March 11, 2008

Box Score

Nashville, Tenn. - Playing its second nationally ranked team in three days, the Western Carolina Catamounts did something Tuesday that it could not do on Sunday in the tournament finale against the host Rice Owls - prevent the big inning. However, the fourth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores used five, one-run innings to stake itself to a lead it would never relinquish in a 5-3 win in baseball action at Hawkins Field Tuesday afternoon.

Vanderbilt (9-3) tallied nine base hits, but had to hold off the Catamounts over the final three innings after WCU clawed its way back to within a run, 4-3, in the visitor half of the seventh.

The Catamounts were led by freshman Ryan Mathews, who did not start the game but came on in the fourth after Andy John pinch hit for starting left fielder, Matt Johns. Mathews finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a single and a double, scoring one of Western's two runs in the seventh. Junior transfer J.C. Lyons was 1-for-3 with a double while senior Blake Murphy was 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

Catamount starter Drew Saberhagen (0-2) suffered his second defeat of the season, allowing just four earned runs while scattering seven base hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. The junior from Calabasas, Calif., struck out four, three of which were looking, while also walking four. Junior transfer Mike Tavernier pitched two and a third solid innings in relief, surrendering one earned run on two base hits, pitching around a pair of walks with two strikeouts.

Vanderbilt grabbed an early, 1-0, lead in the home half of the first inning. Centerfielder David Macias, who finished 1-for-5 but scored twice, doubled to left center to open the frame and five batters later was scored on an RBI single by Andrew Giobbi. The Commodores threatened to add more, loading the bases before a force out along the middle infield ended the inning and the threat.

The Commodores added a run in the second and third as Macias reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and touched home for a second time on an RBI single by Alex Feinberg. Again, Vandy threatened as shortstop Ryan Flaherty doubled down the right field line. However, Dylan de Graaf relayed to Jason Haynes, who gunned Feinberg out at the plate to end the inning and keep it as a single-run inning.

In the fourth, Western broke both the no-hitter and shutout bid all within three batters. Lyons belted a one-out double down the left field line before advancing to third on a passed ball. After Murphy drew his team-high 12th walk of the season, de Graaf grounded out to second to drive Lyons in for the Catamounts' first run, 3-1.

Western (4-8) again threatened in the sixth using two singles by sophomore Brent Greer and Murphy to put one on with just one away. However, a double-play along the middle infield thwarted the rally, keeping the Catamounts two runs back until Vanderbilt tacked on an additional run in the sixth on a two-out solo home run to again lead by three, 4-1.

In the top of the seventh, Mathews led off with a single to third base, with sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick drawing a walk to give the Catamounts two on with no outs, chasing reliever Steven Schwartz. Set-up man, Russell Brewer, tallied the first out of the frame on a strikeout before a double steal advanced Mathews and Kirkpatrick to third and second, respectively. With two outs, senior Barrett Shaft laced a two RBI single up the middle - nearly taking out Brewer in the process - to plate two runs and pull WCU within a run, 4-3.

Brewer recovered to record a strikeout to end the inning, then worked a perfect eighth before pitching around a lead-off double to center field by Mathews and an error in the ninth to record his first save of the season.

Commodore starter Caleb Cotham garnered his second win of the year, going four innings by design allowing just one earned run on one base hit while fanning four and walking two.

Giobbi finished 2-for-4 as the only Commodore to post multiple hits, while Dominic de la Osa and Shea Robin each homered in the victory for Vanderbilt.

Western Carolina will again go for its first road victory of the season (0-4) on Wednesday against Vanderbilt. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm CT / 5:00 pm ET with senior left-hander Tyler Sexton scheduled to take the mound for the Catamounts. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard locally on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee or online at www.WWCUFM.com.