Box Score

The Basics
Score: Mercer 3, Western Carolina 2, Western Carolina 7, Mercer 5
Records: Western Carolina 32-22, 8-9 SoCon, Mercer 21-32, 4-13 SoCon
Location: Catamount Softball Complex, Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Western Carolina softball split its Southern Conference doubleheader with Mercer Saturday, on senior day, dropping game one 3-2 before bouncing back to take game two 7-5 at the Catamount Softball Complex.

Turning Point
Mercer scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead and never relinquished the advantage the remainder of the game.

How it Happened
- Mercer took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first when Natalie Shiver hit an RBI single.
- Western Carolina scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to lead Mercer 2-1. With one out, Courtney Price singled up the middle setting up a two-run homerun by Victoria Mariscal who sailed one over the left field wall.
- Mercer scored two runs in the top of the fifth to re-take the lead for good. RBI singles by Taylor Miller and Shiver scored the pair of Bear runs.

Inside the Box Score
- Senior Taylor Sigmon got the start for Western Carolina and took the loss. She tossed the complete game allowing three runs on seven hits and struck out five falling to 12-14 on the year.
- Western Carolina had six hits in the game and gave up seven to Mercer.
- Mariscal hit the first of her two homeruns in the doubleheader in game one against the Bears
- Mercer had two errors in the game while Western Carolina did not commit a miscue.

Turning Point
Trailing 3-0, Western Carolina scored six unanswered runs, scoring two run in the second through fourth inning, to take a 6-3 lead after four innings. WCU would maintain the lead the remainder of the game for the win.

How it Happened
- Mercer took the early 3-0 lead scoring three runs in the top of the second inning. Four straight walks given up by WCU led to the Bears first run of the inning, The Bears scored two more runs on a two RBI double by Emma Andrew.
- Western Carolina cut the Mercer lead to one scoring two runs in the bottom of the second with one swing of the bat. After Sigmon reached on a fielder's choice, she scored courtesy of designated player Hunter Gibbons sixth homerun of the season over the centerfield wall.
- The Catamounts took its first lead of the game with two runs in the bottom of the third. Kara Salvo led off the inning with walk and Mariscal followed with a single up the middle. A walk to Crystal Cyr loaded the bases. WCU tied the game off a sacrifice fly RBI by Price. Sigmon's RBI fielder's choice gave the Catamounts a 4-3 lead.
- Mariscal's second homerun of the doubleheader gave the Catamounts two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Salvo led off with a single and Mariscal hit a homerun to right field giving the Catamounts a 6-3 lead.
- Mercer made it interesting scoring two runs in the in the top of the fifth. The Bears hit their first homerun of the SoCon series when Shiver hit a two-run homerun.
- Western Carolina picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Karley Harkey led off the inning with a single through the left side and scored off an RBI single by Salvo to right field.

Inside the Box Score
- Junior hurler Courtney Buchanan got the start going 4.2 innings giving up five runs on four hits, walked six and struck out four. Buchanan earned the win and improves to 13-5 on the season.
- Sigmon earned her eighth save of the season entering the game with two outs in the fifth inning. She tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out three.
- Western Carolina had seven hits in the game and gave up four to Mercer. The Bears also committed two errors in the contest.
- Salvo and Mariscal each had two hits.

News & Notes
- Western Carolina had three homeruns in the doubleheader pushing its seasonal total to 51 - continuing to rank second in the WCU record books for homeruns in a season.
- Mariscal hit her third and fourth homeruns of the season, pounding a homerun in each of the games against Mercer. She pushes her hitting streak to six games.
- With her 13th win on the mound, Buchanan moves to a tie for fourth place in the WCU record books for wins in a season.
- Sigmon earned her eighth save of the season - continuing to lead the Southern Conference and moves her to a tie for second in the nation for saves. She is three behind, 11, the national leader Renee Porter from West Point.
- Sigmon upped her strikeout total to 194 ranking her fourth in the WCU record books for strikeouts in a season. She needs 13 strikeouts to move into third place.
- Western Carolina continues to sit in fourth place in the Southern Conference race. Based on what occurs in Sunday's games, the Catamounts could enter the SoCon Championships as high as third or as low as fifth.

Up Next
Western Carolina and Mercer will play the rubber match at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Catamounts final game of the regular season prior to entering the SoCon Championships next week.

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