April 18, 2010

Box Score

Elon, N.C. - A Western Carolina ninth inning rally fell two runs shy as the Catamounts dropped a, 12-10, decision to Elon on Sunday afternoon at Latham Park. The Phoenix (25-13, 11-7 SoCon) used a seven-run burst in the middle innings to clinch the series over the Catamounts (23-11-1, 6-8-1 SoCon).

WCU took a 3-2 lead through one and half innings before Elon rallied for four runs in the fourth and three in fifth to regain a 10-4 advantage. The Catamounts added a trifecta of runs in the top of the sixth to make it a 10-7 contest. WCU's furious rally came in the ninth as they added three runs in the top to cut the deficit to 12-10. However, the two runs, including the tying run, were left on base as the final out was recorded to end the offensive-minded contest.

Western Carolina out-hit the Phoenix 15-to-9, but Elon used five home runs en route to the victory.

Junior shortstop Austin Schultz led the `Cats offense with 4-for-5 afternoon that included his fifth homer of the season, while he managed to collect five RBIs in the process. All three hits from Matt Johns on Sunday were extra-baggers as the junior from Stafford, Va., tallied a pair of doubles and hammered his seventh round-tripper of the year.

Freshman Mat Batts (3-1) took the loss for WCU after giving up four runs, two earned, on two hits with two walks in two and a third innings pitched. Starter Vance Chavis lasted two-thirds of an inning as he conceded a pair of runs on two hits before Kyle Stewart finished the first inning by giving up a run on one hit.

In the second inning, Schultz laced a two-RBI single to centerfield, tying the contest, 2-2. On the next play, Trevor Collias roped a single down the left field line to drive in Cameron Dullnig as WCU took a brief, 3-2, lead. Elon's Justin Hilt launched a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the second to tie the game again at three.

Elon added their most damage in the fourth and fifth innings. The Phoenix used a two-run home run by Seth Canipe and scored a pair of unearned runs by virtue of a Catamount defensive miscue. WCU tried to alleviate the damage as Tyler White's single in the fifth allowed Tyler Kirpatrick to score, making it a 7-4 Elon advantage. The Phoenix did the most damage in the home-half of the fifth, as the first three batters hit solo shots to open the contest at 10-4.

Schultz's three-run homer to left center in the fifth cut the Catamounts' to three runs. Elon added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to take the 12-7 lead. In the ninth, Ollie Goulder's double allowed Ross Heffley to score, before Johns lifted a two-run bomb to left field, cutting the Phoenix's lead to 12-10. Both Goulder and Heffley finished with a pair of hits and two runs scored each.

Dullnig was hit by a pitch and Schultz collected his fourth hit of the day to put the tying run on board. Phoenix reliever Thomas Girdwood ended the rally by fanning the next WCU batter.

Catamount hurlers Jeremy Sluder and Andrew Chilcoat used held the Phoenix scoreless in two and two-third innings pitched. Daniel Ottone gave up two unearned runs on one hit and one strikeout in an inning tossed.

Starter Jared Kernodle (4-1) snatched the victory for Elon as he went five full innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits. Hilt led the Phoenix with a 2-for-3 afternoon with two home runs, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Western Carolina returns home in the midst of their eight-game road swing to the friendly confines of Childress / Field Hennon Stadium with a mid-week tilt against SEC member Tennessee. The Catamounts downed the Volunteers, 14-9, in Knoxville on Wednesday, April 7. The first-pitch is scheduled for a 6 pm start in Cullowhee.