WBB: Summer Camps

Countdown to KIckoff: 91 Days - #91 Brian Johnson

It's now 91 days until kickoff of Catamount football at Western Carolina's E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The Catamounts open the season on Thursday, August 30, 2012 against Mars Hill College.

To help pass those long summer days until football season starts, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue the 100 day football countdown.

Today, we'll continue with the Defensive Line. 

#91 Brian Johnson

Class: RS Junior
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
High School: Myers Park HS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 250
Position: DL

2010 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in all 11 games on the season making two starts including his first-ever appearance in the season opener at North Carolina State ... Finished with 28 tackles including 12 solo stops and four tackles behind the line of scrimmage ... Recorded two sacks including one against Tusculum and one at Elon ... Credited with five quarterback hurries and one pass break-up from his defensive end position ... Had a strong showing in the final practice of the 2010 spring drills, halting a would-be drive by the offensive unit with a TFL.

2009 (Freshman): Redshirted ... In WCU's annual Spring Game, recorded a quarterback sack for a safety. Prior to Western: Was a two-time All-Southwestern 4-A Conference selection for head coach Jim Ruark at Myers Park HS ... Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com ... Amassed 33 tackles for loss, including 16 sacks, in his final two seasons as a prep ... Posted 21 TFLs and 11 sacks as a senior earning All-Mecklenburg County plaudits ... Added 33 career quarterback hurries, in addition to recovering five fumbles, forcing a pair of fumbles and blocking three field goals ... Named Most Improved defensive player following his junior season.

Personal: Full name is Brian Christopher Johnson ... Is the son of Brian Christopher Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson ... Has two siblings, Olivia and Austin.

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

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Football Countdown: 92 Days - #92 Isaiah Reupena

It's now 92 days until kickoff of Catamount football at Western Carolina's E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The Catamounts open the season on Thursday, August 30, 2012 against Mars Hill College.

To help pass those long summer days until football season starts, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue the 100 day football countdown.

Today, we'll continue with the Defensive Line.

#92 Isaiah Reupena

Class: Senior
Hometown: Garden Grove, Calif.
High School: Mater Dei HS
Last College: Orange Coast College
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 250
Position: DL

Prior to Western Carolina: Earned All-Southern California Football Association (SCFA) East All-conference accolades in 2010 ... Finished with 48 tackles to rank second on the team at OCC with seven tackles for loss and 2.5 TFLs as a defensive tackle ... Also blocked a kick last season ... Earned "Most Inspirational Team Player" as a sophomore ... Received his Associates Degree from Orange Coast College.

Personal: Full name is Isaiah Tone Reupena ... Is the son of Fa'auuga and Rutini Reupena ... His father played point guard for Samoa in the South Pacific game.

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Cantler Receives 2012 SoCon Distinguished Service Award

Spartanburg, S.C. -  Fred Q. Cantler, has been selected as a recipient of the Southern Conference's 2012 Distinguished Service Awards.

Cantler will be honored for his contributions to Western Carolina and the Southern Conference at the Southern Conference Honors Dinner in Asheville, N.C., on May 30.


Cantler is the former Western Carolina associate director of athletics. He devoted over 30 years in athletics administration at WCU.  He most recently served as senior associate athletic director for internal relations before retiring in March of 2011.  In late October, Dr. David Belcher, Chancellor of the University, asked Cantler to serve as the interim director of athletics as the institution conducted a national search, where he served for just over two month before returning to retirement.

Football Countdown: 93 Days - Coach Curtis Walker

It's now 93 days until kickoff of Catamount football at Western Carolina's E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The Catamounts open the season on Thursday, August 30, 2012 against Mars Hill College.

To help pass those long summer days until football season starts, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue the 100 day football countdown.

No player assigned #93. So today we'll highlight an assistant coach.

