Feb. 20, 2009

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Using a nine-run bottom of the seventh inning, Western Carolina rallied from an five-run deficit to upend the Bowling Green Falcons Friday evening, 16-8, in the 2009 season opener at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Western Carolina (1-0) fell behind 5-0 after half an inning, and trailed by five, 8-3, through four and a half innings. But the Catamounts chipped away with three in the home half of the fifth and one in the sixth before erupting for nine runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh to claim a lead it would never relinquish.

Six Catamounts posted multi-hit games as WCU pounded out 15 hits on the day, with five recording multiple RBI outings. Sophomore Matt Johns led the squad with a 3-for-6 outing with a double and a home run, a solo shot in the third. Junior Tyler Kirkpatrick finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three runs driven in, while classmate Nick Liles belted a lead-off solo shot in the sixth as a part of a 2-for-6, two RBI performance.

True freshman Ross Heffley, who started in left field in his first collegiate game, finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while juniors Brent Greer and Reid Rollison each tallied a pair of hits with Rollison legging out a two-bagger in the win.

Senior Mike Tavernier earned the season-opening start, working through the first four innings allowing all eight runs - only three of which were earned - on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks. He was lifted in the fifth in place of classmate Garrett Ozar, who worked four solid innings of scoreless relief allowing just three hits while fanning a game-high eight.

Sophomore Brandon Johnson worked a perfect ninth with a pair of ground outs and a fly ball to centerfield to end the game.

Trailing 8-6 entering the home half of the sixth inning, Liles led off with a home run, belting a 0-1 pitch over the left centerfield fence to close the deficit to within a run.

An inning latter, the Catamounts capitalized on back-to-back, one-out walks by Kirkpatrick and Rollison to spark the nine-run rally. Heffley drove in Kirkpatrick from second with a single, with junior transfer Trevor Collias scoring Rollison on a fielder's choice after the first of two middle infield errors by the Falcons. With Stephen Notaro, J.C. Lyons and Greer aboard, Kirkpatrick laced a two-out, base clearing double to plate three, pushing Western's lead to 15-8.

Rollison capped the scoring with an RBI single, scoring Kirkpatrick from second to end the onslaught and propel WCU to the season-opening victory.

For the Falcons, designated hitter David Borcherdt finished 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, while first baseman Ryan Hangbers was 2-for-5. Relief pitcher Charles Wooten was saddled with the loss after working two innings, surrendering seven runs on five hits with a pair of walks.

Game two of the three-game, season-opening series is set for 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. The Catamounts are scheduled to start junior left-hander - and preseason All-SoCon selection - Chris Masters. Admission all weekend is free of charge.