The Basics
Score: Western Carolina 7, Tennessee State 5, Georgia State 5, Western Carolina 4
Records: Western Carolina 3-5
Location: Atlanta, Ga. | Bob Heck Stadium
ATLANTA, Ga. – Western Carolina softball split day two action at the Panther Invitational Saturday defeating Tennessee State 7-5 and falling to host Georgia State 5-4.
Western Carolina 7, Tennessee State 5
Turning Point
In the final four innings Western Carolina outscored the Tigers 7-2.
How it Happened
- Tennessee State took the early lead scoring three runs in the bottom of the third.
- Senior Samantha Reele cut the Tiger lead in half with won swing with a home run to right field. Bailey Huneycutt got things started with a lead-off single. With one out, Reele blasted a home run scoring herself and Huneycutt.
- Western Carolina took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth. Mattie Mentel hit a one-out double followed by a Brooklynn Brewington single. A sacrifice bunt by Morgan Maddaluna moved Mentel and Brewington to second and third. Huneycutt hit a two RBI single to centerfield scoring Brewington and Mentel.
- The Catamounts scored three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Mentel hit a lead-off single and was pinch run for by Riley Lambert. Brewington changed places with Lambert when she hit into fielder's choice. Brewington stole second and scored from an RBI single by Maddaluna. Huneycutt hit an RBI double scoring Maddaluna and scored herself on a TSU wild pitch.
- Tennessee State attempted a rally scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly. The Catamounts forced back-to-back ground outs to end the threat.
Inside the Box Score
- Catamount pitcher Taylor Norton earned her second win in the circle improving to 2-1 on the year. She tossed a complete game giving up five runs on 11 hits and struck out four.
- Huneycutt went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored, three RBI and a double.
- Mentel was 3-for-3 with a run scored while Brewington was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
- The Catamounts had 10 hits in the contest.
- Western Carolina turned a double play and picked up an out at home to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Georgia State 5, Western Carolina 4
Turning Point
Georgia State exploded for five runs and clung to those five runs despite the Catamounts' four runs in the second and third innings.
How it Happened
- Georgia State opened up the game scoring five runs in the bottom of the first.
- The Catamounts scored four unanswered runs but couldn't push across the game-tying or game-leading run.
Inside the Box Score
- Georgia State took the quick early lead scoring five runs in the top of the first. A Catamount error allowed four unearned runs.
- Myra Twitty hit a lead-off solo home run to open the top of the second.
- Western Carolina cut the Panther lead to one with one swing in the third inning. With two outs, back-to-back singles by Brewington and Maddaluna placed runners on first and second for Huneycutt. A three-run home run to left centerfield plated three runs for WCU.
- Western Carolina has numerous scoring chances in the ensuing innings but couldn't push a run across.
- Western Carolina's best chance was in the top of the seventh with bases loaded and one out. WCU hit into a double play to end the threat.
- Sophomore pitcher Tessa Juett tossed a complete game and takes the loss. She falls to 1-2 on the season. Jueett allowed five runs, just one earned, on six hits and struck out one.
- Maddaluna and Huneycutt were each 2-for-4 in the game.
- The Catamounts ended the game with eight hits.
News & Notes
- Reele hit the Catamounts first home run of the season in the game against Tennessee State.
- Western Carolina scored a season-high seven runs against Tennessee State.
- Twitty and Huneycutt each hit their first home run of the season against Georgia State.
- Huneycutt moves to second place in the record books for RBI in a career with 111. She is chasing the top spot held by former Catamount Hunter Gibbons who ends her career with 129.
- In Saturday's pair of games against Tennessee State and Georgia State, Huneycutt combined for 5 hits, three runs scored, six RBI, a double and a home run hitting .625 on Saturday.
Up Next
Western Carolina concludes play at the Panther Invitational with a rematch against Northern Iowa Sunday at 10 a.m.
For the latest information on Catamount softball, follow @catamounts and @catamountsb on Twitter or go to www.catamountsports.com.
