CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Presbyterian Blue Hose softball team (27-11) split a doubleheader on the road at the Western Carolina Catamounts (18-26). Western Carolina won the first game, 6-2. Presbyterian behind a strong pitching performance from Morgan Hess won the second game, 2-1.
   
GAME ONE
Western Carolina scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. Presbyterian tied the score at one when Hess scored on Kelby Goodrum's infield single to the shortstop in the top of the second inning. The Catamounts scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning and they tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning. Hess led off the fourth inning with a home run over the right center field wall. Western Carolina closed out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.

GAME TWO
In the fifth inning, Western Carolina scored the game's first run on a solo home run. The Blue Hose answered with two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead for good. Bailey Watkins scored Presbyterian's first run on a Western Carolina error. Layna Johnson scored the winning run on Lath Freeman's fielder's choice.

The story of game two was the pitching performance of Hess, who finished the game with 11 strikeouts and only one walk. She scattered five hits and allowed one run over seven innings.
 
NOTABLES

• Goodrum and Hess each collected two hits in game one.
• Hess picked up her 12^th win in the circle with her complete game pitching performance in game two.

 
UP NEXT
Presbyterian welcomes Big South Conference foe, Winthrop, to the PC Softball Complex for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader this Saturday, April 23.