Wells & Baldwin Homer in Doubleheader Split in Spartanburg
In a thrilling and edge-of-the-seat doubleheader that saw the Western Carolina University baseball team take on the Wofford Terriers in Spartanburg, veterans Jeralynn Wells and Savannah Baldwin came through with home runs, helping their team in a split decision. The Catamounts nabbed a decisive 11-4 victory in the first game, before succumbing to a narrowly-hinged 4-3 loss in ten innings in the second.
Grand Slam and Two-Run Shot Illuminate Game One
The first game kicked off with a bang as Jeralynn Wells fired off a first-inning grand slam – her sixth of the season – boosting WCU to an early 4-0 lead. Keeping the momentum going, Savannah Baldwin launched a two-run blast in the fourth inning, inflating the Catamount lead to an impressive 6-0. Despite a last-minute rally by the Terriers, cutting the Catamounts’ lead to 7-4 by the end of the seventh inning, it was too late to catch up. WCU drove home the advantage with another four-run spree, sealing the game at 11-4.
Tense Ten-Inning Loss in Game Two
The second game of the doubleheader unfolded with a much more nail-biting narrative. After an early lead from Wofford, facilitated by an RBI double, our Catamounts evened the score in the fourth with a joint effort from Baldwin and freshman Maya McPherson. However, Wofford refused to go quietly, forcing the game into extra innings with a timely RBI single in the seventh.
With the scores at 2-2, the international tiebreaker rule came into play, giving each side a runner at second base at the start of the tenth inning. Though WCU managed to gain a narrow 3-2 lead, a determined Wofford managed to plate two runs, closing the game with a 4-3 victory, earning the split in the doubleheader.
Notable Performances
Despite the second-game loss, the Catamount ladies had some shining moments. Freshman McPherson led with a total of five hits across the two games and Wells was relentless in her offense, with a grand slam, a single, and an RBI in each game.
In the pitching department, ace pitcher and Berea, Kentucky native Tessa Juett gave her all. Juett racked up five strikeouts each in both games. Her prowess in the first game resulted in her tenth win of the season, and her tally of strikeouts earned her the honor of being the fourth Catamount in program history to achieve multiple 100+ strikeout seasons. Despite her valiant effort in the second game, Wofford managed to edge out a win.
The showdown concluded the Catamounts’ three-game series with the Terriers. The tough split will ensure a spirited rematch when the Catamounts face the Terriers next, as their survival instincts will be put to the test yet again. As always, fans are encouraged to keep track of everything related to Catamount Softball and WCU Athletics on their official social media handles and at www.CatamountSports.com.
