April 6, 2007

Box Score

Davidson, N.C. - Six Catamounts posted multiple hit games and junior Greg Holland secured his fifth save of the season on Thursday night as Western Carolina raced to an early lead then held on to down the Davidson Wildcats, 13-11, in Southern Conference baseball action.

Western (18-11, 4-3 SoCon) pushed four runs across in the top of the first inning and tallied at least one run in each inning from the third through the seventh. Yet, it took four strikeouts from Holland, including striking out the side to strand runners at second and third in the bottom of the ninth for the Catamounts to win, moving above .500 in league play for the first time this season.

Right-hander Bryan Corbett (1-1) earned the victory after tossing an inning an a third in relief of starter Tyler Sexton who went four and two thirds allowing seven earned runs on eight hits. Corbett allowed one earned run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk to tally the victory.

Leading the six Catamounts with multiple hits were junior Blake Murphy who went 3-for-4 with his ninth double of the season and senior transfer Kenny Smith, who was likewise 3-for-4 and tallied his second triple of the season. One of the hottest hitting Catamounts, junior Barrett Shaft, also posted three hits in the win.

Senior John Ingram headlined a trio of WCU hitters with two hits by driving in a game-high tying three runs. Also posting two-hit games were junior Jonathan Greene (2-for-4, BB, RBI) and freshman Nick Liles (2-for-4, RBI).

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday evening at Wilson Field on the campus of Davidson College. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard locally in Western North Carolina on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 and online at www.WWCUFM.com. Air time is set for 5:45 pm with the first pitch slated for 6:00 pm.