Feb. 24, 2012

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Senior outfielder Erin Foster'spair of homeruns helped lift Western Carolina softball (4-6) to a 5-4 win over Marist College Friday, in the first day of action at the North Carolina A&T Tournament.

The Catamounts' game against Utah Valley was halted in the second inning, with the game scoreless, and will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday.

It was the long ball that pushed Western Carolina to the victory over Marist College, and helped WCU weather a big inning by the Foxes. Marist scored four runs in the fifth inning, but just as Western Carolina has shown this youthful season, it may be down but never out.

Junior Shemekia Scotton started off the slugfest for Western Carolina with a solo shot to right center in the second inning. Her four-bagger halted a scoreless game between Western Carolina and Marist.

 Foster’s first of two homeruns, in the fourth inning, put Western Carolina up 2-0.

Freshman hurler Jordan Garrett got the starting nod in the game. She cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three Foxes’ hits before getting in a jam.Garrett gave up four runs, on five hits, to allow Marist to take the lead, 4-2, in the fifth inning.

Junior Amber Steinhardt replaced Garrett in the fifth inning. Steinhardt earned the win, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, not allowing a hit, and striking out two. She took the win in the game and improves to 1-1.

More details regarding the game and Saturday’s updated schedule will be posted as soon information is received from the North Carolina A&T media relations staff.

Down 4-2, Western Carolina answered with a big inning of its own in the top of the sixth inning. Foster got it started with a one out solo homerun to centerfield, cutting the Marist lead to 4-3. Haley Pace got the only other hit of the sixth inning, a single to centerfield. After Kelly Braman reached on a Marist fielding error, Western Carolina benefitted from the Foxes’ second error of the inning, which allowed Heather Chastain to reach first, and Pace and Braman to score.

The three runs by Western Carolina allowed the Catamounts to retake the lead, 5-4, and eventually win the game.

Western Carolina had just five hits in the game, but three of the hits were homeruns, which benefitted the Catamounts. Foster ended the game 2-for-3 with two homeruns and two RBI.

After the game with Utah Valley, which was halted on Friday due to inclement weather, Western Carolina will turn around and face host North Carolina A&T. The game with the Bulldogs will approximately begin around 11 a.m.