March 21, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina (7-14, 3-2 SoCon) took game one 9-8, and game two 7-2 in a doubleheader against Georgia Southern (13-14, 4-4 SoCon) Saturday afternoon held at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts used 11 hits in game one to overpower the visiting Eagles and benefitted from a complete game effort from senior Lauren Ross in game two to sweep the doubleheader in game two 7-2.

Western Carolina now sits at 7-14, 3-2 in the Southern Conference heading into the final game of the three game series versus the Georgia Southern Eagles on Sunday. The Catamounts had numerous players contributing in the first game as seven Western Carolina players had at least one hit. Freshman Chelsea Schaffer has two hits and three RBI's in the lead-off spot. Junior catcher Danielle Reese went 3-for-3 with two clutch RBI's. Sophomore outfielder Keri Burnside also had a multiple hit game with two hits and three runs scored.

Western Carolina started the scoring in the bottom of the third as Burnside lead-off the inning with a single to right center. After Burnside advanced to second after a wild pitch, Reese singled up the middle to put runners at first and third with no outs. Junior Kristen Gay grounded into a fielders choice followed by a one-out RBI single from Schaffer to give the Catamounts a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Amber Hawkins then single to bring home Gay and Schaffer was thrown out at the plate to keep the score 2-0 Catamounts through three innings.

The Georgia Southern Eagles responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to tie the score at 2-2. With the big hit coming from first basemen Sam Russo hitting a RBI double in the inning.

Western Carolina answered in the bottom of the forth as Lauren Ross started the inning with a base hit to second basemen. With one out, Burnside hit another base hit to right center. Reese followed with a single to set up bases loaded with one out. Gay couldn't get any runners home grounding into a fielder's choice. Schaffer came up with a clutch two-out two-run RBI to give the Catamounts a 4-2 advantage.

The Eagles wouldn't go away putting five runs on the board in the top of the fifth thanks to five hits in the inning. Amanda Hall came up with a two-run double in the inning to give Georgia Southern the 7-4 lead.

The Catamounts showed toughness and resilency taking the lead back from the Eagles plating four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Western Carolina used three walks and two hits in the inning to re-take the lead at 8-7. Reese put the Catamounts ahead with a clutch two-out two-run triple down the right field line.

Georgia Southern quickly tied the game in the top of the sixth scoring one run on two hits to even the game at 8-8. Hall came up with the two-out single to the pitcher to tie the score.

Western Carolina re-took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an Eagle's miscue, after a fly ball by Fowler, dropped in and allowed Hawkins to score the eventually game winning run.

Freshman Katie King pitched a complete game earning her third win of the season while Megen Smith earned the loss to dropped to 1-4.

In game two of the doubleheader the Catamounts got a solid pitching performance from senior pitcher Ross who threw a complete game. Ross earned her fourth win allowing no earned runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts.

Western Carolina used the long ball hitting three homeruns in the second game to cap off the swept winning 7-2 over the Georgia Southern Eagles.

In the bottom of the first inning with two outs the Catamounts rallied with a single from senior Stephanie Beatty to set up a two-run homer to deep center for Fowler to give Western Carolina an early 2-0 lead.

The Catamounts used another went yard again in the bottom of the second as freshman Brittany Barrineau laced a single followed by a single from Burnside. Catcher Reese juiced a deep three-run homerun to center to give Western Carolina a comanding 5-0 lead after two innings.

Georgia Southern tried to get back into the game scoring two runs in the top of the third inning. The Eagles used two hits including a double by Nina Iduate to cut the Catamounts lead to 5-2.

The Catamounts added an insurance run in the bottom of the third thanks to an RBI single from Barrineau to increase their lead to 6-2.

Western Carolina added one more run in the bottom of fifth as Fowler went yard again to tally her fourth homeruen of the season. 

The Catamounts will look for their fourth Southern Conference win as they try to swept the Georgia Southern Eagles starting at 1 p.m. Sunday Afternoon.