Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Basics:
Score: UNCG 6, Western Carolina 0; UNCG 10, Western Carolina 2 (5)
Records: Western Carolina 6-16, 0-2 SoCon, UNCG 19-13, 2-0 SoCon
Location: Greensboro, N.C.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Senior outfielder Courtney Price broke the school record for doubles in a career, with 33, as Western Carolina dropped its Southern Conference opening doubleheader at UNCG 6-0 and 10-2, in five innings, Saturday at the UNCG Softball Complex.

Turning Point:
UNCG scored all six runs in the first three innings, including a grand-slam by Spartan Jasmine Palmer, to defeat Western Carolina 6-0.

How it Happened: UNCG scored a run in the first, one in the second and exploded for four runs in the third, off a Palmer grand-slam, to take the opening game of the SoCon doubleheader 6-0.

Inside the Box Score:
- UNCG had eight hits in the game and held WCU to four.
- Palmer hit a grand-slam to break open the game in the third inning. It was her sixth homerun of her career. - Western Carolina pitching combined for seven walks in the game.
- Sophomore pitcher Lily Hayes got the start and was lifted with no outs in the second inning. She was replaced by senior Courtney Buchanan. Hayes would come back into the game in the fourth inning. In her first stint on the mound, Hayes gave up two runs, walked two and hit a batter. She settled down for her second time in the game tossing 2.2 scoreless innings allowing three hits and striking out three. In between Hayes' two appearances in the game, Buchanan went 2.1 innings allowing four runs on four hits, walked five and struck out three. Hayes takes the loss and falls to 4-5 on the year.
- It was during the first game against UNCG Price broke the doubles record in the sixth inning. It was the second extra-base hit of the game for the Catamounts as Emily Weatherman had a double in the second inning.

Turning Point:
UNCG scored in four of the five innings, in the shortened game due to the run rule, including plating nine of its 10 runs in the first three innings - three runs in each of the first, second and third.

How it Happened:
UNCG scored three runs in both the first, second and third inning to lead 9-0 after the first three innings. Western Carolina looked to briefly avoid the run rule scoring two runs in the top of the fifth to make the score 9-2. It appeared WCU would score its first run of the game to lead off the fifth when Kassandra Flores sent a sky-high shot to left field but was robbed when Danielle Bieberle's glove went over the wall and dragged the ball in for the out. With two outs, Western Carolina got something going when Shaina Reed reached first on a UNCG error, with two outs. It was the first error of the series for either team. Abigail Daniels followed with a double to right centerfield putting runners at second and third. A RBI single by Weatherman scored Reed and a walk to Price loaded the bases for WCU. Hunter Gibbons was walked to score Daniels and mark the Catamounts second run of the game. UNCG ended the game at five, after going up by eight runs, when Gabrielle Cubbage hit a two out homerun to end the game.

Inside the Box Score:
- UNCG had nine hits in the game and Western Carolina posted three.
- UNCG committed the first error of the series in the fifth inning.
- Weatherman had two of the Catamounts three hits going 2-for-3 in the game and also picked up a RBI.
- Daniels had a hit and scored a run.
- UNCG hit three homeruns in the game.
- Freshman pitcher Kinsey Liscio got her third start of the season but was pulled in the first inning. She takes the loss giving up three runs on one hit and walked three. She falls to 0-2 on the year. - Reed tossed two innings giving up six runs on six hits, walked three and struck out one.
- Hayes closed out the game tossing 2.2 innings giving up a run on two hits struck out two and walked one.

News & Notes:
- Western Carolina was shutout for the sixth time this season with the 6-0 loss in game one against UNCG.
- The Catamounts were outscored 16-2 in the first two games of the series with UNCG.
- With Western Carolina's pair of losses to UNCG, it is the first time in two years the Spartans will win the series between the two teams.
- Price moved into first place in the WCU record books for doubles in a career with 33. She was tied with former Catamount Stephanie Beatty, with 32, before the double against UNCG. Teammate Kara Salvo is just behind Price with 29. - Price has reached base safely in the last eight games while Gibbons has gotten on base in the last seven games.
- Price has hit a double in three of the last five games.
- In the two games in the three-game series with UNCG, Western Carolina pitchers combined for 14 walks in the two contests. - Western Carolina is currently on a four-game losing streak.

Up Next:
Western Carolina closes out the Southern Conference series at UNCG Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Complex. For the latest information on Catamount softball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.