March 27, 2008

Box Score

Asheville, N.C. - Freshman Ryan Mathews sparked a ninth-inning rally with a leadoff, pinch-hit double as the Catamounts scored two runs in the final frame to edge mountain rival UNC Asheville, 12-10, Wednesday night at McCormick Field.

With the Bulldogs threatening in the bottom of the ninth, Tuesday night's hero, senior Jason Haynes, snared a line drive, flipping it to second for the game-ending double to play as Western (8-14) won its second-consecutive game. WCU has also one two straight against UNC Asheville, and six of the last seven contests in the series.

Sophomore Brent Greer led the Catamounts with a 4-for-4 outing, including three RBIs and two runs scored. Haynes was also perfect from the plate on the night, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs. In addition to Greer, both junior J.C. Lyons and freshman Matt Johns both recorded three RBIs, with Johns' coming on one swing, a three-run home run in the sixth, which was a part of a four-run frame for the Cats.

WCU jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but surrendered the margin courtesy of a two-run frame by the Bulldogs (12-14). The score was knotted up at 2-2 after three before the Catamounts erupted for four runs in the top half of the fourth inning, to take a 6-2 advantage, which proved to be short-lived as Asheville answered with six runs the following half-inning.

The Catamounts would never trail after taking the lead in the sixth inning, scoring four runs on four hits, including an RBI double by Lyons, followed by Johns' three-run shot over the left centerfield wall.

Eight different Catamounts contributed to the team's 15 hits on the night, with every WCU batter reaching base at least once. Also recording multi-hit games were sophomore Nick Liles and senior Blake Murphy, who finished the night with two hits apiece.

Making his first career start, sophomore Daniel Ottone threw three solid innings for Western, allowing four earned runs on four hits while striking out three Bulldogs. Junior Corey Martin had seven strike outs in 4.1 innings of relief, one shy of his career high. At one point, the third-year hurler from Yadkinville, N.C., retired nine-straight UNCA hitters, including four strikeouts looking. Classmate Garrett Ozar picked up his second win of the season after throwing one scoreless inning, recording one strikeout. The save was credited to sophomore Chris Masters, who came in for the last two outs of the game, facing a single batter to close out the contest.

Western will look to extend their winning streak when they return home this weekend for a three-game Southern Conference series with UNC Greensboro. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., followed by a 4:00 pm start on Saturday, with the final game of the weekend at 2:00 pm Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.