March 5, 2011

vs. Delaware Box Score

vs. Coastal Carolina Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - Sophomore catcher Haley Pace hit a grand-slam, in the top of the seventh inning, to lead Western Carolina softball (12-6) to a day two sweep at the Coastal Softball Tournament, defeating Delaware 2-0 (3-8) and downing host Coastal Carolina (12-6) 7-3.

After enjoying back-to-back shutouts, defeating Delaware 1-0 and 2-0 on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, Western Carolina had a battle on the mound and at the plate with host Coastal Carolina. It all came down to the seventh inning with the game tied at three.

A lead-off walk by Robyn Burnette, a one out walk by Amelia Griffin and a single by Jordan Fulton loaded the bases for the Catamounts. Pace hit a grand-slam, sending a shot over the left field wall, to not only pick up four RBI in the game, but give Western Carolina a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Coastal Carolina looked to still have life when Sarah Maples hit a two out single to left field and advanced to second on a Catamount miscue. Western Carolina pitcher Amber Steinhardt forced Jazmin Daigle to ground out for the final out of the inning and earn the win.

Steinhardt improves to 6-2 on the mound, tossing her second consecutive complete game of the tournament. She allowed two earned runs, seven hits and struck out three.

The Chanticleer got on the board first scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning. Sarah Maples scored on a fielding error by Western Carolina for Coastal Carolina's 1-0 lead.

Western Carolina answered in a big way, in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-1 advantage. Morgan Wyatt led off with a single and motored to third thanks to a double by fellow freshman Kelly Braman. The pair scored off a single two RBI by Shemekia Scotton. An RBI single by Burnette sent Scotton home for the third run of the inning.

The Catamounts were held scoreless for the next four innings allowing the Chanticleer to chip away at the WCU lead. Coastal Carolina's Brooke Donovan hit a homerun in the third inning to trim the Western Carolina lead to 3-2 and Courtney Howell scored on a ground out by Michelle Evans to tie the game.

Braman, Fulton and Scotton each had multiple hits in the game. Braman led the group going 3-for-4.

In the first game of the day, junior lefty hurler Katie King tossed a four hit shutout in the 2-0 win over Delaware. She had two strikeouts and gave up just one walk.

Western Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. Pace hit her first homerun of the day, against Delaware, a rocket over the left field wall, the same spot she would hit her game-winning grand-slam in the second game of the day against Coastal Carolina. The Catamounts posted an insurance run in the sixth inning. Fulton and Wyatt earned back-to-back one out walks to set up the score. Pinch hitter Braman hit a ground out to the short-stop allowing Fulton to score.

Delaware had a rally chance in the top of the sixth inning after King gave up a single to the lead off hitter. She forced three straight ground outs to end the Delaware threat.

Western Carolina is scheduled to play Towson at 10 a.m. in the final day of the Coastal Carolina Tournament. However, the threat of heavy rains looks to force the cancellation of the last day of play. Updates on the status of the game will be posted on Sunday.