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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Western Carolina pitcher Jordan Garrett pitched another complete game in her second start of the day to lead the fifth-seeded Catamounts to a 6-1 win over sixth-seeded UNCG on Thursday evening at the 2015 SoCon Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Catamounts advance to play Furman at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

It is the second time in the program's history Western Carolina has reached the semi-finals of the Southern Conference Championships. The first time came in the 2007 season when the Catamounts won two games top open tournament play before dropping the final two. It is also the first time since 2007 WCU will play at least four games in the Southern Conference Championships.

Western Carolina (22-30) got a gutsy performance from its senior pitcher, as Garrett allowed just one run on 10 hits with no walks against four strikeouts to earn her 16th win of the season. On offense, the Catamounts got home runs from Heather Chastain and Taylor Sigmon, who drove in two runs apiece. Courtney Price was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Karley Harkey was 2-for-2 in the win with a pair of runs.

UNCG (25-22) out hit WCU, 10-9, but could not convert the hits into multiple runs. Tory Wright was 3-for-3 with her eighth home run of the season along with a run and an RBI. Allison Geiner went 2-for-4 in the contest to up her average to .407 on the year.

Western Carolina got on the board right from the outset to claim the early lead. Kara Salvo singled with two outs in the bottom of the first and Heather Chastain followed with a home run to left to make it 2-0.

UNCG answered in the next half inning with a long ball of its own. Tory Wright drove a one-out home run to right center in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Catamounts would get the run back in the bottom of the second. Kimrey doubled to right center with two outs and Harkey immediately knocked her in to push the lead back to two runs at 3-1.

The pitchers on both sides would control the next two frames with no more than single batter reaching base for either side in the third or fourth innings.

Both teams would then get some offense going in the fifth. UNCG started it in the top half, as Overdiep singled through the right side to put a runner on with one out. Geiner continued with an infield single to put two on with one out. Two batters later, Nicole Thomas reached on a fielder's choice with two outs, loading the bases. Garrett would get a fly out to end the inning to keep it a two-run game.

Western Carolina would capitalize on its opportunity in the bottom half, adding a run to extend the lead. Kimrey singled to start the inning before later stealing second. Harkey then walked to put two on and Daniels bunted the runners over to second and third with one out. Mariscal got home the run on a groundout to second, pushing the score to 4-1.

Western Carolina added to its lead again in their next trip to the plate. Price singled to lead off the frame and Sigmon then homered to bring her around and make it a 6-1 ballgame in the bottom of the 6th.

UNCG got back-to-back one-out singles from Geiner and Vega in the bottom of the seventh to put two on with one out. Thomas reached on a fielder's choice as Emily Lopez, who pinch ran for Vega, was forced out at second. Garrett would stop the threat there with a fly out to right to keep Western Carolina alive in the SoCon Tournament.

In four starts against UNCG this season, Garrett is 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA over 23.0 inning pitched.