March 7, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Using a seven-run bottom of the fourth inning to regain the lead for good, Western Carolina (7-2, 2-0 SoCon) went on to defeat the Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-5, 0-4 SoCon) Saturday afternoon, 14-11, in game two of the three game series against Appalachian State at Childress Field/ Hennon Stadium.

Sophomore Brandon Johnson (1-0) went 2 1/3 innings in relief to earn his first victory of the 2009 season. Johnson allowed just two hits and one earned run to keep the lead for the Catamounts. Relief pitcher Andrew Webster took the loss (3-1) for the Mountaineers allowing 6 runs, only three were earned and gave up three hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Garrett Ozar worked the eighth inning allowing no runs and reigning Southern Conference Relief pitcher of the week Daniel Ottone earned his third save of the season. Ottone allowed a one out single to Frankie Lewis then proceeded to strike out the final two batters to close the door.

The Catamounts had five players who had multi-hit games including leadoff hitter junior Nick Liles who went 4-for-6 coming just short of the cycle as Liles had two singles, a triple and a two-run Home Run. Right fielder J.C. Lyons went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Designated hitter Stephen Notaro had a huge day for the Catamounts going 2-for-5 with two Home Runs and five RBI's. Center fielder Trevor Collias also had a nice game going 3-for-5 with two RBI's and a double. Ross Heffley had his eighth multi-hit game of the season already going 3-for-5 with two singles and a double. Heffley also extended his current nine-game hitting streak.

Appalachian State (5-5, 0-4 SoCon) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning taking a 1-0 lead thanks to a solo Home Run from Isaac Harrow against Catamount starter Chris Masters.

Western Carolina answered in the bottom of the second inning putting four runs on the board to give them a 4-1 lead. With one-out in the inning Stephen Notaro Homered to right field for his first Home Run of the 2009 season. After a double to right center from catcher Logan Bland, Collias followed with another double to right center to plate Bland giving the Catamounts a 2-1 lead. Liles followed with a triple to right center to bring home Collias increasing the lead to 3-1. First baseman Matt Johns grounded out to score Liles making the score 4-1 Western Carolina after two innings of play.

Appalachian State added a run in the top of the third inning thanks to a solo blast to dead center from Rand Smith to make the score 4-2 Catamounts.

In the top of the fourth the game started to take a turn into a hitters fest as the Mountaineers added five runs in the inning off of two hits including another Home Run from Rand Smith as the Catamounts committed three errors to help the cause in the inning making the score 7-4 Mountaineers heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Catamounts would not be denied in this ball game added an impressive seven runs on four hits including two Home Runs in the inning. Liles started the inning off right with a two-run Homer to left after Collias singled down the line cutting the lead to 7-6 Mountaineers. Heffley doubled and scored on an error to tie the game at 7-7. Western Carolina worked the base-loaded to bring up Notaro who crushed another Home Run to left field with this one being a Grand Slam to break open the score at 11-7 Catamounts through four innings.

Appalachian State answered in the top of the fifth when with two outs the Mountaineers got two runners on when Wes Hobson smashed a three-run Home Run to left field to cut the lead to 11-10 Catamounts.

Western Carolina added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a lead off single from Liles to start things off. After Johns moved Liles to second, Lyons hit a double to left field to plate Liles to make it 12-10 Catamounts. Western Carolina added another run after Mountaineer's short shop Nick DeRose committed an error allowing Lyons to score making it 13-10 after five innings of play.

The Mountaineers got a lead-off Home Run from Harrow in the top of the sixth inning making it Harrow's second of the game but Appalachian State wouldn't get any closer then 13-11.

The Catamounts added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from Collias plating Brent Greer to make the final 14-11.

The final game of the three-game series is set for 2:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. The Catamounts are scheduled to start senior right-hander Corey Martin.