Box Score May 6, 2007
Box Score
Cullowhee, N.C. - Appalachian State plated five runs between the fifth and sixth innings while Mountaineer pitching limited Western Carolina to seven base hits for the game to prevent the series sweep, downing the Catamounts, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference baseball action at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
The loss snaps Western's four-game winning streak and was the first at home in league play this season for the Catamounts. WCU secured the series victory - its sixth-straight this season - by virtue of its 13-7 win over the Mountaineers on Saturday evening.
Western (32-15, 15-6 SoCon) was not without its opportunities on Sunday, however, as the Catamounts loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but could only manage to score one run on a Blake Murphy sacrifice fly to right field. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, WCU had the tying run at the plate with runners at second and third with two outs, but Appalachian pitcher Garrett Sherrill ended the threat with a strikeout.
Sophomores Andy John and Mitchell Hatley both posted multiple hit games with John going 2-for-4 with his first career home run and a double, scoring twice, while Hatley finished with a pair of singles and was hit by a pitch to reach each time he came to the plate. Junior Blake Murphy walked three times, driving in one on the sacrifice fly, while senior Kenny Smith extended his current hit streak to a team season-best 14 games with his 18th double of the season.
After pitching around a lead-off single in the top of the first inning, the Catamounts scratched the scoreboard first as Murphy drew a one-out walk and scored from first on the aforementioned RBI double to left center by Smith to give WCU a 1-0 edge.
Half an inning later, though, Appalachian State tied the game at one capitalizing on a lead-off double to right center by Jerod Faggart and a wild pitch that moved him to third. Faggart came home when first baseman David Towarnicky bounced out to short.
The Mountaineers (25-22, 10-11 SoCon) took the lead for good in the top of the fifth by scoring three runs on five hits and taking advantage of a pair of Catamount errors. The Apps loaded the bases with one out on a single to center field and a pair of one-baggers along the infield, chasing Catamount starter Corey Martin. Senior reliever Tyler Johnson got the short stop, Jason Altenhof, to foul out down the right field line, driving in a run, but also allowed a single up the middle and a double before striking out Towarnicky to end the frame.
Martin (4-2) suffered the loss after recording four and a third innings pitched, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
The Cats got back one of the runs back on a towering solo homer to right center field by John, but could not seize momentum following a hit batsman, finishing with back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out ending the threat. ASU proceeded to stretch its lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI triple by Altenhof, who later scored on a single up the middle to conclude the Apps scoring.
Johnson pitched an inning and two thirds, surrendering a pair of earned runs on five hits with a strikeout and was later lifted for the left-handed freshman, Chris Maters, who also went 1.2 innings of scoreless relief allowing just one base hit while fanning three. Junior Greg Holland tossed the final inning and a third giving up three hits but no runs while equaling Masters with three strikeouts.
Jason Rook (5-5) earned the victory for Appalachian State, scattering six base hits and three earned runs over six and two thirds innings of work. The right-hander pitched around five walks with six strikeouts in the winning effort. Sherrill pitched the final 2.1 innings scoreless with just one WCU hit with a walk and a strikeout to garner his sixth save of the year.
Offensively for the Mountaineers, Faggart led the way with a 4-for-5 performance including three doubles. Altenhof posted three base hits, while third baseman Wes Hobson also finished 3-for-5 on the afternoon.
Western Carolina returns to action this Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8-9, in a pair of non-conference road games at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6:35 pm, with Wednesday afternoon's tilt with the Buckeyes slated for a 1:00 pm start. Both games will be available on GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and West Care Health Systems by logging onto www.CatamountSports.com.
RADIO COVERAGE AT OHIO STATE - It was confirmed on Sunday evening that both games of the WCU-OSU series are scheduled to be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard in Western North Carolina on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee, and on-line at www.WWCUFM.com. Air time is set for 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time -- or 6:20 on Tuesday evening and 12:45 pm on Wednesday afternoon.
