March 26, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina ended its nine-game home stand by winning its ninth straight and handing Wofford a 20-10 setback Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. With the win, the Catamounts (15-9, 4-2 Southern Conference) sweep their weekend league series with the Terriers (15-13, 2-4).

The Catamounts won despite giving up four Terrier home runs on the day, including two by shortstop Shane Kirkley. However, Wofford committed four errors in the sixth inning, while Western had seven hits in the frame, to help propel the Catamounts to the victory.

Western was led offensively by Jonathan Greene, who was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Ryan Wilson and Tim Hallam each added three RBI as well, while Hallam, Wilson, Barrett Shaft, Steven Strausbaugh, Blake Murphy and Jason Haynes each contributed two hits.

Like Saturday, Western's offensive performances overshadowed an impressive outing by Wofford as Kirkley went 3-for-5 with five RBI. Adam Wood was also 3-for-5 for the Terriers, scoring three times.

Wofford took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. After a leadoff walk by Bradford Eaves, Steven Fusaro and Kirkley put together back-to-back, one-out infield hits to score Eaves. Fusaro would later score on a passed ball and Stephen Johnson plated Kirkley with a single to right-center.

The Terriers pushed their advantage to four in the second. Zach Pittman started the frame with as leadoff home run, his first of the year. In the home half of the second, Western cut its deficit in half, scoring two runs on two hits. After a leadoff walk to Trey McDaniel, Murphy doubled down the left field line to score McDaniel. Murphy would later score when Wilson reached on a Terrier error.

In the third, Wofford got one of those runs back. After a single by John Brandt and a walk to Johnson, the Terriers used a WCU error on an attempted double play to push across their fifth run.

Once again, Western was able to answer. With one out, Strausbaugh hit his 12th home run of the season, making the score 5-3.

Wofford used the long ball again in the fourth. After a leadoff double by Wood, Kirkley delivered a one-out, two-run home run to left field, his sixth of the season. For the third inning in a row, Western was able keep up, scoring two runs. With the bases loaded, Hallam was hit by a pitch to force a run. Shaft followed with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Catamounts tied the game with two runs in the fifth. McDaniel drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a Murphy single. Grey Gregory plated McDaniel with an RBI ground out and Murphy scored on Greene's single to right.

Wofford regained the advantage in the sixth, scoring two runs off Kirkley's second blast of the game. Wood had a one-out walk and scored on Pittman's homer to center.

In the bottom of the sixth, Western sent 15 men to the plate, scoring nine runs thanks to four Terrier errors to take a 16-9 lead.

Wood made it a 16-10 game with a leadoff home run to start the eighth, his third homer of the season. The Catamount put the game out of reach in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on just two hits, thanks to two walks and two hit by pitches.

Western's first two pitchers combined to allow seven runs over the first four innings. However, its final three pitchers only allowed three over the final five to secure the win. Brian McCullen, who entered the game in the fifth, picked up the win, improving to 2-1. He allowed three hits and two runs with two strikeouts in his two innings. Over the next two innings, Greg Holland only allowed two hits and one run with a walk and two strikeouts. Bryan Corbett closed the game, allowing one hit with two strikeouts in the ninth.

Chip Hunt (0-3) suffered the loss. He allowed five hits and seven runs (six earned) with two walks in two innings of work.

Western Carolina will now start an eight-game road swing, starting at nationally-ranked Georgia Tech on Tuesday. First pitch in Atlanta is set for 7:00 pm.