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WCU, UNCG Advance In SoCon Softball Tournament
GREENSBORO, N.C.- Western Carolina’s Taylor Sigmon hit a two-out walk-off single to plate two runs and push the Catamounts past No. 7 Appalachian State 3-2 in the Southern Conference Softball Tournament in Greensboro, N.C. on Thursday.
Amelia Griffin reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on an error by Appalachian State’s Lindsay Loudermilk, which allowed Courtney Price to reach safely. Price and Griffin moved to second and third, respectively, on a Kara Salvo groundout to third, setting the stage for Sigmon. Sigmon delivered, smashing a single up the middle and keeping the Catamount season alive.
Sigmon finished 1-for-3 on the day, delivering the biggest hit of the day. Jordan Garrett (10-15) earned the complete-game win. She allowed just three hits and struck out eight in the contest.
Appalachian State’s Dani Heichen led the game off with a single and advanced to second on a bunt from Cynthia Gomez. Catcher Sarah Warnock loaded the bases for the Mountaineers with an infield single, bringing Lindsay Loudermilk to the plate. Loudermilk hit into a fielder’s choice to bring Heichen home and put runners on first to second for the Mountaineers. Western Carolina got its second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice, before Ashley Seering walked to load the bases. Catamount pitcher Jordan Garrett would keep Appalachian State off the scoreboard, escaping with a strikeout to close the inning.
The Catamounts put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, as Karley Harkey delivered a hit to right field and advanced to third after Heichen misplayed the ball off the bounce. That would be as close as WCU would get to the plate, as Laws would get a strikeout and a pair of fly balls in the infield to get out of the inning unscathed.
Heather Chastain got the Catamounts on the board in the bottom of the sixth, smashing a solo home run to left-centerfield to make it a 1-1 ballgame.
With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the seventh, Caroline Rogers drew a walk in the leadoff spot for the Mountaineers, advancing to second on a Kristen Terry grounder back to the pitcher. Pepper Butler came on to pinch run for Terry at second with Cynthia Gomez coming to the plate for Appalachian State. Gomez hit a hard ground ball that Karley Harkey was unable to corral, allowing Butler to score from second and put the Mountaineers ahead 2-1 before Sigmon ended the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Alissa Schoelkopf was credited with the loss to fall to 4-10, while the Mountaineers end their season with a 19-32 record.
Western Carolina will play the loser of No. 1 Georgia Southern and No. 4 Samford, who play at 4:30 p.m., tonight at 7 p.m.
No. 5 UNCG 4, No. 8 Elon 2
GREENSBORO, N.C.- The UNCG Spartans got a pair of home runs from Lindsay Thomas to defeat the eighth-seeded Elon Phoenix 4-2 in the Southern Conference Softball Tournament on Thursday.
Thomas finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two home runs and two runs scored, while Danielle Vega also added a pair of hits for UNCG (28-25). Raeanne Hanks (14-16) earned the win, going 4.2 innings with three strikeouts and a pair of earned runs. Caitlin O’Shea took the loss for Elon (24-29-1) to end the season with a 8-15 record.
UNCG’s Dominique Madruga drew a walk to lead off the first inning, advancing to second on a wild pitch from Elon’s Caitlin O’Shea to Lindsay Thomas. Thomas took advantage of the next O’Shea offering, cranking a two-run home run to center field.
Thomas did damage once again in the top of the second. After Emily Lopez scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0 Spartans, Thomas blasted her second home run of the day to left field to give UNCG a 4-0 advantage.
The Phoenix would respond in the bottom of the second, as Grace Eng would draw a walk and advance to second on a wild pitch. Lauren Oldham would move Eng to third on a single to center before Carey Million singled through the right side to plate Eng and cut the UNCG lead to 4-1.
Elon started off the bottom of the fifth with a single from Johanna Spencer through the left side. Ali Ford poked a single to center to move Spencer from first to third. Eng came through for the Phoenix, knocking a single through the right side to bring home Spencer and make the score 4-2.
The Phoenix would get runners to second and third in the bottom of the seventh, but Hanks got Carleigh Nester to strikeout looking to end the contest.
UNCG will play the loser of No. 2 Chattanooga and No. 3 Furman tonight at 9:30 p.m.