April 6, 2008

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored all of its runs in the middle three innings and rode a solid relief appearance by senior Tyler Sexton to complete the series sweep of the Davidson Wildcats with an 8-4 win Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Sexton tossed the final 4.1 innings, scattering six base hits and limiting the Wildcats to just one unearned run to secure his first victory of the season. The High Point, N.C., native struck out five without allowing a walk in the win.

"Anytime you get a series sweep, that's just wonderful. We need to do that, especially in our league," said first-year head coach Bobby Moranda. "The only thing that is disappointing is the fact that we had five errors, and we are trying to come up with a solution on that. We think we have the right personnel out there but we've got to do a better job defending the field."

He added, "I thought Tyler Sexton was the absolute key to the game. He was beautiful today and executed awesomely. I think he only threw one bad pitch - one pitch where he missed his spot and the kid got a base hit and that's when were able to score that one run. He did a fabulous job and we needed that."

WCU moved back to .500 overall on the season at 15-15, while improving to 5-4 in SoCon play with the next two conference series coming on the road (at Elon, at Appalachian State). Davidson dropped to 8-18 overall, 1-8 in the league.

The Catamounts had four players post multiple-hit games on Sunday led by a 2-for-3 showing by senior catcher Blake Murphy. The Waynesville, N.C., native doubled twice and drew a pair of walks to accumulate a game-high three RBI. Murphy finished 7-for-10 (.700) for the series with five extra base hits (three doubles, two home runs) and a team-leading 10 RBI.

Also posting multi-hit games for WCU were senior Barrett Shaft, and sophomores Dylan de Graaf and Tyler Kirkpatrick - all going 2-for-4 with the latter two hitting doubles. Sophomore Brent Greer finished 1-for-4 with his first inning single extending his hitting streak to a team-best 17 games.

Scoreless through three and a half, Western scratched the scoreboard first with three runs in the home half of the fourth inning. Murphy and freshman Matt Johns led off the inning with back-to-back walks before a double-steal put runners at second and third for de Graaf. The Cumming, Ga., native laced a double to right center field to score one and put runners at the corners. Senior Jason Haynes grounded out sharply to second to score the second run, with Kirkpatrick delivering a one-out single to score de Graaf.

Just as quickly as Western had climbed on top, the Wildcats answered with a three-spot of their own half an inning later. Davidson used three hits, including an infield bunt single and a two-RBI single to center by shortstop Zach Kayne, to knot the game after four and a half.

The Catamounts surged ahead for good in the sixth, again plating three runs. Murphy belted a two-RBI double down the left field line and later scored on another RBI base hit by de Graaf to give WCU a 6-3 advantage.

After the Wildcats manufactured a run in the sixth, Western Carolina concluded its scoring with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull ahead, 8-4. Johns led off with an HBP, with a single by sophomore Nick Liles putting two aboard. Two batters later, Shaft walked to load the bases with Murphy drawing his second free pass of the game to drive in a run. Following a Wildcat pitching change, freshman Ryan Mathews drew a walk to plate the game's final run.

Junior right-hander Corey Martin started for the Catamounts, working 4.2 innings before being lifted for Sexton. Martin only allowed three earned runs on four base hits, maneuvering around four walks with five strikeouts to receive a no-decision on a day when Catamount pitching did not allow an extra base hit.

Davidson starter Chris Kennedy (0-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing six earned runs on five base hits, walking five and striking out four. Kayne led the Wildcats offensively with a 3-for-5 showing, driving in two runs in the loss.

Western Carolina returns to action on Tuesday with one mid-week game. The Catamounts travel to Columbia, S.C., to face the South Carolina Gamecocks at 7:00 pm. The game will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network with an air time of 6:45 pm, and can be heard locally in Western North Carolina on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5, or online at www.WWCUFM.com.