Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina clubbed five home runs to roll to a 10-2 victory over Furman on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep of the Paladins at the Catamount Softball Complex.
 
Maya McPherson launched a three-run homer in the first inning and Rylee Butler belted a two-run shot the following inning to stake the Catamounts (19-9, 3-0 SoCon) to a 5-1 lead. Taylor Waitley added to the lead with a two-run double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth inning before McPherson delivered her second blast of the afternoon to up the margin to 8-1.
 
Furman's Sylvia Burroughs homered to center field to open the top of the sixth inning, but Sydney Dirks restored the seven-run advantage with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the frame and Becka Wonsick followed a pair of singles with a three-run clout to force the mercy rule.
 
McPherson finished 3-for-3 with four RBI and scored three runs while Lily Bell reached base safely three times and scored a pair of runs for the Catamounts. Amanda Fulton limited the Paladins to two runs on seven hits over six innings to earn the victory. She walked one batter and fanned five en route to improving to 9-3.
 
Freshman Gwen Hill (0-1), making her first collegiate appearance for the Paladins, suffered the loss. She allowed five runs on three hits over two innings while striking out four batters and walking two. Four Paladin pitchers combined to allow 10 hits and seven walks over five-plus innings.
 
Kristyn Embler and Rachel Hawkins each collected two hits for the Paladins.
 
Furman (5-25, 0-3 SoCon) returns to Pepsi Stadium next weekend to host East Tennessee State in a three-game Southern Conference set. The series opens with a 1 p.m. doubleheader and concludes with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three contests will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
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