March 16, 2010

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina tacked on seven runs in the first inning en route to a 10-3 victory over mountain rival UNC Asheville on Tuesday at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. WCU (11-5) won their third consecutive non-conference game, while the Bulldogs dropped to 4-9 on the season.

The Catamounts collectively hit for the cycle in the first inning with Cameron Dullnig smacking a lead-off triple. WCU answered with a pair of doubles, a single and a Ross Heffley home run to left, to give the Cats a 7-0 advantage after one full inning. UNC-A answered with a pair of runs in the top-half of the fifth inning before Western Carolina added a duo of runs to extend their lead to 10-2 in the home-half of the frame. The Bulldogs added a run in the ninth for a final score of 10-3.

Every Western Carolina starter collected a hit in Tuesday evening's mid-week contest. Dullnig, a native of San Antonio, Texas, hit 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI in the leadoff role for WCU. Heffley jacked a three-run blast to left field for his first homer of the year. The sophomore hit 1-for-5 with a run scored and three runs-batted-in.

Freshman Cory Cronan began the first inning with a double before adding a single and finished the evening with a run scored. Short stop Austin Schultz played a productive role with a 2-for-4 evening including two runs scored and a RBI. Matt Johns also notched a multi-hit contest.

WCU freshmen made an impact on the mound as Lefty Mat Batts (2-0) earned his second mid-week win of the year, tossing a full five innings with two earned runs allowed on seven hits and three strikeouts. Batts was relieved by fellow freshman Taylor Sandefur who pitched two hitless innings with a walk and strikeout. Preston Hatcher filled a hitless eighth inning for the Cats, while TJ Page closed out the contest for WCU.

In the bottom of the first, Dullnig and teammate Dylan de Graaf scored after Heffley's long-bomb to left field. Ollie Goulder continued his team-high eight game hit streak with a double before Tyler White reached on base due to a UNC-A error, allowing Goulder to score. Cronan reached on base with a double to left, while Austin Schutlz drove in White for a score. Dullnig's single to right would then drive in Cronan and Schultz to open the contest at 7-0. UNC-A added a pair of runs scored by Beau Zinman and Cody Buch in the top of the fifth. WCU answered with three more runs in the bottom half of the fifth to seal the contest.

Buch led the Bulldogs with a 3-for-4 performance, two RBI and a run scored. UNC-A right-hander Carson McLean tossed two-thirds of an inning, giving up seven runs on six hits to fall to 0-3 on the season.

Western Carolina resumes non-conference action with Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon. The contest is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to chow on $1.00 hot dogs, courtesy of B & AL's. Live GameTracker of Wednesday's contest will be available online at CatamountSports.com.