Feb. 20, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - On a cold and rainy afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium, Western Carolina junior Luke Miller (Burnsville, N.C./Mountain Heritage HS) came out of the bullpen to pick up his first career victory in the Catamounts' 8-5 decision over Wright State Sunday.

Miller, who was 0-1 in 25 previous appearances in his career, improved to 1-0 on the season as he lasted 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and three runs (two earned) with a walk and a strikeout. Offensively for the Cats, Jared Greenwood, Mike McGowan and Barrett Shaft each had two RBI, while freshman Steven Strausbaugh hit his first career home run. Brian McCullen pitched the eighth and ninth innings to record his first save of the season.

Western jumped out to an early 5-0 lead through three innings. In the bottom of the first, Greenwood had an RBI single, scoring Tim Hallam. Chris Davis, who had reached on a fielder's choice prior to Greenwood, would score on a wild pitch. McGowan and Shaft also provided RBI singles to push WCU's advantage to four through one. In the third, Greenwood walked and ended up on third after two wild pitches. McGowan then plated Greenwood with a single through the right side of the infield.

In the top of the fourth, Wright State got on the scoreboard, cutting its deficit to two (4-2). Ross Oeder walked to start the frame and scored one batter later on a double to left-center field by Amin Abusaleh. Bryan Vickers then followed with an RBI single to center.

With two on and two out in the fifth, Miller came on for junior college transfer Bryan Tupper, getting Vickers to fly out to end the threat. Tupper was solid in his debut with the Cats, lasting 4.2 innings with six hits, two runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

The Catamounts scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and the bases loaded, Greenwood brought home Strausbaugh with a sacrifice fly to left, making the score 6-2. Western would add two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 8-2. McGowan had a leadoff walk and was lifted for pinch runner Jason Haynes. After a ground out moved Haynes to second, Shaft brought the freshman home with a single. With two outs and the bases empty, Strausbaugh homered to straight away center field to cap the scoring for the Catamounts.

Those insurance runs proved key as the Raiders tacked on three runs in the eighth and threatened in the ninth. Wright State got the leadoff hitter, Oeder, on base in the eighth thanks to a WCU error. Abusaleh capitalized with an RBI double to right. Vickers then walked and Paul Majestic singled, allowing Abusaleh to score and making the score 8-4. With two on and no outs, Brian McCullen came in to relieve Miller. The first hitter he faced, Ross Vagedes, singled to center, loading the bases. Pinch hitter Brian Shoup brought home Vickers with a sacrifice fly to left. McCullen then struck out pinch hitter Brenden Rubenstein and got Wilson to ground out to keep the score at 8-5 in WCU's favor.

In the ninth, McCullen fanned the first two batters he faced. However, Abusaleh singles, Vickers walked and Majestic singled to load the bases. David Kapka grounded out to third to end the game.

Western only managed seven hits, including two by McGowan, while Wright State scattered 11 safeties, including three each by Abusaleh and Majestic. WSU starter Matt Crawford (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four hits and five runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

Western Carolina will return to action next weekend (Feb. 25-27) to play in the Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas. The Cats will face host and 11th-ranked Rice on Friday, Feb. 25 at 4:30 pm (CT), followed by games versus New Mexico on Saturday at 4:30 pm (CT) and Nebraska on Sunday at Noon (CT).