May 7, 2009

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - No. 8 seed Western Carolina softball (12-33) defeated No. 9 seeded Elon (15-32), 4-1, in the play-in game of the Southern Conference Tournament Thursday. The Catamounts now enter the double-elimination portion of the tournament and will play No. 1 seed Chattanooga at 1 p.m.

Senior third baseman Stephanie Beatty was 3-for-3 in the contest, with two runs scored and an RBI. Freshman lefty hurler Katie King tossed a strong complete game allowing just one run on six hits and stuck out six and improves to 6-16.

Elon got on board first in the top of the first inning. Brandi Jones led off the game with a single up the middle but was erased off a fielder's choice, that placed Jacqueline Gonzalez on first base. A double to left center field by Patti Webber sent Gonzalez home and proved to be the only run by the Phoenix.

King proceeded to pitch six scoreless innings and keep the Phoenix grounded until the Catamount bats heated up. It didn't take long, as in the bottom of the second Western Carolina scored two runs to take the lead.

Back-to-back singles by Fowler and Beatty placed runners on first and second. A walk yielded to Lauren Ross by Phoenix pitcher Erin O'Shea loaded the bases. Western Carolina tied the game off an RBI single by Keri Burnside that plated Fowler. Beatty scored on a sacrifice fly by Beth Hauser to shallow right center.

Western Carolina added its insurance runs in the third inning. Fowler drew a lead-off walk and scored when Beatty hit an RBI double to left center field. A walk to Burnside, and a single by Hauser, loaded the bases. Elon went to senior pitcher Melanie Helterbran, replacing O'Shea, who tossed a wild pitch to allow Beatty to score.

This is the first Southern Conference Tournament victory for Western Carolina in two years. It halts a 0-4 record in the conference tournament dating back to 2007, after the Catamounts went 2-2 and reached the semi-finals.