March 18, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Sparked by a two-RBI double to right center by junior Stephen Notaro, Western Carolina broke open a scoreless game with two runs in the third inning, adding two more in the fourth en route to a 9-2 victory over mountain-rival, UNC Asheville, Wednesday night in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Notaro finished with a game-high three hits in a 3-for-4 performance to headline four Catamounts with multiple hits. Sophomore Matt Johns and senior Mitchell Hatley - batting eight and nine in the order respectively - combined to go 4-for-5 with four runs scored and five RBI in the victory. Included in Johns' hit total was a solo home run to straight-away center in the fourth inning.

Hatley, who was playing at second for Nick Liles who was serving a one-game Southern Conference-mandated suspension following his Tuesday night ejection, finished 2-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice fly with two RBI. Junior Brent Greer recorded a 2-for-5 showing at the plate with a run scored.

Freshman hurler Kyle Stewart (2-0) scattered seven base hits through 5.2 innings, holding UNC Asheville to a pair of earned runs to secure his second career victory in as many starts. Classmate Tyler Brownlow struck out one in two-thirds of an inning pitched, with sophomore Brandon Johnson throwing two pitches in the sixth to induce a double-play ball to also record two-thirds of an inning.

Senior Bryan Corbett and junior Jason Sullivan finished off the win for WCU, each working one hitless, scoreless inning of relief.

In the home half of the third, Greer reached on a throwing error by the Bulldog third baseman to keep the inning alive ahead of senior J.C. Lyons, who singled just past the pitcher with runners ending up on the corners. The next batter, Notaro, then doubled to right center on the second pitch of the at bat to plate two runs and give Western the early, 2-0 lead.

An inning later, three-consecutive two-out extra base hits pushed two more runs across. Johns belted his second home run of the season just ahead of Hatley and freshman Lee Murray - who moved into the lead-off role on Wednesday - with the latter driving in the second run of the frame.

UNC Asheville (3-15) pulled to within two runs with one in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to close the game to 4-2. Both runs were put on base by way of the walk, with Reed Kreiser doubling in Danny Baatz in the fifth and catcher Johnny Eaker sharply singling up the middle off of Brownlow to score Mike Vaughn in the sixth.

Western answered with a manufactured run in the bottom of the sixth to push the advantage back to three, 5-2, before creating some distance with a three-spot in the home portion of the seventh, highlighted by a two-RBI single up the middle by Johns.

Reid Rollison capped scoring in the eighth with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive senior Andy John in from third, 9-2.

Both teams struggled with runners aboard as UNCA left 11 and WCU stranded 10 in the game.

The Bulldogs used seven different pitchers by schedule with reliever Dan Weller suffering the loss after taking over in a scoreless affair in the second from starter Ryan Dull. Weller posted the longest outing for UNCA, working two innings while allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout.

UNCA, which has combined for just 13 runs in its last six outings, had two players with multi-hit games with Cody Buch and Johnny Eaker both finishing 2-for-4. Buch and Kreiser each legged out doubles in the loss.

Western Carolina will remain at home to conclude its second five-game home stand with a three-game Southern Conference series against The Citadel. The Catamounts and Bulldogs will play at 6:00 pm both Friday and Saturday, with Sunday's finale slated for a 2:00 pm first pitch at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.