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 Freshman pitcher Lilly McDonah had a career-high nine strikeouts against Winston-Salem State. |
April 16, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (13-30) swept the doubleheader at Winston-Salem State (15-20) Wednesday at South Park Field. The Catamounts won the first game 10-2 in six innings and had to come from behind to defeat the Lady Rams 8-7 in eight innings in the second game.
Western Carolina scored in four of the six innings played to take the first game against Winston-Salem State 10-2. After a scoreless first inning, the Catamounts scored the first run of the game when an RBI single up the middle by Keely Torgison scored first baseman Lauren Ross who reached on a fielder's choice.
Winston-Salem State would take its only lead in the game in the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Rams scored two runs off RBI singles by Brittany Hull and Amber Shore.
The Catamounts scored three runs in the fourth inning to reclaim the lead. Torgison led off with a walk and scored when Jamie Swank singled up the middle for an RBI sending Torgison home. Swank was thrown out at second attempting to leg out a double. After catcher Danielle Reese reached on a Lady Rams error, freshman Amber Hawkins knocked her in with an RBI triple. Hawkins scored when Beth Hauser singled up the middle.
Western Carolina continued its offensive onslaught in the fifth. Mollie Fowler was hit by a pitch to open the inning and Lauren Ross hit a booming shot to left center field to score Fowler and record a triple. Ross scored when Torgison hit a line-drive RBI single to center field. An RBI single by Reese plated Torgison and Hawkins hit into a fielder's choice which captured her an RBI when Swank scored after drawing a walk.
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Junior pitcher Michelle Tating had another strong outing, tossing her second consecutive complete game. She allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six.
A one out walk by Reese set up Western Carolina's lone run in the top of the first inning of the second game. Reese moved to second on passed ball and with two outs, stole third to set up a scoring opportunity. Hauser scorched a hit past the Lady Rams' shortstop to score Reese.
The Catamounts tacked on two runs in the third inning after being held scoreless in the second. Swank led off with a single through the right side. Reese followed a double that streaked past the first base bag and into right field moving Swank to third. Hawkins ground out to first, allowed Swank to score and moved Reese to third. Reese scored the second run off a Lady Ram wild pitch.
A pair of Catamount errors and three Lady Ram hits plated four runners in the bottom of the third inning to give Winston-Salem State a 4-3 advantage.
Western Carolina gave up two scoring opportunities in the fifth inning when Swank and Reese were both called out at second trying to extend a single into a double. The greedy attempt at an extra bag bit the Cats again in the top of the sixth inning when Beatty hit a frozen rope to the wall in left field and had an easy double, however she was thrown out at third when she attempted to take the extra base. It was a haunting decision when Fowler followed Beatty with a shot to right field to pick up a double, a hit that would have easily scored Beatty had she not tried for the extra bag.
Winston-Salem State took advantage of two Catamount errors to add four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Western Carolina rallied from a four run deficit in the seventh inning to tie the game. Torgison drew a walk with one out after moving to second on a wild pitch, Reese hit an RBI single to right field to score Torgison. Hawkins followed with a single and then Hauser drew a walk to load the bases. Beatty hit a two RBI single to pull the Catamounts within one run and Mollie Fowler reached first on a Lady Rams' error which scored Hauser and tied the game at seven. With runners on the corners and two outs, Ross struck out looking to end the inning.
In the eight inning, Ross was placed on first due to the international tie-breaker rule. Freshman Nicole Shook reached first on a Winston-Salem State error and Ross scored on the play. It was the only run scored by either team in the extra inning of play.
Freshman pitcher Lilly McDonagh got the start in the second game and went six innings, receiving a no decision. She had flashes of success on the mound, including a season-high nine strikeouts.
Tating came in to pitch in the seventh inning with the score tied. She tossed two scoreless innings and didn't give up a hit to take her second win of the day improving to 7-6 on the season.
Western Carolina plays its final Southern Conference road series this weekend. The Catamounts travel to Statesboro, Ga. to battle Georgia Southern in a three-game slate beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.
