Western Carolina 11, Mount St. Mary’s (Md.) 3

 

Honolulu, Hawaii -Western Carolina (4-6) mashes ten hits in rout to 11-3 victory over Mt. Saint Mary's (0-2) in the second game of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational Saturday Afternoon held at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

 

The Catamounts were tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when WCU exploded with five runs and four hits to give Western Carolina the lead for good in route to an 11-3 victory after six innings.

 

Freshman pitcher Katie King went six innings allowing just four hits giving up two earned runs to earn the win (2-2). Amanda Hanson went 3 1/3 giving up seven hits and three earned runs to take the loss for the Mountaineers.

 

The Catamounts had three hitters with multi-hit games with sophomore second baseman Amber Hawkins going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBI's and a two-run Home Run. Senior third baseman Stephanie Beatty improved her team-leading average to .333 after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior Lauren Ross rounded out the multi-hit hitters with a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI and a run scored.

 

Western Carolina took their first lead in the bottom of the third inning when with two outs sophomore Keri Burnside came up with a clutch RBI single to left center to make the score 1-0 Catamounts. Amber Hawkins followed with a two-run blast to left center for her first Home Run of the season making it 3-0 Catamounts after three innings.

 

The Mt. Saint Mary's Mountaineers answered in the top of the fourth inning plating three runs on three hits to tie the score at 3-3. King got pinch-hitter Beth Everist to ground into a 5-2-3 double play to end the threat for the Mount.

 

Western Carolina grabbed the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a one-out RBI double by junior Danielle Reese. After freshman Chelsea Schaffer was called out sliding into home Hawkins came up with another clutch two-out hit a two-run RBI single to left center. Beatty followed with another RBI single to play Burnside and Hawkins scored on a wild pitch to make the score 8-3 after four innings of play.

 

After King fired a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, the Catamount added two more runs after a two-out two-run RBI single from Kristen Gay to increase Western Carolina's lead to 10-3.

 

The Catamounts added another run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game with the eight run mercy rule.

 

Western Carolina is now 4-6 on the season and will play the University of Hawaii in Game two of the doubleheader at 4:00 Hawaii time and 9:00 Cullowhee time.

 

 

Hawaii 6, Western Carolina 0

 

Honolulu, Hawaii ?Western Carolina (4-7) was held to just two hits in a 6-0 defeat against Hawaii (5-11) in the final game before bracket play of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational Saturday evening held at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

 

Senior Lauren Ross started the game for the Catamounts and just didn’t seem herself walking three batters in just two innings pitched. Ross took the loss (2-2) throwing two innings allowing four earned runs and three hits allowed.

 

Freshman Megan Taylor did came in relief and pitched well throwing four innings allowing just two earned runs to keep the game close.

 

Stephanie Beatty and Beth Hauser each finished 1-for-3 to tally the two hits for the Catamounts.

Hawaii used a two-run Home Run off the bat of Amanda Tauali’i that just missed being a spectacular play from Western Carolina centerfielder Kristen Gay who had the ball in her glove but could not keep the ball from going over the fence.

 

Also second basemen Dara Pagaduan went 4-for-4 with three RBI’s to hurt the Catamounts. Western returns to action playing the number two seeded Tokyo team in the first game of the bracket pool starting at 10am Hawaii time and 3:00 Cullowhee time.

 

 

Troy 6, Appalachian State 1; SE Louisiana 10, Appalachian State 6

 

TROY, Ala. - Appalachian State University softball fell to Troy and SE Louisiana again today at the Troy Invitational. The Mountaineers fell to Troy 6-1 in the first game of the day and fell to SE Louisiana 10-6 in game two.

 

After falling behind 5-0 in game two to SE Louisiana, Appalachian (4-8) rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game, but the Lions rallied with a five spot of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take control 10-5. Appalachian added a run in the seventh but could not push anything else across.

 

Katie Boyd led ASU with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and two runs scored. Chelsea Takacs went 3-for-4 for the Lions with an RBI and run scored.

 

Boyd and Andrea McIntyre had two hits apiece against Troy but it wasn't enough as Troy scored four runs in the second and two in the third to take control of the game. Nikki Hollett had the big blow with a three-run homer in the second.

 

The Mountaineers scored their only run of the game in the sixth when Sarah Rappe led off with a single, stole second and scored on a Boyd double.

 

Appalachian combined to leave 14 runners on base in the two game, and outhit their opponent in 3-of-4 games over the weekend.

 

The Mountaineers come home this weekend for the home and conference opener against Samford March 7 and 8.

 

 

Michigan State 13, Samford 6; Pittsburgh 7, Samford 1

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Through frigid temperatures and nasty weather, the Magic City Classic finally got underway Saturday at the Shea Softball Complex in Irondale, Ala. Samford was scheduled to play three games during the day but played only two, dropping a morning meeting with Pittsburgh, 7-1, and an afternoon game with Michigan State, 13-6.

 

Due to the cold temperatures and impossible playing conditions, the final games of the day were brought to a close. Samford was only able to play one and one half innings with Northern Illinois before officials decided to call the game.

 

Amanda Barrs pitched six whole innings against Pittsburgh, striking out three batters and walking seven. She gave up seven earned runs on 10 hits in 34 batters faced.

 

Pittsburgh scored its first six runs after back-to-back triples in the second inning. Samford got on the board in the fifth inning after Fisher scored on an error by the Panthers' right fielder. Pitt then scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth to seal the Panther victory.

 

In the Bulldogs' second game of the day, Samford took on Michigan State amidst a swirling cold mist. After two scoreless innings on both sides, the Spartans put up five runs in the top of the third. However, Samford answered back with four of its on in the bottom of the inning.

 

After Rachael Reeves and Amy Gonzalez were walked, they were put in scoring position on a wild pitch before Jessica Owens singled to left field to bring in Reeves. Kristy Lawrence then flied out to right field and Gonzalez scored. Barrs came to back and flied out to center field, bringing Owens home for the third Samford run. Then Katie England stepped up to bat and hit a homerun, cutting the Spartan lead to one (5-4).

 

The Spartans answered back, though, scoring one more in the fourth inning and two in the sixth before setting off a five-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to go ahead 13-4. Samford tried to fight back in the bottom of the inning.

 

With one out, Whitney Terry and Reeves were walked before Gonzalez singled to left field. With the bases loaded, Owens came to the plate and was walked which brought Terry home.

 

Lawrence reached first base on a fielder's choice which brought Reeves in, but Owens was thrown out at second base. The comeback was not enough as the Spartans went on to win, 13-6.

 

 

Rain Forces Cancelation of College of Charleston’s Games

 

RALEIGH, N.C. ? With rain and an extremely poor weather forecast in the greater Raleigh area, the 2009 North Carolina State Wolfpack Challenge has canceled all remaining games scheduled to be played today.

The directors of the tournament announced the cancellation early this morning following a review of the forecast and current field conditions. Four games were scheduled to be played today, including two for the College of Charleston softball team. The Cougars were slated to face Buffalo and host N.C. State.

With two days of rain outs, they finish the tournament with an 0-1 record following a 4-1 loss to St. Johns on Friday. Buffalo led all teams with a 2-0 record posting a 2-1 victory over Canisius and a 3-0 win over St. Johns. The Red Storm finished 1-1 while N.C. State went 1-0 with a 7-0 victory over Canisius. The Golden Griffins went 0-2 in the tournament.

The College of Charleston concludes its truncated road trip with a single game at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday, March 3. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. in Conway, S.C.