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Schedule

Full
Jayme Eilers
Ashley Evans, WCU Communications and Marketing
0
Samford SAM 12-16
8
Winner Western Carolina WCU 9-16
Samford SAM
12-16
0
Final
8
Western Carolina WCU
9-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Samford SAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Western Carolina WCU 4 0 2 2 X 8 9 1

W: Rice, Savannah (5-8) L: Emily Barnett (6-5)

1
Samford SAM 12-17
4
Winner Western Carolina WCU 10-16
Samford SAM
12-17
1
Final
4
Western Carolina WCU
10-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Samford SAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 7 1
Western Carolina WCU 0 0 3 0 1 0 X 4 7 0

W: Eilers, Jayme (5-8) L: Taylor DeCelles (1-6) S: Rice, Savannah (1)

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

Catamounts Sweep Away Samford to Earn SoCon Series

Looking for complete sweep Saturday

The Basics 
Score: Western Carolina 8, Samford 0 (5 innings), Western Carolina 4, Samford 1
Records: Western Carolina 10-16,3-1 SoCon, Samford 12-17, 2-3 SoCon
Location: Cullowhee, N.C., Catamount Softball Complex
 
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – On the arms of strong pitching, key defensive plays and timely hitting, Western Carolina softball picked up a crucial doubleheader sweep of Southern Conference foe Samford, 8-0 (five innings), 4-1 Friday at the Catamount Softball Complex.  
 
Western Carolina 8, Samford 0 (5 innings)
 
Turning Point 
Western Carolina exploded for four runs in the first inning and scored two in the third and two in the fourth, holding the Bulldogs scoreless, to invoke the run rule and win the game in five innings. 
 
How it Happened 
  • The Catamounts jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. It all began with Morgan Maddaluna reaching first on a Samford error as she moved to second on fielder's choice that allowed Lindsay Perrilo to reach first. With runners on first and second and one out, Kailey McNeil doubled to right-center for a 2 RBI knock. With two outs, the Bulldogs' second error of the inning put Jeralynn Wells on first as McNeil scored. The Catamounts scored their fourth run of the inning courtesy of a Savannah Baldwin RBI single. 
  • McNeil hit her second double of the game, with one out in the third inning, and scored thanks to Baldwin's RBI single. Bailey Treadway's RBI single plated the Catamounts' second run of the inning and put WCU up 6-0. 
  • McNeil struck again in the bottom of the fourth assuring the game would only go to five innings, thanks to the run-rule of the game-ending if a team is up eight runs after five innings. Bailey Huneycutt hit a two-out single and was sent home when McNeil blasted a two-run home run to left field. 
 
 
 Inside the Box Score 
  • Sophomore hurler, Savannah Rice was cool as ice in the game. She tossed a one-hit shutout striking out eight, just two shy of tying her career-high, walked three, and improved to 5-8 on the season. 
  • Rice struck out a batter twice to end an inning. 
  • Twice the Catamount defense sat down the Bulldogs in order. 
  • Samford had base runners in three innings but only one courtesy of a hit – a double by Timberlyn Shurbutt to open the fourth. It was the Bulldogs' strongest scoring chance by Rice struck out a pair to end the threat. 
  • Western Carolina had nine hits in the game 
  • McNeil was 3-for-3 in the game with three runs scored and four RBI. 
  • Baldwin had a pair of hits with two RBI. 
 
Western Carolina 4, Samford 1
 
Turning Point 
Western Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the third and an insurance run in the fifth and used strong defense to hold the Bulldogs to just one run in the game. 
 
How it Happened 
  • In similar fashion as game one, Western Carolina used a big inning to set the tone as the Catamounts plated three runs in the bottom of the third. It all began with two outs as twice Catamount base runners were erased thanks to strong Bulldog defense. Huneycutt got it started when she doubled to left field and Lindsay Perillo moved to third. And guess who was up? Yes, McNeil was at it again with a two-RBI single up the middle scoring Perillo and Huneycutt. The Bulldogs' lone error in the game allowed Myra Twitty to reach and scored McNeil. 
  • With two outs, Huneycutt hit a solo home run for an insurance run by the Catamounts. 
  • Samford avoided the shutout when pinch hitter O'Neil Roberson hit a solo home run to open the seventh. Things got interesting when Lindsey Nelson drew a one-out walk. Starting pitcher Jayme Eilers was lifted for Rice who gave up a two-out hit to Whitney Hinton to put runners at first and second. Ryan Brzozoski singled to right field and Nelson attempted to go home on a play but an absolute strike from Maddaluna in right field to McNeil at home gunned her down. A fly-out ended the Bulldog rally attempt. 
 
 
 Inside the Box Score 
  • Eilers got the start and tossed six innings giving up a run on five hits and struck out six. She improves to 5-8 on the season. 
  • Rice relieved Eilers in the seventh inning tossing a scoreless seventh giving up two hits. She earns her first save of the season. 
  • Each team had seven hits in the game. 
  • The Bulldogs had one error in the game while the Catamounts were clean in the field. 
  • Huneycutt was 2-for-3 in the game with two runs scored and an RBI. 
  • Baldwin was also 2-for-3 in the game. 
  • McNeil had a hit and two RBI. 
 
 
News & Notes 
  • Western Carolina earned its second-straight doubleheader sweep with the pair of wins over Samford and is on a five-game winning streak. 
  • The 8-0 shutout of the Bulldogs in game one was the sixth time this season Samford has been shutout and the fourth time they have been run-ruled. They are now 1-11 on the road. 
  • The Catamounts are now 20-18 overall against Samford and 13-7 at home against the Bulldogs. WCU has now won five series against Samford since they joined the SoCon. 
  • McNeil has had four RBI in a game twice this season, which is a career-high for her. The first time was in the win against Winthrop on Mar. 14, 2021. 
  • Huneycutt hit her sixth home run of the season which is a season-high. She now has 14 home runs in her career which is tied for 16th in the WCU record books. 
  • Eilers had 94 strikeouts in her career which puts her in 13th place in the WCU record books. She needs seven to move into 12th. 
  • In her last four appearances and two starts, Rice has a 1.58 ERA with a 3-0 record and a save. She has tossed 13.1 innings with 10 hits, three runs scored, and 11 strikeouts. She has also tossed two complete games and has one shutout. 
  • At the plate, in the last four games, Huneycutt is hitting .462 with six hits, four runs scored, a double, a home run, and four RBI. Also in the four games, McNeil has six RBI, a home run, and two doubles. 
  • Western Carolina is 6-4 over the last 10 games. 
 
Up Next 
Western Carolina closes out the SoCon series with Samford at noon Saturday. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+. 
 
 For the latest information on Catamount softball, follow @catamounts and @catamountsb on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.
 
 
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