Hayes earns wins, Weatherman’s bat comes alive, Liscio debuts

From WCU reports

The Basics: Score: Western Carolina 13, La Salle 2 (6)

Records: Western Carolina 5-5, La Salle 7-3

Location: UNF Softball Field, Jacksonville, Fla.

Jacksonville, Fla. — Western Carolina softball closed out play Sunday at the North Florida Invitational with a 13-2 victory, in six innings, over La Salle at the UNF Softball Field.

Turning Point: Western Carolina scored in five of six innings including jumping on La Salle early with four runs in the top of the first. The Catamounts followed with two runs in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and four in the sixth.

How it Happened: Back- to- back singles by Abigail Daniels and former Calhoun High standout Emily Weatherman set up the first score of the game, with one out, Daniels scored on a La Salle score error after Weatherman stole second. Madison Arm- strong’s RBI double scored Weatherman for the second run. A walk issued to Hunter Gibbons set up a sacrifice fly RBI by Kara Salvo which scored Armstrong from third. An Erica Hayes RBI double plated Gibbons for the fourth run of the first inning. Western Carolina’s two-run second inning began with a double by Ashlyn Long who went on to score on a fielder’s choice RBI by Daniels. Weatherman hit the first homerun of her career for the second run. The third inning saw two more Catamount runs set up by Hunter Gibbons’ lead-off double and eventual score off an RBI double by Erica Hayes. The second run of the third came when Hayes scored on a wild pitch. WCU scored one run in the fourth inning when Courtney Price singled and went on to score off an RBI double by Gibbons. La Salle scored a run in the fourth and one in the fifth to extend the game to the sixth inning. WCU tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning courtesy of a Price two-run home-run, a Salvo RBI single and an E. Hayes RBI single. Inside the Box Score: - Western Carolina had 17 hits in the game - the most hits for the Cat-amounts this season.

- The Catamounts’ four runs in the first inning are the most runs WCU has scored in the opening inning this season by WCU.

- Senior pitcher Courtney Buchanan got the start and lasted a third of an inning before she was replaced by former Sonoraville High stand-out Lily Hayes. Buchanan had one strikeout walked one and allowed one hit.

- Hayes entered the game with bases loaded and one out in the bot-tom of the first. She got out of the inning and went on to pitch 3.2 innings allowing one run on two hits and struck out five. Hayes took the win and improves to 3-3 on the season.

- In the pitching by committee game, Shaina Reed replaced Hayes in the fifth inning. She went one total inning allowing one run on one hit and struck out one.

- Freshman hurler and former Calhoun High standout Kinsey Liscio saw action for the second straight day coming in to pitch the bottom of the sixth replacing Reed. Liscio struck out the side to end the game.

- Weatherman, Price, Gibbons and E. Hayes each had three hits in the game. - E. Hayes had three RBI in the game.

- Weatherman hit the first home run of her Catamount career.

- Weatherman and Gibbons led the team with three runs apiece.

- Western Carolina’s 17 hits in the game was a season-high.

- The Catamounts had a season-high and record-tying six doubles in the game. News & Notes: - Daniels has now reached base safely in 10 straight games.

- Weatherman’s homerun snapped a streak of five straight games without a homerun by the Catamounts.

- Western’s Carolina’s 17 hits against La Salle ranks third in the Ca-tamount record books for most hits in a game. The record is 19 hits set twice. - Western Carolina’s six doubles against the Explorers ties for the most in school history.

- Western Carolina’s 29 total bases against La Salle also ties the school record.

- The two homeruns against La Salle is the second time this season WCU has had two homeruns in a game.

- In the tournament, Weatherman ended with a .438 batting average with seven hits, a double, a homerun, four RBI and five runs scored.

- Western Carolina’s win over La Salle pushes the Catamounts to .500. It is the first time WCU has had a .500 or better record since a record of 2-2 in the final day of the USC Upstate Tournament last weekend.

In other softball news:

Western Carolina splits on Day 2, Liscio makes debut

The Basics: Score: Albany 1, Western Carolina 0 (8); West- ern Carolina 8, Mt. Saint Mary’s 3

Records: Western Carolina 4-5, Albany 6-3, Mt. Saint Mary’s 3-4

Location: UNF Softball Field, Jacksonville, Fla.

Jacksonville, Fla. — Western Carolina softball split day two action Saturday at the North Florida Invitational dropping the early afternoon game 1-0 to Albany in eight innings then bouncing back to defeat Mt. Saint Mary’s 8-3 in the nightcap at UNF Softball Field.

GAME 1

Turning Point: Albany snapped a scoreless game scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the 1-0 lead and the game against Western Carolina.

How it Happened: Both teams failed to plate a run in regulation and forced extra innings. After Western Carolina placed a runner on second and could not score in the top of the eighth the Great Danes got a