March 16, 2007

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman Adam Baker hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh and Greg Holland pitched the final 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief as Western Carolina (11-7) held on to beat Columbia, 10-9, Friday Afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Baker's homer came on a 0-2 pitch in his first start as a collegiate player. In the seventh, Columbia starter Henry Perkins allowed a lead-off double to John Ingram followed by a Kenny Smith single and a two RBI double by Nick Liles, before giving up the Baker homer.

Baker, starting as the designated hitter, finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Columbia (4-7-1) opened the scoring in the first with four hits including a Perkins single to drive in Ron Williams from third putting the Lions up 1-0.

Western answered in the second on back-to-back single from Ingram and Liles followed by an RBI single from Baker to knot the score at 1-1.

The Catamounts put two more on the board in the third on a Blake Murphy two-run home run - his third on the year - giving Western a 3-1 advantage.

In the fourth inning the first seven Columbia batters reached base and WCU starter Tyler Sexton was relieved after giving up six earned runs on 11 hits in only three and a third innings pitched. Bryan Corbett got Perkins to fly out and Mike Roberts to ground out to end the inning trailing 7-3.

Liles and Baker each added singles in the fourth and scored on a two-run single by Jason Haynes to pull the Catamounts to within two, 7-5.

Western cut the lead to one on Ingram's solo homer run in the fifth inning. All of his five home runs have come in the last five games.

After both team remained scoreless in the sixth, Columbia loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk in the seventh. Kyle Roberts then singled to drive in two runs extending the Lions lead to 9-6.

Western rattled off five hits and four runs in the seventh which proved to be enough as reliever Chris Masters improved to 3-0 on the year and Holland picked up his third save on the season.

The Catamounts will face Columbia Saturday at 1:00 pm for the second game of a three-game series with the final game scheduled for Sunday at 12:00 pm at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.