Box Score vs. UCF Box Score vs. Jacksonville

The Basics
Score: Western Carolina 7, UCF 3, Jacksonville 8, Western Carolina 3
Records: Western Carolina 2-5, UCF 6-5, Jacksonville 7-4
Location: Jacksonville, Fla. (Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Western Carolina softball split day one action at the Green and Gold Classic Friday. The Catamounts opened the tournament with a 7-3 win over UCF before falling to host Jacksonville 8-3 at Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

Turning Point
Western Carolina used big first and fifth innings scoring three and four runs respectively to pick up the win over UCF.

How it Happened
- In the bottom of the first Erica Hayes hit a one-out single. With two outs Madison Armstrong singled moving Hayes to second.
- Ashlyn Long drew a two-out walk to extend the first inning and Kaylie McNeil cleared the bases on a three-RBI double to right center giving WCU an early 3-0 lead.
- UCF tied the game with three runs in the top of the fourth.
- WCU answered in the bottom of the fifth reclaiming the lead with four runs.
- Pinch-hitter Kassandra Flores led off the bottom of the fifth getting hit by a pitch. Hayes drew a one-out walk to place runners on first and second.
- Hunter Gibbons strolled up the plate and blasted a three-run homerun to give WCU a 6-3 lead.
- WCU wasn't finished with the fifth inning as Armstrong drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She stole third to set up the Catamounts' fourth run in in the fifth inning.
- With Armstrong at third, Long smoked an RBI single to right field scoring Armstrong.

Inside the Box Score
- Sophomore hurler Kinsey Liscio tossed a complete game and picked up the win improving to 1-1 on the season. She gave up six hits, three runs, just one earned, struck out three and walked only one batter.
- Western Carolina had six hits in the game by six different batters. UCF also had six hits.
- Gibbons and McNeil each had three RBI in the game.
- Western Carolina battled through three errors in the game and UCF had one.

Turning Point
Jacksonville scored eight runs over the course of the first four innings, including opening the game with three runs in the bottom of the first, to earn the win.

How it Happened
- Western Carolina got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first. E. Hayes drew a one-out walk and scored courtesy of an RBI single by Armstrong.
- Jacksonville answered with three runs in the bottom of the first.
- The Catamounts cut the Dolphins' lead to one with a run in the top of the third. Long hit a one-out double and scored when McNeil hit an RBI ground out.
- Jacksonville got the run back with one of its own in the bottom of the third.
- The fourth inning was another big one for the Dolphins as they all but put the game out of reach plating four runs to make the score 8-2.
- Western Carolina did manage to push one more run across. In the top of the fifth, Gibbons was hit by a pitch with one out. After a double by Armstrong moved Gibbons to third, she scored on a sacrifice fly by McNeil.

Inside the Box Score
- Shaina Reed got her second start of the season battled through the game. She takes the loss and falls to 1-1 on the season. Reed went 3.2 innings allowing eight runs, four earned, on seven hits and struck out one.
- Lily Hayes came into the game in relief of Reed in the middle of the fourth inning. She tossed 2.1 scoreless innings allowing three hits and striking out one.
- Jacksonville ended the game with 10 runs and Western Carolina had eight.
- Armstrong and Danielle Chapman each went 2-for-4 in the game.
- Long, McNeil and Armstrong each had an RBI.
- The Catamounts had three errors in the game.

News & Notes
- For the second straight week, Western Carolina split the first day of a tournament with a pair of games. - Gibbons and Long are each on a four-game hitting streak.
- Armstrong has reached base safely in the last six games. Long is just behind having been on base in five consecutive games.
- Western Carolina's meeting with UCF was the first of the two team's history with the Catamounts getting a 1-0 advantage with the win. WCU and Jacksonville are now 1-1 all-time.
- Armstrong has had three multiple hit games already in the young season.
- With a homerun in the game against UCF, Gibbons now has 19 in her career tying her for eighth in the WCU record books. Her 22 career doubles rank her tied for ninth in the record books and needs two to move into a tie for eighth. Gibbons also has 81 career RBI tying her for sixth. She needs 11 RBI to move into fifth.
- In the first two games of the Green and Gold Classic, Armstrong and Long each hit had a .500 batting average having four or more at-bats. Liscio's 1-0 win against UCF saw her accumulate just a 1.0 ERA in the game.

Up Next
Western Carolina continues to play in the Green and Gold Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. Saturday The Catamounts have a re-match with UCF at 9:30 a.m. and will play Penn State at 2:30 p.m.

For the latest information on Catamount softball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.