April 10, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Chris Davis, who was 2-for-3 with four runs scored, tallied what proved to be the game wining run, while Jonathan Greene was 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead Western Carolina to a 9-8 back-and-forth victory over East Tennessee State Sunday afternoon at Hennon Stadium/Childress Field. The Catamounts improve to 21-11 overall, 9-6 Southern Conference by winning the weekend series, while the Buccaneers fall to 17-10, 7-8.

Western scored its game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Davis reached on a throwing error and Greene walked. After a wild pitch, Nate Hall hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Davis.

ETSU made it interesting in the top of the ninth. WCU closer Clint Ramsey hit two batters and walked one Buccaneer to load the bases with two outs. Ramsey then ended the game by striking out Josiah Glafenhein to pick up his third save of the season.

Luke Miller was credited with the win, improving to 3-1 in the season. He pitched 1.2 innings, hitting a batter but not allowing a hit, run or a walk. Jonathan Stoudt suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. He pitched 0.2 of an inning, allowing an unearned run and a walk.

Western took an early 1-0 lead, thanks to two walks and a wild pitch. The first two Catamounts, Barrett Shaft and Tim Hallam, each walked. After a ground ball moved the runners up 90 feet each, ETSU starting pitcher Brian Lovett's wild pitch allowed Shaft to score.

The Cats padded their lead in the second. After a leadoff walk to Davis, Greene cleared the bases with a two-run home run to center, hits fifth blast of the season. The homer additionally pushed Greene's hitting streak to 10 games.

After allowing his first hit of the game to start the third inning, a double by Mike Giroud, WCU starting pitcher Jon Kibler then allowed a two-run home run by Anthony Russell. The Bucs tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Chuck Hargis had a one-out double and advanced to third on aground out. Designated hitter Mike Giroud plated Hargis with a single to left and Russell followed with an RBI double to left-center.

Western regained the advantage (6-4) in the home half of the fourth. Davis had a leadoff bunt single and Greene was walked on four pitches. Two batters later, Brandon Zollman delivered a two-run triple. Shaft gave WCU a two-run lead with an RBI ground out.

In the fifth, Nick Crowe had a leadoff home run to right, his fifth of the season and cutting the ETSU deficit to one. The Cats responded with a solo home run of their own and added another tally to take an 8-5 lead. Trey McDaniel cleared "The Purple Monster" for his fourth homer of the season, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. Davis followed with a triple and scored on Greene's single to right-center.

The runs proved key as ETSU welcomed new WCU pitcher Brian McCullen with back-to-back hits. First, Hargis doubled and Glafenhein singled. The with two outs, Russell doubled and scored on a single by Roberts, making it a one-run game once again. Western turned to relief pitcher Brandon McDowell, who got a fly out and end the inning.

The Bucs avoided a big inning in the bottom of the sixth. After a hit batter, a single and another hit batter, McDaniel lifted a ball to right, which was caught just in front of the fence to end the inning. ETSU rode the momentum in the top of the seventh. With one out, Caleb Moore singled and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Stephen Douglas grounded to first, but the play at the plate was late, resulting in an RBI fielder's choice and tying the game at 8-8.

In addition to Davis and Greene, Zollman contributed two RBI in the victory. WCU freshman Steven Strausbaugh went 0-for-4 in the contest, ending his 15-game hitting streak. Offensively for the Bucs, Russell led the way by going 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Hargis and Giroud each added two hits.

Western Carolina will end its five-game home stand on Tuesday, hosting the Clemson Tigers at 7:00 pm.