March 22, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina (7-15, 3-3 SoCon) tried to make a late rally in the bottom of the seventh but came up short in a 7-3 lose against Georgia Southern (14-14, 5-4 SoCon) in game three on Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts won the series 2-1 heading into a non-conference doubleheader versus Lipscomb.

Three Western Carolina players had multiple hits, as the Catamounts tried to rally late in the bottom of the seventh but just couldn't tie the score falling 7-3. Senior Stephanie Beatty went 2-for-3 with a double, sophomore Keri Burnside also went 2-for-3 with two singles, and junior Kristen Gay also chipped in with two singles of her own in the ball game.

The Georgia Southern Eagles used 16 hits but only three of them were for extra bases as the Eagles built an early 5-0 lead that would hold up in the victory. Western Carolina had many opportunities as the Catamounts left nine runners in scoring position on the day.

Freshman Megan Taylor went 1 2/3 innings to suffer the loss falling to 0-2 on the season with Georgia Southern starter Brianna Streetmon throwing a complete game earning her eighth win of the season.

Georgia Southern scored first in the game, as with two outs in the top of the first, Robyne Siliga hit her sixth Home Run of the season to give the Eagles a 1-0 advantage.

The Eagles increased their lead in the top of the second plating three runs on three hits, doing all their damage with two outs in the inning to take a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, Georgia Southern managed just one run on four hits thanks to some solid pitching from relief pitcher Lauren Ross to get out of the inning only allowing one run to keep the score at just 5-0 Georgia Southern.

The Catamounts answered in the bottom of the fourth inning adding a run on four hits to cut the lead to 5-1. Junior Danielle Reese had a chance to tie the game with the bases loaded but lined into a double play to end the threat.

Again in the top of the fifth, Ross was able to work out of a jam to only allow one run as the Eagles had four hits but could only muster one run to make the score 6-1 Georgia Southern.

Western Carolina chipped away again in the bottom of the sixth when with one out Burnside laced a single up the middle bringing home Mollie Fowler to make the score 6-2 Catamounts but couldn't add any more runs to end the inning.

Georgia Southern would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh to increase their lead to 7-2 to head to the final at bat for the Catamounts.

In the bottom of the seventh Gay led off the inning with a single, followed by a pop out by freshman Chelsea Schaffer. Sophomore Amber Hawkins lined a single down the line to put runners at first and second with one out. Beatty was then hit by a pitch, followed by Fowler getting hit for the third time in the game to bring home Gay to cut the lead to 7-3. Ross grounded to the shortstop, Nina Iduate who threw home for the force out just barely getting Hawkins for the second out to save a run. Pinch hitter Beth Hauser struck out swinging to end the game.

The Catamounts will return to the Catamount Softball Complex on March 24 to take on Atlantic Sun member Lipscomb in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.