Box Score March 19, 2006
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Western Carolina third baseman Jonathan Greene hit a two-run home run to give the Catamounts a 10-8 come-from-behind victory over Princeton Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Down one run (8-7) to start the home half of the 12th, Steven Strausbaugh doubled to left-center field with one out to start the rally. Then, with two outs, Blake Murphy tied the game at 8-8 with an RBI double. Greene, who was 2-for-5 on the day, sent the first pitch he saw over the center field fence to give Western (9-9) the three-game sweep over the Tigers (3-7).
While Western's closer Greg Holland picked up the win (1-2), relief pitchers Tyler Johnson, Bryan Corbett and Brian McCullen proved key in the victory. With the Catamounts down 7-0, the trio held Princeton scoreless over the middle 3.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one walk over the span. Holland entered the game with a runner on third and two out in the eighth, but got the first batter he faced out. He proceeded to scatter seven hits over his 4.1 innings, allowing one run and one walk with a career-high seven strikeouts.
Princeton took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. After a one-out walk to Aaron Prince, Andrew Salini doubled, followed a two-out, two-run double by Zach Wendkos.
The Tigers pushed their advantage to three with a run in the top of the third. Salini had a leadoff walk and Sal Iacono followed by being hit by a pitch. The two moved up 90 feet on a bunt by Wendkos and Andrew Doupe plated Salini with an RBI ground out to first.
In the fourth, Princeton took a 7-0 lead. Dan DeGeorge had a one-out single and, two batters later, Salini brought him home with a double to right-center. Iacono was hit by a pitch and Wendkos cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left-center for his fourth homer of the season.
Western got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Despite striking out, Andy John reached on a wild pitch. Then, Barrett Shaft walked, Strausbaugh was hit by a pitch and Murphy walked to bring home John. With the bases still loaded, Princeton starter Eric Walz avoided further damage by getting a fly out to end the inning. Walz pitched well, but did not factor in the decision. He pitched six innings, allowing just one hit and one run with five walks and six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the seventh Western trimmed its deficit to three (7-4). The Catamounts welcomed new Tiger pitcher Reid Peyton with three consecutive hits to score two runs. Shaft started things with a single then Strausbaugh had an RBI double followed by an RBI single by Trey McDaniel. With the bases loaded and one out, Tim Hallam was hit by a pitch for Western's third run of the inning. Steven Miller (0-3) came out of the Princeton bullpen to get a strikeout and ground out to escape further damage.
Western tacked on another run in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 7-5. Shaft had a leadoff single and Strausbaugh followed with an RBI double.
The Cats tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Hallam walked and John was hit by a pitch. Princeton looked to end the game on a ground ball by Grey Gregory, but an error allowed Western to load the bases. Shaft plated Hallam and John with a double to right. However, on the play, Gregory was thrown out at home for the final out, forcing extra innings.
Princeton broke the tie in the top of the 12th thanks to back-to-back doubles by Matthew Becker and Dan DeGeorge. The Tigers would eventually load the bases, but a ground out ended the threat.
Miller suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned) over 5.1 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Leading the way for Western offensively was Shaft, who went 4-for-6, while Strausbaugh had three hits and Greene two. For the Tigers, Wendkos and Stephen Wendell each had three hits as DeGeorge, Aaron Prince and Salini each added two hits.
Western Carolina will continue its nine-game homestand with a doubleheader versus Hartford on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm. The following day, Western will host Gardner-Webb at 7:00 pm before hosting Southern Conference foe Wofford for a three-day, weekend set.
