Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina tallied six runs in the bottom of the third inning on Sunday en route to a 10-1 victory over Furman as the Catamounts claimed the best-of-three series versus the Paladins at the Catamount Softball Complex.
With the win on Sunday, the Catamounts improved to 22-28 overall and 6-12 in Southern Conference play. Furman dipped to 15-33 overall and 5-13 in the league.
Western Carolina broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom half of the second. Sydney Dirks opened the frame with a single and Imara Harrell put two runners in scoring position with a double down the left field line. Dirks scored on Mattie Mentel's groundout and Tate Stewman followed with an RBI single to left to double the Catamount lead.
A six-run bottom of the third put Western Carolina in control. Furman starter
Angelina Ricciardi plunked Rylee Butler to start the frame and Maya McPherson reached base on an error. Following a force out at third base, Ricciardi hit Natalie Henry to load the bases and forced the Paladins to the bullpen.
Emme Buzhardt uncorked a pair of wild pitches to allow runs to score before Tatum Martin came through for the Catamounts with a three-run, pinch-hit double two batters later to extend the margin to 8-0. The Catamounts scored their six runs with the benefit of only one hit in the third inning.
Furman got on the board in the top of the fourth when
Caitlin Goldwait plated
Katie Peeler with a two—out single to shallow left field, but Dirks upped the Catamount advantage to 10-1 and chased Buzhardt from the circle with a two-run, opposite-field homer in the bottom of the inning.
Senior Tessa Juett (9-14) picked up the win after holding Furman to an unearned run on four hits over five innings. She walked two batters and fanned four.
Dirks ignited the Catamount offense by going 2-for-3 with a couple of RBI while scoring three of Western Carolina's 10 runs.
Ricciardi (6-9) suffered the defeat allowing five runs, three earned, on four hits over 2.1 innings in the circle for the Paladins.
Goldwait went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Paladins while
Kiley Perry was 2-for-2 with a double in the series finale.
The Paladins wrap up non-conference play on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. first pitch at No. 11 South Carolina and concludes the regular season schedule with a three-game series versus Mercer at Pepsi Stadium next weekend.