Box Score April 14, 2009
Box Score |
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Tied at five, freshman Chelsea Schaffer hit a sacrifice fly to right field, to score Keri Burnside, and give Western Carolina softball a 6-5, eight inning, victory against Appalachian State Tuesday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts improve to 10-23 and 6-7 in the Southern Conference while the Mountaineers fall to 17-23 and 9-9 in the SoCon.
It was the third-straight extra-inning game for Western Carolina and the fifth in the last seven games. The Catamounts halted a five-game losing streak, while Appalachian extended its losing streak to five consecutive.
Schaffer played hero twice in the game, giving Western Carolina the lead first in the bottom of the sixth inning, and then hitting the game-winner in the eighth. It was Schaffer's two RBI double that gave the Catamounts a 5-4 advantage, heading into the seventh inning. She extends her hitting streak to 10-straight, the longest hitting streak for a Catamount this season.
The Catamounts had a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning. Head Coach Christine Hornak decided to walk Appalachian State's heavy hitter Katie Boyd, who has 12 homeruns this season. Western Carolina lefty hurler Katie King gave Boyd the intentional free pass, and after a ground out, the Mountaineers were down to their last two outs and Boyd was on second. Boyd motored to third off a Catamount passed ball and then tied the game at five when she went home on a fielder's choice and beat the tag of catcher Danielle Reese at home plate.
Western Carolina was in a 4-0 disadvantage after the first four innings of the game. Appalachian State scored a run in the first inning, plated a second run in the third off a passed ball and then tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth.
The Catamounts scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, which led off with Mollie Fowler reaching on an Appalachian State error. Stephanie Beatty hit a sacrifice bunt to place Fowler on second, and after Lauren Ross drew a walk, Burnside reached first on the second Mountaineer error of the inning. Fowler scored on the play.
Western Carolina exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the short-lived 5-4 lead. With two outs, Ross drew a walk and then moved to second off a single to right field by Burnside. Senior Beth Hauser hit a frozen rope through the legs of the Appalachian State first baseman for an RBI single that scored Ross. Reese followed with an RBI single that plated Burnside. Schaffer strolled to the plate, having gone 0-2 in the game, and in danger of ending her then nine-game hitting streak. The freshman calmly took an 0-2 offering from ASU's Kayla Richardwon to right field for a two RBI double, scoring Hauser and Reese.
King tossed the complete game and improves to 4-10 on the season. She went eight innings allowing five hits, one earned run and struck out four. Richardson, for Appalachian State, takes the loss and falls to 9-13 going 7.2 innings allowing eight hits, five earned runs and striking out eight.
Burnside and Fowler each had multiple hits in the game. Burnside was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Fowler was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Schaffer had just one hit in the contest, but it was a two RBI double and had an RBI sacrifice that secured the win for the Catamounts.
Western Carolina and Appalachian State will play the double-header of the series Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m. In between games one and two, Catamount seniors Beatty, Fowler, Hauser and Ross will be honored.
