Game 1 Box ScoreGame 2 Box Score |   

The Basics
Score: Radford 8 - Western Carolina 6 (8 innings)/ Western Carolina 5, Radford 2
Records: Western Carolina 17-8, Radford 12-6
Location: Catamount Softball Complex - Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Western Carolina closed out its four-game home stand splitting a doubleheader with Radford Saturday dropping game one 8-6, in eight innings, before bouncing back to take game two 5-2 Saturday at the Catamount Softball Complex.

Senior shortstop Karley Harkey broke the Western Carolina record for triples with the seventh in her career in game one against the Highlanders.

Turning Point
In the top of the eighth inning, Radford's Marissa Yow hit a three-run homerun to break open a 5-5 tie. Western Carolina attempted a rally in the bottom of the eighth but could only push across one run.

How it Happened
- After two scoreless innings, Western Carolina scratched the scoreboard first with two runs in the bottom of the third. Victoria Mariscal led off with a walk and moved to second on a ground out by Madison Armstrong. A Radford error allowed Abigail Daniels to reach first and pushed Mariscal to third. Courtney Price's RBI double scored Mariscal and Daniels scored on an RBI single by Crystal Cyr.
- Radford took the lead with one swing of the bat in the fourth inning off a three RBI homerun by Whitney Davis and added an additional run to lead 4-2.
- Western Carolina tied the game in the fifth inning. After Kara Salvo reached on a fielder's choice and Courtney Price singled. Cyr stuck again with an RBI single that scored Salvo and Price scored on a Highlander error to tie the game at four.
- Radford re-took the lead in the sixth inning scoring a run to lead 5-4.
- In the bottom of the seventh inning, Western Carolina tied the game at five to force extra innings. With two outs, Price doubled to right center and scored off an RBI single past second base by Cyr.
- Radford took the lead for good in the eighth inning with the three RBI homerun by Yow.

Inside the Box Score
- Freshman lefty hurler Lily Hayes got the start and went five innings allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits and struck out six.
- She was lifted for senior Taylor Sigmon in the sixth inning with the game tied at four. Sigmon went three innings giving up four runs on five hits and struck out five. Sigmon takes the loss and falls to 4-5 on the season.
- Price and Cyr each went 3-for-4 in the game. Price had an RBI and scored two runs while Cyr had three RBI.
- Radford out-hit WCU 12 hits to nine.
- The Highlanders had three errors in the game while WCU had one. - Radford hit two homeruns in the game.

Turning Point
Tied at two in the bottom of the sixth, Western Carolina exploded for three runs to claim the lead and the win.

How it Happened
- Western Carolina jumped on the board in the bottom of the first on the bat of Courtney Price who hit a two out homerun - her fifth of the season.
- Another homerun, in the bottom of the fourth gave the Catamounts a 2-0 lead. With one out, Cyr homered to left field - her sixth homer on the season.
- Radford used the long ball to tie the game when Becky Mantel hit a two-run shot in the top of the fifth.
- The Catamounts took the lead and put the game out of reach in the sixth inning scoring three runs. Salvo led off with a double and then some of the weirdest plays in softball followed. With one out, Cyr hit the ball up the middle and Radford shortstop Marissa Gagliano tripped over second base to allow Cyr to reach first and get a hit. With two outs, senior Amber Kimrey singled past second base scoring Salvo for an RBI. During the same play an errant throw by Radford allowed Cyr to score. The Catamounts scored their third run of the game on an RBI single by Sigmon.

Inside the Box Score
- Courtney Buchanan tossed her second complete game of the season and earned the win over Radford for Western Carolina. Buchanan had a no-hitter going for four innings before giving up a single to Nia Chiles. She followed with yielding the long ball to Mantel later in the inning. After the homerun, Buchanan locked in and sat down the last eight batters, including striking out five, to end the game. Buchanan improves to 6-1 on the year tossing seven innings allowing two runs on two hits and striking out eight.
- Cyr was 2-for-3 in the game with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Harkey also had a pair of hits in the game.
- Western Carolina had nine hits in the game and held Radford to two.

News & Notes
- Harkey's triple in game one against Radford gives her the Catamount record for triples in a career with seven.
- Radford hit three homeruns against Western Carolina, in two games. Prior the game with the Highlanders, WCU had given up just five long balls in 23 games.
- Buchanan tossed her second complete game of the year and improves her record to her season-best six wins. - Cyr hit her sixth homerun of the season in game two against Radford.
- Western Carolina has 21 homeruns in 25 games.
- Against Radford, Cyr hit .714, 5-for-7, with two runs scored, four RBI and a homerun.
- Western Carolina completes its four-game home stand 3-1.
- Western Carolina is 7-3 over the last 10 games.

Up Next
Western Carolina heads back on the road traveling to Georgia State on Wednesday, March 16, for a doubleheader set to begin at 4 p.m.

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