Feb. 28, 2007

Final Stats

Atlanta, Ga. - Western Carolina (5-2) pounded out 15 hits en route to a 10-7 victory over 14th-ranked Georgia Tech (6-5) Tuesday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Jonathan Greene lit up the scoreboard in the first inning for the Catamounts, connecting on his third home run of the season, a solo shot over the center field wall.

The Catamounts put four runs on the board in the second, extending the lead, 5-0. Blake Murphy led off with a triple down the left field line - his first of the season - followed by freshman Nick Liles sixth RBI of the season, as he reached on an error by the Yellow Jacket short stop. With one out, John Ingram doubled down the left field line, scoring Liles from second. Barrett Shaft sent Ingram home with a two-out double and then scored on Donnie Wilson's single, stretching the Catamount lead to 5-0.

Murphy led off the third frame, driving a 3-2 pitch to left field for his second-hit of the game. He scored on a fielder's choice by Kenny Smith which team-leading 12th RBI.

Murphy started a two-run fifth inning with a lead off solo home run. With two away Ingram belted a double to left and Liles followed with an RBI single to give the Catamounts a 9-0 lead.

In the Yellow Jackets half of the fifth, starter Tyler Johnson retired the first two batters but then allowed three consecutive singles giving Georgia Tech its first run of the game. Freshman left-hander Chris Masters relieved the senior right-hander after 4 2/3 innings of work in which he gave up only one earned run while striking out seven. Wilson collected his second RBI on the afternoon by driving in Ingram who led of the eighth inning with a single to give the Catamounts a 10-1 advantage.

The Yellow Jackets scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Western lead to 10-7, on four base hits, three walks, and one Catamount error.

WCU closer Greg Holland recorded the final two outs in the bottom of the eighth and struck out the final two batters in the bottom of the ninth to secure Western's fifth win of the season.

Western will remain on the road as they travel to Greenville, N.C., for the Keith LeClair Classic where it will face the 25th-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack on Friday (Mar. 2, 1:00 pm), 13th-ranked Pepperdine on Saturday (Mar. 3, 11:00 am) and the host East Carolina Pirates on Sunday (Mar. 4) at 3:00 pm.