CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior Savannah Baldwin tallied three RBIs including a two-run home run while freshman Maya McPherson added a solo blast for Western Carolina, but a two-run single in the sixth inning allowed visiting USC Upstate to earn the 6-4 victory on Wednesday afternoon in nonconference action at the Catamount Softball Complex.
Freshman Lily Bell picked up her team-high 13th multi-hit game of the season as she reached base three times including a pair of base hits. Baldwin picked her team-high tying fifth homer of the season, adding a sacrifice fly to pace the Catamounts in the RBI column. McPherson's solo shot in the fourth was her third of the season. Starting pitcher Tessa Juett – who finished the game in right field – and designated player Mattie Mentel also got in the hit column for WCU.
After working around a one-out hit by a pitch with a runner left early putout and a flyout to erase the threat, the hosts saw Bell reach base on a USC Upstate error in the home half of the first inning. After a Mentel sacrifice moved Bell along to second, Baldwin deposited a two-run homer to left center to give WCU the early 2-0 lead.
USC Upstate (19-15) got the offense going in the third inning. After a one-out single and a hit-by-pitch put two on, the guests used an RBI single to score their first run. Juett picked up a strikeout before a WCU error allowed two more runs to score with the four-run Spartan frame capped by a wild pitch, making it 4-2 heading to the home third.
Western Carolina (12-21) pushed back in the bottom half of the inning. Bell picked up a one-out single, followed by Mentel's base knock, putting two in scoring position for Baldwin's sac fly. This allowed one run to be chased home.
Makenzie Martin entered the circle in the fourth and picked up a strikeout to end the frame that saw the Spartans add a one-out single to the scoreboard. McPherson then connected on a first-pitch shot to centerfield in the fourth to even the game at four apiece.
In the fifth, Martin kept the score even with solid defense behind her as a pair of lineouts and a popup that saw McPherson go all out for the ball kept it a 4-4 game. Bell and Mentel reached in the fifth but could not advance to score as the midweek matchup remained even after five innings.
The Spartans opened the sixth inning with three straight singles with the third one resulting in a pair of runs to come across and give the guests a late 6-4 advantage.
WCU tried to work its way back as Jeralynn Wells drew a hit-by-a-pitch and Juett reached on an infield single, but the Spartans quickly snuffed out the Catamounts' threat. WCU was then retired in order in the home half of the seventh to allow the Spartans to claim the 6-4 win.
All three arms saw time in the circle for the Catamounts as reigning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week Juett opened the game and tossed 3.0 innings, allowing four runs – one earned – and three hits. Juett also picked up a pair of strikeouts. Martin (0-9) suffered the loss, tossing 2.0 innings with one run allowed on a pair of hits and a strikeout. Taylor Norton finished it off for WCU with 2.0 innings of work allowing one run and three hits.
Maddie Drerup opened the contest for the Spartans, going 4.0 innings and allowing four runs, three of which were earned on four hits with two strikeouts. Sierra Maness (11-6) entered the game for the final three innings and earned the win, allowing two hits and striking out three batters.
The Catamounts travel to Spartanburg for a three-game SoCon set against league newcomer Wofford this weekend. The series begins with a doubleheader from Hope Field at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. It wraps up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start. All three contests will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), and live stats will be available at CatamountSports.com.
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