April 6, 2008

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (8-26, 2-10 SoCon) captured its first Southern Conference series, taking two of three at UNC Greensboro (14-22, 1-5 SoCon) Sunday at UNCG Softball Stadium. The Catamounts won the first two games, 10-5, 7-6, and dropped the final game of the series 7-5. Western Carolina will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. Wednesday for a doubleheader with No. 12 Tennessee. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

In the seventh inning of the second game, of the doubleheader, junior Lauren Ross took a 2-2 offering from Spartan pitcher Amber Harrell over the center field wall to break the record for homeruns in a career. Ross now has 22 long balls as a Catamount snapping the record set by Ashley Adams.

Before Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro could play the scheduled double-header the two clubs had to complete the halted game from Saturday. The Catamounts were working on a shutout in the bottom of the sixth inning, before the Spartans made the game interesting scoring five runs in their half of the sixth. WCU, however, held onto the lead and won the first game of the series.

Ross took the win, throwing a complete game tossing a season-high eight strikeouts. It was also in this game that shortstop Heather Pritchard hit her first homerun in two years, a grand-slam in the sixth inning, that was part of a seven-run outing for the Catamounts.

Both clubs battled back and forth for the lead in the first game of the double-header. Western Carolina took the early lead scoring two runs in the first inning. With one out, Casey Camp drew a walk and Amber Hawkins singled to place runners on first and second. With two outs, Stephanie Beatty hit a two RBI double to left centerfield.

UNC Greensboro quickly answered with three runs in its half of the first inning. Starting Catamount pitcher Lilly McDonagh gave up a solo homerun and a two run homerun to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead.

With two outs, Western Carolina rallied when Keely Torgison hit a single to right field. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Catamounts and a two RBI single by Hawkins gave WCU a one run lead 4-3.

In the third inning, UNCG tied the game when Mary Greenway led off with a triple and scored thanks to ground out by Brittany Ausley.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Western Carolina took the lead again with one swing of the bat. With one out, Beatty drew a walk and Mollie Fowler drove her home with a two run homerun over the left field wall.

In the sixth inning, UNC Greensboro tied the game at six when it posted a pair of runs in the fifth inning.

Western Carolina took the advantages give to the club in the sixth inning. After Swank got a lead-off single, UNC Greensboro relief pitcher MaryCatherine Vercoe gave up three walks, and there was one Spartan error to score one Catamount run.

The single run for Western Carolina in the sixth inning was all relief pitcher Ross needed to work with. She came into the game and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings not allowing a Spartan hit. Ross took the victory in game one of the double-header.

UNC Greensboro took the early lead in game two of the doubleheader. The Spartans posted three runs in the bottom of the first inning.

After two scoreless innings, Western Carolina battled back to tie the game. Beth Hauser reached first courtesy of a Spartan error. After Spartan pitcher Amber Harrell walked Beatty and hit Fowler to load the bases, pinch runner Nicole Shook came home when Harrell walked Ashley Steinel. A sacrifice fly to right field by Torgison sent the second Catamount runner home and an RBI single Swank accounted for the third WCU run.

UNCG took the lead again when it posted two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ross, who came into the game for starting pitcher Tating, got two quick outs before giving up a pair of walks and singles. Ausley hit a single to right field which scored Kristen Gabel and Greenway scored the second Spartan run off a Catamount error. The Spartans tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Western Carolina tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Ross saw action on the mound in all three conference games against UNC Greensboro and ends the weekend 2-1 against the Spartans. She has an overall record of 3-13.

Western Carolina will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. Wednesday for a doubleheader with No. 12 Tennessee. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.