Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a strong outing to open the 2015 season, Western Carolina softball (0-1) dropped a 1-0 heart-breaker to ACC foe North Carolina (4-2) Wednesday at Anderson Stadium.

In the only extra base hit Western Carolina allowed in the game, North Carolina's Aquilla Mateen hit a double to left center to lead off the seventh inning. Tar Heel s'designated player Amber Parrish laid down a bunt to push Mateen to third. A wild pitch by relief pitcher Taylor Sigmon allowed Mateen to score and give North Carolina the win.

Western Carolina put together a brilliant defensive performance against North Carolina in its opening game of the season. The Catamounts turned two double plays and gunned down a Tar Heel runner at home during the contest.

In the bottom of the first North Carolina seemed to be sitting pretty with back-to-back singles placing runners on first and second. The Catamounts turned a double play when sophomore third baseman Kara Salvo scooped up a ball to third, stepped on the bag, and tossed it to first for the double play. The next North Carolina batter, Kristen Brown, fouled out to end the inning.

The Catamounts registered its second double play in as many innings in the second. With one out, and a runner on second, North Carolina was turned away again. Kendra Lynch lined out to starting pitcher Jordan Garrett who headily threw it back to first to catch the runner off the bag.

North Carolina was back at it again in the third inning when it loaded the bases with two outs, and Garrett with a steely stare, calmly rung up Brown to end the inning and the Tar Heel threat. Garrett showed her defensive side when with two outs in the fourth inning she snagged a liner to end the inning with runners on the corners. The fourth inning was the last for Garrett. Drawing the start, Garrett went four innings giving up three hits and striking out two.

Still want some defensive razzle dazzle? Relief pitcher Sigmon allowed two base runners, off a walk and a single, with runners on first and second in the fifth inning. Jenna Kelly followed with a single to right field and Tar Heel pinch runner Elly Wagner was gunned down at home. Junior college transfer Victoria Mariscal tossed a laser to waiting Catamount catcher Heather Chastain for the third out.

Western Carolina strung together three hits in the game to North Carolina's seven. Both teams played flawless ball not yielding an error.

Sigmon took the loss tossing 2.1 innings giving up four hits, one run and striking out two. The Catamounts got hits by Chastain, Sigmon and Mariscal (her first as a Catamount).

Western Carolina will compete in the Upstate Classic, hosted by USC Upstate, this weekend. In an amended schedule, due to the projected bitter cold, the Catamounts will open the tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday against Radford. Check out the Catamount softball schedule for the remainder of the changes.