May 26, 2006

Final Stats

Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel scored three runs in the top of the ninth and held off Western Carolina in the bottom half to claim a 4-2 decision Friday night to eliminate the Catamounts (33-27) from the 2006 Southern Conference Championship, played at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

The Citadel (33-26) started the ninth with a Sid Fallaw double. He moved to third on a Tripp Cappelmann single. Matt Covington, who had three hits on the night, drove in Fallaw for the tying run with a single and, after a double play, Western looked to be in good shape. However, with a runner on third and two out, Chris Swauger broke the tie with a single. Sonny Meade singled to left, driving in Capplemann, and he would later score on a Matt Matulia double.

Western threatened in the ninth. With two out and none on, pinch hitter Andy John hit a double to left-center field. The tying run in Barrett Shaft reached on when he was hit by a pitch. However, Justin Smith got a ground out to end the contest and pick up the win

Smith improved to 8-1 on the season. He allowed three hits and no runs over the final 4.1 innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. WCU closer Greg Holland suffered the loss, falling to 4-4 on the season. He allowed seven hits and three runs over the final 2.1 innings with two strikeouts.

The Catamounts struck first, scoring once in the second thanks to a Citadel error. Steven Strausbaugh had a leadoff single and moved to second on Scott Ward's single. With two out, Donnie Wilson had an infield single, which would have loaded the bases. However, a throwing error on the play allowed Strausbaugh to score.

The Citadel knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth. Matulia had a leadoff walk After a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, Brady Mashak plated Matulia with a single through the right side of the infield.

Western got that run back in the home half of the fourth for a 2-1 lead. After loading the bases with no outs, Trey McDaniel scored on a double play ground out. McDaniel had a leadoff infield single, moved to second on Blake Murphy's walk and advanced to third on a Ward single.

For the Catamounts, Shaft, Greene, McDaniel and Ward each had two hits. Brock Thornburg pitched well, but did not factor in the decision. Leaving with a 2-1 lead through 6.2 innings, the junior scattered seven hits for one run with a walk and four strikeouts.

Citadel starter Matt Crim lasted 4.2 innings, allowing nine hits and two runs (one earned) with one walk and four strikeouts. In addition to Covington, Meade and Matt Arnold led the Bulldogs offense with two hits each.

WESTERN NOTES: Barrett Shaft had a single in the first inning, giving the sophomore a 19-game hitting streak heading into next season. Jonathan Greene had a single in the fifth, giving the sophomore a 13-game hit streak heading into next season.