April 11, 2007

Box Score

Asheville, N.C. - Capitalizing on six base hits, including three doubles, four free passes and a UNC Asheville fielding error, Western Carolina scored eight runs in the first two innings and never looked back as the Catamounts pounded out 13 base hits in the 12-6 victory over their mountain-rival Tuesday night at McCormick Field. Freshman Chris Masters worked five solid innings, scattering four hits and striking out four to pick up his fifth victory of the season for WCU.

The win, Western's seventh-straight on the season, also clinched the first-ever Parkway Series for the Catamounts, 8-5, with just two points remaining to be awarded. Western secured points this season in the head-to-head competition in women's soccer, men and women's basketball, men and women's indoor and outdoor track & field and one of the two baseball points.

Western (21-11) opened the game with back-to-back base hits from leadoff hitter Barrett Shaft and a double down the left field line by junior Blake Murphy to put two on with no outs. Three batters later, senior transfer Kenny Smith drew a two out walk to load the bases when junior Steven Strausbaugh bounced one towards the Bulldog shortstop, Matt Henson, who booted the ball allowing two runs to score and the inning to continue. The next batter, junior Jason Haynes, smashed a double off the 36-foot wall in right field to plate the third run of the opening frame for a 3-0 Catamount advantage.

Freshman Brent Greer opened the top of the second with a walk before scoring on an RBI double to left field by Shaft for a 4-0 lead. Two strikeouts sandwiched around junior Jonathan Greene being hit by a pitch, followed by Smith drawing his second walk of the game loaded the bases for Strausbaugh. The Venice, Fla., native crushed one that ricocheted off the 45-foot high scoreboard in play in right-center field, clearing the bases with three RBI.

Haynes, who led all hitters with a perfect 4-for-4 showing at the plate, ended the scoring barrage with his second RBI hit of the game, shooting one through the right side of the Bulldog infield to score Strausbaugh from second for the 8-0 advantage.

UNC Asheville (13-23) added one run in the home portion of the fourth inning, but the Catamounts countered with a four-spot in the top half of the sixth to push the game back out of reach. Rallying with two out in the inning, senior John Ingram singled up the middle before his classmate, Smith, doubled to left to score the first run. Smith came home on Haynes' third RBI hit of the game, pulling one down the left field line for the second run of the frame. Freshman Tyler Kirkpartrick, making just his fourth start of the season, concluded the Catamount scoring by smacking a two-RBI double to right center to score both Haynes and Strausbaugh.

After WCU pulled all but one of its starters, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the eighth and two in the bottom of the ninth to cut Western's advantage in half, providing the final tally, 12-6.

Catamount starter, Masters, continued his recent strong pitching streak. The Marietta, Ga., native allowed three walks, but struck out four Bulldog batters in the victory. Senior Brock Thornburg returned to the hill for Western, tossing two innings of hitless and scoreless relief on under 10 total pitches.

Western returns to action on Wednesday night in non-conference action as it hosts the Georgia Bulldogs (12-21) at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm and a large crowd is expected so fans are encouraged to arrive early.