CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Presbyterian College softball team brought a spirited demeanor to a Tuesday doubleheader at red-hot Western Carolina, dropping both bouts by respective scores of 4-1 and 5-4.

After putting up a pair of runs in the top of the 7^th in a bid to reach a split, WCU unleashed a two-out walk-off double to send the Blue Hose to a record of 11-16.

Six of the Catamounts' nine total runs came via the homer on Tuesday, the second time in four days that a PC opponent stole the victory at the last moment.

The Scotsmen will hope to derail their nine-game losing skid this weekend as the schedule turns to Big South terrain, returning home on Friday to begin a league series against Winthrop.

A feud that dates back nearly two decades, PC will play a Friday DH with the Eagles that starts at 1:00. The entire series will be streamed live on ESPN+.


 
NOTABLES

 
- Head coach David Williams' lineup did a solid job in stabilizing an adversary that ranked inside the nation's top 30 in runs per game below their average in both encounters.

- Presbyterian out-hit the Catamounts by two across those 14 innings and received a multi-hit performance by six different players during the twinbill.

- Molly Mattas and Jessica Wilson both entered as pinch-hitters with Game 2 in doubt, putting the ball in play long enough for the third-base runner to reach home safely twice and tie up the rematch at four apiece.

- Ultimately, Western Carolina's power hitting was a big difference maker as they landed five extra-base swings compared to zero from the Blue Hose.

- PC was able to keep pace with a loaded offense for most of the afternoon, but stranded 20 runners overall and left the bases loaded in the 5^th and 7^th innings of Game 2.

- Avery Robinson faced 13 batters in relief during the opener and held that bunch to just one hit and one walk. Peyton Duncan (who started the second meeting) retired 10 consecutive hitters and quieted WCU for the majority of her time in the circle.


 
GAME ONE – Western Carolina def. Presbyterian, 4-1
 

- While first-baseman Blair Darby brought in Cierra Grice with an unearned RBI-single in the opening frame, the Blue Hose struggled to send runners around the pads for the rest of Game 1 and took a three-run loss as a result.

- Western infielder Maya McPherson left the yard once in either matchup, changing the complexion of the opener with a three-run blast in the 3^rd.

- Designated player AG Batson followed suit with a solo dinger of her own just two plays later, and neither side scored again for the rest of the contest.

- Catamount ace Amanda Fulton threw all seven innings and grabbed eight K's, withstanding a heavy workload of 120 pitches and a combined six hits by Darby, Grice, and Audrey Burton.


 
GAME TWO – Western Carolina def. Presbyterian, 5-4
 

- Thanks to Duncan and the rest of the PC defense, Western Carolina's numbers were less than staggering until the aforementioned walk-off double that came from McPherson.

- Hali Duke and Morgan Farthing each batted in a run during a busy 5^th frame, helping to reach a two-all stalemate but unable to manufacture the lead with all bases still occupied.

- The home side pushed the deficit back to two with a couple of single-run knocks in the bottom of the 5^th and 6^th, but the Blue Hose were willing to fight back once more.

- Down to their final out and with the bases juiced, Mattas and Wilson got just what the doctor ordered. Freshman Ava Coggins (who has been used sparingly as a pinch-runner since injuring her wrist several weeks ago), beat out the throw from second on a fielder's choice to tie the score again at four each.

- Playing for extra's and forced to deal to the top of WCU's deadly lineup, Duncan fanned two with a runner on first until the walk-off lifted the Catamounts to victory.