Box Score

The Basics
Score: UCF 8, Western Carolina 0; Western Carolina 5, Penn State 1
Records: Western Carolina 3-6, UCF 8-6, Penn State 1-8
Location: Jacksonville, Fla. (Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Western Carolina softball split day two action of the Green and Gold Classic dropping the early game 8-0, in five innings, to UCF before bouncing back to defeat Penn State 5-1 Saturday at Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.

Turning Point
UCF scored seven runs over the first three innings to build a lead Western Carolina could not come back from.

How it Happened
- UCF took the early lead with a run in the first inning. The Golden Knights followed with two runs in the second and exploded for four runs in the third.
- The Golden Knights scored a run in the top of the fifth to enact the run-rule ending the game with eight runs after five innings.

Inside the Box Score
- Junior pitcher Lily Hayes got the start for Western Carolina going 2.1 innings to take the loss. She gave up seven runs on seven hits and falls to 0-3 on the year.
- Freshman Haley Brogden replaced L. Hayes throwing two innings allowing one run on four hits. - The Catamounts were shut out for the first time this season.
- Madison Armstrong wrecked UCF pitcher Kamryn Toney's no-hitter with a lead-off single, to right field, in the top of the fifth.
- The Golden Knight pitcher Toney tossed a one-hit shutout in five innings.
- Western Carolina had just one hit in the game, and two base runners. - UCF had 11 hits in the game.

Turning Point
Western Carolina capitalized on Penn State miscues to score three runs in the first inning and added insurance runs in the third and fourth innings for the win.

How it Happened
- Western Carolina scored three runs to open the game on a wild and crazy inning that started with a lead-off single by Erica Hayes.
- With one out, Hunter Gibbons walked and E. Hayes advanced to second on a wild pitch. In the second wild pitch of the inning, E. Hayes moved to third and Gibbons to second.
- E. Hayes benefitted from the third wild pitch of the first inning to score the Catamounts' first run of the game which also moved Gibbons to third.
- The second walk of the first inning placed Kailey McNeil on first. Shaina Reed struck out but reached first on a wild pitch allowing Gibbons to score.
- A fielding error by Penn State allowed Abigail Daniels to reach first and loaded the bases. Kassandra Flores drew bases-loaded walk to score the Catamounts' third run-scoring McNeil.
- After a scoreless second inning, Western Carolina plated a run off the bat of McNeil who hit the first homerun of her Catamount career to open the third inning.
- Western Carolina pushed across its fifth run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. E. Hayes hit a lead-off single moving to second on a ground-out by Armstrong. Ashlyn Long's RBI single past third base scored E. Hayes.
- Penn State avoided the shutout scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina strung together seven hits in the game and gave up just two hits to Penn State.
- E. Hayes went 2-for-2 in the game and also scored a pair of runs.
- Pitcher Kinsey Liscio got the start for WCU and tossed five innings giving up one run on two hits and struck out three. She improves to 2-1 on the season.
- Rookie hurler Haley Brogden relieved Liscio in the sixth inning. She pitched two innings of shutout ball giving up just one hit and striking out two.
- Penn State had two errors in the game. - Western Carolina had at least one baserunner in six of the seven innings.

News & Notes
- Western Carolina has split in back-to-back days at the Green and Gold Classic winning one game in each of the first two days. The Catamounts are currently 2-2 in the tournament.
- Western Carolina was shutout for the first time this season with the 8-0 loss to UCF.
- For the second straight season, Western Carolina has earned a win over a Power Five conference. The Catamounts shocked ACC member Virginia Tech in the 2017 season with a 6-5 win. The Catamounts were at it again with the 5-1 win over Big 10 member Penn State.

Up Next
Western Carolina completes play in the Green and Gold Classic Sunday facing James Madison at 11:30 a.m. For the latest information on Catamount softball, follow @catamounts on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.