CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior outfielder
Brooklynn Brewington recorded a team-best four hits, but Western Carolina was swept by Furman in its Southern Conference and home-opening doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Catamounts dropped the first game 7-4 and game two by a count of 7-1.
Furman improves to 9-18 and 2-0 in the SoCon while WCU falls to 9-14 and 0-2 in league play.
The Paladins and Catamounts conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required) with free live stats available on CatamountSports.com.
Game 1: Furman 7, Western Carolina 4
The Paladins broke a 3-3 tie by plating three runs in the fourth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth for the game one win.
In the first inning, Riley Ludlam put the visitors on the board with a two-run home run. The Catamounts answered with a pair of runs in their half of the frame, coming on RBI singles by
Bailey Huneycutt and
Riley Lambert.
WCU grabbed a 3-2 lead in the second inning after
Samantha Reele reached on a one out double, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a Brewington infield single. The inning would later end as Brewington was thrown out trying to score from second base on a
Natalie Henry base hit.
Furman tied the game in the third inning on a Ludlam base hit. In the fourth, Hannah Poole brought home a pair of runs with a double and later scored on a WCU error.
Brewington led off the Catamount fifth inning and scored on a Lambert base hit. Poole doubled home the final run of the game in the sixth.
For the game, Brewington led the Catamounts offensively as she went 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple along with two runs scored and an RBI. Lambert drove in two runs with two singles while Reele was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Ludlam went 3-for-3 with a home run, two singles, and three RBI. Poole finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI.
Sierra Tufts (5-6) earned the win, allowing four runs, three earned, with one walk and five strikeouts in seven innings.
Tessa Juett (3-5) took the loss as she surrendered seven runs, five earned, with four strikeouts in five innings.
Makenzie Martin struck out two batters in two scoreless innings of relief.
Game 2: Furman 7, Western Carolina 1
Furman hit three, two-run home runs while limiting the Catamounts to a single marker on six hits to complete the Saturday doubleheader sweep with the 7-1 victory in game two.
Furman took a 4-0 lead after the first inning thanks to two-run home runs by both Riley Ludlam and Hannah Poole.
Myra Twitty led off the Catamount second inning with a base hit and advanced to third on a
Riley Lambert double. Following a groundout, a walk loaded the bases. Twitty scored and the other runners advanced a base on a passed ball. After a walk reloaded the bases, a very close double play ended the inning and the Catamount threat.
Sylvia Burroughs hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and the Paladins added an additional run on a Kiley Perry seventh inning single.
Natalie Henry recorded two hits to lead the Catamounts with
Riley Lambert and
Mattie Mentel each reaching on a double.
Ludlam finished a team-best 3-for-4 to lead Furman at the plate.
Emme Buzhardt (3-5) was the winning pitcher, allowing an unearned run on six hits in seven innings.
Jayme Eilers (2-5) took the loss, giving up seven runs on 10 hits in seven innings.
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www.CatamountSports.com.
