Feb. 18, 2007

Final Stats

Kennesaw, Ga. - For the second-straight game, Western Carolina exploded for five runs in the top half of an inning en route to victory over Kennesaw State. On Saturday, the Catamounts touched the dish five times in the top of the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie for the 10-6 win over the Owls at Stillwell Field.

Senior transfer Kenny Smith went 3-for-4 with one of three WCU doubles and three RBI on the afternoon, with junior Blake Murphy going 1-for-3 with a walk and the Catamounts' first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left center in the third to knot the game at three.

Kennesaw State (0-3) jumped on top in the home half of the first with three runs on three hits and a pair of walks, stranding one runner as the inning ended on a pick-off play. Western answered, however, with one in the top of the second to pull to within 3-1 on an RBI single by Smith, scoring transfer counterpart John Ingram from second base after reaching on a fielder's choice and advancing on a stolen base.

After the Owls plated one run in the bottom of the second, Western tacked on two in the top of the third to knot the game at three. With two outs, Catamount catcher, Jonathan Greene, doubled to left center before Murphy put one over the left field wall for the two-run shot.

WCU (2-0) sent 10 batters to the plate in the visitor half of the fifth inning, breaking open the tie game with five runs, all scored after there were two out in the frame. Barrett Shaft looped a one-out single into center and was moved to second when Greene drew his lone walk of the game. Murphy reached on an error by the Owls' third baseman to load the bases, scoring Shaft from second. Ingram then doubled to right to score both Murphy and Greene, and would later come home on an RBI single to center by Jason Haynes. Smith rounded out the scoring by plating Ingram with a double to right center field, giving the Catamounts the 8-4 advantage.

Western added insurance runs both the eighth and ninth, with Kennesaw State attempting a ninth-inning rally with a two spot in the final inning. But Tyler Johnson, who replaced WCU starter Brock Thornburg in the bottom of the sixth inning, held on to earn his first save of the year.

Thornburg tossed five solid innings, scattering four earned runs and six hits while striking out a pair to earn his first victory of the season. Johnson recorded four innings of work, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and four strikeouts. Owls starter, Micah Sales (0-1), was unable to finish the fifth, tallying four and two thirds innings of work giving up five runs, three of which were earned, on six hits with one strikeout and three walks.

The two teams will meet for the final game of the series Sunday, February 18 at 1:00 pm at Stillwell Stadium.