Story Courtesy Western Carolina sports information

Western Carolina 10, Furman 8

Western Carolina 4, Furman 1

CULLOWHEE, NC - Using three home runs by three different players, Western Carolina completed the Southern Conference-opening series sweep of the Furman Lady Paladins on Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex. Sophomore Savannah Filley blasted a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give WCU the win in the completion of Saturday's halted game two. In the third and final game, freshman Lauren Ross tied the game at one with a leadoff homer and sophomore Heather Pritchard pushed the Catamounts ahead with a three-run shot of her own in the fifth inning as Western won, 4-1.

The win in game two of the series completed on Sunday, was the 100th in the head coaching career of WCU skipper, Megan Smith. The Walkertown, N.C., native came to Western with 79 career wins after two seasons at Young Harris College. She finished the weekend with 101 career wins over 51 career losses.

Trailing by five after the first two innings in game two on Saturday afternoon, Western (22-10, 3-0 SoCon) rallied with one run in the bottom of the second, two in the third, and taking its first lead with a four-spot in the home half of the fourth inning. The Lady Paladins scored one run in each of the final three innings to tie and take the lead, 8-7, entering the bottom of the seventh. WCU freshman Lauren Ross then delivered a lead-off home run to right center field to tie the game at eight, but the Catamounts would strand two runners at first and second in the frame forcing extra innings at which point the game was halted.

Picking up where the game had left off on Sunday, neither team could break through in the eighth inning, with Furman stranding a runner at first and the Catamounts leaving the bases loaded without scoring. Freshman Mendy McKenzie, who earned wins in game one as the starter and game two in relief, sat the Lady Paladins down in order in the top of the ninth.

In the home half of the ninth, Pritchard tallied a one-out single to center field to bring Filley to the plate. On the 3-1 pitch, Filley belted a shot over the fence in left center to give WCU the win with the programs first-ever walk-off home run. Filley finished the day 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored. Pritchard went 3-for-5 with freshmen Allyson McCubbins and Jenny Jackson each accounting for two RBI apiece, and Ross and freshman Samm Keppel each driving in one.

The Catamounts again used home runs to complete the sweep, hitting two long balls in a four-run fifth inning to win 4-1 Sunday afternoon in game three.

The Lady Paladins (18-20, 2-4 SoCon) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning using three singles to score freshman Abby Robertson from second base. However, Furman was unable to build on its lead, stranding nine base runners through the first five innings while holding the Catamount scoreless with just two hits during that same span.

In the fifth, Ross tied the game at one with her second lead-off home run of the series, hammering a 2-1 pitch to straight away center. The next batter, junior Nikki Bost, drew a walk and was moved to second when Keppel slapped a single into center field, chasing Furman starter Vanessa Williams. Paladin reliever, Erica Nesselroad, induced a ground ball by McCubbins, forcing Bost out at third for the first out of the inning. With two on and a 2-1 count, Pritchard then hit the base clearing, three-run homer to left field to give WCU the advantage it would never relinquish.

After taking the lead, Filley only allowed two FU base runners on just one hit over the final two innings to secure the victory. Filley, who replaced the starter McKenzie after the third inning, tossed the final four innings scoreless while scattering three base hits and walking and striking out two. McKenzie threw the first three innings, surrendering the lone run on five hits while fanning and walking one.

For Furman, Williams was saddled with the loss as the two base runners in the fifth inning were charged to her. She pitched four innings allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three. Nesselroad was only credited with a third of an inning, surrendering the home run to Pritchard. Sophomore Blake Murray threw the final inning and two thirds only allowing two hits with two strikeouts.

Pritchard finished the finale 2-for-3 with her fourth home run of the season and three RBI. Keppel was the only additional Catamount to record a multiple hit game, going 2-for-3 with her fourth double of the season. Ross accounted for the fourth RBI of the game on her solo homer, which was her seventh this year.

Not only did Western Carolina sweep its first-ever SoCon series, the Catamounts were also the first team in the league to reach the 20-win plateau. WCU is currently tied atop the SoCon standings with Elon and the College of Charleston, who also swept their weekend conference series (Elon over UNCG; CofC over UTC).

Story Courtesy UNC Greensboro sports information

Elon 7, UNC Greensboro 3

GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro fell 7-3 to Elon on Sunday in the final game of a three-game weekend Southern Conference softball series at UNCG Softball Stadium. The victory gave the Phoenix a sweep of the three-game set.

Laurin Smith’s RBI infield single put Elon (17-10, 3-0 SoCon) on top 1-0 after one inning. Two innings later, Nicole Ellis led off the top half of the third with a triple to right and wound up scoring on a wild pitch during Paige Goss’ at-bat. Goss immediately followed with a double and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Debbie Zeigler to give the Phoenix a 3-0 lead.

UNCG (10-17, 0-3 SoCon) rallied with single runs in both the third and fourth innings to cut the Spartan deficit to 3-2. Senior Kelly Allen plated freshman Lyndsay Mouse with a double to right in the third, while junior Adriane Audley, who had three hits on the day, ripped an RBI double to right-centerfield in the fourth.

The Phoenix answered right back with a bases loaded walk by Rebecca Rijavec in the fifth and added two more in the sixth on a two-run single by Tracey Dahlen that gave Elon a comfortable 6-3 lead.

Audley homered to left center to lead off the bottom of the seventh for UNCG, but that was all the Spartans could muster in the 7-3 setback. Audley was 3-for-4, which included her second homer of the year, to go long with a run scored and two RBI. Mouse and classmate Leslie Furness each went 2-for-4 for the Spartans.

Goss and Brandi Jones each had two hits to lead Elon. Samantha Schroeder (5-4) scattered 11 hits over 7.0 innings to pick up the victory.

Junior Vanessa Oakes (5-6) lost her second decision in as many days after allowing three runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of work. Senior Danielle Byrne worked the final 4.0 innings for UNCG and gave up five hits and four runs (three earned).

Story Courtesy Chattanooga sports information

College of Charleston 7, Chattanooga 1

CHATTANOOGA, TN - The College of Charleston completed its sweep of Chattanooga with a 7-1 win Sunday afternoon in the third of a three-game series with the Lady Mocs.

Four Cougars (18-17, 3-0 SoCon) had two hits and a pair knocked in two runs. Shondra Schlichenmayer went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Jessica Lyness went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two RBI.

Charleston outhit the Lady Mocs 11-5 and never trailed in the game. Chattanooga threw three pitchers in the game with Ashley Frizzell (10-12) getting the start. The trio struck out seven, walked four and gave up six earned runs.

Chattanooga's lone run came in the second with UTC trailing 2-0. Ashleigh Bull led off the inning with a single to center and Brittney Whittier drew a walk. The pair was sacrificed over by Ashlan Clarkson and a sac fly from Alyssa Edwards (1-for-2) plated Bull for the Lady Mocs' lone score.

With a 5-1 lead, the Cougars scored two insurance runs in the top of the seventh for the 7-1 win. The Lady Mocs fall to 19-22 overall and are 0-3 in league action.