Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 April 16, 2016

Box Score

The Basics
Score: Samford 9, Western Carolina 1, Western Carolina 6, Samford 4
Records: Western Carolina 30-16, 6-5 SoCon, Samford 25-15, 9-2 SoCon
Location: SU Softball Stadium - Birmingham, Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Western Carolina softball split Saturday's doubleheader at Samford falling in game one 9-1, in five innings, before bouncing back to knock off the Bulldogs 6-4 in game two at the SU Softball Stadium.

Turning Point
With Western Carolina leading 1-0, Samford took the decisive 2-1 lead with a two-run homerun by Callie Brister - a lead the Bulldogs would never relinquish. The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to shorten the game to five innings.

How it Happened
- Western Carolina took the 1-0 lead when Abigail Daniels hit the second homerun of her career to right centerfield in the top of the third.
- Samford quickly took the lead in the bottom of the third off a two-run homerun by Caitlin Bice.
- In the bottom of the fifth Samford added six more runs to break open the game. After Megan Dowdy led off the inning with a triple to right field she scored from a groundout by Abbie Miranda for the first run and an RBI single by Abbey Sweeney scored the second run. After Catamount pitcher Taylor Sigmon gave up three crucial walks in the inning setting up a grand-slam by Lexi Higgins. The seventh run of the inning shortened the game to five innings courtesy of the run rule.

Inside the Box Score
- Sigmon earned the start and takes the loss, She falls to 11-10 on the season. She struck out three. - Samford had only six hits in the game but benefited from six walks given up by Catamount pitcher Sigmon.
- Western Carolina had four hits in the contest.
- Daniels hit her second homerun of the season and her career.
- Catamount slugger Crystal Cyr was held hitless in the game halting her streak of reaching base at 11.

How it Happened
- A walk to Sweeney and Karsin Spinks getting hit by a pitch led to Samford scoring a run in the bottom of the second off an RBI double by Dowdy.
- Western Carolina took a 2-1 lead off a two-run homerun by Cyr in the top fifth. Designated player Hunter Gibbons drew a walk moving to second and third on groundouts by Daniels and Kara Salvo. Cyr hit a two out homerun over the right field wall to give WCU a 2-1 lead.
- Samford re-took the lead in the bottom of the sixth after Western Carolina gave up a lead-off walk and a pair of singles loaded the bases. With two outs, Miranda hit a two RBI single to score two runs.
- Western Carolina scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to retake the lead 6-3. With one out hitter Anna Hughey drew a walk and on back-to-back wild pitches moved to third. After Salvo drew a walk to places runners on the corner Cyr smoked an RBI single past third base to score Hughey and tie the game. After a play at the plate got Salvo out at home runners were on the corners again with Courtney Price reaching on the fielder's choice. Sigmon came up with two outs and sent a frozen rope to right centerfield for a two RBI double plating Cyr and Price. After an error by Samford, a heady play by Sigmon sent her home as well for the fourth run of the game.
- In the bottom of the seventh WCU gave up a lead-off homerun but held the Bulldogs after that.

Inside the Box Score
- Junior pitcher Courtney Buchanan went six innings giving up four runs on seven hits, yielded eight walks and striking out seven. Buchanan took the win and improves to 12-3 on the year.
- Sigmon came into the game in the seventh replacing Buchanan. She tossed one scoreless innings and earned her seventh save of the season.
- Samford out-hit western Carolina seven to four.
- Cyr went 2-for-3 with three RBI and scoring two.

News & Notes
- With its 30th win of the season, Western Carolina's 2016 club becomes just the second team in the program's 10-year history to amass 30 wins.
- Cyr had her on base streak snapped at 11 in game one against the Bulldogs.
- Cyr hit her league-leading 13th homerun of the season. She now owns fourth place in the WCU record books for homeruns in a season. She needs one homerun to move into a tie for third place with former Catamount Savannah Filley who had 14 in 2006. The school record is 21 set by Ashley Adams also in 2006.
- The Catamount pitching staff gave up 15 walks in the pair of games in a combined 12 innings of work at Samford. - With the win in game two, Western Carolina continues to maintain a winning record in SoCon play.
- With two homeruns in the pair of games against Samford, the 2016 edition of Western Carolina softball moves into second place in the WCU record books for homeruns in a season with 45. The inaugural WCU team in 2006 ended its season with a school record 81 homeruns.
- With a double in game two, Sigmon now has 29 in her career just four shy of breaking the school record for doubles in a career.
- With her seventh save of the season, Sigmon moves into a tie for first place in the nation in saves.

Up Next
Western Carolina and Samford will play the rubber match on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. ET with each looking to claim the SoCon series.

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