April 3, 2011

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Crucial errors, at key times, aided in Western Carolina softball's (15-21, 2-10 Southern Conference) 10-1 loss to UNCG (15-18, 6-3 SoCon) Sunday at the Catamount Softball Complex.

The Catamounts committed five errors in the contest against the Spartans. A pair of WCU miscues to the lead-off UNCG hitter, in the first and second inning, accounted for single runs in both innings. UNCG pushed its lead to 3-0 after picking up a run off sacrifice fly to right field by Heather Robb scoring Aisha Figeueroa.

Western Carolina broke up UNCG pitcher Cory Mattson's shutout in the bottom of the fifth inning scoring its only run of the game, thanks to a pair of errors by the Spartans. The Catamounts' Erin Foster earned a trip to first base off UNCG's first error of the inning. Foster moved to second with a solid bunt single by Amelia Griffin to put a Catamount runner in scoring position. Amber Steinhardt's bunt attempt caused the Spartan's second error and allowed Foster to score.

A tight game was erased in the sixth and seventh inning thanks to a scoring frenzy by UNCG. In the top of the sixth, back-to-back homeruns by Kaitlin Merkt and Heather Robb earned the Spartan's a 5-1 lead over WCU. The Spartans knocked the game out of the park with five runs in the seventh inning.

Steinhardt started the game and was working through the early 3-0 lead by UNCG before giving up the two long-balls to the Spartans in the sixth inning. Katie King came into the game after Steinhardt gave up the pair of homeruns, to close out the game. Steinhardt takes the loss and falls to 7-7 on the year.

Mattson tossed a complete game for UNCG giving up four hits and one run, though the run was not earned, and struck out four.

Western Carolina will host the first of its final two non-conference games of the season when it welcomes in North Carolina A&T on Tuesday. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex.