CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina softball hosts Winthrop in its home opener Tuesday at the Catamount Softball Complex. The doubleheader will be an early afternoon affair as the action begins at noon taking advantage of no classes due to advising day. 

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CATAMOUNTS:

• Western Carolina softball is coming off a 13-day break after splitting a doubleheader at Clemson on Feb. 12.
• The Catamounts Feb. 25 home opener against Clemson is the earliest Western Carolina has hosted an opening season home game in 13 years since a Feb. 21, 2017 home opener against Winston-Salem State. 
• Western Carolina and Winthrop meet for the 19th and 20th time on Tuesday. Winthrop holds an 11-7 all-time against the Catamounts. In the lone meeting in 2019, WCU defeated the Eagles 9-5 benefiting from a five-run second inning - it was the largest margin of victory for WCU against the Eagles. Western Carolina is 4-4 at home against Winthrop and is on a three-game winning streak against the Eagles.  
• Rookie hurler Savannah Rice earned Southern Conference pitcher of the week on Feb. 17 after her stellar performance in the 2-0 shutout of Clemson Feb. 12. In her first outing in a Catamount uniform, the freshman earned the first win at Clemson's program opening of their facility the Clemson Softball Complex. She is entering the doubleheader with Winthrop with a 0.0 ERA.
• Senior Ashlyn Long and Bailey Huneycutt have a .250 batting average after the first two games of the season. Long scored the first run of the season while Huneycutt hit the first room. Additionally, Huneycutt's homerun against Clemson was the first in the Tigers program in their Clemson Softball Stadium.

AN INSIDE LOOK AT WINTHROP:

• Winthrop enters the game against the Catamounts with 15 games under their belt and an 8-7 record on the season. The Eagles are on a two-game losing streak after being swept by Charlotte over the weekend. 
• The Eagles defeated SoCon member Samford 8-5 Feb. 7 at a tournament hosted by the Bulldogs. Winthrop also defeated a pair of future Western Carolina opponents in Virginia knocking off the Cavaliers 4-2 at the Eagles home tournament Feb. 14 and defeating North Carolina A&T 11-5 on Feb. 19. 
• Ansi Gilreath leads the Eagles with a .425 batting average in 15 games played. She has 17 hits, seven runs scored, three doubles, two homeruns, and 10 RBI.
• Madison Watson has a 4-3 record in the circle for Winthrop with a 3.15 ERA tossing 40 innings in eight appearances allowing 44 hits and 23 runs scored. 

For all the updates on Catamount softball follow @catamounts (Twitter) and recaps please follow go to www.catamountsports.com and for in-game updates please go to @wcusoftball (Twitter).