March 29, 2005

Final Stats

WCU vs. Ga. Tech Box Score
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Atlanta, Ga. - Western Carolina senior lefthander Brian Barnes pitched four shutout innings in relief to earn the save for reliever Luke Miller as the Catamounts upset number one Georgia Tech, 8-5, Tuesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The win over the top-ranked Yellow Jackets was Western's first-ever over a number one team, as well as the Cats' first over a top 10 team since knocking off the then-sixth ranked Clemson Tigers in 1998.

In addition to holding the Yellow Jackets without a run through his four innings of work, Barnes did not allow a single hit against the 12 batters he faced. Miller, who pitched one and a third in relief, faced five batters and like Barnes, did not surrender a hit or run. Overall, the Catamount bullpen held the ACC's top hitting team in check. The Yellow Jackets, batting .356 at a team entering Tuesday's game, were held hitless and managed just five baserunners from the fifth through the end of the game.

Western's starting pitcher, Bryan Tupper, scattered five runs on six hits through three and two thirds before being lifted by Miller in the middle of the fourth after surrendering a two out double after a pair of ground outs.

At the plate for the Catamounts, junior Tim Hallam had a 3-for-4 night with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. Freshman Nate Hall drove in three during his 3-for-5 performance, which included a pair of doubles. Western out-hit the Rambling Wreck 15-to-6, but stranded 11 base runners on the night.

Senior Jared Greenwood added his team-leading eighth double in the two-run eighth inning for one of his two RBI in the contest.

Georgia Tech (21-5) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Jeremy Slayden had a leadoff double and would score on a two-out single by Whit Robbins.

Western answered with two runs in the top of the third, taking a short-lived 2-1 lead. Sophomore Brandon Zollman and freshman Jason Haynes had back-to-back singles to start the frame. Two batters later, Hallam doubled to plate Zollman and move Haynes to third. Greenwood followed with an RBI ground out.

In the home half of the third, the Yellow Jackets regained the advantage, scoring three runs. Danny Payne drew and leadoff walk and Tyler Greene followed with a bunt single. Steven Blackwood brought home Payne with a double to left-center field. Western committed a throwing error on the play, allowing Greene to score and putting Blackwood on third. Wes Hodges made the Cats pay for the miscue by plating Blackwood with a sacrifice fly to left.

Georgia Tech took advantage of another WCU error to score one in the fourth, making the score 5-2. Payne blooped a double to center field and scored one batter later when Greene reached on an error by the Catamount second baseman.

The Catamounts (15-8) rallied for four runs on two hits in the top of the fifth, taking a 6-5 lead. With one out, Shaft singled and, two batters later, Greenwood and Steven Strausbaugh had back-to-back walks. Trey McDaniel struck out, but a passed ball by the Tech catcher allowed Shaft to score and keep the bases loaded. Hall came through with a three-run double, his third hit of the night and second double in as many at bats.

Georgia Tech attempted to tie the game in the sixth as it got the leadoff hitter aboard thanks to a WCU error. However, with one out and runners on second and third, McDaniel made a nice diving grab on a ground ball and fired a strike to Greenwood at the plate to preserve the one-run lead. Barnes then got a ground out to end the Tech threat.

In the top of the eighth, the Cats padded their lead with two runs. Senior Chris Davis, a late-inning defensive replacement, had a leadoff double down the right field line. Hallam drove in Davis with a single to center and Greenwood followed with an RBI double to left field to chase relief pitcher Tim Ladd.

Barnes led the Catamounts to a one-two-three eighth inning and used a game-ending double-play, Hallam-to-Davis-to-McDaniel, to end the game and secure the victory.

Western continues its unprecedented six games in six days streak on Wednesday, March 30, hosting Brown University in the first of two non-conference tilts with the Bears. First pitch on Wednesday is set for 7:00 pm, with Thursday's special start time at 12 Noon at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium.