Feb. 23, 2008

St. Bonaventure Box Score

South Dakota State Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Western Carolina softball (1-4) picked up its first win of 2008 defeating South Dakota State 5-4 in the second game of opening day action of the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament. Earlier in the day, the Catamounts fell 6-1 to St. Bonaventure.

Junior college transfer Michelle Tating got her first win as a Catamount on the mound against South Dakota State. She tossed five scoreless innings before the Jackrabbits scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to make a 5-0 scoring advantage by the Catamounts an interesting game.

Western Carolina took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Senior Jamie Swank got a lead off single and moved into scoring position, advancing to second, off a wild pitch. Swank scored when junior Lauren Ross hit a double down the left field line.

The Catamounts tacked on three runs in the fourth inning. Back to back singles by freshman Amber Hawkins and Tating placed runners on first and second. Redshirt sophomore Mollie Fowler hit her first homerun, and the first by a Catamount, this season. The three-run shot gave WCU a 4-0 lead. Another freshman got in the mix when Rachel Drawdy hit an RBI single that scored Stephanie Beatty.

Coasting with a 5-0 lead, Tating got into a bit of a jam in the sixth inning. She allowed three South Dakota State runs on two hits and there was also two Catamount errors. With two outs, Tating was replaced by freshman Lilly McDonagh who forced a pop up to end the inning.

With one out in the top of the seventh inning, South Dakota State continued to attempt a rally as three straight singles loaded the bases. After a fly out to center field the Jackrabbits hit a sacrifice fly for the fourth run of the game but McDonagh forced a ground out for the third and final out.

McDonagh earned her first save as a Catamount and Tating improved to 1-1 on the season. Ross was the only Western Carolina player to have multiple hits in the game going 2-for-3.

The opening game of the tournament was a rocky one for Western Carolina, falling 6-1 to St. Bonaventure. The run against the Bonnies was the first of the season for the Catamounts and it occurred in the first inning.

The Catamounts lone run began when junior Heather Pritchard drew a walk and stole second. Hawkins hit a single up the middle to score Pritchard to give WCU an early 1-0 lead.

It was all St. Bonaventure after that as it scored two runs in the bottom of the first and four in the bottom of the fifth. McDonagh started the game and takes the loss falling to 1-1 on the season. She allowed six runs on seven hits and struck out six.

Western Carolina continues play in the tournament facing Boston College and host Florida Gulf on Saturday. First pitch for the Catamounts is set for 3 p.m.