March 4, 2006

Final Stats

North Charleston, S.C. - Anthony Hayes had two RBI and Ryan Sowers only allowed two earned runs over seven innings to lead Charleston Southern a 7-4 victory, its second come-from-behind win in as many days over Western Carolina Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field. Game three of the weekend series will be moved off campus to Collins Park with first pitch set for 1 pm.

Western got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the top of the second. Jonathan Greene had a leadoff double and moved to third on Andy John's single off the first baseman's glove. When John stole second, Greene scored on a throwing error. John would later score on an infield single by Jason Haynes. Haynes moved to second on a passed ball, third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.

Sandwiched between Western's three runs, Catamount starter Tyler Sexton escaped two jams unscathed. In the first, he avoided a bases loaded jam and, in the second, the leadoff batter reached third with no outs but was left stranded.

However, Charleston Southern would score in the third, making the score 3-1. After a leadoff double by Wes Brundridge, he moved to third on a ground out and scored on a RBI single by Hayes.

The Bucs took advantage of some WCU fielding miscues to take a 4-3 lead in the fourth, scoring three runs in the home half. John Mark Cleaveland, Craig Krogmeier and Helio Burgos had consecutive singles to start the frame and load the bases. Pinch hitter Mark Perry hit a ground ball to short, but a bobble let a run score and only one out was recorded.. Sean Doherty then reached on an error by the WCU second baseman, allowing two runs to score on the play.

Western tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth. Barrett Shaft had a leadoff single, stole second and scored on an error by the CSU shortstop. However, the Bucs regained the one-run cushion in the bottom of the fifth. David Perkins delivered a one-out double and moved to third bloop single by Cleaveland that fell between the shortstop and left fielder. Krogmeier followed with a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Perkins.

Charleston Southern extended its lead with two runs (7-4) in the sixth. Mark Perry had a leadoff single and Cleaveland followed with a bunt single. After a sac bunt moved the runners up, Justin Fyle had an RBI infield single, scoring Perry and moving Cleaveland to third. Hayes then plated Cleaveland with a sac fly to right field.

Six Catamounts each had one hit. Sexton, who struck out five with no walks, was the tough-luck loser, falling to 2-1. While he did allow 11 hits and seven runs, only six were earned and three others came from defensive miscues that were not scored as errors. Tyler Johnson pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit and fanning three.

For the Bucs, Brundridge, Krogmeier and Burgos each had two hits. Sowers improved to 1-2, allowing six hits and four runs (two earned) with five walks and three strikeouts. Mike Mead came on with two on and one out in the ninth and got a double play to end the game and pick up his first save.