March 15, 2009

Box Score

Charleston, S.C. - College of Charleston scored five runs in the home half of the first inning and then held on for a 7-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point to win the Southern Conference series two games to one over Western Carolina.

Charleston (13-3, 5-1 SoCon) claimed the conference series, bookending the weekend with wins on Friday and Saturday. Western dropped to 11-4 on the season with a 4-2 conference ledger.

Five Catamounts finished with multi-hit games as Western out-hit the Cougars, 12-to-9. Junior Brent Greer finished with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate to lead the Catamounts, with freshman Lee Murray blasting his first career home run to left as a part of a 2-for-3 day offensively.

Senior J.C. Lyons, junior Stephen Notaro and freshman Ross Heffley each finished 2-for-4 at the plate, with Lyons driving in two with on a pair of singles. Notaro and Heffley each legged out doubles and scored in the loss.

Senior starter Corey Martin (3-1) suffered his first defeat of the season after surrendering six runs on five hits. Chased in the second inning, Martin was replaced by classmate Garrett Ozar who scattered two base hits through four innings and pitched around three walks with six strikeouts. Sophomore Brandon Johnson tossed two scoreless innings, while junior Daniel Ottone allowed one run on one hit to close out the game for WCU.

Charleston jumped on top with a five-run bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on a WCU throwing error with three singles and a three RBI double by Matt Mansilla. Half an inning later, the Catamounts scratched the scoreboard as Greer doubled off the wall in left before scoring on an RBI single by Murray to close to within four, 5-1.

The Cougars stretched their lead back to five with a solo home run by Clay McCord to right center in the bottom of the second.

Western added a run in the fifth as Murray led off with an opposite field home run to left on an 0-1 pitch. An inning later, Heffley doubled to left before coming home on an RBI single by Lyons to cut the deficit to three, 6-3.

The Catamounts closed to within two, 6-4, after Notaro doubled down the right field line and score on Lyons' second RBI single to left. However, it was as close as WCU would get as Joey Bergman homered in the eighth to provide the final tally.

Three Cougars posted multi-hit games led by McCord's 2-for-3 showing with a home run and a pair of walks. Joash Brodin and Austin Morgan each went 2-for-4 with singles. Freshman David Peterson (3-0) worked 7.2 innings with five strikeouts to secure his third victory, while Owen Brittle tossed the final 1.1 innings to earn his second save of the year.

Western Carolina opens a five-game home stand on Tuesday as it hosts High Point in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm.