CLINTON, S.C.- Presbyterian College won both games of a softball doubleheader with Western Carolina on Thursday afternoon at the PC Softball Complex.
The Blue Hose rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning to take game one by a 7-6 score. PC carried the momentum into game two as they defeated the Catamounts 8-4, marking the first ever sweep since the move into NCAA Division I.
PC has now won three of its last four games, moving to 7-8 overall, while WCU falls to 2-8 on the season.
Game One
The Catamounts scored the first two runs of the game with RBI singles to the outfield by Beth Hauser and Mollie Fowler.
PC followed in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run to center field off the bat of Amanda Miller (Orlando, Fla.), plating teammate Laura Tate (Spartanburg, S.C.) to knot the game at 2-2.
WCU grabbed the lead with a three-run second inning, scoring the first run on a single to left centerfield by Amber Hawkins. Two batters later Heather Pritchard drew the walk for the 4-2 Catamounts lead. The final run of the inning came on a ground out to the shortstop that plated Casey Camp.
PC closed the gap to 5-3 in the third inning on a single to left field by Paige Cassady (Orlando, Fla.) that brought Tate home.
Tate kept the scoring alive in the fourth inning with a bunt single that scored Cari Clark from third for the fourth Blue Hose run. Miller followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that knotted the game at 5-5.
Western Carolina again grabbed the lead in the fifth inning, by a 6-5 margin, taking advantage of a single by Camp and a hit down the left field line by Heather Pritchard for the run-scoring single.
Miller drew a two-out walk in the sixth inning that put Ashley Ford (Marietta, Ga.) at the plate for PC. Ford responded with a home run over the right centerfield fence for the game-winning RBIs.
Tate (3-for-3, RBI, 2 runs), Miller (1-for-2, 3 RBIs, HR) and Ford (1-for-3, 2 RBI, HR) led a top of the PC lineup that accounted for a combined five hits, six RBIs and two home runs.
Mary Gordon (Vernon, Conn.) earned the complete game victory, improving her record to 5-3 overall. She allowed four earned runs while striking out four WCU batters.
Game Two
PC started game two with the combination of power from the plate and solid pitching to build an early 8-0 advantage.
Tate led off the game with a single to short, moving to second on a steal, followed by a Miller walk. Two batters later Rachel Parker (Lake City, Fla.) smashed a three-run home run over the left field fence for the early 3-0 lead.
The Blue Hose distanced themselves in the second inning with each of the first three batters reaching base before Miller drew the walk for the game's fourth run. Ford (Marietta, Ga.) followed with a grand slam to centerfield that pushed the lead to 8-0 in PC's favor.
After four scoreless innings, WCU broke through in the fifth with three runs. Ashley Steinel reached on a walk moving to second on a single to third base by Casey Camp.
After a wild pitch moved each of the runners up, Jamie Swank scored the first Catamounts run on a grounder to the shortstop. Heather Pritchard followed with a single to centerfield, scoring Camp for the second run of the inning. Amber Hawkins connected on the third straight WCU hit with a double into left field for the 8-3 PC lead.
Western Carolina continued to rally in the sixth inning, scoring Keely Torgison from third on a ground out to second, however solid PC defense held the Catamounts to just one run for the 8-4 final.
Ashley Ford (1-for-3, 4 RBI, Grand Slam) and Rachel Parker (2-for-3, 3 RBI, HR) highlighted a PC lineup that scored eight runs in the game.
Cassady struck out 10 Western Carolina batters to earn the win. Cassady (2-2) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits.
Next Up
The Blue Hose next welcome Queens University to the PC Softball Complex for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 4. First pitch in the twinbill is slated for 2 p.m.