Curtis Walker

Hometown: Burlington, N.C.
High School: Graham HS
Position: Assistant Coach / Defensive Coordinator / LBs
Alma Mater: Catawba

Curtis Walker came to Cullowhee in January of 2012 after serving the past 10 years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Coastal Carolina. He will continue to serve as the linebackers coach at WCU, as well as be the program's Defensive Coordinator.

During Walker's 10 seasons in Conway, the Chanticleers had four players on the defensive side garner All-America accolades including linebacker Jamar Leath in 2006. Players within his defense earned a combined 44 All-Big South accolades with 22 first team honors including three by linebackers Maurice Simpkins and two by Andrae Jacobs, who was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.

Coastal Carolina captured three-consecutive Big South Conference titles, doing so in just the program's second, third and fourth seasons of play. CCU posted a combined record of 28-6 in that period, garnering a berth in the 2006 NCAA Division I Football Championships and final top-25 rankings in three national polls all three years.

Then, in 2010, the Chanticleer defense again played a key role in Coastal winning its fourth Big South title. Not only was Jacobs named Big South Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big South, but Dominique Davenport was dominant in earning first team all-conference honors and corner Josh Norman was named first team all-league for the second year. In addition, senior Kent Harper had 10.0 tackles for losses to earn second team All-Big South as well as help Coastal Carolina lead the conference and rank 16th nationally in TFLs (7.50).

As a unit under Walker's direction, Coastal ranked 38th nationally in total defense in the 2010 season, allowing just 109 total points in league play in garnering the Big South's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Championship.

In the program's first year, it ranked first in the league and eighth nationally in turnover margin, while ranking second in the Big South in total defense. From 2004-07, the Chants' defense has ranked first in the league in pass efficiency defense, while ranking first or second in sacks and tackles for loss from 2005-09, except for 2008 when Coastal ranked third in the Big South in sacks. Also, Coastal has twice led the nation in interceptions, getting 19 in 2006 and 27 in 2004.

For the 2009 season, behind the leadership of second team All-Big South pick Desmond Steward, Walker's unit ranked 15th in pass defense, allowing just 160.55 ypg, while six players ranked among the Big South top 20 in interceptions -- getting 21 picks as a unit. Norman led the way in aerial thefts, setting a Big South Record and ranking third nationally with eight interceptions.

Coastal led the league in pass defense in 2006, '07 and `08. On the strength of 18 interceptions in `07, the Chants ranked sixth nationally in turnover margin (1.36). In 2006, Coastal's defense tied for the national lead with 19 interceptions. Walker's defense led the nation in pass efficiency defense and contributed to the top turnover margin in the country, setting a Big South record at plus 22.

Individually, defensive back Quinton Teal led the Big South and ranked among the top 15 nationally in interceptions per game (2004-06), earning second team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

In 2004, the defense ranked in the top 30 in the country in scoring defense (5th), total defense (21st) and pass defense (22nd). In recognition of the outstanding season, Walker was honored by the All-America Football Foundation with the 2004 Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coaches Award, along with then offensive coordinator Jamie Snider.

Prior to making the move to Coastal Carolina, Walker served with former Chanticleer head coach David Bennett for the previous seven years at Catawba College, first as the linebackers coach from 1995-2000 before earning a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2001, where he served for his final season.

As defensive coordinator, the Indians ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, 11th in rushing defense and 22nd in total defense. During his tenure at Catawba, the program made the NCAA Division II playoffs three straight seasons, including a 2001 semifinal berth.

Prior to his time at Catawba, Walker got his coaching start at Salisbury High School as the linebackers coach.

A native of Burlington, N.C., Walker was a four-year starter and letterwinner at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. A 2004 inductee into Catawba's Sports Hall of Fame and 2008 inductee into the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Hall of Fame, Walker earned All-American honors his final three seasons, including first-team accolades as a senior in 1992 and three-times on the All-South Atlantic Conference First Team. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1991 and served as team captain his senior season. He earned a bachelor's degree in December 1992, majoring in sociology.

Walker was additionally a two-time All-Conference selection at Graham High School, earning Mid-State Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987. A 1988 graduate of the school, he held the school's record for career tackles for 14 years.

