The Basics
Score: Ball State 7, Western Carolina 6; Western Carolina 6, Winthrop 4
Records: Western Carolina 8-3, Ball State 3-6, Winthrop 1-8
Location: Rock Hill, S.C. | Terry Field
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Western Carolina softball split day two action at the Winthrop Kick-Off dropping game one to Ball State 7-6 in a heartbreaker and bouncing back to defeat host Winthrop 6-4 in the nightcap.
Ball State 7, Western Carolina 6
Turning Point
Ball State scored five unanswered runs in the top of the seventh inning and take a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Catamounts couldn't rally back and dropped the contest.
How it Happened
- Western Carolina jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Jerralyn Wells scored on a passed ball after she singled and moved around to third from Bailey Huneycutt's walk and a Ball State error.
- In the top of the third, the Cardinals used a solo home run to tie the contest at 1-1.
- Ball State took the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single for a 2-1 advantage.
- WCU quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Brooklynn Brewington led off the Catamounts half of the inning with a walk. With one out, Huneycutt singled moving Brewington to second. Twitty hit a two-RBI double scoring Brewington and Huneycutt. Twitty would move to third on a ground out and score on a passed ball.
- In the bottom of the sixth, the Catamounts would score their fifth and sixth runs of the game. Samantha Reele led off with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. With one out, Brewington drew a walk. Reele scored on a Ball State error that sent Brewington to third. Huneycutt's RBI single scored Brewington.
- Ball State used a solo home run and a three-run home run to retake the lead 7-6.
- Western Carolina attempted to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Savannah Rice reached first on a Ball State error and even moved to third but was stranded there.
Inside the Box Score
- Rice went 6.1 innings and gets the no decision. She allowed four earned runs on five hits and struck out six.
- Jayme Eilers replaced Rice with one out and and runners on first and second. She gave up two runs, including the Ball State game-winner and falls to 4-2 on the year.
- Ball State had nine hits in the game and the Catamounts had six.
- The Cardinals committed four errors in the game.
- Huneycutt and Twitty each had a pair of hits in the game.
- Reele and Twitty each hit a double.
- Brewington drew three walks in the game.
Western Carolina 6, Winthrop 4
Turning Point
Western Carolina used big innings in the third and fifth inning and hit three home runs in the contest.
How it Happened
- Brewington led off the first inning, for WCU, with a single to left field and advanced to second on a ground out.
- With two outs, Twitty reached first on a wild pitch strikeout and Brewington scored on the play.
- Winthrop tied the game in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single.
- After a scoreless second, Western Carolina exploded for three runs in the third.
- Wells singled to open the third and scored off a two-RBI home run by Huneycutt.
- Twitty followed Huneycutt with a solo home run.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Winthrop cut the Catamount lead, to 4-2 scoring on a passed ball.
- WCU added to its lead, in what would become the game-winning runs, scoring a pair in the top of the fifth. With one out, Twitty singled and Bailey Treadway came into pinch run for her. Treadway stole second and moved to third and came in to score on Natalie Henry's two-run home run.
- Winthrop scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to slice WCU's lead to 6-4.
- The Eagles were sat down in order, in the last two innings, as WCU ended Winthrop's rally attempts.
Inside the Box Score
- Rookie pitcher Tessa Juett started the second game of her Catamount career tossing a complete game. She picked up the first win and improves to 1-1 on the year. She gave up six hits, three earned runs, and struck out eight.
- Western Carolina had eight hits in the game and held Winthrop to six.
- Twitty was 2-for-4 in the game with two RBI and a run scored.
News & Notes
- The game against Winthrop is the first time this season the Catamounts have hit three home runs in a game.
- The game against Winthrop was the second in as many weeks between the Catamounts and the Eagles. In those two games, WCU has outscored the Eagles 9-4. Western Carolina has won the last three meetings.
- Rice has a hit in three of her last four games.
- Brewington is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases.
- The Catamounts 8-3 record, over the first 11 games, is the best record to start the season since 2016.
Up Next
Western Carolina concludes play in the Winthrop Kick-Off Sunday facing Towson at 10 a.m.
For the latest information on Catamount softball, follow @catamounts and @catamountsb on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.
