CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The quandary of playing at the Catamount Softball Complex has provided inexplicable results for the past two seasons and today's series finale was no different as the Samford University Softball team dropped the final game of the series 3-2 against Western Carolina University.
Samford (27-17, 8-4 SoCon) ranked second in the SoCon in total runs scored with 227 and averaged 5.5 runs per game coming into the weekend series against Western Carolina (19-23, 8-4 SoCon). The Bulldogs offense only managed to plate three runs over 21 innings and a total five runs over the course of 42 innings at the Catamount Softball Complex over the past two seasons.
The Bulldogs looked to spell the Catamounts momentum from yesterday as freshman
Karsin Spinks put SU out in front 1-0 in the top of the second with a solo home run over the wall in center field.
The defense was working extremely hard to maintain the lead and received outstanding play especially from
Callie Brister in the bottom of the second. Brister turned a critical ground out double play from her position at third to end the second inning and a Catamount offensive threat.
After leaving a total of 13 stranded in yesterday's game two the Bulldogs had an opportunity to give themselves an extended lead and break the game wide open in the third. SU loaded the bases with one out on the board but were not able to scratch across a run and left everyone stranded.
The Bulldogs loaded them again in the fourth but this time senior
Caroline Seay came through with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Spinks from third with one out to give SU a 2-0. Spinks reached earlier in the inning after being hit by a pitch from Jordan Garrett (13-10) then moved over to third on a single from
Hannah Taylor and a walk from
Lexie Higgins.
Redshirt junior pitcher
Mollie Hanson (15-8) pitched effectively for four complete innings as she only gave up two hits to the Catamounts while she struck out four with no walks.
That all changed in the bottom of the fifth when Crystal Cyr lead off the inning with a single to
Abby Adams at short. That set the stage for Catamount catcher Heather Chastain who belted a two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2.
WCU capitalized on the seized momentum as Cyr plated the go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth on a sharply hit RBI single through the left side that scored Victoria Mariscal. Mariscal set up the inning for the Catamounts with a one-out double down the right field line and advanced to third on a two-out wild pitch from Hanson.
The Catamounts shut the door on the Bulldogs in the seventh after brining in Taylor Sigmon for her sixth save of the season. Sigmon dispatched Samford courtesy of a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
Samford returns home for midweek solo contest against No. 6/7 Auburn University Tigers on Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m.