Walker and his wife, Sheka, have two sons; Jalon and Curtis Jr. Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Football Countdown: 94 days - #94 Julian Johnson

It's now 94 days until kickoff of Catamount football at Western Carolina's E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The Catamounts open the season on Thursday, August 30, 2012 against Mars Hill College.

To help pass those long summer days until football season starts, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue the 100 day football countdown.

Today, we'll continue with the Defensive Line.

 #94 Julian Johnson

Class: RS Freshman
Hometown: Eatonville, Fla.
High School: Lake Highland Prep
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 240
Position: DL

Prior to Western Carolina: A two-way player at Lake Highland Prep for head coach Tim Borcky as a tight end and defensive end ... Was named his team's defensive line MVP and selected to the county all-star game as a senior ... Helped guide the Highlanders to a 10-3 record and a district championship during his senior year, and a 10-2 mark as a junior ... Also participated in track & field as a prep.

 Personal: Full name is Julian Edward Johnson ... Is the son of Jay and Portia Johnson ... Was born in Boston, Mass. ... Has two siblings, Jylisa Hill and Jaleah.

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

The Catamount Golf Tour continues

The 2012 Catamount Golf Tour continues with the The Catamount Football Classic. 

The Catamount Football Classic will be held on Wednesday June 6, 2012 at the Maggie Valley Club in Maggie Valley, N.C.  For more information on the Catamount Golf Tour, log onto www.CatamountSports.com or contact Catamount Club Assistant Director Jeremiah Fischer at (828) 227-3047 or by E-mail at jfisher1@email.wcu.edu.

Catamount Football Classic

Van Pelt Sets New School Record in Hammer

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Jacksonville, FL - Senior Jamie Van Pelt broke the WCU school record in the hammer Friday morning in the NCAA East Preliminary Round, he placed 22nd overall in the event.

Van Pelt finished tops in his flight with his record throw of 59.89m (196-6). He was seventh overall after the first two flights had concluded with just one flight to go before the finals round.

Van Pelt finishes his career having won the Southern Conference Championship in the hammer this season in outdoors, and also placed second in the discus. Van Pelt led Western Carolina in the discus, the javelin and had the second best throw in the shot put.

Countdown to Football: 95 days - #95 Bevans Robbs

It's now 95 days until kickoff of Catamount football at Western Carolina's E.J. Whitmire Stadium.

The Catamounts open the season on Thursday, August 30, 2012 against Mars Hill College.  To help pass those long summer days until football season starts, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, we'll continue the 100 day football countdown.

Today, we'll continue with the Defensive Line.

#95 Bevans Robbs

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Lake Worth, Fla.
High School: Palm Beach Central HS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 275
Position: DL

2010 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in all 11 games as a substitution along the defensive front line ... Recorded 10 tackles including two solo stops with two tackles for loss ... Credited with one quarterback hurry ... Tallied a career-best three tackles against Georgia Southern.

2009 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in all 11 games, coming off the bench as a defensive substitution along the front line ... Finished with seven tackles on the season including two solo stops and five assisted hits ... Had a career-best game at Samford, finishing with a career-high four tackles with half a tackle for loss ... Recorded a pass breakup at Chattanooga, batting a pass attempt down at the line of scrimmage.

2008 (Freshman): Redshirted. High School: Played tight end his senior year at Palm Beach Central HS in Wellington, Fla., for head coach John Timmins ... As a prep, mostly played basketball, joining the gridiron squad in his final year ... Blocked a fourth quarter punt and recovered it for a safety in a game against Glades Central ... On the court, was named coaches' Player of the Year.

Personal: Is the son of Bevans and Colleen Robbs ... Has two younger siblings: Christina and Malcolm ... Born in Atlanta, Ga., he is the first person from his family to play collegiate sports.

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

SoCon Announces Enhanced ESPN3 Agreement

The Southern Conference announced it reached an agreement to provide a minimum of 40 events to ESPN3 for the the next three years. The new agreement updates the current ESPN agreement.

