April 2, 2011

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (15-20, 2-9 SoCon) picked up its first Southern Conference Saturday series split, defeating UNCG 3-2 (13-18, 5-3 SoCon) and dropping the second game of the twin-bill 18-3, at the Catamount Softball Complex.

The rubber game of the three-game is at 1 p.m. Sunday as both clubs look for a chance to take the series.

The Catamounts had a three-run bottom of the third inning, to snap a scoreless game, and held on to take the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday. The third inning was highlighted by a pair of homeruns to take the lead.

It was an in-auspicious start to the scoring for Western Carolina, with two outs and Kelly Braman at the plate. Braman ignited the scoring with a single past the UNCG shortstop. Freshman designated player Morgan Wyatt gave the Catamounts the lead when she hit a homeruns, her third in the last four games, over the centerfield wall, that also plated Braman. Sophomore shortstop Shemekia Scotton tacked on what would prove to be the winning run, when she also hit her third homerun of the season, a solo shot to left field.

Junior lefty hurler Katie King got the start and tossed her sixth complete game of the year. King looked to be cruising in the first game, pitching four scoreless innings, before UNCG got on the scoreboard.

The Spartan's Kaitlin Merkt got UNCG on the board with a solo homerun to right field to lead off the fifth inning. UNCG added a second run thanks to an RBI single by Aisha Figueroa.

After giving up two runs to UNCG, King bounced back to retire the next six UNCG batters to help the Catamounts hold on for the win. King had four strikeouts in the game, allowing two runs on five hits. She also didn't yield a walk in the contest and improves to 7-9 on the year.

UNCG pitcher Josie Felix took the loss and falls to 4-7 on the year.

The second game was all UNCG, though it didn't look that way to start the game. The Catamounts awarded the second game start to sophomore Bekah Burkett, who tossed solid scoreless first inning. It would turn out, however, to be the only inning UNCG did not score.

Western Carolina capitalized on the scoreless top of the first inning, by UNCG, to jump to a 1-0 lead over the Spartans in the bottom of the first. Sophomore catcher Haley Pace drew a one out walk and quickly moved to second on a passed ball. Pace scored off a UNCG miscue.

The Spartans tied the game in the top of the second inning with an RBI single by April Langley. UNCG scored six runs in the third, sixth in the fourth and five in the fifth to put the game out of reach. The Catamounts managed to push across a run in the third and the fourth inning.

UNCG pitcher Reanne Hanks got into a bit of a jam in the third inning, starting with giving up a lead-off single to sophomore Jordan Fulton, who then promptly stole second, her 12th of the season. With one out, Kelly Braman earned a walk, and after Wyatt flew out to centerfield, Scotton singled to load the bases. Hanks gave up her second walk of the inning, to Erin Foster, to send Fulton home.

Western Carolina scored its third and final run of the game in the fourth inning. Pinch hitter Robyn Burnette led off with a single. Amber Steinhardt was awarded first, on Hanks fourth walk of the game, to place runners at first and third, after Burnette stole second. Back-to-back passed ball allowed Burnette to score.

Burkett takes the loss for the Catamounts and moves to 1-5 on the year. King and Steinhardt also saw pitching time for Western Carolina. Hanks earned the win and improves to 3-1.