game 1 Box ScoreGame 2 Box Score

The Basics
Score: Western Carolina 2 - SIUE 1/ Western Carolina 7, SIUE 3
Records: Western Carolina 16-7, SIUE 5-11
Location: Catamount Softball Complex -- Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Western Carolina softball hit a combined five homeruns in two games, and Lily Hayes picked up a pair of wins on the mound, as the Catamounts swept SIUE 2-1, 7-3 Thursday in their home opener at the Catamount Softball Complex. In the game one win over SIUE Head Coach Jim Clift recorded his 100th win at the helm of WCU softball.

Turning Point
With the game tied at one, Crystal Cyr hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning to give WCU a 2-1 lead and eventual win.

How it Happened
- Western Carolina scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Taylor Sigmon led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Armstrong. Sigmon moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Victoria Mariscal.
- SIUE tied the game in top of the third.
- Cyr's solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth broke open a 1-1 tie giving WCU a 2-1 lead.

Inside the Box Score
- Sigmon got the start in the game going 3.2 innings giving up one run on four hits and struck out five. Sigmon got the no decision as she was lifted in favor of Hayes in the fourth inning.
- Hayes came into the game in relief in the fourth inning with two outs and runners on first and second after Sigmon hit back-to-back batters. Hayes recorded a strikeout to end the Cougar scoring threat.
- Hayes tossed 3.1 scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out three. She picked up the win in the game.
- Cyr's homerun was her only hit in the game and her fifth long ball of the season.
- Western Carolina was out-hit by SIUE by one with the Cougars getting six hits to the Catamounts' five.
- Sigmon had a pair of hits in the game.

Turning Point
Holding onto a tenuous 4-3 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, Western Carolina got back-to-back homeruns from Sigmon, a two-run shot, and a solo shot by Karley Harkey to put the game out of reach for SIUE.

How it Happened
- SIUE took the early lead with a three-run homerun by Tess Eby.
- Western Carolina quickly claimed the lead scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Abigail Daniels led off the inning with a single past third base. Kara Salvo followed with an RBI double scoring Daniels. A key moment came when it appeared Salvo would be tagged out trying to go to third but an interference call on SIUE allowed Salvo to stay at second. This was key because Courtney Price came up and hit a two-run homerun to left center to tie the game at three. A solo homerun by Sigmon gave WCU the 4-3 lead.
- After five scoreless innings, by both teams, Western Carolina plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Price walked to open the inning but was erased at second when Cyr hit into a fielder's choice. With two outs, Sigmon hit her second homerun of the game - a two run shot that scored Cyr. Harkey made it back-to-back homeruns when she hit solo shot to right center field.
- The Catamounts had some strong defensive plays including catching a runner stealing in the third inning and a strike by Price from centerfield to Salvo at the plate gunning down the Cougar runner, Jordan LaFave, in the fourth inning.

Inside the Box Score
- Courtney Buchanan got the start in game two and went 3.1 innings giving up three runs on five hits and striking out two. After giving up the three runs in the first inning, Buchanan tossed 2.1 scoreless innings. She was lifted in the fourth inning for Hayes.
- Hayes came into the game in relief for the second time in the doubleheader. She tossed 3.1 scoreless innings giving up just two hits and striking out one. She picked up the win in game two as well and improves her seasonal record to 7-2.
- Western Carolina and SIUE each had seven hits in the game.
- Sigmon and Harkey each had two hits in the game. Sigmon, Harkey and Price each had homeruns.

News & Notes
- Western Carolina's four homeruns, in game two against SIUE, ties for second place in the WCU record books for most homeruns in a contest.
- Sigmon's two homeruns in the second game against SIUE is a career high for homeruns in a game for the senior.
- Western Carolina's 19 homeruns is tied for eighth in the WCU record books for most homeruns in a season. The Catamounts have hit 19 homeruns in 23 games.
- Cyr's homerun in game one gives her a team-leading five for the season.
- For the second time this season, Western Carolina has knocked off an opponent who won its conference in 2015. WCU defeated defending Conference USA Champions WKU on 1-0 on Feb. 28 and just swept SIUE who is the defending OVC champions.
- Sigmon had four hits in the pair of games against SIUE pushing her career total to 149 tying her for fifth place in the career record books. She also pushed her career RBI total to 89, with three in the pair of games against the Cougars, and continues to rank fourth in the WCU record books. She needs 11 RBI to take over first place.

Up Next
Western Carolina hosts a doubleheader with Radford on Saturday, March 12, beginning at 2 p.m.

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