Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - For the second consecutive game, the Western Carolina Catamounts rallied back from an early-inning deficit to score a victory, pulling out a 12-8 win over the Marshall Thundering Herd Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

The win gives the Catamounts the 2-1 series victory over Marshall with back-to-back, come-from-behind wins on the weekend.

After being held hitless through the first three innings, Western (2-1) used a leadoff double down the left field line by junior J.C. Lyons to spark a three-run fourth to pull within two, 5-3. With Lyons and sophomore Brent Greer - who reached on the first of his team-high four hits - aboard, sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick connected on a line drive home run over the centerfield fence to clear the bases.

Marshall (1-2) pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to answer before Western's offense exploded in the home half of the frame with six runs, pulling ahead of the Herd, 9-7 - a lead that would hold for the rest of the game.

Senior Barrett Shaft sparked the one-out rally with a liner over the head of the Marshall first baseman and into the right field corner, legging out his first triple of the season. Shaft then scored when classmate Blake Murphy reached on a throwing error by the MU third baseman which pulled the defensive player off the bag at first. The scoring barrage continued as freshman transfer Ryan Mathews drove in a pair on a single to left center field.

With Mathews and Kirkpatrick aboard, junior Andy John strode to the plate with two outs and a chance to give the Cats their first lead. The opportunity seemingly passed WCU by when John skied a foul ball high into the air behind home plate. Marshall catcher Tommy Johnson circled underneath the ball for what appeared to be the third and final out of the inning. But the ball bounced off Johnson's glove, dropping to the ground giving WCU new life. On the very next pitch, John took advantage of the break and blasted a shot over the fence in right field for a three-run homer, his first of the season and second of his career.

Leading 9-7 in the seventh inning, Western made things interesting when Marshall's Nate Lape hit his second home run of the game to pull the Herd within one run at 9-8. But WCU reliever, junior transfer Mike Tavernier closed the door on the rally with a strike out and a ground out to end the threat.

In the top of the eighth, the Catamounts added three more insurance runs on only one hit, with the most damage coming courtesy of a pair of sacrifice hits and capitalizing on Marshall miscues. Lyons drove in one with a sacrifice fly to center, with Greer plating a run on a single to left. The third run was tallied when Murphy rushed home on a wild pitch by Marshall's Arik Sikula to push the score to its final tally, 12-8.

The Herd threatened once more in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs and the tying run coming to the plate. But Tavernier again buckled down and struck out Victor Gomez looking to end the game and seal the victory.

Tavernier, who came in the game in the fifth inning and pitched the remaining four and one-third innings, picked up his first win of the season. He only allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out six on the afternoon. Starting pitcher Drew Saberhagen rang up five strikeouts in his four and two-thirds innings, tying his career high.

Greer was one of two Catamounts with multiple hits as seven of the nine Catamounts reached on base hits in the game. Greer finished 4-for-5 with four singles and two RBI while classmate Nick Liles finished 2-for-4 with a walk.

For Marshall, Ian Kadish was saddled with the loss after surrendering two unearned runs in 2.1 innings of work in relief of starter Dan Straily who allowed seven runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. Two members of the Herd - Lape and Johnson - each hit two home runs apiece to lead MU offensively.

Western travels to the "Baseball at the Beach" tournament this weekend in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Catamounts will face West Virginia, George Mason, Marshall and the host Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Feb. 29 through March 2.