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Bailey Huneycutt getting set to hit her game-clincing hoem run
Noah Sautter, WCU Athletics
7
Winner Western Carolina WCU 1-0
0
Alabama State ALST 0-1
Winner
Western Carolina WCU
1-0
7
Final
0
Alabama State ALST
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Carolina WCU 1 0 2 0 1 0 3 7 11 1
Alabama State ALST 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

W: Eilers, Jayme (1-0) L: Sullivan, S. (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations

Eilers Tosses Shutout in Season Opening Win

Catamounts had 11 hits, with five extra base hits, in the victory

The Basics 
Score: Western Carolina 7, Alabama State 0
Records: Western Carolina 1-0, Alabama State 0-2
Location: Barbara Williams Stadium, Montgomery, Ala.
 
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Sophomore hurler Jayme Eilers tossed a five-hit shutout and Western Carolina pounded out 11 hits as the Catamounts opened the 2021 season with a 7-0 win over host Alabama State at the Stinger Classic Friday at Barbara Williams Stadium. 
 
Turning Point 
Western Carolina scored in the first, third, fifth, and seventh inning and hit two home runs in the game. 
 
 How it Happened 
  • The Catamounts wasted little time scoring its first run in the 2021 season. Freshman Morgan Maddaluna led off the first inning with a single and came around to score courtesy of a ground out RBI by Addie Pate. 
  • Junior Bailey Huneycutt put the Catamounts up 3-0 with a two-run home run in the third after Maddaluna led off with a single for the second time in the game. 
  • Pinch hitter Samantha Reele hit the second home run of the game with a solo shot in the fifth. 
  • The Catamounts put an exclamation on the game with three runs in the seventh. With one out, Kailey McNeil doubled to left field. Pate followed with a single and Amber Parker followed with a bunt single scoring pinch-runner, Danielle Chapman. Anna Paige Pelfrey closed out the scoring by hitting a two-RBI double to left field. 
  Inside the Box Score 
  • Sophomore pitcher Jayme Eilers earned the first win of the season inside the circle. She tossed a five-hit shutout, struck out seven, and didn't walk a batter. 
  • Twice Eilers ended an inning by striking out the batter. 
  • Freshman Maddaluna went 3-for-4 scoring a pair of runs. 
  • Western Carolina had five extra-base hits in the game: three doubles and two home runs. 
  • The Catamounts had six RBI in the game, with Huneycutt and Pelfrey each contributing two. 
  • WCU left seven runners on base while the Hornets stranded six. 
 
 News & Notes 
  • For the second straight season, Western Carolina opened the season with a shutout. In 2020, the Catamounts opened the season with a 2-0 win at Clemson. 
  • The Catamounts 11 hits in the game against Alabama State is the most in an opening game of the season since 2017 when WCU had 11 hits and defeated Howard 14-0. 
  • The win over Alabama State is the fourth-straight over the Hornets and the Catamounts improve to 4-1 over the Hornets. It is the first time in the series WCU has shutout Alabama State. 
  • For the second straight year, Huneycutt hit a home run in the opening game of the season. 
  • Huneycutt hit her ninth career homerun tying her for 25th in the WCU record books. 
  • Eilers tossed the first shutout of her career. 
 
Up Next 
Western Carolina continues to play in the Stinger Classic facing North Alabama at 10 a.m. and Tennessee Tech at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on Alabama State's YouTube channel here - https://www.youtube.com/user/AlabamaStAthletics

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