April 30, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore relief pitcher Greg Holland struck out a career-high eight batters and the Catamounts threw out a Davidson base runner at the plate three times to claim a 5-3 victory over the Wildcats Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Holland, who pitched the final four innings to earn his sixth save of the season, retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, allowing just one walk with his eight strikeouts. Offensively for Western (25-20, 11-10 Southern Conference), Jason Haynes delivered a two-run single in the fifth, which proved to be the winning runs.

Davidson (16-27, 5-16 SoCon) used three hits to push a run across in the top of the first. Ronnie Shore and Alex Entrekin had consecutive leadoff singles and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Gregory Zage plated Shore with an infield single. With runners on first and third, the Wildcats tried a double steal, but Entrekin was throw out at home. WCU starter Brock Thornburg followed with a strikeout to limit the damage.

In the third, the Wildcats also scored a run on three hits. In addition, like the first inning, Western limited the damage with an out at the plate. Shore had a one-out hit and scored on Entrekin's double to left-center field. Jay Heafner put runners on the corners with an infield single. Zage tried to bring home Entrekin with a fly ball to left, but Entrekin was thrown out at home by Donnie Wilson for an inning-ending double play.

The Catamounts built on that momentum in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 2-2. Blake Murphy had a leadoff double and Wilson was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved the runners up and Mitchell Hatley drove in Murphy with an RBI ground out. A balk moved Wilson to third and Barrett Shaft followed with a sacrifice fly to center.

Western scored two in the fifth to take its first lead of the game, 4-2. With the bases loaded and two outs, Haynes singled to center to score Muphy and Wilson.

Davidson cut its deficit to one (4-3) in the top of the sixth. A double, error and walk loaded the bases for the Wildcats, chasing Thornburg. Holland got a ground ball, with Entekin being throw out at home on the fielder's choice, and nearly got Western out of the inning unscathed, but Heafner scored on a wild pitch. Holland went on to strikeout the final two batters and get out of the inning.

Thornburg was credited with the win, improving to 3-3 on the year. He scattered seven hits with three runs (two earned), one walk and six strikeouts.

Western added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to provide the 5-3 final. Steven Strausbaugh singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a Scott Ward single. Murphy welcomed new Davidson pitcher Matt Meade with a sacrifice fly to right.

Strausbauh and Murphy each had two hits for Western, while Haynes had two key RBI. For the Wildcats, Shore and Entrekin accounted for five of Davidson's seven hits. Shore had two hits and scored twice, while Entrekin had three hits, including two doubles.

Brant West (4-6) suffered the loss for Davidson. He allowed eight hits and five runs over 5.1 innings with a walk and a strikeout.

Western Carolina will take the next five days off for exams, returning to action next Friday as UNC Greensboro comes to Cullowhee for three games. Friday's contest is set for 7:00 pm, as is Saturday's due to Western's graduation ceremony that day.