Box Score vs. Ball State Box Score vs. WKU

The Basics
Score: Ball State 5 - Western Carolina 4 / Western Kentucky 8 - Western Carolina 4
Records: Western Carolina 10-4, Ball State 6-6 / Western Kentucky 7-4
Location: WKU Softball Stadium - Bowling Green, Ky.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Carolina softball was swept in day two action at the Holiday Inn Spring Fling narrowly losing to Ball State 5-4 and falling to host Western Kentucky 8-4 Saturday at the WKU Softball Complex.

Turning Point
Ball State scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and held on to win the game weathering a four-run spurt by Western Carolina in the top of the sixth.

How it Happened
- A double, walk and a single loaded the bases for Ball State in the bottom of the first. A walk yielded by Catamount pitcher Lily Hayes scored the first Ball State run of the game. A two RBI single and a wild pitch scored two more runs and an RBI single to centerfield posted the eventual game-winning run for Ball State and the fifth run of the inning.
- Western Carolina battled back in the top of the sixth inning cutting the Ball State lead to one, 5-4. Victoria Mariscal and Kara Salvo got things started with back-to-back singles. Crystal Cyr followed with a walk to load the bases. With one out, Courtney Price slugged out a two RBI single to right field scoring Mariscal and Salvo and Cyr scored on the throw which also advanced Price to second. Hunter Gibbons followed with a single. An error allowed Price to score and Gibbons to motor to second.
- Western Carolina had a shot to knot the game in the top of the seventh. With one out, Mariscal picked up her second hit of the game and advanced to second. Salvo was hit by a pitch and Cyr walked to load the bases for the second straight inning. Taylor Sigmon hit into a fielder's choice and Mariscal was out at home plate. Price flew out to centerfield to end the game.

Inside the Box Score
- Lily Hayes started for WCU going five innings giving up five runs on five hits and struck out six. She suffered her first loss of the season falling to 2-1. After giving up four hits in the first inning, Hayes only allowed one hit in the next four innings.
- Sigmon tossed one inning of relief striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth. - Western Carolina out-hit Ball State 6-5. After being hitless the first three innings, WCU got all six hits in the last four innings of the game.
- Mariscal came into the game replacing Abigail Daniels at right field and went 2-for-2 with a run scored. - Price had two RBI in the game.

Turning Point
Western Kentucky posted five runs in the first inning tacking on two in the second and one in the fourth to take the commanding lead over Western Carolina and eventual win.

How it Happened
- The Hilltoppers jumped out on WCU early scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of WKU doubles, a Catamount error and a hit by a pitch aided in the scoring.
- WKU tacked on two runs in the bottom of the second and one run in the third.
- Western Carolina proved even down 7-0 the team has grit and fight. The Catamounts sliced the WKU lead in half, 8-4, posting four runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, pinch hitter Anna Hughey singled to centerfield and Daniels followed with a single in the exact same spot. Salvo came up and doubled to right center picking up an RBI and scoring Hughey. Cyr belted a three-run home run to right center plating Daniels and Salvo.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina out-hit Western Kentucky eight to seven.
- The Catamounts committed two errors.
- Sigmon tossed a complete game taking the loss, falling to 3-2 on the year. She allowed eight runs, four earned, on seven hits and struck out seven.
- Cyr was 2-for-4 in the game with a run scored and three RBI.

News & Notes
- Though the team was in jeopardy in both games on Saturday, WCU has yet to be shutout this season.
- Western Carolina suffered from opponents big innings giving up a total of 10 runs in the first inning, five each against Ball State and WKU. - Salvo is on a six-game hitting streak and Daniels has hit safely in the last four.
- Western Carolina has 13 homeruns this season almost averaging a homerun a game.
- The Catamounts have had 49 extra base hits in the first 14 games of the year.
- WCU has five players hitting above .300 in the first four games of the Holiday Inn Spring Fling. Salvo leads with a .417 batting average with five hits, five runs, a double and an RBI. Freshman Gibbons is hitting .364 with four hits, a double, a homeruns, a run scored and a whopping seven RBI.

Up Next
Western Carolina closes out play at the Holiday Inn Spring Fling Sunday facing host Western Kentucky, for the second time, at 3 p.m.

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