Box Score

The Basics
Score: Furman 7, Western Carolina 4
Records: No. 3 Seed Western Carolina 33-24, No. 2 Seed Furman 30-27
Location: UNCG Softball Complex, Greensboro, N.C.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- No. 3 seed Western Carolina closed out the 2016 season with a 7-4 loss to No. 2 seed Furman in the elimination game of the Southern Conference Championships Thursday at UNCG Softball Stadium.

Turning Point
Furman scored six runs over the course of the third through sixth inning to take the lead and secure the win.

How it Happened
- Furman took the early 1-0 lead off a solo homerun by Elise Smith in the top of the second.
- Western Carolina took a short-lived 2-1 lead scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. With one out, Courtney Price drew a walk and Karley Harkey followed with a double pushing Price to third. Madison Armstrong hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the Catamounts' first run of the game. An RBI single up the middle by Amber Kimrey plated Harkey.
- Furman retook the lead scoring three runs in the top of the third. The Paladins went on to score two more runs in the fourth.
- Western Carolina cut the Paladin lead to 6-4 scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Hunter Gibbons led off with a single up the middle and Price followed with a double. With runners at second and third, Armstrong hit a two RBI single and advanced to second. Furman got three straight outs, including a play at the plate on a bunt attempt by Kara Salvo, with Armstrong called out at home.
- Furman added a run in the top of the sixth.

Inside the Box Score
- Furman had 11 hits and Western Carolina ended with six.
- Price went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
- Armstrong had three RBI in the game.
- Taylor Sigmon got the start and the loss. She went a combined 4.1 innings allowing six runs on six hits and struck out three. Sigmon ended the season with a 13-15 record.
- Pitcher Courtney Buchanan went 2.2 innings allowing one run on five hits and struck out five.

News & Notes
- Sigmon ended the 2016 season with 201 strikeouts becoming just the third Catamount pitcher in program history to go over 200 strikeouts in a season.
- Price hit her 13th double the season ranking her tied for second in the WCU record books for doubles in a season.
- Mariscal had her eight game hitting streak snapped against Furman.
- Western Carolina ends the season with a 33-24 record - the second time in program history Catamount softball has ended the season with a winning record. The 33 wins are also the second most in school history - the 2006 squad ended the year with 41.

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