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Schedule

Full
Madison Armstrong
Ashley Evans, WCU Communications and Marketing
3
Samford SAM 12-18
5
Winner Western Carolina WCU 11-16
Samford SAM
12-18
3
Final
5
Western Carolina WCU
11-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Samford SAM 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 8 1
Western Carolina WCU 2 1 0 2 0 0 X 5 8 0

W: Rice, Savannah (6-8) L: Emily Barnett (7-5)

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

Softball Earns SoCon Series Sweep With 5-3 Win Over Samford

Catamounts on a six game winning streak

The Basics 
Score: Western Carolina 5, Samford 3
Records: Western Carolina 11-16,4-1 SoCon, Samford 12-18, 2-3 SoCon
Location: Cullowhee, N.C., Catamount Softball Complex
 
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina completed the Southern Conference series sweep of Samford with a 5-3 win Saturday. The Catamounts extend their winning streak to six straight.  
 
Western Carolina 5, Samford 3
 
Turning Point 
Tied at three in the bottom of the third, Catamount pinch hitter Samantha Reele hit a two-RBI single as Western Carolina reclaimed the lead, 5-3. WCU held Samford scoreless in the remaining three innings to secure the win. 
 
How it Happened 
  • A lead-off solo home run by Samford's Timberlyn Shurbutt, in the top of the first, gave Samford the early 1-0 lead. 
  • Western Carolina quickly answered to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first, 2-1. Morgan Maddaluna and Lindsay Perillo led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Bailey Huneycutt reached on a Samford error allowing Maddaluna to score and tie the game. WCU scored its second run on an RBI single by Kailey McNeil. 
  • Samford tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second when the bases were loaded and the Bulldogs scored on a sacrifice fly. 
  • Savannah Baldwin gave WCU a 3-2 lead with one swing hitting the first home run of her career in the bottom of the second. 
  • After a scoreless third, Samford tied the game for a second time off an RBI double. 
  • The Catamounts retook the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Myra Twitty drew a walk and Jeralynn Wells followed with a single moving pinch-runner Claudia Riddle, who pinch ran for Twitty, to second. A ground out by Baldwin moved runners to second and third setting up pinch hitter Reele's two-RBI single. 
 
 
 Inside the Box Score 
  • Sophomore hurler, Savannah Rice tossed a complete game giving up three runs on eight hits and struck out four. She improves to 6-8 on the season. 
  • Rice struck out two Bulldogs in the top of the seventh to end any chance of a Samford rally. She struck out a Samford batter three times to end an inning in the game. 
  • Each team had eight hits in the game. 
  • Baldwin was 2-for-3 in the game with a home run. 
 
 News & Notes 
  • The Catamounts are now 21-18 overall against Samford and 14-7 at home against the Bulldogs. WCU has now won five series against Samford since they joined the SoCon. 
  • In the five games this week, Rice was 4-0 with one save, started three games, made five appearances, had three complete games, tossed 20.1 innings, had 15 strikeouts, and a 2.07 ERA.
  • At the plate, in the last five games, McNeil had a .357 batting average with five hits, four runs scored, two doubles, a home run, and seven RBI. 
  • Huneycutt has reached base safely in the last 10 games. 
  • The Catamounts' six-game winning streak is its longest of the season. 
  • WCU's 4-1 record, in SoCon play, ties the Catamounts for first place with Chattanooga who also has a 4-1 record.   
 
Up Next 
Western Carolina hosts USC Upstate in a doubleheader Monday beginning at 3 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex. 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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