March 18, 2008

Box Score

Athens, Ga. - Western Carolina could not overcome a seven-run bottom of the fourth inning as the Georgia Bulldogs erased the Catamounts' early 2-0 lead en route to an 8-3 non-conference win Tuesday afternoon at Foley Field.

The Catamounts broke open a scoreless game in the top of the second inning as sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick laced a two-out single up the middle to plate freshman Ryan Mathews and sophomore Dylan de Graaf for the early, 2-0, advantage.

Western starter Drew Saberhagen, who was pitching on a strict schedule, worked a no-hitter through the first three innings, pitching around two walks.

However, after Saberhagen was lifted, the Bulldogs pounced in the home portion of the fourth against freshman reliever Matt Benedict. Following a lead-off walk, UGA junior Gordon Beckham homered over the fence in left field to knot the game at two. The Bulldogs would take the lead for good when senior Matt Olson doubled to score Rich Poythress for a 3-2 advantage, plating seven runs in the frame.

WCU trimmed the deficit back to four runs, 7-3, in the fifth when Brent Greer singled off the glove of Bulldog third baseman, Ryan Peisel to score freshman Matt Johns, who drew a game-high tying three walks in the loss. Yet, Georgia answered with a solo run in the bottom of the sixth to provide the final tally.

Down five entering the ninth, the Catamounts threatened as senior Barrett Shaft opened the final frame with a pinch hit single as a part of putting two on with no outs. But, Georgia closer Joshua Fields struck out the side to end the game.

Benedict - who was one of seven Catamount pitchers used by design - was saddled with his first career loss after surrendering four earned runs on two hits and a pair of walks in one-third inning of work. Freshman right-hander Brandon Johnson saw the most action out of the pen, going an inning and two-thirds hitless and scoreless with a walk and a strikeout.

Mathews and Greer were the lone two Catamounts to post multiple-hit games with Mathews posting WCU's only extra base hit of the game with a double in the second inning which sparked the early rally. The two finished 2-for-4 and 2-for-5, respectively, with Greer driving in Western's third run in the fifth.

For Georgia, Peisel finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Beckham's lone hit was the two-run homerun to left. Reliever Alex McRee earned his second victory of the season after allowing one earned run on four hits in three innings of work while fanning four.

The Catamounts out hit Georgia on the day, 8-to-6, but stranded 10 runners on base in the loss.

Western travels to Statesboro, Ga., to face the Georgia Southern Eagles this weekend in its three-game Southern Conference opening series.