March 17, 2008

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina rallied from a one-run deficit, surging ahead by three, 5-2, entering the seventh inning before Hartford plated six runs in the top of the frame to grab a lead it would not relinquish. The Catamounts plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but could not overtake the Hawks, falling in game three of the non-conference series, 8-7, at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Despite the loss, which prevented a three-game sweep of the Hawks, Western Carolina did claim its eight-straight, non-conference series victory with Sunday's sweep in the double-header. Including both conference and non-conference foes, the Catamounts have also won 10-straight, three-game series overall dating back to last season.

Following Hartford's six-run seventh inning, Western (6-10) had a golden opportunity to rally in the home portion of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. But, back-to-back strikeouts with the bases full and a lazy fly ball out to center field ended the would-be threat.

In the ninth, trailing 8-5, senior Blake Murphy delivered his lone hit of the contest with a one-out single to right center field to score sophomore Nick Liles to trim the deficit to one, 8-6. After a wild pitch moved Murphy to second, junior J.C. Lyons lifted one to right field that the Hawks' Drew Sgro slide under as it was tailing away for the second out. The next batter, sophomore Brent Greer, doubled to left field to score Murphy from third, but it was as close as WCU would get as a strikeout ended the rally and game.

All told, the Catamounts stranded 17 base runners in the loss, leaving the bases loaded three times including the scoreless eighth.

Greer led the Catamounts on the day with a 2-for-3 showing with three walks and three of Western's seven runs scored. Lyons secured the only other multiple-hit game with a 2-for-6 performance, while sophomore Dylan de Graaf blasted his first career home run, clearing the "Purple Monster" with a two-run blast in the sixth inning.

Hartford (2-3) jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning as catcher Mike Amendola made Western pay for a leadoff walk, scoring on an RBI single by Adam Bowser for the 1-0 advantage. The Catamounts answered, though, in the home portion of the frame as Greer drew a leadoff walk and was later scored from third on a sacrifice fly by senior Jason Haynes to knot the game at one.

The Hawks reclaimed the lead in the third despite having one runner gunned down at the plate. With Matt Walker aboard with a double, Amendola tripled to right field. As the lead runner, Walker was gunned down at the plate from Matt Johns and the relay from Nick Liles to Murphy. Yet, Amendola would touch home on a wild pitch to give the Hawks the 2-1 lead after three.

Western's first rally of the night came in the fifth which opened with back-to-back singles to center from Lyons and Greer. Dylan de Graaf reached on a fielder's choice while trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error by Hartford starter, Ben Sobocinski, which allowed two runs to scamper home. Yet, despite the strong start to the frame, Western could not capitalize and only managed the two runs, leading 3-2.

The Catamounts added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth off the bat of de Graaf to lead 5-2 before the six-run, five-hit seventh inning pushed the game out of reach, setting up WCU's eighth and ninth inning comeback bid.

Sophomore Chris Masters was saddled with his second loss of the season, tossing three innings in relief, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out five. Junior Corey Martin threw two innings in relief of starter Vance Chavis, who went four innings scattering four base hits and two earned runs in his first collegiate start. Chavis also fanned four against three walks, while Martin posted one K.

For Hartford, Sobocinski went four innings in the start with reliever Kyle Perry collecting the win with four innings in relief despite giving up four earned runs on five base hits. Perry did strikeout five Catamount batters, including two in the eighth after loading the bases with no outs. Bowser led the Hawks with a 3-for-5 outing including a double and three RBI.

Western Carolina returns to the diamond on Tuesday as it travels to Foley Field to face the University of Georgia. First pitch from Athens, Ga., is set for 5:00 pm. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network, presented by Jackson Paper Company. Fans can follow all of the action on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 or online at www.WWCUFM.com with air time at 4:45 pm.