Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (10-18, 1-1 Southern Conference) split its doubleheader with ETSU (11-13, 1-1 SoCon) Saturday in a pair of games that lasted almost eight hours. In the marathon of a game one, the Buccaneers outlasted the Catamounts 12-10 in 12 innings before WCU rebounded to win game two 7-5.

The Catamounts combined for 31 hits in two games and scored 17 runs. The Catamounts played its second extra inning game of the year going a season-high 12 innings in the first game loss to ETSU. The Catamounts also hit three homeruns in the two games.

ETSU 12, Western Carolina 10 (12 innings)

Only two runs were scored through the first seven innings of the game with the bulk of the runs in the game coming in extra innings. Eleven runs were scored by ETSU from the eighth inning on while WCU scored nine in the extra frames. Twice Western Carolina came back from being down multiple runs but couldn't overcome the two run deficit in the bottom of the 12th.

In an early pitching duel, Western Carolina scratched the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, freshman Emily Helton reached on an ETSU error and moved into scoring position when she stole second. After sophomore Kara Salvo walked junior first baseman Taylor Sigmon hit an RBI single to right field to plate Helton.

Senior pitcher Jordan Garrett was cruising through the game working through four early walks and three ETSU hits when Catamount errors became a pitfall for the hurler in the top of the seventh. A pair of Western Carolina errors set up the tying run for ETSU. Taylor Carter reached on a lead-off Catamount error and tied the game on an RBI single by Nicole Fox.

With the international tie-breaker not in effect until the 10th inning, Western Carolina and ETSU played through the eighth and ninth inning. The pair of teams traded a run in the eighth inning pushing the game to a 2-2 tie.

ETSU's huge ninth inning, in which the Buccaneers scored four runs, seemed like it would seal the game, but the tenacious Catamounts kept fighting.

Down 6-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Catamounts began its rally with a lead-off single down the first base line by junior Victoria Mariscal. A fielder's choice for Kara Salvo put her on first and Mariscal moved all the way to third on an ETSU error. The Catamounts cut the ETSU lead to three off an RBI single by Sigmon. Courtney Price hit a two RBI triple to right center and the Catamounts were down one run, 6-5. Karley Harkey's sacrifice fly tied the game 6-6.

The international tie breaker rule, putting a runner on second base to start the inning, went into play in the 10th inning. Again both teams traded a run with each getting one in the 10th.

Tied 7-7, the Buccaneers appeared to break open the game again scoring three runs in the top of the 11th. And again Western Carolina had an answer.

Trailing 10-7, Western Carolina rallied in the bottom of the 11th. With junior Amber Kimrey placed on second, Harkey hit her second homerun of the season to cut the Buccaneer advantaged to 10-9. A single by Helton and a one out double by Salvo set up Sigmon's sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Helton, to knot the game at 10. Garrett tossed a courageous career-high 11 innings and struck out 12 batters before she was replaced in the top of the 12th. ETSU had already burned through four pitchers while Garrett continued to plug away.

Courtney Buchanan came into the game in the 12th for Western Carolina and lasted 0.1 innings. She gave up the winning runs allowing two runs on one hit and walked one. Sigmon tossed the remaining 0.2 innings. Buchanan took the loss.

Price led the WCU going 5-for-7 with a run and two RBI.

Western Carolina 7, ETSU 5

Unlike the early low scoring affair of game one, ETSU took the early lead scoring a pair of runs off two Western Carolina errors to lead 2-0 in the middle of the first.

The Catamounts didn't leave its fighting spirit in the first game as it battled back to tie the game 2-2 after one inning. Helton led off the inning with a single, to extend her hitting streak to seven, but was erased at second when Mariscal hit into a fielder's choice. Salvo hit her second homerun of the season in a two RBI effort that sailed over the left field wall.

Buchanan, who started game two for Western Carolina, tossed a scoreless second inning before she gave up three runs in the top of the third.

Trailing 5-2, Western Carolina cut the ETSU lead to one in the bottom of the third. Three straight singles by Price, Sigmon and Cyr loaded the bases for WCU with one out. In a rare play, Heather Chastain singled toward short stop and the ball careened off the foot of Sigmon who was called for the second out of the inning. With two outs, Harkey singled up the middle for two RBI to cut the ETSU lead to 5-4.

Buchanan notched her second scoreless inning despite giving up a lead-off walk to ETSU's Jennine Duncan. The Catamounts erased Duncan when she was caught stealing by catcher Chastain. Buchanan closed out the inning with a ground out and struck out Alex Everett to end the inning.

Western Carolina secured the game scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Mariscal singled past the shortstop. With two outs Price drew a walk to set up a scoring chance for Sigmon and she took advantage of it. Sigmon launched a three run RBI homerun over the left field wall hitting her team-leading sixth homerun of the season.

How did Sigmon follow up her go ahead homerun to give WCU the lead? She came into the game in relief of Buchanan to toss three scoreless innings and pick up the save. Sigmon threw a two hit shutout, in three innings of work, and struck out two. For her efforts, Sigmon earned her third save of the season. Buchanan took the win and improves to 2-7 on the year.

Eight of the nine players in the starting line-up for Western Carolina notched at least one hit in the game.

Western Carolina and ETSU will play the rubber game on Sunday as each look to take the series. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex.