Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - Western Carolina softball (2-5) knocked off Virginia Tech, a 2008 Women's College World Series participant, 4-3 Saturday in the second day of action at the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic.

The game was knotted at three headed into the bottom of the sixth inning, when freshman Chelsea Schaffer led off with a single to right field. Senior Mollie Fowler followed with a single to left field advancing Schaffer to second. With one out, Kristen Gay ground out to third base but it allowed Schaffer and Fowler to move to second and third. A Hokies' miscue allowed Keri Burnside to reach first and Schaffer motored home to give Western Carolina a 4-3 lead and eventual winning run.

Western Carolina struck first in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Amber Hawkins hit a one out double. Senior Stephanie Beatty added to her career-leading RBI record with her 86th RBI to score Hawkins and give the Catamounts a 1-0 advantage.

The Catamounts tacked on two additional runs in the bottom of the third inning. It was the tangent of Hawkins and Beatty that again led off the scoring when Hawkins drew a one out walk and Beatty singled to place runners on first and second. In the first of two Virginia Tech errors, that would haunt the club, senior Lauren Ross reached on an error that scored Hawkins. Then a passed ball by Hokie pitcher Kenzie Roark allowed Beatty to score for the second run of the inning.

Virginia Tech got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning led by Charisse Mariconda who hit a lead off double. Mariconda scored thanks to a sacrifice fly by Kristen Froehlich to cut the Catamount lead to 3-1.

The Hookies tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. RBI singles by Jenna Rhodes and Mariconda knotted the contest at three.

Catamount hurler Ross tossed her second straight complete game and improves to 2-1 on the season. She went seven innings allowing three runs on 10 hits and didn't yield a walk.

Beatty and Fowler each had multiple hits in the game. Beatty went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Fowler was 2-for-3.

Western Carolina will play two games on Sunday to conclude the Kickin' Chicken Classic. The Catamounts face host Coastal Carolina at 11:30 a.m. and Appalachian State at 4:30 p.m.