March 3, 2007

Final Stats

Greenville, N.C. - Western Carolina's offense was held to one run on eight hits while 12th-ranked Pepperdine scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Catamounts, 3-1, Saturday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Catamounts now 6-3, were attempting to win their third game versus a top 25 team as they had defeated 14th-ranked Georgia Tech and 20th-ranked N.C. State earlier this week.

As the designated home team, Pepperdine (12-4) opened up the scoring in the bottom half of the first with an RBI single by right fielder Donald Brown scoring Eric Thames from second to put the Waves up 1-0.

Brock Thornburg, WCU's starting pitcher, allowed a lead-off walk, a double, followed by another walk to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third. He proceeded to strike out the next two Pepperdine batters and ended the inning on a force out at second base.

Western tied the game, 1-1, on a two-out RBI double by John Ingram in the fifth, driving in catcher Blake Murphy who reached base on a lead-off single.

The Waves broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth with a lead-off home run from right fielder Donald Brown. They added another run on a base hit bunt by Luke Salas, who advanced to second on an error by reliever Tyler Johnson, allowing Salas to score from second base to extend their lead to 3-1.

Western had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth but failed to advance them as Pepperdine's closer Adam Olbrychowski collected his fourth save of the season.

Western's Jonathan Greene had his hitting streak snapped at 21-games as he went 0-for-3 with a walk.

Thornburg did not factor into the decision as he gave up six hits, one earned run, four walks, and six strikeouts in six innings.

Johnson (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he gave up six hits, one earned run, and struck out two in one and a third innings.

Center fielder Barrett Shaft led Western Carolina at the plate by going 3-for-4 including a double. Murphy collected two hits while scoring the only Catamount run.

Western will remain in Greenville to play East Carolina, the host team, Sunday at 3:00 pm in the final game of the 4th Annual Keith LeClair Classic.