April 26, 2008

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Furman twice plated six runs in its half of an inning including a six-spot in the first inning as the Paladins secured a 13-4 win over Western Carolina Saturday evening in Southern Conference baseball action at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

The win gives Furman a series victory over the Catamounts, replicating what it did two seasons ago when the Paladins took two-of-three in Cullowhee. Ironically, the 2006 series win for Furman also marks the last time WCU had lost a three-game SoCon series at home.

WCU will look to avoid the three-game home sweep on Sunday with first pitch moved up to Noon due to the threat of inclement weather later in the afternoon. The Catamounts have not been swept at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium since 2004, dropping three-straight to the College of Charleston.

Catamount starter, Drew Saberhagen (3-6) only lasted one inning after allowing six runs, only three of which were earned, with one walk. Sophomore Daniel Ottone and junior transfer Garrett Ozar threw well in relief, combining for 6.1 innings while holding the Paladins to two runs, one earned. Ottone scattered five base hits with five strikeouts, while Ozar fanned three giving him five on the weekend.

Senior Tyler Sexton and freshman Brandon Johnson tossed the final 1.2 innings with the previous tagged for five runs, three earned, on four hits with a walk. Johnson allowed one hit and posted one K.

Trailing 6-0 after the top of the first, Western tried to mount an early comeback with a two-spot of its own in the home half of the frame. A pair of Paladin errors sandwiched around a single through the left side by sophomore Brent Greer allowed lead-off man Nick Liles to touch the dish to put WCU on the board. Senior Blake Murphy then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the second run on his lone RBI.

The Catamounts plated single runs in the third and fourth with two outs, but stranded the bases loaded in the third. Senior Barrett Shaft, who moved to within three hits of tying for the all-time career hits record, singled up the middle and was later driven home by sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick who placed a ground-ball single deep in the hole at short with the bases full. WCU could only manage the solo run and trailed, 6-3, after three.

In the fourth, sophomore Dylan de Graaf walked and moved to second on Liles' second hit of the night. The Cumming, Ga., native swiped third and stole home after Furman threw behind Liles at first, forgetting about the speedy de Graaf, trimming the deficit to two, 6-4.

However, WCU only managed three hits the remainder of the contest, leaving four runners aboard the final five frames in the loss.

Liles extended his current hitting streak to 15 games with a 2-for-5 showing at the plate. Both he and de Graaf each posted two stolen bases apiece as well. Greer and Murphy also posted two-hit games as Greer was 2-for-5 and Murphy was 2-for-4 with the RBI sacrifice fly. Shaft recorded career hit No. 308 in the loss as he continues to chase the career record held by Chris Moore (1996-99) at 311.

For the Paladins, Friday night's pitching hero was again the man with top billing. Jay Jackson, who fanned 11 on the hill in the opener, was a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-5 outing which included a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. Marcus Rose recorded two hits including a lead-off, first-pitch triple to start the game, while Reese Wade continued to swing a hot bat finishing 2-for-4.

All told, six Furman hitters posted multiple hit nights as the Paladins put 17 on the board to counter five errors in the field.

Starting pitcher Mason Smith (4-3) earned his fourth victory of the season, scattering six base hits and four runs - only one of which was earned - with a walk and two strikeouts. The Paladin bullpen pieced together the remaining 2.2 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief to secure the victory.

Again, first pitch for Sunday's series finale is set for Noon. Fans can follow all of the action on live GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and WestCare Health System, by logging onto www.CatamountSports.com.