April 15, 2008

Box Score

Clemson, S.C. - Senior Barrett Shaft finished 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the eighth and a two-RBI single as a part of a three-run ninth inning as Western Carolina upended the Clemson Tigers, 6-2, Tuesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tigers managed to put two runners on in each of the final three innings - twice advancing a runner to third - but WCU pitching shut the door to earn the victory.

The win was just the third all-time for the Catamounts on the road against the Tigers (3-36), while also relegating Clemson to its school-record, 10th-straight loss on the season.

Shaft's 11th multiple-hit and sixth multi-RBI game of the season helped propel the Catamounts to the win, out-hitting Clemson, 12-to-5. The Lilburn, Ga., native drove in a game-high four runs on his three hits. Sophomore Reid Rollison finished a perfect 3-for-3, blasting his first collegiate home run in the second inning to propel Western to the early lead. Classmate Nick Liles and junior Mitchell Hatley each posted multiple hit games with two apiece.

Sophomore Daniel Ottone tossed five innings of two-run, three-hit baseball in the starting role for WCU, walking one and striking out two. His quality start set up junior Drew Saberhagen (3-4), who tossed 2.1 innings in relief to pick up the win. The Calabasas, Calif., native only allowed one base hit with a pair of walks and a strikeout on the night.

Relievers Mike Tavernier and Tyler Sexton combined to toss the final 1.2 innings of scoreless, one-hit work with Tavernier striking out the only batter he faced and Sexton working around a pair of walks with two strikeouts, including a swinging K to end the game.

WCU led 1-0 following Rollison's solo shot to left in the second, holding the lead until Clemson answered with a solo home run of its own in the bottom of the third by third baseman Matt Sanders.

Two innings later, the Tigers took their lone lead of the night, capitalizing on a lead-off walk by right fielder Chris Epps and a quirky play. Epps advanced from first to third on a single up the middle by shortstop Stan Widmann, who made a big turn around first and was caught in a rundown. While the Catamount defense worked to eliminate Widmann from the bases, Epps scampered home for the go-ahead run, 2-1, Clemson through five.

In the seventh, Western reclaimed the advantage for good as Shaft lifted a two-out, two-run shot to right center to push the Catamounts ahead, 3-2. WCU manufactured three insurance runs in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs before Shaft delivered again.

Senior Jason Haynes reached on a throwing error, with the merry-go-round turning around the bases on consecutive singles by Rollison and Hatley. Liles reached on a fielder's choice, with Haynes gunned out at the plate despite leaping over the Tiger catcher in an attempt to score for the first out. Shaft then singled through the right side to drive in two, with sophomore Brent Green bouncing up the middle on a fielder's choice to drive in the final run, 6-2.

Clemson (18-18) threatened in each of the final three innings, putting two runners aboard and twice advancing a runner to third base. In the seventh, a walk and a bunt single put two on with a sacrifice putting men at second and third with one out. However, Saberhagen struck out Widmann and induced a ground ball to the right side with Shaft fielding and tossing on to the pitcher to end the threat.

The next frame, the Tigers tried to utilize a fielding error, eventually pushing Mike Freeman to third on an infield single by first baseman Ben Paulsen. However, during the next batter's turn at the plate, Paulsen attempted a two-out steal and was hung up between first and second. While in a run-down, Freeman tried to race home but was cut down by Greer to senior catcher Blake Murphy to end the inning.

Sexton, who earned his second career save in WCU's win, pitched around a pair of two-out walks in the ninth with a strikeout to end the game.

The Tigers five base hits on the night were scattered among five different players with left fielder Jeff Schaus going 1-for-3 with a walk for the best team average. Sanders' lone hit was a home run, with Epps reaching and scoring on a walk in the loss. Reliever Matt Vaughn suffered his second defeat of the season after giving up the two-run homer to Shaft, with starter Casey Harman posting a no-decision. The two combined for six strikeouts, with closer D.J. Mitchell allowing three earned runs while striking out one in an inning of work.

Western Carolina, winners of two-straight and 10 of its last 14, returns to Southern Conference play this weekend as it visits arch-rival, Appalachian State in Boone.