April 3, 2008

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

ATLANTA, Ga. - Western Carolina softball (6-25) was swept by Georgia Tech (17-23) 4-0, 8-1 Thursday at Glenn Field.

Georgia Tech scored a single run in the first four frames of the first game. Starting pitcher Michelle Tating gave up a pair of homeruns in the second and fourth innings and took the loss in the game, falling to 4-5 on the season.

Junior Lauren Ross replaced Tating in the fourth inning after Georgia Tech's second homerun of the game. Ross allowed just one hit, to the first batter she faced, and didn't allow a Yellow Jacket hit in the next two innings she pitched. She sat down the next seven batters to close out the game, and also recorded two strikeouts.

The Catamounts had some crucial scoring opportunities they couldn't capitalize on. In the third inning, Mollie Fowler and Casey Camp had back-to-back singles and with one out, Jamie Swank hit into a double play to end the inning. In the fifth inning, Western Carolina again had runners at second and third, but a hot shot to center field by Ross was caught at the wall in centerfield.

Fowler led the club in the first game going 2-for-3.

After being shutout in the first game, Western Carolina used a bit of trickery to get on the board in the second game. Senior Jamie Swank led off the second game with a single and then promptly stole second. After Camp drew a walk, Amber Hawkin's fielder's choice got the force out at second and moved Swank to third. The Catamounts perfected a double steal plating Swank and sending Hawkins to second. The inning ended for Western Carolina on a pair of groundouts.

Georgia Tech tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs starting pitcher Lilly McDonagh allowed back-to-back singles and then had a wild pitch to place runners at second and third. Christy Jones hit a blooper to left field for the RBI single that scored Jessica Weaver.

The tenuous balance of a tied game came un-frayed in the bottom of the fifth inning for Western Carolina. Georgia Tech unleashed for four runs and all but sealed the game for the Yellow Jackets.

McDonagh took the loss in the game falling to 1-8 on the season. The line for McDonagh read five runs, 10 hits and a wild pitch.

Georgia Tech scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off relief pitcher Ross. Western Carolina had just three hits in the second game as Swank, Hawkins and Fowler picked up singles.

Western Carolina travels to Greensboro, N.C. this weekend to take on UNC Greensboro in Southern Conference action. The Catamounts face the Spartans in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday and the single game begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.