Cullowhee, N.C. – Big innings fueled by walks and Catamount defensive miscues allowed Tulsa to race out to sizeable leads in both ends of Wednesday nonconference doubleheader as Western Carolina dropped both games, rallying in a 9-7 defeat in game one before falling 8-3 in the nightcap at the Catamount Softball Complex as part of its season-long 13-game homestand.

Sophomores Lily Bell and Sydney Dirks both tallied four hits as Bell collected her team-high 13th multi-hit game with three base knocks in game one. Dirks finished 4-for-4 with her team-high fifth home run of the season in the twin bill opener. Dirks is the first WCU player to tally a four-hit game this season.

Freshman Courtney Marks and junior Taylor Waitley both recorded three hits between the two contests as Waitley had her second multi-hit game of the season in Wednesday's finale. Marks went 2-for-2 in game two while swiping her seventh base of the season.

Freshman Tatum Martin tallied her first career multi-hit game in game one as she made her first two starts in the lineup in left field in both matchups. Junior Rylee Butler picked up a double and a grand slam that helped start the rally in game one, while sophomore Becka Wonsick went 2-for-2 off the bench in game two. 

Game One – Tulsa 9, Western Carolina 7
Tulsa used a fast start with six runs in the first and three more in the second to take a 9-0 lead before withstanding a late rally by the Catamounts that featured seven unanswered runs as the Golden Hurricane held on for a 9-7 win in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Sydney Dirks (4-for-4), Lily Bell (3-for-4), and Tatum Martin (2-for-3) paced the Catamount offense in the opener, combining for nine of the team's game-high 14 hits. Dirks and Rylee Butler both homered in the game one setback.

On the strength of a three-run home run followed by a two-run double and a run-scoring groundout, Tulsa struck early, racing to the 6-0 lead in game one. The Golden Hurricane added on in the second inning with another RBI groundout followed by consecutive run-scoring base knocks including a double that allowed the guests to hold a 9-0 lead.

WCU started its comeback in the home portion of the third as Taylor Waitley and Martin recorded back-to-back singles before Bell loaded the bases with no outs by legging out an infield single. Butler then blasted a 2-2 pitch over the right-centerfield fence for a grand slam home run to put the hosts on the board at 9-4 and began the comeback.

Following a 1-2-3 fourth from WCU reliever AG Batson, the Catamount bats continued to heat up with Dirks lining a double up the middle before a Martin single put a pair of runners on. Bell picked up her second infield single to score Dirks and make it a four-rung game, 9-5, after four complete.

The rally continued in the fifth as WCU continued to roll. Natalie Henry was plunked ahead of Dirks who connected on her team-high fifth homer of the season to see the deficit drop to two, 9-7 after five innings.

WCU behind reliever AG Batson stranding a pair of runners in the top half of the sixth, but the Catamounts were held off the scoreboard in the home half of the inning for the first time since the second to send game one to the final frame.

Batson put together a 1-2-3 seventh to cap off a strong outing in relief in the circle, setting the stage for WCU to try and walk it off for the second straight day. The Golden Hurricane recorded two quick outs followed by an infield single from Dirks. However, Tulsa induced a groundout to preserve the tight 9-7 game one win.

Riley Pennington (0-1) suffered the loss on Wednesday, allowing two hits and three runs with a walk without recording an out before being lifted. Batson pitched the final 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits while allowing six runs with four strikeouts.

Brinly Maples (4-4) earned the victory for Tulsa as she went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with a pair of strikeouts. Abby Hayes pitched 1.1 innings of two-run, four-hit relief, before Alexa Hopkins earned her second save of the year as she pitched the final two frames, only allowing a hit to secure the win.

Game Two – Tulsa 8, Western Carolina 3
Tulsa grabbed a lead it would never relinquish with a solo run in the top of the second inning before tacking on three multi-run innings over the middle portion of game two before again holding off some late offense from the Catamounts to complete Wednesday's sweep with an 8-3 victory.

Courtney Marks (2-for-2), Becka Wonsick (2-for-2), and Taylor Waitley (2-for-3) led the Catamounts in game two with six of the squad's eight hits. Rylee Butler tallied two more RBIs to run her total to six on the day.  

After both teams stranded a pair of runners on base in the opening frame, Tulsa took advantage of a pair of Catamount defensive miscues to plate the game's first run as the Golden Hurricane led 1-0 heading to the bottom of the second.

Tulsa (16-13) added to its advantage with three-consecutive, two-run innings between the third and fifth to pull in front 7-0. In the third, the guests used a two-run home run by Amber Turner to push the lead to 3-0. A fourth-inning two-run double allowed the Golden Hurricane to take a 5-0 lead over the halfway point of game two.

Tulsa closed out a seven-run stretch in the fifth with a two-run single for a 7-0 lead.

WCU put together its best threat of the contest in the home half of the fifth. Waitley reached on an error before Lily Bell singled put two aboard. Wonsick lined a single to center before a two-run double from Butler cut the deficit to 7-3. In the sixth, Waitley drove a two-out double to center but was stranded for a scoreless frame.

Tulsa added an RBI single in the top of the seventh and withstood a late rally. Bell drew a one-out walk followed by a Wonsick single, but the Golden Hurricane quickly squashed the threat and secured the 8-3 game two win.

Amanda Fulton (7-2) suffered the loss, 5.1 innings between a pair of trips to the circle. The freshman was tagged for five runs – four earned – on five hits with five runs as four of those were earned with four strikeouts. Tessa Juett tossed 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and three runs in relief work.

Maura Moore (11-6) started for the Golden Hurricane and earned the win, tossing 5.0 innings as she allowed six hits and three unearned runs with three strikeouts. Alexa Hopkins returned to the circle in game two to toss the final 2.0 innings, scattering a pair of hits with a strikeout.

Western Carolina (15-14) opens Southern Conference play this weekend beginning on Saturday, March 22, with a visit from mountain rival ETSU for a three-game weekend series. The Bucs dropped a pair of midweek decisions to Big South foe USC Upstate by the score of 9-1 and 5-1 to enter the weekend with a 10-18 record.

WCU and ETSU begin league play with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. before Sunday's series finale slated for a 1 p.m. start. Saturday's doubleheader with the Bucs is scheduled to be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), as all three games will have live stats available through links on CatamountSports.com.

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