CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina softball battled back from a three-run deficit to tie the game but ultimately dropped a 5-4 decision to Samford in the series finale between the schools on Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex.
Samford salvages a game three win after WCU swept Saturday's doubleheader to improve to 15-19 overall and 4-2 in Southern Conference games while WCU drops to 12-17 and 2-4 in league play.
In the Samford third inning, Logan Champion reached on an infield single and scored on a Grier Bruce two-run home run down the left field line.
Bruce led off the fifth inning with a solo home run, also to left field, for a 3-0 Bulldog advantage.
WCU answered in the bottom of the frame with a three-run
Riley Lambert home run.
Myra Twitty led off with a single and advanced to third on a
Mattie Mentel double. After a pair of popouts, Lambert's second home run of the year evened the score at 3.
McKayla Cothran reached on a leadoff single to start the Samford sixth inning and stole second with one out. Bruce bashed her third home run of the game to put the Bulldogs back on top, 5-3.
The Catamounts got a run back in the bottom of the frame on an
Amber Parker pinch-hit single with two outs but a deep flyout to right field ended the inning with the bases loaded.
In the seventh, Samford had runners on second and third with nobody out, but WCU managed to get out of the inning without allowing any runs. The Catamounts went down in order to end the game in the home half of the frame.
Mentel led the Catamounts offensively, going 2-for-3 with a single and double. Lambert was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Parker, Twitty,
Brooklynn Brewington,
Natalie Henry, and
Bailey Huneycutt each finished with a base hit.
Tessa Juett (4-7) took the loss, giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Makenzie Martin made the start and allowed three runs on six hits in four-plus innings. Martin worked out of bases loaded jams without allowing runs in the first and fourth innings and stranded seven Samford baserunners. For the game, the Catamounts stranded 12 Samford baserunners.
Bruce finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored, three home runs, and five RBI. Champion and Chloe Poss both collected two hits. McKenzie Newcombe (8-8) earned the win, allowing four runs on eight hits as she went the distance.
WCU returns to action on Friday, traveling to Chattanooga for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
