April 22, 2007

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina freshman shortstop Brent Greer collected his second home run in as many games, wrapping up a 2-for-3 performance with a lead-off, walk-off home run over the tallest section of the "Purple Monster" in left field to provide the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Catamounts swept the Elon Phoenix with a 5-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Greer scored three of WCU's five runs in the victory, finishing with two walks and a pair of RBI at the plate and six put outs with two assists in the field The freshman from Manassas, Va., also hit the game-tying home run on Saturday evening in the bottom of the ninth to help WCU win the series over the Phoenix.

Western (27-12, 11-4 SoCon) posted its 13th victory in its last 14 games -its longest such streak since winning 17-of-18 back in 1994 - completing its third conference series sweep of the year (The Citadel, Davidson and Elon). The Catamounts have also posted their best record through 39 games since the 1998 season when they opened 29-10. Sunday also marked the first time since 2005 that Elon has suffered a SoCon series sweep as the Phoenix dropped three-straight to Western in Cullowhee and to the College of Charleston that season.

Reliever Greg Holland, who came into the game in the top of the ninth in relief of freshman Chris Masters, was vying for his SoCon-leading eighth save of the season, but ran into trouble. After allowing a lead-off single by catcher Drew Davis, the Marion, N.C., native recorded back-to-back outs on a sacrifice bunt ground out to first and a swinging strikeout of Chris Dove. With two gone, Jordy Snyder singled to right field on an 0-1 pitch to score pinch-runner, Matt Hill, from second to tie the game at four. Holland allowed a walk to Pat Irvine before ending the threat with his second strikeout of the game.

In the Elon 10th, Holland retired the first two batters before issuing a pair of two-out walks sandwiched around a single up the middle to load the bases. However, Dove flew out to right field to end the threat, stranding three, setting up Greer's heroics in the bottom of the frame.

Holland (4-2) recorded his third victory of the series on Sunday, lasting two complete innings while giving up one earned run on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. WCU starter, Corey Martin, went five solid innings on Sunday, allowing three earned runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Senior Tyler Johnson, who took over for classmate Brock Thornburg in the sixth inning, finished out two solid frames of work, scattering two hits in shutout relief. Masters finished off the eighth in two pitches, giving way to Holland who went the remainder.

The Phoenix (22-20, 11-7 SoCon) again jumped out in front first, capitalizing on back-to-back walks and a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners in the top of the third before Jordy Snyder fouled out to left field for a sacrifice, bringing Davis to the plate for the 1-0 Elon lead. Western answered in similar fashion, however, in the bottom of the fourth as Greer led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior Steven Strausbaugh advanced the freshman to third with a long fly ball out to right before a sacrifice fly by junior Jonathan Greene scored Greer to tie the game at one.

In the fourth and fifth innings, Elon put runners at the corners with one out, but consecutive 4-6-3 double-play ground outs erased the threat. WCU did likewise in the bottom of the fifth, putting runners at the corners on a walk by freshman Nick Liles and a successfully executed a one-out hit-and-run by junior Blake Murphy. However, the Phoenix turned two across the infield to end the threat.

Elon pushed across two runs in the sixth to reclaim the advantage, 3-1, but the Catamounts retaliated with a two-spot of its own in the bottom of the frame to again tie the game. Shaft opened the inning with single up the middle that skipped between the legs of Phoenix starter, Zach Booker. Greer walked to put two on in front of Strausbaugh, who laid down the sacrifice bunt to move the two runners into scoring position. With two out and Elon threatening to strand more Catamount base runners, Smith laced a 2-1 pitch through the right side allowing both Shaft and Greer to score, tying the game at three.

An inning later, Western took its first lead of the game, rallying with two-outs in the seventh. Pinch hitter, Adam Baker, reached on a field error by Phoenix short stop, Snyder, before being lifted for Dylan de Graaf as a pinch runner. Shaft drew a two-out walk to chase Elon starter, Zach Booker who finished with six and two-thirds innings with four runs allowed, three earned, on four hits with four walks and four K's. On the second pitch from reliever Daniel Britt, Greer lined a single into center field to drive in the go-ahead run in the form of de Graaf, giving WCU the 4-3 lead to set up the final frames.

Britt (0-1) gave up two base hits - both to Greer - including the game-winning home run while also allowing the inherited runner, de Graaf, to score.

All told, Elon stranded 12 base runners after out hitting WCU, 12-to-6, while the Catamounts left half as many on base, 6.

Western returns to action this Tuesday, April 24, in a make-up game from the 2007 season opener against High Point that was cancelled due to inclement weather. First pitch between the Catamounts and the Panthers is set for 2:00 pm. The Catamount Sports Network is scheduled to broadcast Tuesday's game, with an air time of 1:45 pm. Fans can hear all of the action in Western North Carolina on WWCU, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee, or online at www.WWCUFM.com.