April 2, 2006

Final Stats

Boone, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore catcher Blake Murphy was 4-for-4, including a three-run home run, with six RBI Sunday afternoon to lead the Catamounts to a 15-4 decision over Appalachian State at Red Lackey Field. The win give Western (17-11, 6-3 Southern Conference) a weekend series victory over the Mountaineers (11-61, 1-8 SoCon).

Western Carolina jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Tim Hallam, who had three hits and acareer-high 10 assists, led off with a single and moved to third on Barrett Shaft's double. With one out, Trey McDaniel, who also had three hits, walked to load the bases for Murphy, who delivered a two-run single to center. An error on the play allowed McDaniel and Murphy to move up to third and second, respectively. Jonathan Greene plated McDaniel with a sacrifice fly to right and Donnie Wilson followed with an RBI single.

The Catamounts tacked on three more runs in the second. Jason Haynes started the frame by being hit by a pitch. He stole second, moved to third on Hallam's bunt single and scored on a balk. Hallam, after the balk and a sacrifice bunt, scored on Steven Strausbaugh's sacrifice fly. McDaniel kept the inning going with a single and later scored on Murphy's RBI double.

Appalachian State got on the board with two runs in the third. Nick DeRose set the stage with a out-out, infield single and Ben Billingsley followed with a two-run home run to right.

The Mountaineers cut into their deficit with a single run in the fourth, making the score 7-3. Chris Baker stated the home half reaching on an error. He would move to third on David Rubinstein's double and score on an RBI ground out by Joey Robinson. The Apps added another tally in the fifth to make the score 7-4. Billingsley, who singled, scored after a Kevin Butler double and Bryan Ford RBI ground out.

After four scoreless innings, McDaniel gave Western an 8-4 cushion in the top of the seventh, hitting a two-out solo homer for his ninth blast of the season.

In the eighth, Western broke the game open with five runs, all coming with two out. With runners on the corners, Strausbaugh extended his ht streak to 13 games with an RBI single, driving in Grey Gregory and once again putting runners on the corners. McDaniel followed with an RBI single up the middle. Murphy then cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left-center, giving the sophomore seven round trippers on the year.

The Catamounts added two insurance runs in the ninth. After D. Wilson reached on an error to start in inning, pinch hitters Aaron Gabrielian and Ryan Wilson singled to load the bases. Hallam made it three straight hits with an RBI single. With the bases still loaded, Shaft drove in Gabrielian with an RBI ground out.

WCU freshman pitcher Bryan Corbett worked a perfect ninth for WCU to provide the final 15-4 margin. Brian McCullen improved to 3-1, pitching four innings in relief. He scattered five hits for one run with two strikeouts. Caleb McConnell started for WCU, pitching the first four innings. He allowed five hits and three runs with two strikeouts.

Garrett Sherrill, who got the save Saturday, started Sunday for ASU and suffered the loss, falling to 3-3.

Western Carolina will stay on the road, playing the fifth of its eight-game road swing, to face nationally-ranked Clemson on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 7:15 pm.