Greenville, S.C. – Senior
Riley Ludlam and junior
Hannah Poole each batted in five runs to power Furman to a doubleheader sweep of Western Carolina, 7-4, 7-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex in Cullowhee, N.C.
Ludlam, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., went a combined 6-for-7 with two homers and five RBIs while Poole finished the twinbill with two doubles, a homer and five batted in to help the Paladins improve to 9-18 overall and 2-0 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina slipped to 9-14 overall and 0-2 in the SoCon.
The duo combined to go 5-for-6 at the plate with three extra-base hits and five RBIs to power Furman to a 7-4 victory in game one. Ludlam delivered a two-run, opposite field home run in the first to give the Paladins a 2-0 lead before Western Carolina rallied to claim a 3-2 advantage after two innings.
Ludlam's RBI single in the third inning knotted the game at 3-3 and Poole put Furman back on top in the fourth inning with a two-run double to left field. She stole third and raced home on a throwing error to extend the Paladin lead to 6-3. Poole added an insurance run in the sixth inning with an RBI double into the gap to plate pinch runner
Natalie Aiello.
Starter
Sierra Tufts, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, tossed a complete game to improve to 5-6 in the circle. The junior limited Western Carolina to three earned runs on 12 hits over seven innings while fanning five Catamount batters.
Ludlam went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Furman's nine-hit attack and Brooklyn Brewington collected four hits for the Catamounts.
Tessa Juett (3-5) took the loss for Western Carolina after allowing five earned runs on nine hits over five-plus innings of work. She recorded four strikeouts without walking a batter.
In the night cap, Furman sophomore
Emme Buzhardt allowed just one unearned run in a complete-game effort to secure the doubleheader sweep. She scattered six hits and walked three while moving to 3-5 in the circle with her third victory in her last five appearances.
Ludlam and Poole belted two-run homers in the top of the first to stake the Paladins to a 4-0 lead and freshman
Sylvia Burroughs cracked a two-run bomb in the top of the fifth inning to extend the margin to 6-1.
Kiley Perry added an RBI single in the seventh for the final margin.
Caitlin Goldwait and Perry collected two hits apiece and Ludlam finished 3-for-4 at the plate in game two.
Jayme Eilers took the loss for the Catamounts after giving up seven runs on 10 hits. She struck out four without allowing a walk. Natalie Henry registered two hits for WCU.
The Paladins and Catamounts conclude their weekend series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch on ESPN+ at the Catamount Softball Complex is set for 1 p.m.
