GREENSBORO, N.C. – Behind a two-hit shutout from All-Southern Conference first-team performer Jayme Eilers, No. 2 seed Western Carolina (26-24) picked up a 5-0 win over No. 3 Chattanooga, giving the Catamounts their first win over the Mocs in SoCon tournament history en route to a showdown against top seed UNCG (32-15) on Friday, May 14, at 12:30 p.m. Chattanooga (13-24) turns around to play No. 4 Mercer (23-22) in an elimination contest, slated for 5:50 this evening.
 
Western Carolina got on the board first, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Mocs starting pitcher Brooke Parrott walked SoCon Player of the Year Bailey Huneycutt, batting in the three spot, and cleanup hitter and first-team all-conference selection Kailey McNeil blasted her ninth home run of the season over the left field fence.
 
The Catamounts added to their 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Senior Addie Pate led off the inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a groundout by Morgan Maddaluna. After a foul out, Huneycutt came to the plate with two outs, drawing another walk. The Oakboro, North Carolina, native stole second base and McNeil drew a walk to give the Catamounts two on with two outs for Myra Twitty. Twitty singled up the middle, bringing Pate and Huneycutt around to score and advancing McNeil to second. The next batter, all-freshman selection Jeralynn Wells, added a single down the left field line, plating McNeil and pushing the Western Carolina lead to 5-0.
 
Eilers carried a no-hitter into the fifth before Reagan Armour dropped a blooper into shallow right field.
 
Western Carolina finished with four hits, while Chattanooga’s two came from Armour and Courtney Ball, who doubled in the top of the sixth inning.
 
Eilers earned the win for Western Carolina, going the distance and striking out seven.
 
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1^st – WCU 2, Chattanooga 0: Bailey Huneycutt walked and Kailey McNeil hit a deep home run to left field.  
Bottom 3^rd – Western Carolina 4, Chattanooga 0: Addie Pate doubled and Bailey Huneycutt and Kailey McNeil walked before Myra Twitty singled up the middle to plate Pate and Huneycutt.  
Bottom 3^rd – Western Carolina 5, Chattanooga 0: McNeil scored on a single down the left field line from Jeralynn Wells.