May 13, 2006

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored four runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to pull out a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Kennesaw State Saturday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts (29-22) took advantage of two Owl (22-28) errors in the ninth to push across the winning run.

With one out in the seventh, Western rallied to tie the contest at 4-4. Jason Haynes had a single and moved to second when Tim Hallam walked. Barrett Shaft plated Haynes with a double down the left field line and Steven Strausbaugh walked to load the bases. Trey McDaniel drove in Hallam with a sacrifice fly to left. Jonathan Greene tied with game, bringing home Shaft and Strausbaugh, with a double to left-center.

In the top of the ninth, Catamount closer Greg Holland allowed a one-out walk, but immediately got a double play to eventually get the win and improve to 4-2 on the season. After today, Holland has a streak of eight games (12.2 innings) without allowing a run, going 2-0 with three saves over the span.

In the ninth and with one out, Donnie Wilson legged out a double on bloop just beyond the shortstop's glove. Haynes then reached on a fielding error on the KSU shortstop, allowing Wilson to advance to third. Hallam drove in the game winner when he reached thanks to an error on the second baseman.

Kennesaw State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Martin Baker, who had two of KSU's seven hits, reached on a one-out error and Matt Dallas followed with a walk. Scott Hendrix cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left, his fifth blast of the season.

After the home run, neither team had much offense until the Owls started the seventh with a leadoff double from Jacob Robbins. Baker followed with a bunt single and the two moved to second and third on a ground out. Robbins would score on an error to make the score 4-0.

Kennesaw State left eight runners on base, but turned two double plays to keep Western off the scoreboard until the eighth.

KSU starter Kyle Mushara did not figure in the decision, but pitched well before leaving the game with two one and one out in the eighth. He only allowed five hits and two runs over 7.1 innings with a walk and three strikeouts. Casey Rogers was the tough-luck loser, falling to 1-2 on the season. He pitched 0.2 innings with one hit, one unearned run and one strikeout.

For the Catamounts, Corey Martin pitched the first three innings, allowing two hits and that three-run, home run in the first. Tyler Johnson and Brock Thornburg kept the Owls in check. The two only allowed five hits in five innings, allowing one unearned run with a walk and five strikeouts.

The two teams will complete their three-game set on Sunday with first pitch set for 2 pm.

NOTE: In the sixth, Tim Hallam was hit by a pitch, making that the 18th time this season he has been plunked to tie a WCU record.