"ESPN3 is a big part of our strategy to provide SoCon events to as wide an audience as possible, in whatever platform the consumer wishes," said Commissioner John Iamarino. "Viewers will be able to watch these games on smart phones, tablets, computers and through Xbox LIVE. And we'll have a section on the website designed to assist fans in making the right software connections."

"This extension with the Southern Conference strengthens ESPN3's commitment to serving fans with more live college sports events that may otherwise not have been seen on television," said Damon Phillips, Vice President, ESPN3.com. "The multi-screen sports network continues to prove itself as a leading destination and key distribution outlet for exclusive events, and we look forward to delivering them across all platforms whenever and wherever fans are."

Every game of the men's basketball tournament will be available through ESPN3, and the championship game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2.

Baseball Championship - Eliminated

The Cats were eliminated by Furman 9-8.   The Cats are on their way back to Cullowhee.

Baseball: Cats lose 7-0

Greenville, SC - The league's leading offense sputtered against Samford pitchers on Wednesday night, but the Bulldogs were hitting on all cylinders, as they belted out 13 hits.  The result, a 7-0 loss for the Cats in the first round of the 2012 Southern Conference Baseball Championship at Fluor Field.

The Cats now move to the elimination bracket, and with the next loss, will return to Cullowhee.

Previewing the Samford Bulldogs

Greenville, SC - Fourth-seeded Samford meets fifth-seeded Western Carolina in the night cap of the Southern Conference Tournament Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. (EDT) at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. 

Samford's regular season record of 35-21 overall are the most regular-season wins in program history. The Bulldogs are 19-11 in Southern Conference play and the 19 SoCon wins are the most in league play for the Bulldogs since joining the SoCon.

Saxon Butler leads the Bulldogs in batting with a .350 average, and has 14 home runs. Samford's Brandon Miller is tied for the NCAA lead in home runs with 20. C.K. Irby is batting .332, while Phillip Ervin and Brad Moss are both batting .330 for Samford. Senior right-handed pitcher Josh Martin is scheduled as the starting pitcher for Wednesday night's game. Martin's 11-1 record leds the SoCon in wins,with an ERA of 3.09 and he leds the Bullldogs in strikeouts, with 78.

Baseball: Coaches All-Conference Team

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Spartanburg, SC. - Western Carolina has five players selected for post season honors by the the Southern Conference baseball coaches.

Senior Ross Heffley and junior Preston Hatcher captured first team All-Southern Conference honors, and designated hitter Jacob Hoyle was selected for the second team All-SoCon honors. Three Catamount freshmen were named to the SoCon's All-Freshman team following Monday's vote: Jacob Hoyle, Jeremy Null and Bradley Strong.

The SoCon's 11 head baseball coaches select two all-conference teams and an all-freshman team and are not permitted to vote for their own players in the voting process.

Catamounts win series over ASU

Courtesy WCU Sports

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Catamounts closed out the regular season with a series win on Senior Day over conference leading Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon at Childress Field.

Dykota Spiess' three-run home run in the seventh inning sealed the 9-7 victory for the Cats, and coupled with Wofford's win over Georgia Southern ensured a number 5 seed for the Catamounts in next week's Southern Conference Baseball Tournament.

Prior to the start of the game, seniors Darron Dotson, Andrew Blackwell, Vance Chavis, & Ross Heffley were honored in pregame ceremony.

2012 SoCon Baseball Championship

First Round // Wednesday, May 23, 2012 // Fluor Field 

Game 1 - #2 Charleston vs. #7 The Citadel 10:00 a.m. 

Game 2 -  #3 Elon vs. #6 Georgia Southern 1:00 p.m. 

Game 3 - #1 Appalachian State vs. #8 Furman 5:00 p.m.

Game 4 - #4 Samford vs. #5 Western Carolina 8:00 p.m.

