May 8, 2008

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Western Carolina softball ended its season Thursday with a 5-3 loss to Elon (26-26) in the elimination game of the Southern Conference Tournament at Patriot Point. The Catamounts complete the year with a 19-36 record.

Western Carolina started off the game on a positive note take a quick 3-0 lead after two innings. The Catamounts got one run in the first inning. Danielle Reese got a one out single and then freshman Amber Hawkins followed with her 13th double of the season. Junior Beth Hauser drew a walk to load the bases and an RBI single by Stephanie Beatty scored Reese for the first run of the game. Mollie Fowler lined into a double play to end the Catamounts scoring chances.

Lauren Ross drew a walk to start the second inning. Freshman Alesha Clayton hit a one out single to right field to place runners at first and second. Jamie Swank hit an RBI single to score Ross and Hawkins' RBI single plated Clayton for the second Catamount run.

The top of the third is when the wheels came off for the Catamounts. Elon burnt starting pitcher Ross for four runs on five hits to take a one-run lead. The Phoenix's pushed the lead to two when Brandy Jones took Ross' offering over the left field wall in the top of the fourth inning.

Western Carolina had a superb scoring opportunity slip through its fingers in the bottom of the fifth. Fowler hit a two out single and Ross and Heather Pritchard drew back-to-back walks to load the bases but freshman Alesha Clayton struck out for the second time in the game to end the inning.

The Catamounts again had their chances to tie or take the lead as Swank led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to left centerfield. Reese drew a walk to place runners at second and third but Hawkins had a fly out to centerfield and Swank was caught between second and third and was erased in the double play; the second double play by Elon in the game. Reese still waited at first with two outs by Hauser flew out to right field to end the inning.

Beatty led off the seventh with a single up the middle in the seventh inning but two consecutive strikeouts by Elon hurler Melanie Helterbran and a groundout by Pritchard ended a rally attempt and the Catamount's season.

Ross allowed five runs on nine hits and struck out seven; she ends her season with a record of 9-19 on the mound and a season-high 115 strikeouts on the year. Beatty ended the season tied with Ross in the career RBI record race, with each amassing 84.