Box Score May 4, 2007
Box Score
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Western Carolina junior Tyler Sexton tossed a five-hit, complete game shutout while classmate Steven Strausbaugh homered as a part of a 2-for-4 outing as the Catamounts blanked mountain-rival, Appalachian State, 6-0 on Friday night in the opener of the three-game Southern Conference series at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Sexton (7-2) worked nine solid innings for the Catamounts, walking one and striking out five while holding the Mountaineers to just five base hits - all singles - and did not allow an ASU base runner passed second base. The complete game was the second in a row for the High Point, N.C., native who went the distance last Friday at Furman snapping a string of 104-straight games for WCU pitchers without a complete game.
Western's shutout was its first this season, with the last scoreless victory coming last year against Davidson (April 28, 6-0). Sexton posted WCU's first complete game shutout since Brandon McDowell tossed a one-hit, 2-0 complete game over Virginia Commonwealth in the semifinals of the 2003 NCAA Wilson Regional.
Strausbaugh opened scoring for the Catamounts with a solo home run over the "Purple Monster" in left field in the bottom of the first inning which proved to be all the runs Western would need. With two outs in the opening frame, the Venice, Fla., native belted a 1-0 pitch skyward to left for his sixth round tripper of the season and third in the past three games.
Western Carolina (31-14, 14-5 SoCon) capitalized on four Mountaineer errors on the night, including one in the bottom of the fifth inning that kept the frame alive allowing the Catamounts to plate four runs to break open an otherwise close pitcher's duel. With two out, both Strausbaugh and junior Blake Murphy singled with senior transfer Kenny Smith extending the inning, loading the bases after reaching on an error by ASU shortstop, Jason Altenhof. The next batter, junior Jonathan Greene, recorded a two-RBI single with senior John Ingram also driving in two on a single to left field to give the Catamounts a 5-0 advantage.
Western concluded the scoring on the night in the sixth inning as freshman Nick Liles, who reached and eventually moved to third on Mountaineer errors, scored on a sacrifice fly to center by junior Barrett Shaft to provide the final, 6-0, tally.
In addition to Strausbaugh, Ingram also finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Greene equaled his runs driven in total with a pair. Smith went 1-for-3, extending his current hit streak to 12 games marking his longest of the season and tying the team's season-long previously held by Ingram and Liles.
But the story of the night was Tyler Sexton, who only allowed four base runners to second base all night. He pitched around a lead-off single and sacrifice bunt in the top of the first, inducing a fly ball to center field before picking off the would-be base stealer at third base to end the threat. He also worked around a one-out error in the second before embarking on a stretch where he retired 10-straight through the fifth inning. Sexton concluded the game by only allowing two base runners to second over the final three innings to secure the victory.
Appalachian (24-21, 9-10 SoCon) starter Matt Andress was chased after six innings of work, allowing six runs - only one of which was earned - on seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. He suffered his fourth loss of the season to fall to 4-4 overall.
The two teams will continue the three-game set at 7:00 pm on Saturday night in Cullowhee. Fans can follow all of the action with LIVE GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and West Care Health System by logging onto www.CatamountSports.com.