Harouna Mutombo - NBA Draft Workout

SoCon Baseball Tournament

Basketball: Foster Named NFCA MidEast First Team All-Region

Courtesy WCU

Senior Erin Foster has been named to the NFCA MidEast First Team All-Region Team.

Foster is the first Catamount softball player to garner First Team Mid-East All-Region honors. The Catamount outfielder is  from Salisbury, N.C., and was also a 2012 First Team All-Southern Conference selection. Foster led the Catamounts with a .363 batting average and 66 hits, and ended the season tied for second in the SoCon record books for homeruns in a single season with 18. Foster came to WCU from Walter's State Community College where she was a NJCAA Second Team All-American.

Cats lead in rain halted game

Jordan Smith - Courtesy
WCU Sports

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Cats scored five runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead over ASU before rain delays forced the suspension of play in the top of the seventh inning.

Catamount starting pitcher Jordan Smith pitched the entire 6 innings, giving up three hits but no runs.   Smith and ASU starting pitcher Ryan Arrowood are the pitchers of record when play resumes at 4:00 pm in the top of the seventh inning on Friday.  The second game will follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.  There will not be radio coverage by the Catamount Sports Network, but Catamount fans can listen to audio coverage of game at GoASU.com.

Appy comes to town, looking for a Championship

Cullowhee, NC -  Appalachian State travels to Cullowhee looking to wrap up their first SoCon baseball championship in 25 years. The Mountaineers can win that championship with two wins over the Catamounts.

The season ending three-game series is scheduled to start one day early from the normal weekend Friday-Sunday dates.  First pitch in game one will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, at Hennon Stadium. The WCU/ASU series is one of three that will determine the SoCon champion on this, the final weekend of the regular season. Second-place Charleston also plays a Thursday-Saturday series at Greensboro and third-place Elon hosts The Citadel in a Wednesday-Friday series. For game one of the series, the Mountaineers will start right hand pitcher Ryan Arrowood (9-0, 3.66 ERA), and the Cats will counter with a right had pitcher, Jordan Smith (4-4, 3.19 ERA. Smith was last week's SoCon Pitcher of the Week, having thrown a complete game, shut-out against the Georgia Southern Eagles.

SoCon Championship

Baseball: Winthrop slams the Cats

Cullowhee, NC - Winthrop pounded a season-high 20 hits to humble the Catamounts in a 11-5 defeat Tuesday evening at Childress Field.

Winthrop is currently in tenth place in Big South standings, and is 16-33 on the season.  Against the Cats, Winthrop belted out the most hits in a single game in head coach Tom Riginos tenure at Winthrop. The Eagles were able to take advantage of 17 singles resulting in 11 runs for their first-time ever win in Cullowhee.

Baseball: Smith Named SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Courtesy WCU

Cullowhee, NC - Western Carolina sophomore pitcher Jordan Smith was named the Southern Conference's Pitcher of the Week for all games from May 7-13.

The Liberty, NC native held Georgia Southern scoreless and limited the Eagles to five hits as the Catamounts won series opener 4-0 in Statesboro, Georgia.

Baseball:

Courtesy WU Athletics

Cullowhee, NC – The Winthrop Eagles baseball team will travel to Cullowhee, NC for a midweek contest against the Catamounts at Hennon Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.  The Cats leads the series over-all series with Winthrop 12-2; and are 6-0 when playing in Cullowhee. The Cats defeated the Eagles 13-3 in Rock Hill on Feb. 21, in this years home and home series.

In a down year, the Eagles are 15-33 overall this season. The Eagles are led by Justin Hopper with a .270 batting average, & TJ Olesczuk who has hit a team-high three home runs.  Eagle pitching boasts 4 pitchers with three wins:  Tyler Klitsch, Matt Pierpont, Eric Ruth & Austin Stuart.  Klitsch has a team-low 3.23 ERA in 75.1 innings pitched.

