April 21, 2006

Final Stats

Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel scored four runs in the third inning en route to a 5-4 victory over Western Carolina Friday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. The Bulldogs improve to 19-19 overall and 5-8 in the Southern Conference by winning game one of the three-game weekend series, while the Catamounts drop to 21-17, 8-8 SoCon. Due the threat of inclement weather on Saturday in the Charleston area, Saturday's game time has been moved up to Noon. Please check catamountsports.com as any future changes will be announced as soon as decisions are made.

The Citadel took advantage to an error and two singles to take a 1-0 lead in the first. With two outs, Chris Swauger reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Sonny Meade followed with an RBI single to center.

Western took the advantage in the third. Tim Hallam singled and advanced to second on a run down. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Barrett Shaft and Steven Strausbaugh made the score 2-1.

The Bulldogs answered in the home half of the third with four runs. Swauger, Meade and Zach Brown had consecutive singles to load the bases. Matt Matulia delivered a two-run double to left and Matt Arnold followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Sid Fallaw plated Matulia while reaching on an error.

The Cats cut their deficit to two (5-3) with a run in the fifth. Hallam singled, moved to third on Shaft's double and scored on an RBI ground out by Strausbaugh.

In the seventh with runners on first and third, Western looked to cut into its deficit more. However, Blake Murphy's well-hit ball deep in the right-center field gap was caught on a diving catch by the Citadel's centerfielder Trent Weathers to end the threat.

Western made a final push in the ninth. With one out, Shaft reached on an error, moved to second on a Strausbaugh single and scored on a two-out single by Murphy, making the score 5-4. Bulldog closer Link Saunders got a fly out to end the contest and earn his 11th save of the season.

Wes Wrenn improved to 3-2 on the season, allowing nine hits and three runs over seven innings with three walks and seven strikeouts. The Bulldogs were led offensively by Meade, who had three hits, while Matulia had a team-high two RBI.

For the Catamounts, Shaft and Donnie Wilson each had three hits while Strausbaugh had two RBI on two hits. Caleb McConnell suffered the loss, falling to 1-4. He allowed nine hits and five runs over 2.2 innings. Tyler Johnson kept Western in the game through the middle innings as he held the Bulldog offense in check over his 4.1 innings of work. The junior only allowed three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.