JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The La Salle softball team (7-3) dropped a 13-2 contest to Western Carolina (5-5) on Sunday in the finale of the UNF Invitational at the UNF Softball Complex.

Taylor Rohrbaugh got to WCU reliever Lily Hayes (W, 3-3) with an RBI single in the 4^th to score Lauren Morell and Jackie Heim scored on a fielding error in the 5^th but the Explorers weren't able to overcome WCU's strong start.  

Western Carolina scored four runs in the 1^st inning, including three against La Salle starter McKenzie Peace (L, 3-1). The junior was only able to get one out before Reilly Gearhart was called upon in relief.

The Catamounts tacked on four more runs over the next two innings against Gearhart, who was lifted in favor of Val Buehler with one out in the 3^rd. Buehler pitched the rest of the game, surrendering six runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out five.

The Explorers play a midweek doubleheader against SIU Edwardsville and South Dakota State on Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla. before playing in the USF Under Armour Invitational next weekend.