Box Score |   

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Fifth-seeded Western Carolina used four doubles and a home run to top fourth-seeded Furman, 6-1, on Wednesday in the opening game of the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Catamounts will now face No. 1 seed Chattanooga on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

Western Carolina was led by Courtney Price, who went 2-for-4 with a homer, a run and three RBIs. Jordan Garrett was outstanding in the circle to earn the victory, tossing a complete game and allowing one run on five hits with four walks against seven strikeouts. Amber Kimrey went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Karley Harkey was 1-for-3 with an RBI as well.

Furman got single and its only run of the game from Natalie Clemmons. Taylor Jenkins was 1-for-3 with an RBI while Ambree Muller, Tayor Collins and Courtney Jacobs each contributed a hit.

Pitching shined in the early going, as Furman's Lindsey Bert and Western Carolina's Jordan Garrett battled to keep the game scoreless through two innings. Bert was perfect through the first three innings, recording four strikeouts in the process, while Garrett pitched around a couple of early walks.

Furman would break the scoreless tie with a run in the third. Clemmons reached on a two-out, infield single and Bishop followed with a walk to put runners at first and second. Jenkins would then single to left to score Clemmons from second and give the Paladins the early lead.

Western Carolina attempted to start a two-out rally of its own in the top of the fourth. Helton was hit-by-pitch to start the inning but would remain at first with two outs after a fly out and a pop out. Chastain would keep the inning going, doubling to put runners on second and third with two outs. Bert would get a fly out to retire the side and maintain the 1-0 Furman lead.

The Catamounts would break through in the 5th inning to tie the game at 1-1. Sigmon doubled in to the left-center gap to put a runner at second with one out. Kimrey moved her to third with a groundout to second and Harkey would drive her in with a single up the middle.

Western Carolina then busted the game open in the top of the 6th, scoring four runs all with two outs. Mariscal led off the inning with a single and Price cashed it in three batters later with a two-out, two-run home run to the Catamounts on top 3-1. Cyr then doubled to left and Furman intentionally walked Sigmon, putting runners on first and second. Kimrey then added to the lead with a double to left center to score both runners and make it a 5-1 game.

Garrett would finish off the game with a strikeout to end a potential two-out rally by Paladins in the bottom of the 7th. The senior pitcher tossed her 13th complete game of the season and earned her 15th victory to even her season record. She out-dueled first-team All-Conference pitcher Lindsey Bert, who allowed six runs on nine hits despite striking out eight batters against just one walk.