March 20, 2007

Final Stats |  Photos from the win over No. 6 Clemson 

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina plated five runs in the home half of the sixth inning to surge ahead of the sixth-ranked Clemson Tigers, and then held on over the final three frames to register its third victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season, winning 6-3, Tuesday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Closer Greg Holland pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh, and limited the potent Tiger line-up to just two base hits, striking out three, to post his fourth save of the season, earning starter Drew Saberhagen (2-1) the victory. Saberhagen went six solid innings, scattering three Tiger runs on just three hits with a strikeout and a walk, while Holland closed the game out with two hits in 2.2 innings pitched and three K's.

The win - Western's third against Atlantic Coast Conference foes this season - pushed Catamount head coach Todd Raleigh to 229 for his career in Cullowhee, tying him for second-place at WCU with former teammate, the late Keith LeClair. One year ago in the same game between the Catamounts and Tigers, Western honored LeClair in his final appearance in Cullowhee by retiring his number 23, forever immortalizing the former player and skipper on the "purple monster" in left field.

Down 3-1 entering the home half of the sixth, WCU (14-7) linked four of its seven hits for the game together to pile up the five runs to assume control, much to the delight of the 2,147 fans that filled Hennon Stadium and line the hill just beyond centerfield.

Using a hit batter, single and a walk, the Catamounts loaded the bases with one out for junior Blake Murphy, who belted a two-RBI single to left field to score freshman Brent Greer and pinch runner, Chris Ahearn who replaced pinch hitter Andy John. Clemson transfer, senior John Ingram, lifted an RBI single to right, plating Jonathan Greene who had reached on a walk for the third run of the inning. Another transfer, Asheville native Kenny Smith, cleared the bases with an RBI double to right center scoring Murphy and Ingram to give the Catamounts a 6-3 lead.

From then on, it was all about pitching for Western. Reliever Chris Masters struck out his first batter faced, but failed to record a second out as he walked three-straight Tigers to load the bases. With a 2-0 count on Clemson lead-off hitter Brad Chalk, Holland was summoned from the bullpen. After a first-pitch strike to pull the count to 2-1, Holland got Chalk to bounce to freshman Nick Liles at third, who threw home to Murphy for the force out. Holland struck out CU pinch hitter, Wilson Boyd, to end the threat and hold the Tigers scoreless.

Clemson managed two base runners over the final three innings off Holland, but could not advance a runner past second base, suffering just its fifth defeat of the season.

Murphy finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI while Smith was 2-for-3 with his eighth double of the season and three RBI to run team-leading total to 34. Ingram stretched his hitting streak to 11 games, which now leads the team as Liles had his 12-game streak snapped.

Clemson took an early lead in the top of the third inning as Chalk laced a two-out single down the left field line and scored when the next batter, D.J. Mitchell, lined a two-run home run by over the right field fence. The poke for Mitchell was his first career homer, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

The Catamounts cut the lead in half in the home portion of the fifth. Murphy led off the frame with a single through the left side and was moved to second on a bouncing ball up the middle by Ingram that was fielded and thrown on to first in time. Smith then lifted a loop single to center field, to score Murphy. However, Liles grounded into a double-play at short to end the threat and strand Smith at third base.

Half an inning later, Clemson got the run back on a two-out seeing-eye single through the right side by D'Alessio scoring Harbin from second where he had advanced on a stolen base.

Western Carolina opens its Southern Conference slate this weekend with a three-game set at the College of Charleston. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 pm, with both Saturday and Sunday scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm at Patriots Point.

All three games this weekend are scheduled to be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard live on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee or online at www.WWCUFM.com. Fans can also follow CofC's LiveStats by visiting www.CatamountSports.com.