Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Western Carolina softball (14-22) was swept by the University (9-29) of Virginia 2-1, 10-1 Tuesday at the Park.

Virginia 2, Western Carolina 1

Virginia jumped on top of Western Carolina 1-0 with one swing of the bat. With one out, Iyana Hughes hit a solo homerun over the right center field wall.

The Cavaliers added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth in what would turn out to be the insurance run. With one out, starting Catamount pitcher Jordan Garrett gave up a one out walk that came back to haunt her later in the inning. After striking out Lauren Heintzleman for the second out Aimee Chapdelaine hit an RBI single to shallow left field for the second run of the game.

The Catamounts attempted a rally in the top of the seventh. Senior catcher Heather Chastain led off the inning with a solo homerun over the left field wall. With one out, Karley Harkey walked putting the tying run on first base. Amber Kimrey hit a sacrifice bunt pushing Harkey to second but Emily Helton ground out to end the rally and the game.

Western Carolina had a golden scoring opportunity to start the game when designated player Abigail Daniels led off with a single to center field and with one out Victoria Mariscal reached on a Virginia error. With runners on second and third and one out Western Carolina's next two batters struck out and lined out to end the inning. It was the only time WCU had a runner on third the whole game.

The Catamounts had just three hits in the game.

Garrett pitched a solid game but Virginia took advantage of timely hits. In the complete game, Garrett gave up two runs on six hits and struck out six. She falls to 8-10 on the year.

Virginia 10, Western Carolina 1

Virginia scored nine runs in the first inning and one in the ensuing four innings to shorten game two to just five innings.

For the second straight game, Daniels led off with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by Mariscal moved Daniels to second Courtney Price singled up the middle to put runners on first and third. Taylor Sigmon hit an RBI single to right field to score Daniels to give WCU a 1-0 lead.

The Catamount lead was short-lived. Starting Catamount pitcher Mallory Broome saw three Virginia batters before she was replaced by Courtney Buchanan. Broome gave up a walk and two singles and allowed three runs.

Buchanan pitched two seven batters in the first inning giving up four runs on three hits in a half inning of work. Sigmon came into pitch with one out and finally got the last two outs but not before giving up tow more runs.

Virginia scored nine runs in the first inning to put Western Carolina in a hole it could never recover from. In the first inning alone Catamount defense had three errors to assist in the nine Virginia runs.

Virginia added its 10th run of the game off a solo homerun in the second inning. Broome takes the loss and falls to 1-2 on the season.

Sigmon tossed 3.2 innings giving up three runs on eight hits and struck out five.

Western Carolina continues its road swing this Friday and Saturday with a Southern Conference three-game series at UNCG. The double header Friday begins at 1 p.m. and the single game at 1 p.m. Saturday.