CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior Brooklyn Brewington stole six bases and
Tessa Juett earned a pair of pitching wins as Western Carolina swept a Southern Conference softball doubleheader from ETSU on Saturday by scores of 3-1 and 7-3 at the Catamount Softball Complex.
Brewington set WCU's single-game record stolen base record by swiping four in the first game of the doubleheader with her six thefts on the base paths propelling her to the program's career stolen bases leader with 52.
WCU improves to 18-20 overall and 7-7 in league games while ETSU drops to 13-33 and 4-10 in SoCon play.
The teams conclude the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m., live on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com. Prior to Sunday's game, WCU will honor eight senior student-athletes as a part of Senior Day festivities.
Game 1: Western Carolina 3, ETSU 1
Mattie Mentel delivered the go-ahead single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and reigning SoCon Player of the Week
Brooklynn Brewington had a record-setting day on the basepaths as the Catamounts took the first game of the doubleheader.
The Bucs got on the board as Cameron Young led off the game with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Sara Muir double on a one-hopper to the wall in right field.
In the WCU portion of the first, Brewington reached on a leadoff walk. She then promptly stole second on the third pitch of a strikeout and swiped third before
Bailey Huneycutt reached on a walk to give the Catamounts runners on the corners with one out. Huneycutt broke for second, drawing an infield throw that allowed Brewington to dash home for the first run of the game as the throw to second was cut off and errant back to the plate which allowed Huneycutt to reach third. After a walk, ETSU starting pitcher Brianna Bailey struck out the next two batters to keep the game tied.
Both teams had chances to score in the middle innings as WCU left the bases loaded in the third inning while ETSU stranded a pair of baserunners in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Natalie Henry was hit by a pitch with one out in the fifth and advanced to third base on a
Myra Twitty two out double that dropped between three ETSU players in right center field. Mentel then laced a single up the middle to score the go-ahead run.
In the WCU sixth, Brewington reached on a two out single and stole second to set the new single game school record as well as tie the program career record for stolen bases with 50. Brewington would later score an insurance marker on an error for the game's final run.
Brewington finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and four stolen bases. Mentel was 1-for-3 with a single and RBI while Huneycutt and Twitty were both 1-for-2 with a double.
Juett improved to 7-9 as she allowed one run on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a complete game 7.0 innings.
Muir led the Bucs at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and RBI. Cameron Young and Riley Nayadley both finished 1-for-3 with a single. Brianna Bailey (6-10) took the loss, surrendering three runs, two earned, on four hits with five walks and seven strikeouts.
Game 2: Western Carolina 7, ETSU 3
Kennedy Stewman's first career home run broke a 3-3 tie as part of a four-run sixth inning as WCU completed the doubleheader sweep, rallying from an early two-run deficit.
For the second straight game, ETSU scored in the first inning thanks to a Riley Nayadley single. The Bucs added a run in the second inning with a Jessica Odom bunt single, but the Catamounts limited the damage thanks to strong defense.
In the WCU third,
Brooklynn Brewington reached on a two-out single, stole second, and scored on a
Natalie Henry single. Henry would tie the game crossing the plate on a
Bailey Huneycutt double.
Emily Musco led off the ETSU fourth with a single, advanced to second on a walk to Makala Strickland, and scored on a Kasidy Dunn single. Dunn was thrown out at second base trying to stretch her single into a double and was retired before Strickland crossed the plate as ETSU only scored one run on the play.
Brewington led off the WCU fifth with a perfectly placed bunt single, stole second, and scored thanks to a Huneycutt base hit to tie the game at 3.
The Bucs threatened in the sixth after a leadoff double, but Juett came on in relief and struck out the final two batters to retire the side.
Stewman led off the sixth inning with her first career home run, a solo blast to right center field for a 4-3 WCU lead. Juett, making a rare plate appearance, followed Stewman with a triple to the left field corner and scored on a
Taylor Waitley sacrifice fly for a 5-3 Catamount lead. WCU added two more runs thanks to an ETSU throwing error.
Brewington went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Henry had a 3-for-3 performance with three singles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Huneycutt was 2-for-4 with a single, double, and two RBI while Stewman was 2-for-3 with a single, home run, and RBI. Juett's triple was her first career hit.
Juett (8-9) picked up her second win of the day with 2.0 scoreless and hitless relief innings with four strikeouts.
Makenzie Martin allowed one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts as she pitched the middle portion of the contest in relief of starter
Taylor Norton.
Emily Musco led ETSU offensively, going 2-for-3 with a single and double. Strickland and Cameron Young both doubled.
Sara Muir (1-7) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on 12 hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
