March 12, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina shortstop Tim Hallam went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Trey McDaniel delivered a three-run home run to lead the Catamounts (9-4, 2-0 SoCon) to a 14-6 decision over Appalachian State (3-13, 1-4) Saturday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Western got on the scoreboard first, scoring seven runs on five hits and taking advantage of two Mountaineers errors in the bottom of the second. McDaniel walked and reached second thanks to a fielding error on Nate Hall's ground ball. Grey Gregory followed with a two-run triple and Barrett Shaft walked putting runners on the corners. The Cats then got consecutive RBI singles by Hallam and Chris Davis. After a Jared Greenwood singled, Steven Strausbaugh capped the inning with a two-run home run to center field, his fourth blast of the season.

The Cats added two more runs in the third. With one out, Hall walked and moved to second on a Shaft single. Hallam singled through the right side to plate Hall followed by a Davis single to plate Shaft.

Appalachian put four runs on the board in the top of the third. Julian Brown doubled and scored on a J.J. Rollins single. Rollins, standing on second after a wild pitch, scored on a Kevin Butler single. A WCU error put Butler on first and Travis Hunnicutt on second, setting up an RBI single by Jordan Ivey. Hunnicutt would score when Luis Arce reached on a fielders choice.

Western answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, making the score 12-4. Greenwood led off the inning by being hit by a pitch and Strausbaugh singled. McDaniel followed with a three-run home run over the left-center field fence. The Cats made it a 10-run game in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on four hits. Strausbaugh had a leadoff double and scored on a Greene single to left. After a Hall single put Greene on third, Shaft brought him home with an RBI double.

The Mountaineers trimmed their deficit to eight (14-6) with two runs in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Brown and Brad Peisel singled and Rollins followed with an RBI single. Despite striking out, pinch hitter David Clutter reached on a wild pitch, allowing Peisel to score on the play.

WCU senior Derrick Hawk (1-1) earned the win in his first start of the season. He pitched six complete innings, allowing eight hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk with six strikeouts. Jon Kibler, Brian Barnes and Greg Holland closed out the game for the Cats. In addition to Hallam's solid day at the play, Strausbaugh added three hits and Shaft two.

Offensively for the Mountaineers, Brown was 3-for-5 with two doubles, while Rollins and Butler each added two hits. Starting pitcher Scott Clark (2-5) suffered the loss. He lasted 1.2 innings, allowing six hits, seven runs (four earned) and three walks with one strikeout. Cody Wilkins came in relief of Clark, allowing nine hits and seven runs in 3.2 innings. Chand Antley was effective over the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.

Western Carolina and Appalachian State will close out the three-game set on Sunday (Mar. 13) with first pitch set for 1 pm.