Baseball: Cats fall to GSU

Statesboro, Ga. - Once again the fifth inning was pivotal for the Eagles, scoring both their runs in the fifth, then holding for the game and series victory. The Eagle pitchers held the anemic hitting Western Carolina line to just three hits and one run in the rubber match at Clements Stadium.

The Catamounts are now tied for 5th place with the Eagles in conference standings at 14-13 and will return home for their final four games of the regular season.   The Cats host Winthrop in their final nonconference game on Tuesday evening at 5:00 pm.  The Catamounts will then host first place Appalachian State for their final three-game SoCon series of the season.  Game #1 is Thursday, May 17 and runs through Saturday, May 19.

Baseball: Eagles slam Catamounts

Statesboro, Ga. - The Eagles embarrassed the Catamounts with 10 runs in the fifth inning on their way to a 16-4 victory. Georgia Southern recorded a season-high 18 hits, while the Catamounts committed four errors. Sunday's rubber-match is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

Baseball: Cats shut out the Eagles in game #1

Courtesy WCU Sports

Statesboro, GA - Sophomore Jordan Smith pitched a complete game shutout against the Georgia Southern Eagles in the frist game of the weekend series Friday night in Statesboro at Clements Stadium.

Smith gave up only 5 hits to the Eagles as the Catamounts belted out 13 hits, while scoring 4 runs and stranding 13 base runners.  Friday night's drama came about when the Eagles had two runs on the scoreboard in the sixth inning after a ball was originally ruled by the home plate umpire to be a home run. After a huddle by the umpires the call was overturned and changed to a foul ball. Scooter Williams, the batter, would eventually strikeout.


Game two of the game series is scheduled for 2:30 pm on Saturday afternoon.

Baseball: GSU preview

Courtesy GSU Sports

Statesboro, Ga - For the second week, the Catamounts are on the road for a weekend series. The Cats will face former Catamount skipper Rodney Hennon and his Georgia Southern Eagles at Clements Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia.

The Eagles come into the weekend series with a 26-23 overall record and are 12-12 in conference games.  Georgia Southern is coming off a series loss to Samford (1-2), but has series wins over UNCG, Charleston, Davidson, ASU. The Eagles are riding the hot hitting of senior Eric Phillips & freshman catcher Chase Griffin. Phillips tallied eight hits in last weekend's series with Samford and stands just four hits away from tying the GSU school record of 326 career hits. Griffin is second on the team with a .311 batting average and leads the Eagles with 10 home runs.  He is also hitting a team-best .350 in league play with four homers.

GSU will open on Friday with Chris Beck on the mound, then Justin Hess going on Saturday and Will Middour on Sunday.

Softball: Cats drop game to Charleston

Boone, NC - A late-game rally pushed Charleston to a 6-2 lead and win over the Catamounts Wednesday evening on the opening day of the 2012 SoCon Softball Championship in Boone, NC. The Cats now face Elon at noon Thursday in the consolation bracket of the tournament in a must win game.  

Manteo Mitchell U.S. Olympic Team Trials Trailer

Softball: Erin Foster named All-Conference

Courtesy WCU

Spartanburg, S.C. - Erin Foster has been named to the 2012 Southern Conference First Team All-Southern Conference Team.

A senior outfielder from Salisbury, NC, Erin leads the Catamounts and the SoCon with 18 homeruns this season, and ranks second in the conference record books for single season home runs. With 64 hits to her credit, Erin leads the Cats in hits and ranks second in his in the SoCon this season. Foster is a two-time SoCon Player of the Week honoree and was named Southern Conference Player of the Month for April, 2012.

Baseball: Cats earn series win at Elon

Courtesy WCU

Elon, N.C. - Western Carolina held off Elon and picked up a 11-9 victory Sunday evening in Southern Conference action at Elon's Latham Park.

This victory by the Catamounts gives WCU a series win over Elon and marks the first time since April 2010 that Elon has dropped a home SoCon series, breaking a streak of 11-consecutive home series wins by the Phoenix.

