April 7, 2009

Box Score

Kennesaw, Ga. - Kennesaw State hangs on to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Western Carolina 12-10 Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium. The Catamounts busted out 16 hits and two Home Runs in the lost to the Owls.

Western Carolina (18-10, 8-3 SoCon) drops the non-conference game to Kennesaw State, after coming up just short in their rally Tuesday night. The Catamounts managed to bust out 16 hits including four extra base hits in the defeat.

Western Carolina tied the ball game late when in the top of the eighth Dylan de Graaf started the inning with a single up the middle. Senior Trevor Collias followed with a massive Home Run to left center to tie the score at 10-10.

Kennesaw State took the lead for good after Buck Smith hit a Home Run to right center off Junior relief pitcher Garret Ozar to make the score 11-10. The Owls added an insurance run after a two-out double from Ric Bishop made the final score 12-10.

The Catamounts were retired in order in the top of the ninth by Kennesaw closer Kenny Faulk. Faulk came on in the top of the eighth earning the victory (3-2). Ozar (2-2) took the loss for the Catamounts.

Western Carolina had five players who had multi-hit nights with junior Brent Greer leading the way with a 4-for-5 game. Greer had two runs scored and three RBI's including a key two-run Home Run to start the rally in the top of the seventh. Freshman Ross Heffley had his team-leading 19th multiple hit game going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Senior Mitchell Hatley went 3-for-4 with three singles. Junior de Graaf finished the game 2-for-5 with an RBI. Finally Collias rounded out the multi-hit games for the Catamounts going 2-for-4 with two RBI's. Freshman Kyle Stewart started the game for the Catamounts lasting four innings allowing six hits and six earned runs.

The Catamounts started the scoring early in the top of the first as Junior Nick Liles laced a single through the right side to start the game. After a strikeout from Rembert Rollison, and a balk from Kennesaw State starter Wes Tignor set the Catamounts up with a runner on second with one out. Freshman Ross Heffley delivered a single through the right side to plate Liles giving Western Carolina the early 1-0 lead. Junior Brent Greer followed with a hard hit double off the center field wall to bring home Heffley to make the score 2-0 Catamounts.

Kennesaw State answered right back as Jacob Robbins laced a triple to right field to lead off the bottom of the first for the Owls. Bucky Smith followed with an RBI ground out to make the score 2-1 Catamounts after one inning.

Western Carolina added to their lead in the top of the second inning when Mitchell Hatley started things off with a single and then stole second for his third stolen base of the season. After a strikeout from Dylan de Graff, senior Trevor Collias bunted for a base hit to put runners at first and third with one out. Collias was then caught stealing but Hatley scored easily on the play to make the score 3-1 Catamounts.

The Owls responded to cut into the Catamounts lead by adding one run from a sacrifice fly from Ross Tendler to make the score 3-2 Catamounts after two innings. Western Carolina continued its hitting display in the top of the third adding two more runs on three hits to take a 5-2 lead. Greer led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a double to right field from J.C. Lyons. After a wild pitch scored Greer, Stephen Notaro grounded out to score Lyons giving the Catamounts two more runs.

The Kennesaw State Owls scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks in part to a solo Home Run off the bat of catcher Jace Whitmer. After three innings the Catamounts still held a slim advantage at 5-4.

The Owls broke open the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth on just two hits to take an 8-5 lead. The Catamounts walked three batters in the inning that led to the four runs.

The Catamounts added a run in the top of the sixth thanks to a RBI single from de Graaf to cut into the Owls lead at 8-6.

Kennesaw State took their largest lead of the game after scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth after an RBI single from Bucky Smith and an RBI groundout from Whitmer.

The Catamounts started their rally in the top of the seventh as Heffley laced a single to lead off the inning. Greer followed with a two-run blast to center field for his third of the season to make the score 10-8 eventually tying the score at 10 in the eighth. Western Carolina couldn't take the lead falling in the end 12-10.

Western Carolina drops their four straight non-conference game heading into a non-conference clash against Eastern Kentucky Wednesday night at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C.