March 30, 2008

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina pushed across eight runs in the final three innings to rally past the UNC Greensboro Spartans, 9-5, Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. With WCU's win in the rubber match, the Catamounts won the three-game Southern Conference series.

Senior Barrett Shaft led the WCU with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate including a double and two RBI as one of five Catamounts with multiple-hit games. Sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick was a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks and his seventh home run of the season, while classmates Brent Greer and Nick Liles, and senior Jason Haynes each collected two singles in the win.

UNC Greensboro (18-7, 4-2 SoCon) jumped out on top with a three-run third inning, capitalizing on four base hits including a two RBI double just inside the bag at first by Corey Overholtzer. Western answered with a solo run in the home half of the frame as Greer singled in Kirkpatrick to trim the deficit to two, 3-1, after three innings.

The Spartans added to their advantage with two runs in the top of the fifth utilizing two Catamount errors. With Greg Feltes aboard with a lead-off walk, first baseman Ricky Orton singled but advanced to second, scoring Feltes, on a throwing error. Then, with the bases loaded, Overholtzer grounded into one of two double plays turned by Western to drive in the second run.

Western started its rally in the home half of the sixth inning, trimming its deficit to two with a two spot. Greer was hit by a pitch to open the frame with Shaft doubling him to third ahead of sophomore Dylan de Graaf who flew out right to drive in the first run. The next batter, freshman Matt Johns, fouled out down the right field line which allowed Shaft to scamper home to make it 5-3 after six.

In the seventh, the Catamounts exploded for four runs to take their first lead of the afternoon. Haynes led off with a bunt single with Kirkpatrick walking to put two aboard ahead of catcher Stephen Notaro who sacrificed the two over with a bunt. Liles singled through the left side to score Haynes, with Shaft singling through the right side with the bases loaded to score Kirkpatrick. WCU plated two additional runs scoring on a Spartan infield error and the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Johns.

Kirkpatrick belted a solo homer as a part of a two-run eighth as Western claimed its first conference series

Sophomore left-hander Chris Masters (2-2) earned his second win of the week tossing five innings of hitless and scoreless relief, pitching around four walks with three strikeouts. Junior Corey Martin went four innings in his first start of the season allowing all five runs, four of which were earned, with three strikeouts and four walks.

For UNC Greensboro, Wes McCall was charged with the loss after only officially pitching one third of an inning, surrendering four earned runs on three hits with two walks. Feltes was the only Spartan to record a multi-hit game on Sunday going 2-for-4 with a double.

Western Carolina (10-15, 2-4 SoCon) will step out of conference for two mid-week games beginning with a Tuesday afternoon tilt at Gardner-Webb. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm with coverage being provided by the Catamount Sports Network on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 at 2:45 pm. The Catamounts return home on Wednesday to host mountain-rival UNC Asheville at 7:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.