The Basics

Score: ETSU 7, Western Carolina 5; ETSU 11, Western Carolina 9

Records: Western Carolina 10-14, 0-2 SoCon, ETSU 15-11-2, 2-0 SoCon

Location: Catamount Softball Complex, Cullowhee, N.C.   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina softball dropped a pair of games to ETSU to open Southern Conference play Saturday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts dropped game one 7-5 and game two 11-9.

ETSU 7, Western Carolina 5

Turning Point

ETSU scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take its first lead and eventual win.

How it Happened

• Western Carolina took the early 2-0 lead scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Madison Armstrong hit a sacrifice bunt that turned into a fielder's choice RBI scoring Ashlyn Long. Kailey McNeil followed with an RBI double that plated Hunter Gibbons.
• ETSU was held scoreless until the fifth inning when a solo home run cut the Catamount lead to one, 2-1. The Buccaneers followed with another run in the sixth to tie the game 2-2.
• The Catamounts retook the lead in the bottom of the six scoring three runs. McNeil was hit by a pitch and then Gracen Watts pinch ran for her and eventually scored on a wild pitch. An RBI single by Kayla Brewer scored the second run of the inning and Long followed with a sacrifice fly for the third run.
• ETSU took its first lead of the game, which led to the win, scoring five runs in the top of the seventh.

Inside the Box Score

• Junior Kinsey Liscio got the start and went five innings and got the no-decision. She gave up one run on four hits and walked five.
• Brewer replaced Liscio giving up six runs on four hits and striking out one. She took the loss in the game falling to 2-2 on the year.
• Kylie Shay came in and closed out the game tossing 0.1 innings and striking out one.
• Western Carolina had four hits in the game and gave up eight to ETSU.
• McNeil was the only Catamount with multiple hits as she went 2-for-3.

ETSU 11, Western Carolina 9

Turning Point

Tied at nine headed to the seventh inning, ETSU scored two runs in the top of the inning to capture the lead 11-9 and hold on for the win.

How it Happened

• ETSU exploded for four runs to open the game to take a quick 4-0 lead.
• In the third inning, the Buccaneers added two more runs to lead 6-0.
• The Catamounts got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third scoring a pair of runs. Shaina Reed started off the inning with a single up the middle followed by a Long single. Lindsay Perillo reached on an ETSU error to load the bases. Hunter Gibbons hit a fielder's choice RBI for the Catamounts first run of the game. Armstrong followed with an RBI single.
• ETSU added two runs in the top of the fifth.
• Western Carolina cut the ETSU lead to two, 8-6, on one swing of the bat courtesy of Erica Hayes' grand slam. With two outs McNeil drew a walk, Pate singled and Bailey Huneycutt got the second walk of the inning to load the bases. Hayes came up and launched a grand-slam home run to dead center.
• The Buccaneers added one more run in the top of the sixth.
• Western Carolina rallied in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at nine. Long led off the inning with a solo home run. Perillo followed with a single and scored thanks to a two-run home run from Gibbons.
• ETSU claimed the lead back scoring two runs in the top of the seventh.

Inside the Box Score

• Kylie Shay got the start for Western Carolina going 2.2 innings giving up five runs on eight hits.
• She was replaced by Reed who went 3.2 innings and takes the loss falling to 2-8 on the year. She gave up eight hits, five runs (three earned), walked three and struck out one.
• Liscio closed out the game getting the last two outs of the top of the seventh allowing one hit.
• ETSU had 14 hits in the game and WCU had nine.
• Long led the Catamounts going 2-for-2 with two runs scored, a home run and one RBI.
• Hayes, Long, and Gibbons each hit homeruns in the game.

News & Notes

• Hayes hit the first grand slam of her career and the first of the season for the Catamounts.
• Gibbons is riding a five-game hit streak and has reached base safely in the last seven games.
• Addie Pate has reached base in five-straight games.
• Against ETSU, in the two games, Liscio has made two appearances, tossed 5.2 innings, allowed five hits and one run.
• In the two runs against the Buccaneers, Hayes has five RBI.
• As a team, Western Carolina has hit three homeruns in the series with ETSU.

Up Next

Western Carolina closes out the series with ETSU at 1 p.m. Sunday. 

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