April 6, 2010

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (4-28) was swept by North Carolina A&T (14-16) 7-6, 3-2 Tuesday at the Lady Aggie Softball Complex.

Western Carolina starting pitcher Katie King tossed four scoreless innings, in the second game, before she yielded a run in the bottom of the fifth to North Carolina A&T. With one out, King had an easy ground out to the pitcher, but she threw the ball over first baseman Colby Liles' head to allow Britney Reddick to reach first and then advance to second. A sacrifice bunt by Hope Fletcher moved Reddick to third and Reddick scored on an RBI single by Yahamma White.

The Catamounts answered and took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Jordan Fulton hit a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robyn Burnette. Haley Pace drew a walk and Colby Liles was hit by a pitch to load the bases. This brought big stick Chelsea Schaffer to the plate with two outs. Schaffer hit a monster hit to centerfield for a two RBI double, scoring Fulton and Pace. Liles was thrown out at home for the third out.

The Aggies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Channing Statham hit a solo homerun over the left field wall to knot the game at two. In the bottom of the seventh, with the score tied at two, North Carolina A&T loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Jessica Luper and Reddick and Hope Fletcher reached an error by the Catamounts. Ryanne Hill's blooper single to centerfield scored Luper and secured the win for the Aggies.

King takes the loss, falling 0-15 on the season. It is the second straight game King has lost by one run.

In the first game, Western Carolina attempted a rally in the top of the seventh inning, trailing by two runs, 7-5. Back-to-back singles by Fulton and Burnette started the Catamount scoring chances and the duo moved into scoring position off a wild pitch by Bulldog's pitcher Luper. A North Carolina A&T error allowed Fulton to score and put Haley Pace on first but Burnette was out at third. Liles hit a single and put runners on first and second, but Schaffer and Amber Steinhardt each recorded outs to end the threat.

North Carolina A&T got on the scoreboard first, when Jessie Larson hit a two out two run homerun over the right field wall.

Western Carolina took the lead in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs. Danielle Reese opened the inning drawing a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Gay. Fulton hit a single to the shortstop and Reese moved to third and was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice that put Burnette on first. With bases loaded, after Pace reached on an error, Liles cleared the bases with a three RBI double past the third baseman. Sophomore Chelsea Schaffer's RBI double to left center scored Liles.

North Carolina A&T answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the third. Doubles by Ryanne Hill, Statham and Lillian Bullock helped score the four runs.

In the fifth inning, Western Carolina pulled within one run, 6-5. Fulton's double to lead off the inning set up the run. Pace's RBI single to center field scored Fulton.

The Aggies tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bianaca Alsobrook was hit by Catamount pitcher Steinhardt and scored off an RBI single by Fletcher.

The Catamounts had 11 hits in the game. Fulton went 4-for-4 in the game with a double and three runs scored. Liles was 2-for-4 and had three RBI. Steinhardt takes the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits, and falls to 3-9 on the season.

Western Carolina will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee Thursday to take on No. 16 Tennessee. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.