Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 15, 2011
Box Score
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (13-10) split its home opener with UNC Wilmington (5-18), dropping the first game 8-2 and wining the second of the twin bill 7-1, Tuesday at the Catamount softball complex.
UNC Wilmington benefitted from 14 hits, a homerun from right fielder Brianna Lofton and three Catamount errors in game one. The Seahawks had three players with three hits in the game.
Catamount junior lefty hurler Katie King got the start in game one and took the loss, falling to 6-6. She went 3.2 innings allowing five runs, three earned, nine hits and struck out one. King was replaced by Bekah Burkett in thee fourth inning who gave up three runs on five hits.
The Seahawks scored two runs to start the game after loading the bases on back-to-back singles and a Catamount error. Brittany Pierce's sacrifice fly to left field scored the first run and Stacey Pinnon hit an RBI single for the second run.
Western Carolina cut the Seahawk lead in half in the bottom half of the first inning. With one out, sophomore Jordan Fulton hit a single past the UNCW shortstop and stole the 22nd base of her career to move into scoring position. Fulton scored thanks to an RBI single by Haley Pace.
UNCW added a single run in the second inning to go up 3-1. The Catamounts scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the third. Amelia Griffin led off the inning with a single and Fulton's sacrifice bunt pushed Griffin to second. Griffin scored off Morgan Wyatt's RBI single to centerfield.
The Seahawks added two runs in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. Fulton and Wyatt each had two hits for the Catamounts.
In the second game, Western Carolina benefitted from a sold pitching effort from sophomore Amber Steinhardt, who tossed a complete game. Steinhardt gave up nine hits, one earned run, and improved to 7-3 on the mound.
After two scoreless innings, Western Carolina exploded for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Seahawk pitcher Amanda Aditeys hit Fulton and placed her on first base. A Seahawk error earned Kelly Branam a trip to first and moved Fulton to second. Aditey walked Wyatt to load the bases and set up a big play by Pace, who laced a double to right center field and earning three RBI, with Futon, Braman and Wyatt scoring on the play.
Steinhardt was riding a shutout through three innings before giving up a homerun to the Seahawks Lauryn Buckworth for UNC Wilmington's lone run in the game.
Western Carolina would add to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs. Amelia Griffin drew a walk to lead off the inning and a single by Fulton and Braman reaching on a Seahawk error loaded the bases. UNCW relief pitcher Amanda Davenport then promptly walked Wyatt to send in Griffin. After Pace struck out, Shemekia Scotton reached on a fielder's choice, but picked up an RBI when Fulton scored. Burnette and Foster also notched RBI in the inning scoring Braman and Wyatt.
Fulton, Braman and Wyatt each had a pair of hits in the second game. Western Carolina ended the game with seven hits.
Western Carolina returns to action on Wednesday hosting Lipscomb in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex.
