March 7, 2009

UNCG Box Score Game 1

UNCG Box Score Game 2

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (5-9, 1-1 Southern Conference) split its opening Southern Conference weekend with rival UNC Greensboro (6-12, 1-1 SoCon) as the Catamounts took game one 3-2 in nine innings, before falling 6-4 in the second game, Saturday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The series will be up for grabs when the two teams meet for a single game Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

The first game was knotted at two after seven innings to force free softball. Western Carolina trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning and tied the game when, with the bases loaded, Spartan hurler Amber Harrell walked Mollie Fowler which allowed Stephanie Beatty to score from third.

After two scoreless innings, Western Carolina was down to its last out in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore Amber Hawkins and Beatty hit back-to-back singles. Senior Beth Hauser hit a frozen rope single that plated Hawkins and gave the Catamounts the win.

Western Carolina took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kerri Burnside hit a one out single and then scored off a UNCG miscue.

UNCG took a 2-1 lead scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Hannah Angel led off with a walk and then scored thanks to an RBI triple by Lyndsay Mouse to tie the game at one. The Spartans took the lead off an RBI single by Brittany Ausley.

Senior pitcher Lauren Ross tossed the complete game and picks up the win, improving to 3-2 on the season. She went nine innings allowing two runs on six hits and striking out three. Harrell takes the loss for UNCG and falls to 3-6.

In the second game, Western Carolina built a 3-0 lead through four innings before UNCG exploded in the fifth inning for five runs.

The Catamounts scored the first run of the game in the second inning when Hauser drew a walk and Ross hit her first triple of the season to score Hauser. In the fourth inning, Hauser again led off the inning with a walk and she scored when Fowler hit one of her two homeruns in the game to put WCU up 3-0.

The fifth inning was all UNC Greensboro as the Spartans posted five runs. The scoring frenzy was highlighted by a homerun by Mary Catherine Vercoe. UNCG tacked on an additional run in the top of the seventh inning.

Western Carolina did attempt a rally scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fowler hit a solo homerun with one out but it wasn't enough offense to mount a comeback.

Freshman pitcher Katie King takes the loss for the Catamounts falling to 2-3 on the season. She went 5.1 innings allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out five. Fellow freshman pitcher Megan Taylor went 1.2 innings allowing one run on two hits.