March 22, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - After going 5-for-7 with 10 RBI in a doubleheader Tuesday, Blake Murphy continued his solid play at the plate Wednesday night, going 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Catamounts to an 8-4 victory over Gardner-Webb. Western, who has won six straight during its current nine-game home stand, improves to 12-9, while the Bulldogs fall to 9-10.

In addition to Murphy, Tim Hallam contributed three hits, while Steven Strausbaugh added two. For the Bulldogs, Tyler Johnson had three of GWU's nine hits. Ironically, Western's Tyler Johnson picked up the win in relief. He improved to 2-0 in the season, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) with a walk and five strikeouts over four innings of work.

Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, scoring two runs on three hits and two Catamount errors. Brock Miller had a leadoff hit and Matt Higginson followed with a double. With one out, Matt Maloney doubled home Miller, but Higginson as thrown out at home. However, Jeremy McCann would drive in Maloney one batter later.

In the home half, Western took advantage of two GWU errors to score three runs on two hits. Barrett Shaft walked and Strausbaugh had an infield single. With two outs, Murphy's pop up landed between three Bulldogs, going down as single. Shaft scored and, thanks to an error, so did Strausbaugh on the play. GWU kept the inning alive for Western, committing an error which allowed Murphy to score.

In the third and Trey McDaniel on base, Murphy put Western up 5-2 with a two-run home run, his fifth round-tripper of the season.

Gardner-Webb answered back in the fourth, making the score 5-3. Daniel Cooke started the frame with a solo homer to left, his second of the season.

The Cats scored twice in the fifth to go up 7-3. Hallam led off with a double, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. However, Shaft singled and Strausbaugh doubled. After McDaniel was intentionally walked, Jason Haynes walked to bring home Shaft. The Bulldogs looked to end the threat, but an error extended to the and allowed Strausbaugh to score.

Gardner-Webb then took advantage of two WCU errors in the sixth to trim its deficit to three (7-4). With two outs, Johnson had an infield single, took second on a throwing error and scored on a second throwing error in the inning.

Western got that run back in the home half of the seventh to provide the final margin of 8-4. After a leadoff walk to McDaniel, Murphy doubled down the right field line.

The Catamounts kept Gardner-Webb off the scoreboard over the final three innings as Brian McCullen and Greg Holland did not allow a hit and struck out the final five batters they faced. McCullenn struck out two, while walking two, and Holland struck out the only three batters he faced.

Western Carolina will cap its nine-game home stand, hosting Wofford for three games this weekend. First pitch Friday is set for 7 pm.