Box Score

The Basics:
Score: Furman 7, Western Carolina 6
Records: Western Carolina 8-20, 0-6 SoCon; Furman 19-16, 5-1 SoCon
Location: Cullowhee, N.C.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball dropped a heartbreaker to Furman 7-6 Sunday in the Southern Conference series finale at the Catamount Softball Complex.

Turning Point:
Tied at six, Furman scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh to re-claim the lead, 7-6. The Paladins turned back Western Carolina's rally attempt in the bottom of the seventh. With Catamounts on first and second and no outs, Furman reliever Emily Demonte forced a fly out and a double-play to end the Western Carolina threat and earn the win.

How it Happened:
Furman broke open a scoreless game exploding for three runs in the top of the third courtesy of a three-RBI double by Lindsey Bert. Western Carolina would get one run back in the bottom of the third courtesy of a homerun by Erica Hayes. Furman added two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to lead WCU 6-1. The Catamounts didn't fold as WCU fought back to tie the game at six in the bottom of the fifth inning. Western Carolina used three homeruns in the fifth inning to tie the game. It all began with a lead-off single by Abigail Daniels setting up a two-run homerun by Shaina Reed. It was back-to-back homeruns by the Catamounts when Ashlyn Long followed with a long ball to left center. With one out, Madison Armstrong singled up the middle and went around to score thanks to a homerun by Hunter Gibbons -- who hit a two RBI homerun to left center. Furman scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh after Taylor Vahle was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and with two outs Lauren Dugger walked. Caroline Cash made WCU pay for all the free bases with a RBI single up the middle to score Vahale. Dugger was thrown out on the play to end the inning but the damage was already done.

Inside the Box Score:
- Between the two teams, a total of five different pitchers saw action in the game, three for WCU and two for Furman. - Reed got the start in the game and had a no decision. She gave up five runs on six hits, struck out one and walked two.
- Courtney Buchanan replaced Reed going 1.1 innings giving up a run on a hit, walked three and struck out one. - Pitcher Lily Hayes replaced Buchanan in the sixth inning and gave up the game-winning run to take the loss. She falls to 4-7 on the year allowing a run on a hit, walked three and struck out three.
- Western Carolina hit a total of four homeruns in the game - a season-high.
- Western Carolina out-hit Furman eight to nine. - The Catamounts six runs against Furman on Sunday is more than the team scored combined in the doubleheader against the Paladins on Saturday.
- Long, Daniels and Hayes each had a pair of hits in the game.

News & Notes:
- Western Carolina has been swept in Southern Conference play on back-to-back weekends.
- The Catamounts are on a three-game losing streak.
-Armstrong extends her hitting streak to six straight games.
- Gibbons and Erica Hayes are on four-game hitting streak.
- Hayes, Long and Erica Hayes each hit the first homeruns of their Catamount career Sunday.
- After failing to hit a homerun in six straight games, Western Carolina has hit at least one homerun in three of the Catamounts' last four games. In fact, WCU has hit seven of their 15 homeruns this season in the last four games.
- Daniels moved into the top-25 in the Catamount record books with 77 career hits good for a tie for 23rd. - Long hit the first triple of her career.
- Gibbons moved into a tie for 13th in the WCU record books for homeruns in a career with her 13th against Furman Sunday.
- Gibbons moved into 19th in the Catamount record books for RBI with 59.
- With 10 doubles this season, Armstrong ranks tied for sixth in the WCU Record books for doubles in a season. She is chasing the record of 14 doubles in a season set by former Catamount Stephanie Beatty in 2007.

Up Next:
Western Carolina will complete a seven-game homestand Wednesday hosting former Southern Conference foe Appalachian State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m., however, keep checking back to catamountsports.com as the game may be moved due to the threat of inclement weather on Wednesday.

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