April 3, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - BYU scored runs in all but one inning Friday night to take game two of the nonconference series with Western Carolina, 15-11, at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts erased a 10-3 deficit with a seven-run home half of the sixth, but were outscored 5-to-1 over the final three frames to provide the final tally.

The Cougars (17-10) took advantage of four WCU errors, five wild pitches and stole eight bases in the win while also belting four home runs to take the series. Game three of the three-game set is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.

Western Carolina dropped to 18-8 overall on the season, suffering just its third home defeat of the season. It was also the first-time this year that the Catamounts had lost back-to-back games.

J.C. Lyons (3-for-4), Dylan de Graaf (3-for-5) and Ross Heffley (3-for-5) each recorded three hits for the Catamounts in the losing effort. Lyons drove in a team-high tying three including one on a walk in the sixth. Mitchell Hatley posted two base hits on a 2-for-5 showing.

In the sixth inning, pinch hitter Reid Rollison posted his lone base hit of the night, clearing the bases with a three-RBI double down the left field line that managed to pull Western within a run. He later accounted for the game-tying score after de Graaf bounced a high chopper to third where shortstop Brandon Relf made a diving stab to hold on the lip of the outfield grass. Relf's throw home was off-line allowing Rollison to score with de Graaf moving all the way to third on the play where he was later stranded.

BYU plated a single run in the seventh and two in both the eighth and ninth, however, to negate the rally and win the second game.

Catamount starter Mike Tavernier was chased after facing four batters in the third inning, surrendering six runs - five of which were earned - on five hits all told. Thanks to the sixth-inning rally by WCU, he factored into the no-decision despite posting the lone scoreless inning for the Cougars. Brandon Johnson threw two innings allowing two runs on two hits, with Matt Benedict and Tyler Brownlow combining to work two frames with Benedict striking out three.

Garrett Ozar (2-1) was summoned from the bullpen at the start of the seventh in a tie game and allowed five runs - only two of which were earned - on four hits including two home runs while striking out four.

Kent Walton continued solid play with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, scoring three times with three RBI to lead five Cougars with multi-hit games. Sean McNaughton finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored. Relf, Andrew Law, Chad Nacapoy, and Steve Parker all homered in the win as six of the Cougs' 15 hits went for extra bases.

BYU reliever Marc Oslund (3-0) earned the win as the fourth hurler used by the Cougars, coming on with two out in the sixth. He surrendered the single to de Graaf that ultimately plated Rollison for the tying run before striking out Hatley to end the threat. Oslund worked 2.1 innings of three-hit, one-run relief with two strikeouts. Closer Jordan Muir sat the Catamounts down in order in the ninth to preserve the win.