March 25, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina, who was out-hit 11-9, took advantage of four walks and three hit batsmen, while getting three hits of their own, to score nine second-inning runs en route to a 15-1 victory over The Citadel Friday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

While the Catamounts (13-7 overall, 4-3 Southern Conference) were scoring early and often, WCU starting pitcher Caleb McConnell (4-2) was effective in keeping the Bulldogs (8-12, 1-6) in check. The junior from Waynesville allowed eight hits, one run and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings pitched to pick up the win.

In that second inning, Chris Davis got things started with a two-run single. Later, with the bases loaded, Jared Greenwood and Steven Strausbaugh each walked to plate runners. Then Jonathan Greene was hit by a pitch to bring home a runner. After a wild pitch brought home Greenwood, Nate Hall walked to load the bases again. That sequence included five straight Catamounts reaching base by either a walk or being hit by a pitch. New Bulldog pitcher Tim Martin got a strikeout, but Barrett Shaft hit a bases-clearing double before being thrown out at third to end the inning.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the third. Matt Matulia came through with a one-out single and scored two batters later when Zach Brown singled down the left field line.

Western answered with three runs in the home half of the third, taking advantage of two Bulldog errors. After a Davis walk with one out, he moved to second on a error and to third on an error as Tim Hallam and Greenwood each reached as well to load the bases. Strausbaugh delivered a two-run double to left-center field and Hall followed with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Catamounts tacked on a run in the fifth, thanks to a Hallam double and a Strausbaugh single, and two in the eighth, thanks to a bases-loaded, two-run double by Grey Gregory, to provide the final margin.

Strausbaugh continued his recent success at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI. Shaft, a fellow freshman, as 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Davis and Gregory each added two RBI. WCU relief pitcher Greg Holland worked the seventh and eighth innings, allowing just one hit with a strikeout, while redshirt freshman Andrew Larrimore saw his first action as a Catamount, allowing two hits and getting a game-ending double play in the ninth.

For the Bulldogs, Josh Stackley led the way with three hits in four at bats, while Matulia added two hits. Citadel starter Ryan Owens (2-2) only lasted 1.1 innings and suffered the loss, allowing three hits, eight runs and four walk with three hit batters and three strikeouts.

Western Carolina and The Citadel will play the second game of the series on Saturday with first pitch set for 4:00 pm. Please remember, Sunday's series finale between the Catamounts and Bulldogs will start at 2:00 pm.