April 6, 2012

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (13-23, 3-7) was edged by Appalachian State (13-17, 4-7) 6-5 Friday in the first game of a three-game Southern Conference series.

Appalachian State wasted no time in scoring, pushing a run across in the bottom of the first inning. Megan Rembielak beat out a single to first and moved to third when Sarah Warnock hit a single to right field and then both players moved to second and third on an error by Western Carolina. Rembielak scored on a sacrifice fly by Meghan Smith.

Western Carolina squandered a huge scoring chance in the top of the third inning. With one out, Amelia Griffin got the first hit of the game for the Catamounts, a bloop single to right field. Heather Chastain was hit by a pitch and Morgan Wyatt walked to load the bases with two outs. The Catamounts failed to capitalize on the scoring opportunity.

The Catamounts didn't waste its opportunities in the top of the fifth inning. Heather Chastain led off the inning with a double to left center field. Griffin followed with a walk to place runners at firs and second. Erin Foster hit her 10t homerun of the season, a shot over the left centerfield wall, to score three runs.

Crucial errors, by Western Carolina, and key hits by Appalachian State, gave the Mountaineers back the lead in the bottom of the fifth. ASU scored five runs to re-take the lead 5-3. Western Carolina had two errors in the inning, two attempts to throw home, to get the runner, that when amiss.

The Catamounts pulled within one run, in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, and Griffin at first, Foster got her second hit of the game, a single to centerfield. A wild pitch by Appalachian State relief pitcher Caroline Wainright, moved runners to second and third, and Morgan Wyatt hit a two RBI double to pull WCU within one run.

Jordan Fulton hit a slap single with one out, getting the tying run aboard. Pace dribbled a ball in front of the plate, for the second out, pushing Fulton to second. Chastain flew out to end the inning and the Catamount's rally attempt.

Western Carolina got its lead-off batter on board in five of the seven innings in the game. The Catamounts had seven hits in the contest, with two coming from Foster.

Steinhardt started the game and was replaced by Jordan Garrett in the bottom of the fifth. Steinhardt takes the loss, falling to 4-5 on the season.

Western Carolina will play a doubleheader with Appalachian State, beginning at noon Saturday, to wrap up the three game Southern Conference series.