March 11, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore first baseman Trey McDaniel went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead Western Carolina to a 9-4 victory over Appalachian State Friday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. On a day which featured high winds and snow showers, the Catamounts improved to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in Southern Conference play, while the Mountaineers fell to 3-12, 1-3.

McDaniel, who had two doubles, registered four hits in a game for the second consecutive contest, raising his season batting average to .400. Also for Western, Tim Hallam and Barrett Shaft added three hits and two RBI a piece, while Boone native Jonathan Greene had two doubles and scored twice.

In addition to some solid offense, Western's starting pitcher, junior Caleb McConnell, improved to 3-1 on the season. The Waynesville native pitched eight complete innings, allowing six hits, three runs and two walks with eight strikeouts. Over his last two starts, a span of 15 innings, McConnell has struck out 18 with just two free passes.

Appalachian State took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Brad Peisel had a one-out single. J.J. Rollins followed double down the left field line. On the play, Peisel slid around a tag at the plate to put the Apps on top.

In the bottom of the first, the Catamounts scored twice to make it a 2-1 contest and never relinquished the lead. Hallam deposited the third pitch he saw from ASU starter Brian Caudill over The Purple Monster in left field for his first homer of the season. Chris Davis followed with a single, moved to second when Blake Murphy walked and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, McDaniel singled to shortstop, driving in Davis.

In the third, Western extended its lead with a single run. Blake Murphy reached on a fielders choice and moved to second on a Steven Strausbaugh walk. McDaniel delivered his second RBI of the contest with a sharp single to center, plating Murphy.

App tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth. With two outs, second baseman Joey Robinson and center fielder Chris Baker each had back-to-back home runs over the left field fence, the first blasts of the season for both players.

Western regained the advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Greene started the home half of the fourth with a double to left-center field for the Cats. He scored one batter later on a triple by Shaft, who extended his current hitting streak to eight games. Shaft then came home on a single by Hallam. The Cats would load the bases, chasing Caudill. However, Taylor Craig came out of the Mountaineer bullpen to record a strikeout and end the threat.

The Cats tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 6-3. Nate Hall reached on an error to start the inning, moved to second on a walk by Greene and moved to third on a bunt single by Shaft. Hall would then score on ground out. In the sixth, WCU pushed its advantage to four (7-3). when Strausbaugh and McDaniel had back-to-back doubles.

In the bottom of the eighth, Western made the score 9-3. McDaniel doubled and Hall walked with one out. Greene followed with a double to center, scoring McDaniel. However, on the play, Hall was thrown out at home. Shaft followed by driving in Greene with single through the right side of the infield.

Appalachian State made some noise in the top of the ninth off new WCU pitcher Clint Ramsey. With one out, Luis Arce singled and was lifted for pinch runner Steven Proctor. Robinson lined a double down the left field line, moving Proctor to third. After a strikeout, Proctor scored on a wild pitch to make the score 9-4. With a runner on third, Ramsey got a ground ball to shortstop to close out the contest.

Western Carolina pounded out 16 hits on the day, put stranded 13 runners on the base paths.

For the Mountaineers, Robinson led the way with his home run and double, while six others contributed one hot each. Caudill suffered the loss on the mound, falling to 0-2 on the season. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs and three walks with two strikeouts. Craig lasted 4.0 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned) with four walks and four strikeouts. Cody Wilkins struck out the only batter he faced to close the eighth.

Western Carolina and Appalachian State will play the second of their three-game set Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.