May 8, 2011

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (18-34, 3-21 Southern Conference) dropped the final game of its series with Chattanooga (38-12, 20-3) 14-6, in six innings, Sunday at the Catamount softball Complex.

The Catamounts will be back in action on Wednesday at 10 .m. at the Southern Conference Tournament held on the Georgia Southern campus. Western Carolina is the No. 9 seed and will play either Furman or Samford, as the No. 8 seed, in a play-in game. The winner will advance to the double elimination bracket while the loser will end their season.

In the final regular season game of the year, Western Carolina at times looked tough against Chattanooga, who will take the No. 1 seed into the tournament on Wednesday. However, the Lady Mocs prevailed with two huge innings, scoring four runs in the second inning and exploding for 10 runs in the sixth.

Western Carolina struck first in the game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore left fielder Jordan Fulton got her 51st hit of the season, a lead-off single past the shortstop. After catcher Haley Pace was hit by Chattanooga pitcher Caroline Curran, Amber Steinhardt singled to left field to plate Fulton. With one out, after Pace was called out at home, Kelly Braman hit an RBI single up the middle scoring Steinhardt.

Chattanooga answered back with four runs in the top of the second inning. The Lady Mocs scored their first run off an RBI single by Laruen Flores and took the lead, 3-2, off a Western Carolina miscue that plated two runners. Michelle Fuzzard's RBI single gave the Lady Mocs a 4-2 lead.

The Catamounts re-took the lead with one swing of the bat, and it was all set up with a lead-off single by Amelia Griffin. After Griffin reached first, freshman second baseman Sarah Spencer picked up a bunt single for runners at first and second. With two outs, sophomore catcher Haley Pace took the first offering by pitcher Curran over the centerfield wall for three RBI homeruns and gave WCU a 5-4 lead.

Erin Foster tacked on another run for Western Carolina in the bottom of the third inning. She hit a homerun over the left field wall off of Lady Mocs' relief pitcher Kandice Irwin.

Starting Catamount pitcher Katie King looked to have calmed down after giving up four runs to Chattanooga in the second inning. She went three scoreless innings before Chattanooga exploded for 10 runs, to take the lead, and end the game at six innings.

King takes the loss and falls to 8-17 on the season. Steinhardt and Bekah Burkett each came into the game in relief. Western Carolina had 11 hits in the game and Steinhardt and Foster had a pair of hits in the contest.