Athens, Ga. – Western Carolina softball closed out a challenging Red & Black Showcase on the wrong end of a 9-1 loss to Big Ten foe Michigan State in six innings before dropping a 12-6 decision to #10/11 Georgia out of the SEC with both meetings held at Jack Turner Stadium.
Freshman AG Batson reached base three times with a double on Sunday between the two games to go along with a pair of walks. Batson was also strong in the circle against the nationally ranked Bulldogs, tossing three shutout innings with three strikeouts.
Sophomores Maya McPherson and Sydney Dirks both picked up two hits including a double apiece against Michigan State. McPherson added two RBIs, while Dirks picked up one. Sophomore Lily Bell, senior Natalie Henry, junior Taylor Waitley, and freshmen Tatum Martin and Courtney Marks got in the hit column as Bell added an RBI to the day.
Game One – Michigan State 9, Western Carolina 1 (6 Innings)
In a 3-1 contest after four innings, Michigan State put together a six-run sixth inning to put away Sunday morning's action 9-1 in six innings.
Michigan State struck first using a one-out triple and a wild pitch to allow the game's opening run to scamper home. Game one starter Amanda Fulton limited the damage to just the one with a groundout and a strikeout for her first punchout of the morning.
The Catamounts quickly answered the Michigan State offense with a one-out double from Sydney Dirks before Maya McPherson lined a double to left and scored Dirks to even the contest at a run apiece carried into the third. Marks and Butler both walked, but the Spartans thwarted the third-inning threat with Fulton working around a leadoff single without harm to keep the score tied at one through three.
Michigan State took advantage in the fourth with a one-out, two-run homer to jump in front by a pair of runs at 3-1.
Following a scoreless fifth inning, Michigan State pushed the game to its conclusion with the six-run sixth inning for the 9-1 decision.
Fulton (0-1) got her first collegiate start on Sunday, allowing eight runs on eight hits with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Riley Pennington entered facing three batters and allowing a pair of hits and a walk before the Spartans claimed the run-rule win.
Jacey Schuler (3-1) went the distance for the Spartans as she scattered three hits over six innings of work, allowing one run and striking out three.
Game Two – #10/11 Georgia 12, Western Carolina 6
Event-host Georgia used a five-run first inning and a pair of runs between the second and third innings to race out to the early lead. The homestanding Bulldogs then withstood a six-run barrage from the Catamounts to ultimately claim a 12-6 victory over Western Carolina in Sunday's tournament finale at the Red & Black Showcase.
Georgia wasted little time on Sunday morning, platin the game's first run on a bases-loaded walk before a grand slam gave the hosts a five-run first inning. The Bulldogs added to their advantage in the second with an RBI double and RBI groundout to take the 7-0 lead through two frames.
The Bulldogs tacked on two in the third inning with a two-run blast to push the lead to nine.
Western Carolina broke through in the fourth inning as Courtney Marks legged out an infield single that was followed by a pinch-hit four-pitch walk for Tatum Martin. Maya McPherson then lined a single back up the middle to load the bases. The Bulldogs flipped a double play that allowed Marks to score before AG Batson lined a double down the right field line to make it 9-2 after 3.5 innings.
Georgia responded with a three-run frame to push the lead to 10, 12-2 after four innings.
The Catamounts didn't go quietly, though, as in the fifth as Taylor Waitley, pinch-hitter Ava Giglio, and Lily Bell each drew a walk before a Marks fielder's choice plated a run. McPherson added to the line with a sacrifice fly before a Sydney Dirks RBI single capped the three-run frame and cut the deficit to 12-5.
Batson continued her strong work to begin 2025 in the circle with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless frame to send the action to the sixth inning.
In the sixth, Natalie Henry and Waitley picked up back-to-back singles before an RBI groundout by Lily Bell cut the deficit in half to 12-6. Martin added a base knock in the seventh, followed by a two-out walk by Batson, but the Bulldogs were able to seal the win and claim the 12-6 tournament finale.
The six runs plated by the Catamounts are the most by WCU in the opening eight games of the year and the most runs allowed by the nationally ranked Bulldogs through their first nine games.
Tessa Juett (0-4) started on Sunday and tossed 3.0 innings, allowing eight hits, 12 runs, and 11 earned with a strikeout. Batson entered and pitched the final three frames, scattering three hits and three strikeouts.
Ella Troutt (1-0) earned the win for the Bulldogs as she went 4.0 innings, allowing three hits and a pair of runs with two walks and a strikeout. Destin Howard went an inning, giving up three hits and four runs, with one being earned and three walks. Lilli Backes finished it for UGA with two scoreless innings, allowing a hit with four strikeouts.
The Catamounts return to the Carolinas for a doubleheader against in-state foe Gardner-Webb at the on-campus Brinkley Softball Stadium in Boiling Springs. WCU and Gardner-Webb start a twin bill at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The doubleheader has been moved to beat the inclement weather forecasted on the originally scheduled Wednesday date. Both games will have live stats available on CatamountSports.com.
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