April 17, 2010

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Haley Pace's three-run homerun, in the top of the sixth inning, lifted Western Carolina softball (7-34, 2-14 SoCon) to a 4-1 win over UNC Greensboro (18-22, 7-6 SoCon) in the second game of the doubleheader Saturday at UNC Softball Field. The Catamounts dropped the first game 15-1.

Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro went five scoreless innings before the Catamounts jumped on the board in the sixth inning. Freshman Robyn Burnette led off with a double to centerfield and scooted to third when the Spartan centerfielder booted the ball, allowing Burnette to advance to third. Jordan Fulton followed with a knock to the pitcher, but she turned to third, and then to first, and in that time Fulton reached first. Fulton swiped her 12th base of the season moving to second. Shemekia Scotten picked up an RBI single when she hit the ball to the left side and scored Burnette. Pace strolled to the plate, and on a 0-1 count, sent a shot over the right centerfield wall for the three RBI homerun.

Starting Western Carolina pitcher Amber Steinhardt tossed six scoreless innings before yielding a run in the top of the seventh inning. Spartan Emily Akiyama reached on an error and scored off a double by Chelsea D'Ambrosia. The Catamount defense held strong after that, getting an out at the plate and then Steinhardt forced a fly out to right field. With the bases loaded, Steinhardt got Alex Emeterio to ground out to the first baseman to end the Spartan threat and the game.

Steinhardt pitched a complete game and improves to 4-11 on the season. She allowed just one run on six hits and struck out two.

Senior catcher Danielle Reese tied the school record for stolen bases in a career with 17. She is tied with former Catamount stand-out Stephanie Beatty.

The first game was a rough one for the Catamount pitching staff. Four Western Carolina pitchers saw action in the game. Katie King started, was replaced by Bekah Burkett, then Steinhardt and finally Chere Monday. King took the loss and falls to 2-20.

Starting UNC Greensboro Amber Harrell had a no-hitter through four innings before Reese broke up the no-no with an RBI single. Missy Wills led off the top of the fifth with a walk and pinch runner Morgan Gardner scored when Reese hit a single up the middle. Reese had the only Catamount hit in the first game.

Western Carolina will look to take the series with UNC Greensboro on Sunday. The single game is scheduled for 1 p.m.