Feb. 20, 2011

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. - Western Carolina softball (7-3) closed out day three at the Tiger Invitational with a 7-2 loss to host Auburn (9-0) Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.

Trailing by four, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Western Carolina avoided a shutout making things interesting in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Catamounts sliced the Tiger lead in half with a pair of runs.

Sophomore catcher Haley Pace led off the sixth inning with a double to center field. Catamount outfielder Jordan Fulton drew a walk and WCU had runners on first and second. Pace got into scoring position when she stole third and Fulton advanced to second. Western Carolina posted two runs on the board when freshman designated player Morgan Wyatt blasted a two RBI single to center field plating Pace and Fulton.

Auburn put three more runs on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh inning. Amber Steinhardt, who had come into the game in relief, gave up a single, an RBI triple and a two RBI homerun for three runs by the Tigers.

Junior lefty pitcher Katie King started the game on the mound for the Catamounts. She went 3.1 innings allowing three runs on five hits and struck out one. King took the loss in the game and falls to 3-3 on the season. Sophomore Bekkah Burkett relieved King and went 2.1 innings allowing one hit but had six walks. Steinhardt ended the game tossing 1.1 innings giving up four runs on five hits.

Catamount Kelly Braman broke up Auburn pitcher Jenee Loree's no-hitter in the second inning with a bunt single. It was Western Carolina's best scoring chance, of the game to that point, as Shemekia Scotton was hit by a pitch prior to Braman's at bat. With runners on second and third, after Braman stole second and Scotton moved to third, Western Carolina's chance was lost when Makenzi McAteer struck out and Amelia Griffin popped up to third base.

Loree was replaced by Angel Bunner in the third inning and Bunner got the win, improving to 3-0 on the season.

Braman ended the game 2-for-3 with a pair of bunt singles. Pace was 1-for-2 with a run scored, Wyatt was 1-of-3 with 2 RBI and Jordan Fulton had a run.

Western Carolina returns to action Friday, February 25 at the North Carolina A&T Invitational.