Feb. 26, 2006

Final Stats

DeLand, Fla. - The Western Carolina baseball team scored 11 runs over the final four innings, including three in the bottom of the ninth, to claim a 14-13 victory over defending Big 10 champion Illinois in the final day of the Stetson Invitational at Melching Field. Junior college transfer Scott Ward, who hit his first home run of the season, led the Catamount offense by going 3-for-5 with three RBI, while sophomore Steven Strausbaugh was 2-for-4 with three RBI and JuCo transfer Donnie Wilson was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Down 10-3 and starting the home half of the sixth, Tim Hallam started Western's rally with a leadoff single and would eventually score on Strausbaugh's one-out, RBI single. With two away, Ward delivered a two-run home run to right, making the score 10-6.

The Illini, who returned 24 players from last year's championship team, regained the momentum by scoring two in the top of the seventh courtesy of a two-run single by Dave Schultz. However, Western responded with four runs in the bottom of the seventh, making the score 12-10 in Illinois' favor. In that frame, Strausbaugh had an RBI single, Ward walked with the bases loaded to drive in a run and Blake Murphy had a two-run double.

Strausbaugh then cut Western's deficit to one in the eight with an RBI ground out, plating Wilson on the play.

Illinois pushed its advantage back to two in the top of the ninth thanks to singles by Mike Rhode and Chase Kliment. Murphy kept the Illini lead at just two by throwing out pinch runner Joe Bonadonna, who was attempting to steal second, for the final out.

Murphy then started the bottom of the ninth with a walk and advanced to third when Trey McDaniel reached on a fielding error. Grey Gregory brought home Murphy with an RBI single to right field, moving McDaniel to third. New pitcher Aaron Saving allowed Gregory to advance to second on a wild pitch. Wilson singled to left field, scoring McDaniel. On the play, the ball got past the Illinois left fielder, allowing Gregory to score the winning run.

Bryan Tupper (1-1) was credited with the win. The senior pitched the final two innings, allowing three hits and one run. Senior Caleb McConnell started for the Catamounts. It was his first action since suffering a season-ending injury at Furman (April 15) last season. At Furman, McConnell struck out the first two batters in the second before suffering an injury which would force the Waynesville native to undergo "Tommy John" surgery. On Sunday, he pitched the first 3.0 innings. While he did allow five hits and four runs, only two runs were earned and he only walked one with four strikeouts.

McDaniel, who scored three times, hit his first home run of the season in the top of the second. Hallam and Murphy each added two hits.

Over the weekend, Western had 13 batters hit by a pitch, but left 46 runners on base. On the mound, the Cats' starting pitchers combined to strikeout 15 batters and walk just two in 15 combined innings.

Western Carolina will return to action Tuesday (Feb. 28), hosting region rival UNC Asheville. First pitch at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium is set for 3:00 pm. It will be Western only home game before starting a nine-game road swing. The road trip includes three games at Charleston Southern (Mar. 3-5), two at UNC Wilmington (Mar. 7-8), three at Elon (Mar. 10-12) and one at Georgia (Mar. 15).