April 29, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Davidson freshman Chase FitzPatrick, who entered the game with one hit and no RBI, had a home run, a single and four RBI, while Rob Wilson added four hits, to lead Davidson to a 12-6 victory over Western Carolina Saturday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Wildcats, who took advantage of four Catamount errors, improve to 16-26, 5-15 Southern Conference, while Western falls to 24-20, 10-10.

Western jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first. Tim Hallam and Barrett Shaft hit the first two pitches of the home half up the middle for singles. Steven Strausbaugh then hit a three-run home run to left-center for his SoCon-leading, 16th blast of the season.

Davidson used the long ball in the top of the second to tie the game at 3-3. Alden Crissy, who finished with three hits, and Wilson each had a one-out singles. Blake Osborn reached on a fielder's choice. On the attempted double play, there was a WCU error, allowing Crissy to score. FitzPatrick made the Catamounts pay for the miscue with a two-run home run to left, his first career home run.

In addition to going 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored at the plate, Osborn (2-5) picked up the win as Davidson's starter. He allowed seven hits and three runs with no walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

The Wildcats kept the momentum in the third. With two outs, Jat Heafner walked and Gregory Zage reached on an error. Crissy plated Heafner with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

Davidson took advantage of Western's third error to extend its lead to 7-3. Crissey started the frame reaching on an error and Wilson followed with a single. FitzPatrick kept his career day going with a two-run single to left. Shore followed with an RBI single. The Wildcats would put runners on second and third with two outs, but a double play by Western limited the damage.

Western used three doubles in the sixth to trim its deficit to two (7-5). Trey McDaniel doubled and scored on Jonathan Greene's double. Donnie Wilson hen plated Greene with a double down the left field line.

The Wildcats got those runs back in the seventh to go up 9-5. Heafner, who had a leadoff walk, and moved to second when Zage walked as well. A double play put Heafner on third. Wilson delivered a two-out single and later scored on Osborn's double to right-center.

Davidson once again took advantage of a WCU error to score three runs in the eighth for a 12-5 lead. After a leadoff walk to Eden, Shore reached on an error. A sacrifice bunt put the runners on third and second. With two outs, Zage tripled to drive in the two. Crissey capped the scoring with an infield RBI single.

In the ninth, Western would load the bases with one out thanks to a Donnie Wilson single, a walk to pinch hitter Scott Ward and Hallam was hit by a pitch. Incidently, with Hallam getting hit by a pitch it marked the 18th he has done so this season, which ties a WCU record. With two outs, Strausbaugh had an RBI single to keep the bases loaded. Heafner entered the game and got the final two outs to close out the game.

For Western, Hallam and Donnie Wilson each had three hits for Western, while Strausbaugh, McDaniel and Greene each had two. Tyler Sexton suffered the loss, falling to 6-5. He allowed seven hits and seven runs (five earned) with two walks and five strikeouts.

Western Carolina and Davidson will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 2 pm.