Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina softball wraps up a seven-game homestand Tuesday with a midweek doubleheader against Presbyterian before heading to Charlotte for two games at Queens on Wednesday, completing an eight-game slate over six days.
The Catamounts host Presbyterian on Tuesday at 1 p.m., then travel for a Wednesday 2 p.m. doubleheader with the Royals. All four games will be broadcast, including Tuesday's action on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) and Wednesday's game on the Queens Sports Network, with live stats available via CatamountSports.com.
Admission to all WCU home games this season is free, presented by First Bank.
Tuesday marks WCU's third meeting with a Big South opponent this season after sweeping Winthrop and splitting with Gardner-Webb. The Catamounts will later host USC Upstate and Gardner-Webb in additional home doubleheaders.
SOFTBALL MATCHUP: Presbyterian (11–14) at Western Carolina (13–7)
- Date: Tuesday, March 10
- Time: 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)
- Site: Catamount Softball Complex, Cullowhee, N.C.
- Video: ESPN+
- Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
SOFTBALL MATCHUP: Western Carolina at Queens (5–12)
About Western Carolina:
WCU enters the week at 13–7, coming off a 3–1 performance at the Catamount Classic and a 7–1 home start. Over the weekend, the Catamounts earned two wins over Penn and one over Ohio.
Maya McPherson, the Southern Conference Player of the Week, delivered a standout showing, hitting .643 (9-for-14) with a triple, two home runs, five runs scored, and a team-best 10 RBIs. Sydney Dirks posted a .500 average (6-of-12) with a double, homer, four runs scored, and five RBIs. As a team, WCU hit .374, scoring 31 runs with 11 extra-base hits.
In the circle, Amanda Fulton (6–3) went 2–0 with a 1.87 ERA and two complete games. She logged 15 innings with a 13:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and held opponents to a .207 average. She leads WCU with 67 strikeouts, ranking third in the SoCon and 33rd nationally.
McPherson continues to pace the league with a .486 average and is second in hits (34). She has 25 RBIs, trailing Dirks' SoCon-best 30. Dirks also has seven home runs and leads the league with a .846 slugging percentage.
Additional offensive leaders include:
Fulton owns a team-best 2.60 ERA (4th in SoCon), with AG Batson close behind at 2.82 (7th in SoCon).
In the season's first NCAA RPI release, WCU ranked 89th, second in the SoCon behind Wofford (80).
Scouting Presbyterian:
Presbyterian (11–14) arrives in Cullowhee on a seven-game skid, including five losses last weekend at the Jacksonville/UNF tournament. The Blue Hose are 4–8 in games away from Clinton, S.C. They've faced three SoCon opponents already, defeating Mercer 12–2 but falling to ETSU and Wofford. Presbyterian also swept N.C. A&T, a common opponent with WCU.
The Blue Hose are led by:
- Avery Robinson – .411 average, 30 hits, eight RBIs
- Hali Duke – .387 average, team-high nine doubles and 19 RBIs
In the circle:
- Robinson also leads the staff with a 3.38 ERA over 58 innings
- Kylie Rast – 3.79 ERA
- Peyton Duncan – team-high 49 strikeouts, 3.88 ERA
WCU and Presbyterian have met 30 times, with the Blue Hose holding a 16–14 edge. The teams split last season in Clinton, but WCU leads the series 9–3 in Cullowhee.
Scouting Queens:
Queens (5–12) enters Wednesday on a three-game losing streak, including two run-rule losses to App State and a defeat to Furman. They face their third SoCon opponent of the season.
The Royals are led by:
- Sage Farmer – .473 average, team-leading 26 hits
- Lindsay Henson – .412 average, seven doubles, 10 home runs, 26 RBIs
- Olivia Thornton – .385 average, four homers, 12 RBIs
Pitching is anchored by:
- Addison Kluck – three wins, 46 strikeouts in 52.2 innings
- Henson – also appears in relief with 13 strikeouts in 19.2 innings
Queens leads the short series 2–1, with both wins coming in Charlotte. WCU won last season's meeting in Cullowhee, 3–1.
On Deck
After Wednesday's doubleheader at Queens, WCU opens an 11-game homestand, beginning Tuesday, March 17, with a visit from nationally ranked Clemson. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live stats available on CatamountSports.com.
Fans can follow WCU softball on Facebook, Twitter (@CatamountSB), Instagram, and CatamountSports.com.
