March 8, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina (8-2, 3-0 SoCon) broke open a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a two-run Homer from Nick Liles. The Catamounts went on to defeat the Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-6, 0-5 SoCon) Sunday afternoon, 4-3, in the finale of the three game series against Appalachian State at Childress Field/ Hennon Stadium.

Western Carolina now boasts a perfect 6-0 record at Childress Field/ Hennon Stadium thanks to timely hitting and quality pitching again from the Catamounts.

Junior Nick Liles came up with the biggest hit of the day in the bottom of the fifth when Liles blasted a two-run Home Run to left field to give the Catamounts a 4-2 lead that they would never relinquish.

Senior Corey Martin (3-0) earned his third win of the season to stay perfect throwing a solid 6 2/3 allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out seven Mountaineer hitters. Aubrey Edens (0-1) earned the loss for Appalachian State allowing seven hits and four earned runs through six innings of work.

Garrett Ozar and Daniel Ottone preserved the victory for the Catamounts as Ottone shut the door getting Mountaineer third baseman Nick DeRose to line into a double play to end the game earning his fourth save.

Liles extended his hitting streak to ten games along with true freshman teammate Ross Heffley who went 1-for-4 with an RBI single to extend his streak to ten.

Liles finished the weekend batting .571 with eight hits, two doubles, one triple, two Home Runs, and five RBI’s to lead the Catamounts to the sweep over Appalachian State.

Appalachian State started the scoring in the top of the third inning when with two outs the Mountaineer’s used a two-out RBI single from Wes Hobson to take the early lead 1-0.

The Catamounts answered quickly in the bottom of the third also getting a rally going with two outs. Liles doubled to center followed by Trevor Collias who was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for Heffley. Heffley worked a six pitch at bat and laced a single through the ride side scoring Liles from second sliding in just ahead of the tag at home to tie the score at 1-1. J.C. Lyons followed with a single to shortstop to score Collias to give Western Carolina their first lead at 2-1.

The Mountaineers answered in the top of the fourth getting a lead off single from Isaac Harrow. After a strike out to David Towarnicky, Harrow was running on the play and stole second. Chris Alessandria followed with a single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

The Catamounts took the lead for good after the Liles two-run Home Run in the fifth to make the final 4-3 Catamounts.

Appalachian State still has not won a series in Cullowhee since 1996 and the Catamounts will look to continue their winning ways in a two-game home series against East Tennessee State starting on Tuesday March 10 beginning at 4:00 pm.