Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 Boxscore

Cullowhee, N.C.. – Heather Chastain belted a grand slam in game one and Amber Steinhardt tossed a six-hit shutout in game two to lead Western Carolina to a 4-3, 5-0 doubleheader sweep of Furman in Southern Conference softball action on Saturday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex.

Furman dropped to 12-22 overall and 3-8 in league play.  Western Carolina improved to 13-21 overall and 3-5 in the SoCon.

Game 1

Heather Chastain drilled her first career home run, a grand slam, over the left field wall with two outs in the bottom of the second to lift the Catamounts to a 4-3 victory in game one.

Jessie Homesley put Furman in front in the top of the first with her first of two home runs on the day, a solo shot to left field.

Singles by Morgan Wyatt, Steinhardt and Makenzi McAteer loaded the bases with one out in the second inning for the Catamounts before Furman hurler Hannah Bradley got Jordan Fulton to pop out to left field for the second out.  Chastain followed by driving a towering shot over the left field wall to put the Catamounts ahead, 4-1. 

Homesley homered to right-center field to open the top of the sixth inning and Lauren Collier scored on an Emily Boyer single after reaching on an error, but reliever Jordan Garrett retired the next two batters to end the Paladins' rally.

Garrett worked around a walk and a single in the seventh to strand two runners and earn her second save of the season.  Starter Katie King (4-6) held Furman to two earned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work to secure the victory.  Wyatt and Steinhardt each collected a pair of hits to pace the Catamount offense.

Bradley (4-7) took the loss for Furman after allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings in the circle.  She walked one batter and fanned three.

Game 2

In game two, Steinhardt scattered six hits and Erin Foster went 3-for-3 at the plate to guide the Catamounts to a 5-0 victory.

Steinhardt issued one walk and struck out two Paladins to improve to 4-4 in the circle.

Western Carolina took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the third inning.  Fulton singled and Chastain reached on an error to open the frame.  After a ground out, Foster singled up the middle to plate a run and put WCU in front.  Furman starter Lakyn Shull induced a pop up for the second out and looked set to escape trouble, but Boyer misplayed a grounder to the right side that allowed Chastain and Foster to score.  Kelly Braman followed with an RBI single to up the margin to 4-0.

Shull suffered the loss despite allowing just two earned runs on six hits in six innings.  She fell to 5-7 in the circle.

Homesley, who homered twice in the opening game, went 2-for-3 in game two.

The series finale is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Fans can follow live statistics for the series at www.FurmanPaladins.com.