March 10, 2006

Final Stats

Elon, N.C. - Seeing his first action since suffering a hand injury last Friday at Charleston Southern, Western Carolina sophomore Steven Strausbaugh had an RBI double and a solo home run, while Grey Gregory and Blake Murphy each added home runs. However, it was not enough as the Catamounts (5-7, 0-1) dropped a 13-10 decision at Elon (11-5, 1-0) Friday afternoon at Latham Park in the teams' 2006 Southern Conference opener.

Elon took control early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. After leadoff hitter Donny Jobe reached on an error, Adam Weaver followed with an infield single. Chris Price singled through the right side of the infield and Jobe just beat out the play at the plate for the first run. Weaver, who moved to third on Price's single, scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly to center by Patrick Irvine.

Western got on the board and tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third. With two outs, Barrett Shaft was hit by a pitch and Strausbaugh plated his teammate with an RBI double down the left field line. McDaniel followed suit with an RBI double right center field.

The Catamounts gained the advantage, scoring a run in the top of the fifth. Shaft, who walked, moved to second when McDaniel reached on catcher's interference and advanced to third when Murphy was hit by a pitch. Jonathan Greene broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to right field.

In the home half of the fifth, Elon used some aggressive base running and timely hitting to regain the lead (7-3). Jobe had a leadoff walk and Weaver reached on a fielder's choice. On a double steal, which Weaver got caught in a pickle between first and second, Jobe got to third and scored on the play. Chris Vasami and Irvine followed with singles to plate Weaver. With two outs, Robert Rodebaugh plated Vasmi with a single to right. Paul Bennett welcomed new Catamount pitcher Bryan Tupper with a two-run double to cap the scoring in the frame.

Western cut its deficit to three (7-4) in the top of the sixth as Gregory led off with a home run to left, the first career blast for the sophomore. However, in the bottom of the sixth, Elon extended its cushion to six (10-4) with three runs. The first two batters, Jobe and Weaver, walked and Price followed with a two-run double to right-center. Grant Rembert plated Price with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Catamounts got another leadoff solo home run in the seventh, this time by Strausbaugh giving the sophomore seven home runs in just his eighth game on the season. The blast would spark a five-run inning for WCU, making the score 10-9. After the homer, McDaniel singled, Blake Murphy doubled and, with one out, pinch hitter Scott Ward walked to load the bases. Gregory was hit by a pitch to plate McDaniel and keep the bases loaded. Donnie Wilson drove in two with a single up the middle and put runners on second and third when the centerfielder bobbled the ball. Tim Hallam followed with an RBI ground out to shortstop.

Elon was able to answer once again, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh. A one-out single by Ryan Addison and a two-out walk to Weaver paved the way for back-to-back RBI singles by Price and Vasami. Back-to-back walks to Irvine and Rembert pushed the third and final run of the inning across.

After having a home run robbed in the second inning, with the Elon centerfielder climbing left-center field fence and catching the ball, Murphy would not be denied in the eighth, clearing the left-center field fence for his second home run of the season to provide the 13-10 final.

Wilson led the way offensively for WCU, going 3-for-5, while Strausbaugh, McDaniel, Murphy and Gregory each had two hits. Brian McCullen suffered the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed seven hits and seven runs (five earned) with two walks and four strikeouts.

For the Phoenix, Vasmi was 4-for-5 and Price was 3-for-5 with four RBI. Lance Cole improved to 4-0, allowing seven hits and five runs over six innings.

Western Carolina and Elon will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.