May 17, 2008

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Sophomore Reid Rollison, who was a defensive substitution in left field for Western Carolina in the eighth inning, drilled a two out, walk-off double to left center field, scoring freshman Ryan Mathews from first base to cap a wild regular season finale as the Catamounts downed the College of Charleston, 13-12, Saturday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Western (28-26, 14-13 SoCon) answered the Cougars' two-run top of the first with an 11-run opening frame to stake themselves to a lead it held until a three-run Brandon Sizemore homer in the top of the ninth tied the game at 12.

With two outs, Mathews grounded a single up the middle just past the reach of shortstop Mike Hentz. Rollison then worked the count full before nailing the sixth pitch he saw into the gap in left center. Mathews, who was running with the pitch, slide home with no play at the plate to give Western the walk-off victory.

Senior left-hander Tyler Sexton (4-4) earned the victory after allowing five earned runs on three hits, including the long ball to Sizemore. The High Point, N.C., native, who was honored with his three classmates prior to first pitch, issued three walks and hit one batter, countering with five strikeouts.

Western will now await its seeding for next week's Southern Conference tournament in Charleston, S.C. WCU could avoid Tuesday's single-elimination game if Wofford completes the three-game sweep of Appalachian State in Spartanburg. Otherwise, the Catamounts will be the No. 7 seed and face tenth-seeded Wofford on Tuesday at Noon.