April 3, 2010

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Western Carolina softball (4-25, 0-11 Southern Conference) dropped two tight games against Chattanooga (26-9, 9-0 SoCon), losing both games by a total of three runs. The Catamounts lost the first game 2-0 and the second game 3-2, in 10 innings, Saturday at Jim Frost Stadium.

For the second time this season, Western Carolina played an extra inning game in the second game of the doubleheader. Chattanooga had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the seventh. Jessica Traxler hit a lead off single and pinch runner moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lynleigh Hurndon. With Traxler on third, after motoring to the bag on a fly out, the Mocs' scoring chance was squelched when Lyndsey Stiles ground out to end the inning.

Western Carolina had its best scoring opportunity, since the second inning, in the top of the ninth. Amber Steinhardt led off with a single, when she hit a frozen rope to Mocs' pitcher Brooke Loudermilk and then stole second. A sacrifice bunt by Katie King moved Steinhardt to third but she was stranded on the bag when Catamount catcher Danielle Reese lined out to the second baseman to end the Western Carolina threat.

Pinch hitter Nikki Waters attempted a rally for Chattanooga in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Waters hit a single to the second baseman and Kasey Tydingco followed with a single to right field. Stiles ground out to the pitcher King for the third out of the inning.

This set up the International Tie-Breaker rule which goes into effect in the 10th inning of Southern Conference games. Western Carolina placed Danielle Reese on second, and a well placed bunt by Kristen Gay, moved her to third. However, the Catamounts couldn't push Reese across the plate.

In the bottom of the 10th, Chattanooga had the speedy Stiles on second base. Stiles moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kaiti Kelly and then scored off an RBI single by Tia Blosser.

Chattanooga scored a pair of runs in the second inning. Tiffany Baker led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jenni Martin. Baker scored off an RBI double by Traxler. A wild pitch by Catamount pitcher King scored Traxler for the second run.

Freshman first baseman Colby Liles tied the game, in the top of the third ining, with a monster hit to center field. With one out, Jordan Fulton and Robyn Burnette hit back-to-back singles to place runners on first and second. Liles hit a two RBI double to the center field wall scoring Fulton and Burnette.

It was King's third game she has lost by one run on the mound. She had another strong showing, although she took the loss. She falls to 0-15 on the season after tossing 10 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out four.

Fulton accounted for the only Catamount hit in the first game against Chattanooga. Fulton hit a lead-off double to start the game, but was erased when she was caught trying to steal third base.

Catamount pitcher Steinhardt was the only other base runner in the game for Western Carolina, when she drew a one out walk in the second inning. Starting Chattanooga pitcher Waters then proceeded to sit down the next 16 batters. Waters had nine strikeouts in the game and improves to 7-3 on the season.

Steinhardt took the loss in the game and falls to 3-8 on the season. She allowed two runs on nine hits and struck out one.

Chattanooga had a lead-off base runner in four of the six innings. The Mocs scored its first run in the bottom of the second inning. Stiles hit a lead off single and scored off a sacrifice fly to left field by Tia Blosser.

The Mocs added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lauren Flores hit a double and moved to third. Flores scored on a ground out by Traxler.

Western Carolina travels to North Carolina A&T on Tuesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.