March 22, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina survived a four-run Bulldog rally in the eighth and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to win Sunday afternoon's series rubber match, 10-9, over The Citadel at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Sonny Meade uncorked The Citadel's lone home run of the three-game set with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning off of Catamount closer, Daniel Ottone. The grand slam -- Meade's first home run of the season - cut Western's five-run advantage to one, 10-9.

An inning later, a one-out triple to right center by Nick Orvin, coupled with two hit batsmen sandwiched around a ground out, again loaded the bases for the Cadets. On the pay-off pitch (3-2) with two outs, though, Ottone managed to end the game as Chris McGuiness grounded out to short, handing Ottone his team-leading fifth save.

Western Carolina (15-5, 6-3 SoCon) claimed the three-game conference series, 2-to-1, after falling in the opener on Friday night. It is the third-straight series victory for the Catamounts over the Bulldogs, and WCU's fourth in the last five seasons.

Junior catcher Stephen Notaro was among four Catamounts with two-hit performances, blasting two opposite field home runs to right and driving in a team-high five runs. Classmate Nick Liles was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and three runs scored. The Laurinburg, N.C., native, along with senior J.C. Lyons, also stole two bases apiece.

Freshman Ross Heffley went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs driven in and a pair scored, while junior Dylan de Graaf finished 2-for-2 with an RBI in a relief role.

Sophomore Brandon Johnson (2-0) picked up the victory in relief of starter Corey Martin, who lasted just an inning and a third of five-run, five-hit action. Johnson struck out two with a pair of walks in his 3.2 innings. Senior Garrett Ozar tossed two innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts - including fanning the side in the seventh - but was tagged with three earned runs on the homer by Meade.

The Bulldogs (9-9, 5-4 SoCon) opened scoring in the top of the first inning with two runs, both coming with two out in the inning. A trio of singles and a one-out walk led to both runs as McGuiness drove in Meade and David Greene singled in catcher Richard Jones.

Western answered, however, in the home half of the first with three runs including a two-run home run by Notaro. Liles opened the frame with a nine-pitch at bat before singling sharply up the middle before moving to second on a passed ball. Heffley then drove in his first of two runs on the afternoon with a single up the middle, scoring on Notaro's homer.

The Citadel surged back in front, though, in the second as Bryan Altman doubled to right center to plate Sid Fallaw, chasing Martin. Meade then drove in two on a single to left to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead they would hold until the bottom of the third.

WCU claimed a lead it would never relinquish with four runs on just two hits in the home half of the frame with Notaro's second long ball of the game - third of the weekend - plating three and chasing Bulldog starter Matt Crim (1-2). Lyons scored the fourth run on a sacrifice fly by Logan Bland to put the Catamounts ahead two, 7-5.

Western Carolina managed two insurance runs in the sixth as de Graaf scored on a sacrifice fly by Heffley and Brent Greer pushing Liles across on a sharp infield single to short, 9-5.

Senior Mitchell Hatley scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the seventh. After lifting a two-out single to shallow center, the Mt. Pleasant, N.C., native stole second to move into scoring position. Dylan de Graaf drove him in on a 1-2 count, punching one through the right side to give the Catamounts a five-run lead which they would need to pick up the win.

Meade finished 4-for-6 on the day for The Citadel to lead the Bulldogs, driving in six and scoring twice, while Altman and Orvin each posted two hits apiece, going 2-for-4 and 2-for-5, respectively.

But, The Citadel left 14 base runners on in the game all told, including twice stranding the bases loaded.

Crim, who fanned three, only lasted the first two innings, officially, facing three batters in the third before being lifted for Zach Garrett who went one inning of one-run, yet hitless relief with two strikeouts. Matt Talley worked 2.1 innings and Drew Mahaffey the final 2.2, combining for seven strikeouts, five by the latter.

Western Carolina steps out of conference for two mid-week games beginning on Tuesday, March 24 as the Catamounts travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to face the Tennessee Volunteers and former skipper, Todd Raleigh. First pitch is set for 7:00 pm, and the game will be carried on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee with air time at 6:45 pm.

WCU returns home to host Kennesaw State on Wednesday (March 25) at 6:00 pm.