Catamounts Take Series over Georgia Southern

In a road series against the Georgia Southern Eagles April 19-20, the Lady Catamount softball team took two of the three games by solid pitchingand a tough offensive threat. Havingstruggled in conference this season, the series win was much needed for Western.In the first game of the series, Western started the scoring early. In the second inning with the bases loaded,freshman Alesha Clayton knocked in two runs with a base hit. Three more runs were scored after Jamie Swank and catcher Danielle Reese both hit singles.Pitcher Lauren Ross kept the Eagles scoreless with five straight inningsof shutout pitching, until the sixth when Georgia Southern scored four runs to inch back into the game. However,it was again Ross’ pitching that ended the comeback in the final inning and solidifying the Catamount victory.The second game of the series was again a close contest, this time providingextra innings. Western scored two runs in the first inning of the contestwith Stephanie Beatty hitting in a run and another was earned by an Eagleswild pitch.Georgia Southern tied the game in the fourth with a homerun by Jenny Side and an RBI bunt by Lindsey Hopkins.The game remained scoreless untilthe end of regulation.In extra innings, the Eagles put players on first and third and Amanda Hall hit a sacrifice bunt which was thrown home and bobbled, allowing Georgia Southern to escape with the victory. It was a heartbreaking end to a competitive game by both squads.Not to be outdone, Western took the final game with another complete game by Lauren Ross. Offensively the third inning was all Western needed to provide enough runs. After Keely Torgisonwas walked and Jamie Swank singled, Danielle Reese knocked in a run off of her own single. FreshmanCatamounts Take Series over Georgia SouthernAmber Hawkins hit a double to drive in two more runs and increase the lead to 3-0.Refusing to back down, the Eagles made things interesting in the seventh by obtaining base runners and knocking one in when pinch hitter Kristin Glover hit a double. As in the previous day’s win however, Georgia Southern could not complete a comeback.Western held their ground and refused to crumble in the final stages.The Catamounts close the regularseason out at home with two series. The first is April 26 and 27 against Furman. On the 26 Western plays a doubleheader with game times being 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. respectively. The following day they close the series with a 1:00 p.m. contest. Two days later the Catamounts play a doubleheader with Winston Salem State with games at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. The Southern ConferenceChampionships begin May 7 in Charleston South Carolina. For more information, visit catamountsports.com.