CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In her final career at-bat, fifth-year senior
Bailey Huneycutt set Western Carolina career records for base hits (196) and doubles (38) as the Catamounts dropped a pair of games in the 2023 Southern Conference Tournament at Frost Stadium. The Catamounts were edged by top-seeded UNCG in the first game of the day and fell 3-1 in an elimination game against No. 7 seed ETSU.
WCU ends its season at 21-26.
Game 1: UNCG 1, WCU 0
Meredith Harwood's pinch-hit RBI groundout in the sixth inning plated the game's only run to drop WCU into the elimination bracket as the top-seeded Spartans slipped past the upset-minded Catamounts.
Both teams opened the first inning with a leadoff double, and UNCG had two runners in scoring position with one out. However, WCU starting pitcher
Taylor Norton and Spartan starter Maddie Spell both worked their way out of trouble without allowing a run.
Tessa Juett worked a leadoff walk to open the third inning and advanced to second via a
Brooklynn Brewington bunt single. Following a strikeout, a walk loaded the bases for the Catamounts but the inning ended with a foulout and a lineout. UNCG also stranded a pair of runners in their half of the inning.
Jessie Shipley led off the sixth inning with a double that just got past a diving
Jeralynn Wells. Shipley would advance to third on a groundout. Following a walk to put runners on the corners, Harwood ripped a grounder to third base with Shipley breaking for home just after the throw to first.
Brewington went 2-for-3 with a single and double to lead the Catamount offense.
Makenzie Martin (2-6) took the loss, allowing one run on two hits with a walk in 3.0 innings of relief.
Tessa Juett gave up a hit with a walk in 1.0 innings of relief. Norton pitched 2.0 innings as the starter, giving up a hit with two walks.
Cumbie went 1-for-2 with a double. Sipley was 1-for-3 with a double while Maxwell finished 1-for-4 with a double. Cheek finished 1-for-3 with a single. Maddie Spell (11-5) earned the win, giving up two hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
The teams combined to strand 14 baserunners, nine of which were left by UNCG.
Game 2: ETSU 3, Western Carolina 1
Huneycutt's record-breaking hit drove in a late run, but ETSU made an early lead stick to secure the win and advance in tournament play.
The Bucs plated two runs in their half of the first inning thanks to a Jasmine Sanchez single with two outs.
After a pair of walks to open the third inning,
Makenzie Martin was summoned from the bullpen. Sanchez drove in her third run of the game with a single, but the damage was limited to one run thanks to a fielder's choice and a pair of infield lineouts.
Huneycutt tied WCU's all-time career hits mark with a one-out single in the fourth but a lineout and popout ended the threat.
In the WCU sixth,
Brooklynn Brewington reached on a one-out single and advanced to second on an ETSU error. Following a strikeout, Huneycutt laced a double to right-center field to bring home Brewington, setting the program records.
Huneycutt finished 2-for-2 with a single, double, and an RBI. Brewington was 1-for-3 with a single.
Jeralynn Wells was 1-for-3 with a single.
Tessa Juett (8-12) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks. Martin fired five scoreless innings in relief, scattering three hits with a walk.
Sanchez went 3-for-3 with three singles and three RBI. Kemiah Michel was 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and a run scored. Sara Muir and Riley Nayadley each had a single. Brianna Bailey (13-11) allowed one run on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
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