March 26, 2005

Final Stats Game 1: CIT 8 - WCU 7

Final Stats Game 2: WCU 10 - CIT 9

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina (14-8, 5-4 Southern Conference) and The Citadel (9-13, 2-7 SoCon) both used some late-inning heroics to come away with come-from-behind, one-run wins during a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. In game one, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the ninth and held off Western in the bottom half to claim an 8-7 come-from-behind victory. In game two, Western scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and held off The Citadel, 10-9 to secure the split and take two of three for the weekend series.

WCU senior Jared Greenwood had a big day offensively, going 7-for-10 with a double and a home run. Josh Stackley and Chris Ard led the Bulldogs offensively, each collecting five hits in the two games. Game two, which had a 43-minute ran delay in the top of the fifth, featured to outstanding defensive plays as Citadel second baseman Jon Aughey and WCU centerfielder Barrett Shaft each made spectacular diving catches to end innings to keep the game close.

In game one, The Citadel jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Ard got things started with a one-out infield single. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Zach Brown hit a bloop single down the left-field line to plate Ard. Stackley, who had walked earlier in the inning, would score during a run down when Brown was attempting to steal second.

The Catamounts sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. Trey McDaniel had a leadoff home run, his third of the season. Jonathan Greene followed with a single and, after a ground out and a walk to Nate Hall, Grey Gregory, Chris Davis and Tim Hallam had consecutive RBI singles.

With two outs in the top of the third, the Bulldogs cut their deficit to one (4-3). Ard drew a two-out walk and scored on an RBI double by Stackley.

Western got that run back and added one more to take a 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth. The Cats had back-to-back-to-back singles by Greenwood, Steven Strausbaugh and McDaniel. The Cats would eventually load the bases with one out, chasing Citadel starter Ken Egleton. New Bulldog pitcher Link Saunders would strikeout the first batter he faced, only to walk Grey Gregory to push a second run across in the frame. Saunders did escape further damage by getting a pop out to end the frame.

The Citadel rebounded with a run in the top of the sixth thanks to a one-out double Aughey and a two-out, RBI single by Chris Swauger. The Bulldogs then trimmed their deficit to one (6-5) with a run in the top of the eighth. Stackley and Brown had leadoff singles and, after a sacrifice bunt, Matt Matulia drove in Stackley with a ground out to second.

The Bulldogs continued the rally with three runs in the top of the ninth. With one out and after a WCU error which allowed Trent Weathers to reach, Matt Covington doubled to score Weathers and would score one batter later on a sharp single to center by Ard. Ard would steal second and third and score on a Stackley sacrifice fly to left.

That insurance run proved key as Western's Greenwood homered to center, but The Citadel's Saunders (4-2) got a strikeout and a ground out to end the contest. Saunders pitched the final 4.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one run with two walks and five strikeouts.

Catamount closer Brian McCullen (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) in 1.1 innings pitched.

In game two, The Citadel once again took command early. With two out and two on, catcher Brady Machak hit a three-run home run, the first career homer for the junior, putting the Bulldogs up 3-0.

Western answered back with two runs in the home half. McDaniel had a leadoff double and would score on a Gregory sacrifice fly. After WCU loaded the bases, Strausbaugh scored on a Barret Shaft walk.

However, the Bulldogs out up a run in the top of the third, making the score 4-2. Ard had a one-out single and scored on an RBI double by Brown.

In the top of the fifth, Ard had a leadoff single, but the game would have to wait 43 minutes before moving as the game was stopped due to a rain delay. Once the tarp was removed, Stackley welcomed new WCU pitcher Jeremy Ellenburg with a single. Brown then plated Ard with a single and Stackley would score on an RBI ground out by Aughey, making the score 6-2.

Despite being in the dugout for an hour due the rain, Citadel stating pitcher Justin Smith came out to start the bottom of the fifth and allowed two runs to make the score 6-4. WCU leadoff batter Hallam was hit by a pitch and Greenwood doubled off the Purple Monster to bring home Hallam. With two outs, the Bulldogs made an error on a Hall ground ball to second, allowing Greenwood to score.

In the bottom of the seventh, WCU welcomed new Bulldog pitcher Zach Brown with three consecutive hits, including two doubles, one being a two-run double by Shaft. The Citadel was forced to bring closer Shannon Spouse out of the bullpen. Hallam hit a bloop single to right, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Greenwood executed a perfect hit-and-run, hitting a seeing-eye single through the left side, allowing Shaft to score and keeping runners on the corners. Sprouse got two strikeouts and Aughey made his impressive diving play, catching a line drive to keep the score at 7-6 in WCU's favor.

The Bulldogs knotted the game at 7-7 in the top of the seventh. Stackley had a leadoff single and moved to second on a ground ball. Aughey evened the game with an RBI single to left. Western answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Gregory had a leadoff single and, with two outs, Shaft was hit by a pitch. Hallam followed with a two-run double. Greenwood capped a stellar game two by driving in Hallam with a single to left-center field.

In the top of the eighth, The Citadel cut its deficit to two (10-8). Weathers started the inning by being hit by a pitch. He stole second and scored on a Stackley single. With a runner on second, Shaft made a brilliant diving catch in center, which saved a big inning by the Bulldogs.

In the ninth, Matulia reached on a one-out triple to left-center. The Catamount played back, trading a run for an out, which work when Chris Swauger grounded out to third. Luke Miller came out of the WCU bullpen and got Mashak to ground out, giving the junior his first career save.

Ellenburg improved to 2-0 on the season. Despite a rocky start, he settled down to allow six hits and four runs over 4.2 innings. Sprouse suffered the loss, falling to 0-2.

Western Carolina will return to action on Tuesday (Mar. 29), playing the first of six consecutive games, at fourth-ranked Georgia Tech. First pitch is set for 7:00 pm in Atlanta at Russ Chandler Stadium.