March 20, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina (13-5, 4-3 SoCon) held an early 2-0 lead before a four-run top of the fifth for the Citadel broke open the game and the Bulldogs never lost the lead. Citadel improves to 9-7, 5-2 in the SoCon with a 10-3 victory on Friday night, in the first game of the three game series against the Citadel at Childress Field/ Hennon Stadium.

The Catamounts did have nine hits including five for extra bases but it just wasn’t enough against the hot hitting Bulldogs Friday night.

Three Western Carolina players had multiple hits for the game including junior second basemen Nick Liles who went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Junior catcher Stephen Notaro also had two hits and a solo Home Run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tyler Kirkpatrick rounded out the multi-hit games going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Senior Mike Tavernier (1-2) took the loss throwing 4 2/3 innings allowing nine hits and four earned runs for the Catamounts. Senior Wes Wrenn went six solid innings for the Bulldogs to earn his second win of the season and also set a career high in strikeouts with nine on the night.

Western Carolina had built an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning off a solo Home Run from Notaro.

The Bulldogs took the lead with a four-run top of the fifth to take their first lead that they would never relinquish at 4-2. The Citadel pounded out 18 hits to take the first game of the series. Second basemen Bryan Altman led the way with a 5-for-6 effort including two runs scored and an RBI.

Western Carolina will look to even the series sending junior left-hander Chris Masters on the hill versus the Citadel in game two on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m.