May 12, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina used a solo home run from Trey McDaniel and a three-run double by Steven Strausbaugh to claim a 6-3 victory over Kennesaw State Friday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts (28-22) also had its three pitchers combine for 12 strikeouts with just one walk in the win.

Western Carolina got on the board first as McDaniel hit solo a home run over the center field fence for his 10th blast of the season.

The Catamounts extended their advantage to 4-0 in the third. Mitchell Hatley and Tim Hallam had singles. Then, with two outs, Barrett Shaft loaded the bases after he was hit by a pitch. Strausbaugh brought the three home with a three-run double down the left field line.

The Owls (22-27) responded to score three runs in the fourth for a 4-3 game. After being held without a hit over the first three innings, KSU had back-to-back leadoff doubles by Jay Morrow and Scott Hendrix to make the score 4-1. Andy Hudson followed with an RBI single up the middle. Kennesaw State would load the bases with one out. A fielder's choice would retire Hudson at the plate before Jacob Robbins plated the final run of the inning.

In the sixth, Western took a 5-3 lead. Shaft had a leadoff double and moved to third on McDaniel's single to left. Jonathan Greene drove in Shaft with a single to right-center. Western would load the bases before Owl starter Dan Dale got a strikeout and a fly out to limit the damage.

Western added an insurance run in the eighth to provide the final 6-3 margin. McDaniel drew a leadoff walk and scored two batters later on Blake Murphy's fourth triple of the season.

Catamount closer Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth to record his eighth save of the season. He also extended his streak to seven games and 10.2 innings of scoreless baseball. WCU starter Tyler Sexton picked up the win to improve to 7-5. He scattered seven hits over six innings with three runs, no walks and eight strikeouts. He now has 78 strikeouts with just 10 walks in 83.0 innings this season. Brian McCullen bridged the gap between Sexton and Holland, allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings.

Like Sexton, Owl starter Dale allowed seven hits through six, but allowed five runs and one walk with six strikeouts to take the loss and fall to 7-5. Robbins, Morrow and Matt Nelson each had two hits for KSU.

The teams will play the second of the three-game weekend set on Saturday with first pitch set for 4 pm.