April 30, 2005

Final Stats

Greensboro, N.C. - Steven Strausbaugh and Trey McDaniel each hit three-run home runs to give Western Carolina an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over UNC Greensboro Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Dodging rain most of the day and having a 42 minute delay to start the game, the Catamounts (24-18 overall, 12-11 Southern Conference) took advantage of eight walks and three hit batters by the Sparatans (23-17, 10-10 SoCon) to score its eight runs on just eight hits. McDaniel finished with two hits and four RBI, while Strausbaugh was 1-for-2 with three RBI.

In addition to those big hits, Western was led by relief pitcher Luke Miller (4-2). The junior came in after UNCG hit a three-run homer in the fifth and proceeded to retire 11 of the 12 batters he faced to earn the win. He only allowed one hit, a double in the eighth. For the second straight game, Clint Ramsey came in to earn the save, his fifth of the season. Ramsey nearly had a perfect 1-2-3 inning, but, with two outs, an infield single by Chris Mason kept the Spartans' hope alive. However, Ramsey got Justin Crist to ground out to second to end the contest.

Western Carolina used an unusual play to take an early 1-0 lead in the first. With two outs, Jared Greenwood walked and Strausbaugh was hit by a pitch. McDaniel followed with a slow roller to shortstop, which resulted in an infield hit. With two outs on the play, Greenwood was running on contact and never stopped, scoring on the slow developing play.

Another walk played key in the Cats padding their lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Chris Davis drew a one-out free pass and scored on Nate Hall's RBI double to left-center field. WCU would put runners on first and third, but a caught stealing and a strikeout limited the damage to just one run.

UNC Greensboro ended Brian Barnes' no hitter and shutout in one swing as Chris Mason led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to straight away center field, his four round tripper of the season. After a single and a walk, Mike Mongiello plated the two runners with a single to center and advanced to second on the attempted play at the plate. Sean Snell followed with a single to center to drive in Mongiello, giving the Spartans a 4-2 lead through four complete.

Once again, free base runners proved to help the Catamounts score three runs in the fifth. Barrett Shaft drew a leadoff walk and Tim Hallam was hit by a pitch. After Greenwood nearly cleared the bases with a deep fly ball to left-center field, Strausbaugh did clear the bases with a blast over the left field fence, giving the freshman eight homers on the season and a 10-game hitting streak.

The Spartans answered with a three-run home run of their own in the home half of the fifth. With one out, Justin Crist was hit by a pitch and David Adams followed with a single. Fifth-year senior Jay Maule then hit his fifth homer of the year to chase WCU relief pitcher Bryan Tupper and let UNCG retake the lead, 7-5.

The Cats used two more walks and their second three-run home run of the game to regain the lead in the top of the seventh. After back-to-back walks to Greenwood and Strausbaugh, McDaniel hit his fifth homer of the season to put WCU up 8-7, which held over the final 2.5 innings for the victory.

Hall, who made some outstanding plays in the field, added two hits and an RBI in three official plate appearances, while catcher Blake Murphy wnet 2-for-3 as well.

Joe McCall (4-2) suffered the loss, allowing three hits, three runs and three walks with three strikeouts. Offensively, Mason and Mongiello each had two hits.

Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro will play the series finale on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.