Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina softball dropped both ends of Saturday's Southern Conference doubleheader to preseason favorite UNC Greensboro on Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex. UNCG used a seven-run rally over the final four innings to take game one, 9-5, before overcoming WCU's sixth-inning rally with a two-run ninth to complete the sweep with a 5-3 extra-inning victory in game two.
Junior Maya McPherson led WCU with four hits in the doubleheader, including her team-leading 12th home run of the season to accompany a pair of doubles with three RBIs. Junior Sydney Dirks had a double and a triple to lead four with multiple hits over the two-game set. Senior Tate Stewman collected her ninth homer of the season, a game-tying shot in game two that ultimately forced extra innings.
WCU's offense was held in check for much of the day on Saturday, though, as the Catamounts hit just .246 (15-of-61) over the course of Saturday's action with three doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs.
Freshman Briony Bunsic was strong in relief of sophomore AG Batson in the circle in game one, while sophomore Amanda Fulton went the distance in game two with a season-high nine strikeouts, which runs her seasonal total to 103.
Game One – UNCG 9, Western Carolina 5
UNCG broke a 2-2 tie with a four-run fourth inning and tacked on three runs in the seventh to pull away from Western Carolina before withstanding a late charge from the Catamounts to claim the series opener 9-5.
Maya McPherson (3-for-4) doubled and hit her team-best 12th homer of the season to lead the Catamounts in the opener as she drove in three. Lily Bell (1-for-2) reached base three times with a single and two walks, with Sydney Dirks posting the only other extra-base hit with a triple in the loss.
The two teams traded runs in the first inning, with UNCG getting an RBI single by Jazmin Mejia to take the early lead before the Catamounts responded with Bell coaxing a bases-loaded walk for the run-scoring free pass to knot the game at one. A half inning later, UNCG responded with a one-out solo homer deep into left field by Nya South, regaining their one-run lead. But WCU quickly answered as Dirks led off with a triple, setting up McPherson to drive a double to right-center, tying the game at two apiece.
UNCG managed its best offensive inning of the game in the fourth with a Mejia RBI double followed by a trio of RBI singles in the span of five batters to open a four-run advantage at 6-2 through four complete. The Spartans added on in the seventh with a bases-loaded walk and a fielding miscue by the Catamounts, allowing three runs to score and making it 9-2.
WCU fought back in the home half, though. Tatum Martin delivered a pinch-hit infield single, followed by a second hit on the infield by Bell that left runners at the corners. After UNCG erased Bell on a caught-stealing, Taylor Waitley lined an RBI single to right-center. McPherson added on in the inning with a two-out, two-run shot to deep left field to make it 9-5, but that's as close as WCU got it as the guests held on for the four-run victory.
AG Batson (8-2) suffered the defeat, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits, with four walks. Briony Bunsic pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and three runs with only one being earned and a pair of strikeouts.
Brooklyn Shroyer (12-4) went the distance for UNCG, scattering eight hits and allowing five runs with nine strikeouts.
Game Two – UNCG 5, Western Carolina 3 (9 Innings)
Tate Stewman delivered a game-tying, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning that ultimately forced extra innings in the second game of Saturday's twin bill.
Tied at three entering the second extra frame, UNCG took advantage of a hot shot through the left side of the infield and a subsequent fielding miscue to plate a pair of runs and then held on for the 5-3 victory in nine innings to complete the doubleheader sweep.
WCU's seven base hits were spread among seven different players. Stewman (1-for-4) delivered the big fly with a team-best two RBI. Maya McPherson (1-for-3) reached twice with a double and a walk, with Kayden Lyda also reaching twice with a single and a walk. Sydney Dirks (1-for-4) legged out a two-base hit in the nightcap.
UNCG (24-12, 5-0 SoCon) plated solo markers in the first and third innings to grab the 2-0 lead before the Catamount offense got going. WCU answered in the home half of the third inning with a two-out RBI single by Lily Bell that cut the deficit in half at 2-1 through three complete.
Both offenses were held in check in the fourth as a Dirks double and a McPherson double were left stranded on the bases, before UNCG reclaimed its two-run lead, 3-1, in the fourth with a one-out RBI single.
WCU (21-11, 3-2 SoCon) battled back in the sixth as Taylor Waitley led off with a single and promptly stole second to move into scoring position. Stewman then drove a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to even the score back at three.
Game two starter Amanda Fulton worked around a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the visitor portion of the seventh inning as UNCG loaded the bases with two singles sandwiched around a walk. Fulton, though, wiggled off the hook with a strikeout and induced an inning-ending popout to slam the door and give the home squad a shot at a series-evening walk-off.
Courtney Marks opened the seventh with a leadoff single and advanced to second on a right-side groundout by Lyda. However, WCU was unable to go any further as the contest was sent to extras.
Both sides stranded a runner in the eighth inning to send the game to the ninth. UNCG opened what proved to be the final frame with a leadoff double and a walk, adding a single to load the bases. A hot shot single through the left side allowed the go-ahead run to come home, with a fielding miscue on the same play producing an insurance marker to make it 5-3 UNCG.
Fulton then limited the damage with three straight outs, but the damage was done. The Spartans turned the Catamounts away in order in the bottom half of the inning to earn the two-run victory.
Fulton (10-4) went the distance for the Catamounts, tossing a career-long 9.0 innings. She allowed five runs on 14 hits, with a season-high nine strikeouts.
Rhyann Jones gave up four runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings for the Spartans but didn't factor into the decision. Salem Ward (7-5) pitched the final four innings of relief, holding WCU to two runs on three hits with three strikeouts to earn the win.
WCU closes a season-long nine-game homestand with Sunday's series finale against UNC Greensboro on Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex, beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday's finale is slated for ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live stats available on CatamountSports.com. Admission to all home games in Cullowhee is free of charge, courtesy of First Bank.
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