April 2, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Kent Walton just cleared the right-center field fence in the fourth for a solo home run and starting pitcher Jeremy Toole struck out 10 in seven innings as BYU edged Western Carolina, 1-0, in non-conference baseball action Thursday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Toole recorded 10 of the 12 strikeouts on the night for BYU (16-10), limiting the Catamounts to four base hits through seven innings to outduel WCU starter, senior Corey Martin (4-3). The Yadkinville, N.C., native fanned a career-high nine through a career-best eight innings, scattering six base hits and one walk in being saddled with the loss.

Additionally, BYU managed to keep the Catamounts off the bases the final four innings, facing the minimum number with six strikeouts, four groundouts and two fly outs to end the game.

According to records, Thursday's one-run, 1-0 affair was just the second-ever played at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium since WCU moved into the facility in 1978 (L, 1-0 vs. Tennessee, 3/30/94). It also represented the first time that WCU had been held scoreless this season, having scored in double-digits in each of its last three games.

Walton, the Cougar DH, finished 4-for-4 with three singles and the homer that proved to be the difference maker. Brandon Relf additionally accounted for two of the BYU seven hits, with Michael Bowen also reaching safely on a hit.

Nick Liles recorded two of Western's four hits in the loss on a pair of singles, with Ross Heffley doubling to center and Reid Rollison reaching on a bunt single.

The Catamounts were unable to take advantage of three Cougar errors and stranded six base runners - including leaving the bases loaded in the second inning. With one out, J.C. Lyons reached on a fielding error at third, moving to second two batters later on the two-out bunt single by Rollison to the left side. A second BYU error allowed Dylan de Graaf to reach on a bunt just out in front of the plate to load the bases.

However, on a third-straight bunt attempt by WCU, Trevor Collias was nipped at first on a solid fielding play by third baseman, Steve Parker, to keep the Catamounts off the board.

Western Carolina (18-7) again threatened in the third as Liles led off with a single through the left side and moved to second on a failed pick-off attempt at first base. Yet, a sharp line-out and back-to-back strikeouts stranded the runner in scoring position.

Perhaps the best opportunity, though, came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Trailing by one, 1-0, Liles again reached, shooting a two-out single through the right side. Heffley then lifted blooper into shallow centerfield where Jonathan Cluff misplayed it on a slide attempt to allow the two-bagger. Liles, however, only managed to get to third and WCU stranded two in scoring position on a tap back to the mound to end the inning.

Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday evening in Cullowhee. Senior RHP Mike Tavernier (2-2, 5.12 ERA) is slated to face Cougar starter, junior RHP Blake Torgerson (3-2, 6.21).