Western Carolina dropped game one 10-1, and game two 8-0 in a doubleheader against Georgia Tech (17-6) on Tuesday, Mar. 17 on the road.
Georgia Tech broke game one of the doubleheader open using a nine-run bottom of the four inning to defeat the Lady Catamounts 10-1 in game one of the doubleheader against the Yellow Jackets. WCU dropped the second game of the doubleheader 8-0, giving up 12 hits the Yellow Jackets.
Western Carolina now sits at 5-14. The Lady Catamounts just couldn’t come up with the clutch hits leaving 12 runners in scoring position in the doubleheader series against the Yellow Jackets.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Mollie Fowler finished with two hits along with sophomore Amber Hawkins who also went 2-for-2 including a double, her third of the season. Katie King started for the Catamounts taking the loss, her fouth of the season.
Georgia Tech pitcher Jessica Cohen earned her third win of the season and struck out eight Catamounts in the process.
The Yellow Jackets built a 4-0 lead after four innings of play and added four more runs in the fifth to make the final score 8-0 in game two.
In the first game, the Lady Catamounts were led by freshman Chelsea Schaffer (2-for-3) and senior Lauren Ross (2-for-2) who each had two hits in the losing effort.
Georgia Tech broke open a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning plating nine runs to win game one of the doubleheader against the Catamounts 10-1. A two-out three-run double to right center from pinch hitter Danielle Dike hurt the Catamounts who managed to bust out eight hits.
The Yellow Jackets started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when, with one out, Whitney Haller reached on an error. Yellow Jackets short stop Kelsi Weseman was hit by a pitch to set up runners at first and second. Georgia Tech catcher Kate Kuzma then reached on another Catamount error, scoring pinch-runner Shannon Bear to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead. Catamounts starter Lauren Ross got a strike-out and a ground out to third base to end the threat.
Western Carolina answered in the top of the third, getting a lead-off single from freshman short stop Chelsea Schaffer. Junior catcher Danielle Reese moved Schaffer over to second on a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Sophomore Amber Hawkins beat out an infield single to set up runners at first and third with one out. Senior Stephanie Beatty delivered with a one out RBI single to right center to tie the score at 1-1.
The Lady Catamounts had an opportunity to take the lead but the score was held at 1-1 through two innings of play.
Western Carolina just couldn’t make the most of their opportunities later in the ball game, leaving eight players left on base en rout to the loss to Georgia Tech.
Starter Lauren Ross had four strikeouts and was working her change up quite effectively as just one bad inning earned her fifth loss on the season.