The Cats surged ahead in the sixth inning, capitalizing on three Phoenix errors and pushed across six runs on five hits. Junior reliever Jon Nadale picked up win #2 for the series, and Preston Hatcher  made his second appearance of the weekend and earned his second save of the series. The series final is scheduled for 2:30 pm on Monday afternoon.

Softball Sweeps Samford

Courtesy WCU Sports

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Softball Catamounts earn a series sweep of the Samford Bulldogs on Sunday in Cullowhee. The 4-3victory enabled the Cats to win their second conference series sweep of the season.

Erin Foster completes the regular season leading the SoCon in homeruns, and she needs just three to tie the Western Carolina school record for homeruns in a season.   With the three wins this weekend, the Cats earned the sixth seed in the SoCon Softball Tournament. The Cats face Charleston at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Boone, N.C.

Softball: Cats sweep DH

Courtesy WCU Sports

Cullowhee, NC - Catamount softball swept a double header Saturday against the Samford Bulldogs at the Catamount Softball Complex.   The Cats picked up two off walk-off RBI singles in beating Samford  by 2-1 and 3-2 scores.

The Cat's eight conference wins in the season are the most by the club since winning nine conference games in 2009. On Sunday, the Cats can tie that record, and sweep the  for a second conference sweep of the season. 

Catamount seniors Megan Taylor, Bekah Burkett, Erin Foster and Katie King were honored between games.

Baseball: Cats win game one

Courtesy WCU Sports 

Elon, NC - The Elon Phoenix had won 22 games this season when they had the lead after seven innings. That streak ended Saturday, as the Catamounts rallied back from a 5-3 deficit to knock off the Phoenix by a 6-5 score in game one of a three-game SoCon series at Latham Park. Trailing by two after the Phoenix scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cats pulled within one in the sixth. In the eight inning, home run leader Adam Martin knocked his seventh home of the season over the left field fence. Later in the inning, Jacob Hoyle doubled, before scoring on a single up the middle by Dykota Spiess.

Heffley breaks record

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Elon, NC - Western Carolina senior Ross Heffley breaks the Catamount record for hits in a career.

Saturday night, in the first inning, Heffley got hit #337, a single line-drive shot up the middle against the Elon Phoenix. With his second hit of the night, his 338th career base hit, he'a in fourth place in Southern Conference record book, just 22 hits shy of first place.

Softball: Samford series

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Cullowhee, NC - Western Carolina hosts Samford this weekend at the Catamount Softball Complex in the final three-game Southern Conference series of the season.

Seniors Bekah Burkett, Megan Taylor, Katie King and Erin Foster will be honored Saturday during senior day activities. Saturday's first game of the day's doubleheader is set to begin at 3 PM (EDT).

Baseball: Previewing the Phoenix

Elon, NC - The Elon Phoenix enter Saturday's first game of the series with an overall record of 27-21, and they are 16-8 in conference games, ranking them tied with Samford for third place.

The Phoenix are below 50 in RPI, and are currently 9-2 against teams with an RPI of 50-100 (the Cats are currently 87).  This season, Elon is 17-5 in games played at Latham Park, with home sweeps against Georgia Southern and Greensboro,  and won 2 of 3 against ASU.   The Phoenix are coming off a 2 game mid-week series against Wake Forest, losing on the road and winning at home.

Picked to finish fourth in the coaches preseason poll, Elon returned seven starters including preseason all-conference picks Alex Swim and Sebastian Gomez.

Foster is SoCon Athlete of the Month

Spartanburg, S.C. - Erin Foster has been named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for April.

Foster is the first Catamount softball player selected since 2007, when Stephanie Beatty was honored.  Foster hit eight home runs and had 19 RBIs during the month of April, while maintaining a .417 batting average, with 23 hits, 20 runs and three doubles. Foster is tied for third for runs scored in a season with 44 and she has 61 hits this season, ranking her second in the WCU record books. Foster also ranks second in homeruns in a season with 17 only 4 short of the homerun record of 21 set by Ashley Adams in 2006.