March 23, 2008

Box Score

Statesboro, Ga. - Georgia Southern again used a big inning to erase a Western Carolina lead en route to a 15-12 win Sunday afternoon in the Southern Conference-opening series for both squads at J.I. Clements Stadium/Jack Stallings Field.

With Western leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the third inning, Georgia Southern (14-8, 3-0 SoCon) plated seven runs in the frame to grab a lead it would never relinquish. The Eagles, winners of five-straight, scored runs in all eight innings in which they stepped to the plate.

Five Catamounts recorded multiple hit games including 2-for-4 days by senior Blake Murphy, junior J.C. Lyons, senior Barrett Shaft and freshman Matt Johns. Murphy's two hits both went for extra bases with a home run to left center and a double, while Shaft doubled in the loss. Johns posted two RBI singles, driving in a team-high tying three runs along with Murphy.

Sophomore Brent Greer finished 2-for-5 with his first triple of the season, while classmate Nick Liles gave WCU a second home run, lining one over the left centerfield fence in the top of the ninth inning to provide the final tally, 15-12.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the top of the third inning, Western seemingly seized control of the game with a four-run outburst to lead, 5-2. The Catamounts loaded the bases with one out utilizing a walk by sophomore Brent Greer and Murphy, with Lyons wearing a pitch for an HBP. Freshman Ryan Mathews then delivered a two-run single up the middle to plate both Greer and Murphy, with Lyons advancing to third. The next batter, Shaft, grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out that allowed Lyons to trot home from third.

However, Georgia Southern sent 10 batters to the plate in the home portion of the inning, scoring seven runs on three hits, including a three-run homer and a three-RBI double, while also utilizing four hit batters and one Catamount error to take control of the game, 9-5.

The Catamounts twice posted two-run innings to trim the Eagle advantage. Yet, each time WCU was able to cut into Georgia Southern's lead, the Eagles were able to counter. In the fifth, Johns drove in Shaft and sophomore Dylan de Graaf with a single up the middle to pull within three, 11-8. But GSU scored a run in the bottom of the inning off back-to-back base hits to stretch the lead back to four, 12-8.

Again in the seventh, Murphy laced a two-RBI double down the leftfield line to score Liles and Greer, but two WCU errors following a one out walk to Ty Wright allowed an insurance run to come to the plate for GSU.

Western Carolina junior Garrett Ozar suffered the loss after being chased amidst the seven-run third inning. He gave up nine runs, eight earned, on six hits with four HBP, two walks and one strikeout. Junior Corey Martin tossed four innings in relief allowing four earned runs on four hits with two K's, while freshman Brandon Johnson and sophomore Chris Masters each pitching one inning and combining for three strikeouts, two by Masters.

Western returns home to host East Tennessee State on Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee.