Box Score vs. Marist

Box Score vs. Delaware

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (2-4) split a pair of games at the Seahawk Spring Softball Classic by UNC Wilmington. The Catamounts defeated Marist 6-1 and fell to Delaware 9-2 in the nightcap.

Western Carolina 6, Marist 1

Three Western Carolina pitchers combined to hold Marist to four hits and one run as Catamount softball silenced the Red Foxes 6-1 in opening game action of the Seahawk Spring Softball Classic.

Senior hurler Jordan Garrett started the game and went three innings allowing two hits, walking four and striking out five. Mallory Broome entered the game in the fourth inning, getting the win and improving to 1-1. Broome gave up one run on two hits and also struck out five. Junior Taylor Sigmon closed out the game in the seventh inning facing three batters and striking out two.

Western Carolina jumped on Marist early scoring three runs in the opening frame. Emily Helton, who earned a starting spot after breaking up a South Carolina no-hitter on Thursday, led off with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Victoria Mariscal pushed Helton to second who then moved to third on a wild pitch. Kara Salvo got on courtesy of a Marist error and Helton scored the first run of the game. After another Marist error allowed Sigmon to get on base both Sigmon and Salvo scored thanks to a two RBI double by Cristyal Cyr.

The Catamounts tacked on three more runs in the top of the third. With one out Salvo logged in her second hit of the game, a single to left field. Sigmon hit her second double of the season pushing runners to second and third. Sophomore Courtney Price hit the third Catamount double of the day, to right center field, scoring Salvo and Sigmon for a pair of RBI.

Broome entered the game in the fourth inning and sat down six straight Marist batters. In the bottom of the sixth the Red Foxes' avoided the shutout when they scored a run off Broome.

Price and Salvo each had two hits in the game. Price and Cyr each had two RBI. Western Carolina had a season-high 10 hits in the game and played flawless ball not committing an error.

Delaware 9, Western Carolina 2

Delaware jumped on Western Carolina early scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Starting Catamount pitcher Courtney Buchanan gave up back-to-back walks to open the Blue Hens half of the inning setting up the two runs. With two outs, Mariah Kondravy hit a two RBI double to put the Blue Hens on top.

Western Carolina battled back to tie the game in the top of the second. With one out, Price drew a walk and moved to second on a single by Heather Chastain. A fielder's choice erased Price and put Amber Kimrey on first. The Blue Hens gave up its second walk of the inning to Karley Harkey and Western Carolina had the bases loaded. Helton hit an RBI single to score Chastain and cut the Deleware lead to 2-1. When Victoria Mariscal was hit by a pitch, Kimrey scored to tie the game at 2-2.

Delaware reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second. Another walk given up by Western Carolina came back to haunt them as Buchanan walked lead-off batter Shelby Jones. With one out, and runners at first and second, Giovanna Kolofer hit an RBI single past third base to give the Blue Hens the lead back, 3-2.

Buchanan held Delaware scoreless in the third inning, the first time in the game. This set up a great scoring chance for Western Carolina. Chastain opened inning with a single, Kimrey had a bunt single and Karley Harkey reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. A strikeout by Helton and pop up outs by Mariscal and Salvo ended Western Carolina's jewel of a scoring chance.

Delaware scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth set up by three straight singles given up by Buchanan. Failing to record an out, Buchanan was replaced by Sigmon with runners on first and second. Sigmon struck out three straight batters to end the Blue Hen scoring. Delaware added a run in the bottom of the sixth.

Buchanan takes the loss and falls to 0-1 on the season. Chastain when 2-for-3 in the game and Helton was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Western Carolina continues play in the Seahawk Spring Softball Classic Saturday. The Catamounts face host UNCW at 2:30 p.m. and Delaware at 5 p.m.

NOTES:

In two appearances Saturday relief pitcher Sigmon tossed four innings allowing one run on one hit and striking out eight.

In the pair of games Western Carolina had three doubles ... Senior Heather Chastain led the team going 3-for-6 in two games with a run scored.

After breaking up the South Carolina no-hitter against the Catamounts on Thursday, freshman Emily Helton earned a starting spot in the WCU line-up in the designated player position. In the pair of games on Friday, Helton was 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.