pair of ground outs and a pop up to end the inning.
Ross tied her season-high with eight strikeouts allowing four runs on six hits and didn't give up a walk. She improves to 6-15 on the season.
The Catamounts scored two runs in the opening frame of the second game. Swank led off with a walk and an Eagle miscue allowed Reese to reach first and Swank to move to second. A fielder's choice by Amber Hawkins forced Swank out at third. Reese and Hawkins perfected a double steal, but Hawkins was picked off at second. Hauser drew a walk to put runners and the corners and Beatty followed with an RBI double to left field. With runners and first and third, Hauser scored the second run of the inning off a wild pitch by Eagle pitcher Megan Smith.
Georgia Southern tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Jenny Side hit a homerun to left field to pull the Eagles within one run. A double by Hall and a Catamount error put runners on the corners and a sacrifice bunt by Hopkins plated Hall to knot the game at two.
Tied after regulation, Western Carolina and Georgia Southern headed into extra innings. The Catamounts broke the two all tie in the top of the eighth inning. Hawkins led off with a double to left center field. Hauser hit a shot to the wall in right center field to plate Hawkins and give Western Carolina a 3-2 lead.
Georgia Southern quickly answered in its half of the eighth inning when Hall hit a lead-off homerun to right field to tie the game at three.
The Eagles captured game two in the bottom of the 10th inning. Pinch runner Elizabeth Branan was placed on second as per international tie breaker rules. Side singled to place runners on first and third. Hall hit a sacrifice punt to Catamount pitcher Michelle Tating who attempted a throw home, but catcher Reese bobbled the ball and Branan scored the winning run for the Eagles.
Tating tossed a complete game going a career-high nine innings. She allowed nine hits, two earned runs and struck out one.
The Catamounts and Eagles will play the rubber game Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.
CAREER RBI RECORD RACE UPDATE: Stephanie Beatty picked up an RBI in the doubleheader against Georgia Southern. She and Lauren Ross are now tied with 75 and the duo needs four RBI to break the record of 78 set by former Catamount Savannah Filley.
