Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina softball closed its six-game homestand on a high note on Tuesday as it swept a nonconference doubleheader from Presbyterian, grinding out a pair of tight decisions 4-1 and 5-4 at the Catamount Softball Complex. WCU finished the homestand with a 5-1 record and improved to 9-1 at home.
Western Carolina (15-7) is off to its best start since 2016, matching that year's opening through 22 games. The Catamounts climbed to 13-3 when homering at least once this season, hitting big flies in both ends of the twin bill. WCU is also 14-3 when scoring at least three runs this season.
Junior Maya McPherson (.571), the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week, continued her torrid streak with four more hits, including a double and a pair of home runs and five runs knocked in to lead the squad. McPherson finished the homestand 13-of-21 (.619), with four homers, 15 RBIs, and seven runs scored.
Sophomore Courtney Marks finished with three hits as juniors Lily Bell, Sydney Dirks, and senior Taylor Waitley each had a pair of knocks. Sophomore AG Batson homered, and freshman Kayden Lyda collected her first collegiate double on the day.
Both sophomore Amanda Fulton and Batson were strong in the circle on Tuesday, as Fulton matched her season-high with eight strikeouts, allowing one unearned run to grab her seventh win. Batson finished with four strikeouts and three earned runs allowed, picking up the sixth win of the season.
Game One – Western Carolina 4, Presbyterian 1
Western Carolina homered twice in a four-run third inning to overcome an early 1-0 deficit to claim the doubleheader opener, 4-1. Maya McPherson belted a three-run homer, and AG Batson lined one over the fence provided the offense, while the Catamounts landed another complete game from Amanda Fulton in the winning effort.
McPherson and Taylor Waitley led the squad with a pair of hits apiece, including the third-inning homer by McPherson. Sydney Dirks, AG Batson, and Courtney Marks each got in the hit column as Batson homered to left.
Presbyterian started fast as a pair of singles coupled with an early WCU error loaded the bases before the Blue Hose tallied a two-out RBI single to strike first in the opener, 1-0 after one. Both offenses were held in check until the home half of the third. Fulton picked up four strikeouts in the first two innings.
Waitley and Dirks went first-pitch hunting with back-to-back singles to open the decisive third inning. McPherson then joined in as she sent the first pitch of her at-bat over the centerfield wall, giving the Catamounts a 3-1 lead. Batson joined the homer parade with a one-out solo blast for the 4-1 advantage.
Fulton continued to dial up the strikeouts in the fourth, working around a leadoff single with two more punchouts. Both sides threatened in the fifth and sixth with traffic on the bases, but neither could dent the scoreboard.
Presbyterian tallied a one-out single in the seventh inning, looking to mount a threat, before Fulton delivered consecutive punchouts to secure the 4-1 game one win.
Fulton (7-3) went the distance for Western Carolina, scattering seven hits and an unearned run with a season-high eight strikeouts. She raised her team-leading strikeout total to 75, while tossing her seventh complete game.
Kylie Rast (1-4) suffered the defeat, going 2.1 innings, allowing six hits and four runs with four strikeouts. Avery Robinson went the final 3.2 innings as she allowed just one hit and one strikeout in her relief outing.
Game Two – Western Carolina 5, Presbyterian 4
Maya McPherson hit a two-run homer in the first and helped deliver the walk-off victory on a late double in the home half of the seventh as the Catamounts completed the twin bill sweep with the 5-4 victory in the finale.
McPherson, Lily Bell, and Courtney Marks all had a pair of hits to pace WCU in the contest, as McPherson added a double to her second home run of the day. Sydney Dirks and Kayden Lyda also had base knocks, with Lyda recording a two-bagger.
Bell led off with a walk and stole second before McPherson's seventh homer of the season handed the Catamounts a 2-0 lead. Then, both teams were retired in order in the middle frames.
The Blue Hose struck in the fifth with four hits in the frame, including a pair of RBI singles that evened the contest at 2-2. The Catamounts answered in the home half of the frame, though, with an infield single by Marks starting the rally. Tate Stewman had a sacrifice before Rylee Butler drew a walk to put two aboard. Bell then lined a 1-0 pitch back up the middle to give WCU the 3-2 lead back.
Western Carolina doubled its advantage in the sixth with a one-out double from Lyda before an RBI single from Marks gave the Catamounts a 4-2 lead.
Presbyterian was not done scoring as they used small ball and infield contact to load the bases before a two-out single to short before a fielder's choice allowed the guests to tie the score at four. WCU was able to strand the bases loaded, though, pushing the game to the seventh.
Bell opened the regulation frame with a leadoff single, but was still standing at first base following a pair of fly ball outs. Tuesday's big hitter, McPherson, then drove a shot to the right centerfield wall with Bell using her speed to race around to third, sliding into the bag. The throw into the infield skidded away at third, allowing Bell to jump up and scamper home, just beating the throw to give WCU the walk-off winner.
Batson (6-0) matched Fulton's outing in the first game, with a complete game of her own, scattering 10 hits and four runs, with three earned, adding four punchouts. She was able to strand 12 baserunners throughout the contest.
Peyton Duncan (5-8) went the distance for Presbyterian, allowing eight hits and five runs, with four of those being earned, and three strikeouts.
The Catamounts close out their midweek action on Wed., March 11, with a trip to Charlotte for a nonconference doubleheader against Queens. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. against the Royals. Both games are slated to be broadcast on Queens Sports Network, and live stats will be available via links on CatamountSports.com.
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