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Western Carolina Downs Furman 10-8 in Supsended Game
March 26, 2006
Cullowhee, NC - Savannah Filley's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled Western Carolina to a 10-8 extra-innings win in a game suspended from Saturday afternoon. Filley, who homered earlier in the game, now has nine round-trippers this season.
Mendy McKenzie took the win for Western Carolina, pitching five innings of relief and allowing just two unearned runs. Jessica Mathis suffered the loss for Furman after pitching 1.3 innings, and allowing two runs.
Amber Kiser and Stephanie Cushing each recorded three hits on the game, and Cushing and Megan Jaudon each knocked in three runs for the Lady Paladins.
Furman took the early lead with three runs in the first inning. Amber Kiser reached on an infield single and Joni Lockridge reached on an error. After Stephanie Cushing reached on a fielder's choice, Megan Jaudon hit a three-run homer to right-center field. For Jaudon, it was her fifth home run of the season.
The Lady Paladins added two more runs in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. With two outs, Kiser walked and stole second base. Lockridge then walked, and the two baserunners advanced on a passed ball. Cushing singled through the right side to score Kiser and Lockridge.
Western Carolina got a run back in the bottom half of the second inning as Samm Keppel drew a bases loaded walk to score Jenny Jackson. Vanessa Williams got Allyson McCubbins to strike out to end the inning.
The Catamounts got two more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Heather Pritchard singled and Savannah Filley knocked a two-run home run to center field, trimming the Furman lead to 5-3.
Western Carolina tied the game in the fourth inning. Nikki Bost drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Keppel. McCubbins hit a two-run shot to left field to even the score at five apiece. The Catamounts then extended the lead with a two-run triple by Jackson to push the advantage to 7-5.
Furman cut the lead in half in the fifth inning with a leadoff, solo home run by Stephanie Cushing, her third of the season.
Furman pulled even in the top of the sixth inning. Jessica Mathis reached on an error, and then Kiser singled. Lockridge reached on a fielder's choice, and Cushing singled home Kiser to knot the score at 7-7.
The Lady Paladins edged in front in the seventh inning. Danielle Franklin led off the inning with a double to right-center field. Pinch runner Kristen Arnold moved to third on an Abby Robertson sacrifice bunt, and then scored when Mathis reached on an error.
The Catamounts tied the score in the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo home run by Lauren Ross.
The game was suspended as the Lady Paladins came to bat in the top of the eighth inning due to cold, windy, and snowy conditions. The game resumed on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Furman got out of a jam in the bottom of the eighth inning as a walk and two singles loaded the bases with two outs. Mathis forced Keppel to ground out to end the threat.
The Catamounts ended the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after a one-out single and then the two-run home run.
With the win, Western Carolina improves to 21-10 overall, and 2-0 in the Southern Conference. Furman falls to 18-19 on the season, and 2-3 in conference action. The two teams will conclude the three-game series at 2 p.m.
