May 17, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina made five errors and Gardner-Webb's Blake Lalli and Matt Maloney each had three hits as the Bulldogs (25-27) handed the Catamounts (29-21) a 12-7 setback Tuesday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium in what was the final home game for WCU this season.

Western Carolina made errors on the first two batters and a total of three in the first inning of the game, which led to two unearned Gardner-Webb runs. Jeremy McCann started the game reaching on an error and, after a single by Ryan Sickles, the runners would be on second and third on a throwing error. Maloney, who was 3-for-3 with two RBI, brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly to right field and Matt Bridges followed with an RBI single.

The Cats took advantage of a Bulldog error in the first to tie the game at 2-2. Chris Davis reached on an error and scored on a Tim Hallam triple. Jared Greenwood then plated Hallam with an RBI ground out. In the second, Brandon Zollman had a one-out single and scored on a double to right-center field by Jonathan Greene, giving WCU a 3-2 advantage.

Lalli, who was 3-for-6 with three runs scored, knotted the game at 3-3 in the top of the third with a one-out home run to center field, his fifth blast of the season. Western regained the advantage in the home half of the third. Steven Strausbaugh extended his hit streak to 18 games with an infield single to third. (Strausbaugh additionally has at least one hit in 33 of his last 34 games and a streak of seven straight games with at least two hits.) After a Trey McDaniel walk, Strausbaugh was retired on a fielder's choice, allowing Blake Murphy to reach. Nate Hall brought home McDaniel and Murphy with a two-run double to right field, putting the Cats up 5-3.

In the fifth, Gardner-Webb sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs to take a 9-5 lead. With the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth, Maloney had an RBI infield single, scoring a run and keeping the bases loaded. Bridges followed with a two-run double down the left field line, giving GWU a 6-5 lead. Nate MacDonald lined a single off the pitcher for an RBI single, leaving runners on the corners. Bridges would make it an 8-5 game, scoring on a wild pitch, and Billy McCarson delivered an RBI single up the middle.

Western Carolina cut into its deficit in the bottom of the fifth. After a Murphy single, Hall tripled to center to make the score 9-6.

The Bulldogs took advantage of another Catamount error to score two runs in the sixth to take an 11-6 advantage. With two outs and runners on second and third, Western looked to get out of a jam on a ground ball by MacDonald, but a throwing error allowed Lalli and Maloney to score. A fifth error led to GWU taking a 12-6 lead in the top of the seventh. McCann hit a two-out double and Sickles reached on an error, allowing McCann to score.

The Cats added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Strausbaugh singled and, after Hall was hit by a pitch, Zollman doubled down the left field line to make the score 12-7, but WCU could get no closer.

In addition to Lalli and Maloney, Gardner-Webb was led by McCann and Sickles, each with two hits, while Bridges drove in three. Andrew Martin (1-0) was credited with the win, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing eight hits, six runs (five earned) and three walks with two strikeouts.

Western had five players collect two hits each, including Hallam, Strausbaugh, Hall, Zollman and Greene. Hall, who had a double and a triple, drove in three. Greg Holland (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing three hits and five runs (three earned) in four-plus innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Western Carolina will wrap up the 2005 regular season at Wofford. Friday's game in Spartanburg is set to begin at 7:00 pm, while Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a Noon start.