Box Score Feb. 27, 2010
Box Score |
Cullowhee, N.C. - Eastern Kentucky rallied in the top of the ninth to defeat Western Carolina ,12-9, at Childress / Hennon Stadium on Saturday afternoon. EKU tallied eight unanswered runs to snap the Catamounts' best start in school history.
WCU (5-1) led 9-4 through five innings, before the Colonels (1-1) made the comeback to clinch their first victory of the season. The Catamounts out hit Eastern Kentucky, 18-13, while EKU committed a pair of defensive errors.
Senior Dylan de Graaf pelted four hits including a two-run double to right field that opened up a five-run fourth inning for WCU. de Graaf went 4-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, a stolen base and a walk.
Ross Heffley notched a trifecta of hits as the sophomore drove in a run with a single to right field in the fourth inning. Heffley, a sophomore from Snellville, Ga., hit 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Tyler Kirkpatrick started the five-run tally for the Cats with his single to left field. The senior would eventually score later in the inning. Kirkpatrick anchored his third round-tripper of the year in the bottom of the fifth to give WCU a 9-4 advantage. In all six games this season, the Charlotte, N.C. native has recorded at least two hits. The Catamounts have tallied a home run in all six contests this year.
Catcher Ollie Goulder hit 2-for-3 in the eight spot including scoring and driving in a run. Freshmen Tyler White and Cory Cronan collected a pair of hits in Saturday's contest while combining for a total of three RBI.
Daniel Ottone (0-1) took the loss after surrendering four runs on two hits in the ninth inning. Ottone was one strike away from ending the contest, but the next pitch resulted in a three-run bomb by EKU catcher Joey Stevens. In total the Colonels hit three home runs, including Anthony Ottrando, who has recorded three long-bombs in the first two games of the weekend series.
EKU's Greg Terry (1-0) earned the victory after an inning tossed, while Ryne Purcell picked up the save with a trio of strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth.
WCU starter Kyle Stewart received another no-decision after going four and two-thirds, allowing four earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts.
Andrew Chilcoat came in relief for Stewart, giving up three runs in two and a third innings. Brandon Johnson would toss an inning surrendering a run on three hits.
WCU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings due to a ball hit by White that skipped past EKU's Dustin Dunlop's glove and into the outfield, allowing two unearned runs to score. The Cats then pelted five runs in the fourth to stretch out their lead to 8-1. But an Ottrando single to center field would cut the deficit to four in the fifth. The Colonels added four runs in the seventh and eighth innings before tying and scoring the game-winner in the top of the ninth.
The rubber match of the series will start Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Lefty Vance Chavis (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will be the starter for the Catamounts. Live coverage of Sunday's contest can be accessed online at CatamountSports.com.
