CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Riding the emotion of Senior Day, Western Carolina softball left no doubt on Sunday afternoon as a six-run third inning spurred the Catamounts to the 10-1 run-rule victory over their chromatic rival Furman at the Catamount Softball Complex.

Before the first pitch on Sunday afternoon, the Catamounts recognized the senior class of Tessa Juett, Imara Harrell, Mattie Mentel, Makenzie Martin, and Natalie Henry for their contributions to the WCU Softball program over the past few years.

Despite hitting double-digits in the runs column, WCU only mustered six hits in Sunday's series rubber match. Sophomore Sydney Dirks paced the Catamounts at the plate with a pair of hits, including her team-high 10th home run of the season to close a strong series performance. Sophomore Lily Bell, graduate student Imara Harrell, junior Tate Stewman, and freshman Tatum Martin each added hits, with Harrell and Martin doubling, with Martin connecting on a pinch-hit bases-clearing two-bagger.

The story of Sunday's home finale was opportunities for the Catamounts as the hosts took advantage of five walks, a pair of wild pitches, and two hit-by-pitches to help complement the six hits on their way to the series-clinching victory.

The Catamounts struck first in the second inning as Mentel plated the game's first run on a right-side ground out to score Dirks, who led off with a single. Harrell roped a one-out double down the left field line before Stewman picked up a second run in the frame on the RBI single that pushed the WCU lead to 2-0 after a pair of innings.

The offense was plenty for Juett on Sunday as she worked around a pair of two-out baserunners without trouble to send WCU back to the bat rack in the third inning.

Junior Rylee Butler opened the frame with an HBP before sophomore Maya McPherson reached on a fielder's choice, taking advantage of a Paladin error. After the guests recorded an out, Henry was plunked to load the bags for Harrell. Western Carolina then (22-28, 6-12 SoCon) took advantage of a pair of wild pitches to score McPherson and Dirks before a second fielding error from Furman plated a third run in the inning.

WCU's offensive explosion was capped with a Martin three-run double to make it 8-0 after just three innings into Sunday's home finale.

Furman (15-33, 5-13 SoCon) answered in the fourth with a two-out RBI single to scratch across its lone run of the afternoon as the Catamounts led 8-1.

The Catamounts answered the offense with some more of their own. After a leadoff walk to McPherson, Dirks went the other way to right field for a two-run blast to push the advantage to 10-1. Dirks became the first Catamount to eclipse 10 homers in a season since 2022 when Bailey Huneycutt (15) and Myra Twitty (11) both connected on double-digit homers for the Purple & Gold.

Juett worked around a one-out double without trouble in the fifth inning to strand a runner at third base, capping her home career in Cullowhee with a strikeout to secure the 10-1 run-rule victory over Furman.

Juett (9-14) went the distance for her 11th complete game of the season, matching freshman Amanda Fulton for the team lead in that category. Juett scattered four hits with one unearned run surrendered while racking up four strikeouts to earn the victory. With the victory on Sunday, Juett now holds second place in the program's career record book for wins with 36 while also earmarking her 50th career complete game for the Catamounts.

Angelina Ricciardi (6-9) suffered the loss for the Paladins as she went 2.1 innings, allowing four hits and five runs, with three of those being earned, with a pair of strikeouts. Emme Buzhardt recorded a pair of outs, allowing two hits and five runs, with two being earned and two strikeouts. Lily O'Bryan pitched the final frame with two strikeouts and a walk.

The Catamounts finish off the 2025 regular season with a trip to Greensboro to battle UNCG next weekend, beginning on Saturday, May 3. The Catamounts and Spartans open the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader before a 1 p.m. regular-season finale on Sunday at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

All three games are slated for ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live stats provided at CatamountSports.com.

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