Box Score vs. No. 19 Minnesotavs. Jacksonville Box Score

The Basics
Score: No. 19 Minnesota 7 - Western Carolina 1 / Western Carolina 6 - Jacksonville 5
Records: Western Carolina 13-7, Minnesota 11-4 / Jacksonville 10-9
Location: Jack Turner Stadium - Athens, Ga.

ATHENS, Ga. - For the second straight day, Western Carolina softball split a pair of games at the 13th Annual Georgia Softball Classic falling to No. 19 Minnesota 7-1 before bouncing back to hold off Jacksonville 6-5 to close out Saturday's action at Jack Turner Stadium.

Turning Point
Minnesota scored six runs in the bottom of the second to all but put the game away.

How it Happened
-Minnesota scored six runs in the bottom of the second.
- Western Carolina avoided a shutout scoring a run in the top of the third. Karley Harkey ended the no-hitter leading off the third with a single. Madison Armstrong followed with a single and Amber Kimrey hit a sacrifice bunt to push Harkey to third and Armstrong to second. Abigail Daniels hit an RBI groundout to score Harkey.
- The Gophers added a seventh run in the bottom of the third.

Inside the Box Score
- Taylor Sigmon started the game and went two innings allowing two runs on two hits and falls to 4-4 on the season.
- Courtney Buchanan came into the game in the third inning replacing Sigmon. She closed out the game going four innings allowing five runs on six hits and struck out two.
- Western Carolina had four hits in the game and Minnesota had eight.
- The Catamounts committed two errors.
- After giving up seven runs in the first three innings, Western Carolina held the Gophers scoreless in the next three.

Turning Point
Western Carolina scored five of its six runs in the first three innings, and scored the decisive run in the sixth inning to hold off Jacksonville down the stretch.

How it Happened
- Jacksonville took the early 1-0 lead off a homerun in the top of the first.
- Western Carolina grabbed a 2-1 lead scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Daniels led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kara Salvo. A Jacksonville error put Courtney Price aboard and put runners at first and third. Sigmon hit an RBI single to score Daniels and tie the game at one. An RBI fielder's choice by Victoria Mariscal gave WCU a 2-1 lead.
- The Catamounts added two more runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs Daniels got her second hit of the game and Salvo followed with a single to centerfield. Price hit a two RBI double to centerfield to score Daniels and Salvo.
- WCU tacked on a run in the third courtesy of an error by Jacksonville. Crystal Cyr got on first by a Jacksonville error and was erased at second on a fielder's choice that put Mariscal on first. A pinch hit RBI double by Anna Hughey scored Mariscal. - Jacksonville cut into WCU's lead with a run in the sixth inning.
- Western Carolina claimed the decisive, and what would turn out to be winning run, in the bottom of the sixth. The winning run began when junior Kara Salvo was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Salvo made it around to third off a ground out and Jacksonville error and scored off a sacrifice fly RBI by Cyr.
- Western Carolina had to weather a rally attempt by Jacksonville in the top of the seventh with the Dolphins plating three runs cutting WCU's lead to 6-5. A one out single and a pair of RBI doubles accounted for three Jacksonville runs. Sigmon came into the game relieving starter Lily Hayes to record the final out.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina scored five of its six runs in the first three innings.
- Western Carolina had 10 hits in the game and gave up four.
- The Catamounts did not commit an error in the game and Jacksonville had four.
- Hayes got the start and the win improving to 4-2 on the season. She went 6.2 innings giving up five runs on four hits and struck out seven. Hayes also hit four batters.
- Sigmon closed out the game getting the final out of the seventh inning and earning her third save of the season.
- Daniels and Armstrong each had a pair of hits in the game.

News & Notes
- Western Carolina's 10 hits is the most since 11 against Valparaiso on Feb. 25.
- Western Carolina gave up just its fourth homerun of the season against Jacksonville.
- Sigmon's save against Jacksonville is her third of the season and 15th of her career - for which she owns the school record.
- Salvo was hit by a pitch in both the game against Minnesota and Jacksonville -- she has been hit by a pitch seven times this season.
- The game against No. 19 Minnesota was the second straight game WCU has faced a ranked opponent - WCU fell to No. 9 Georgia on Friday, 5-2.
- Western Carolina's 13-7 record is the third 10 in the program's 10-year history Catamount softball has had an above .500 record after the first 20 games. The program had records of 12-8 in 2006 and 2011.

Up Next
Western Carolina completes play in the 13th Annual Georgia Softball Classic meeting Austin Peay for the second time in the tournament at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

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