May 10, 2010

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina pounded out a season-high 22 hits en route to a season-best 18 runs as the Catamounts overcame a shaky start to complete the three-game Southern Conference series sweep of the Furman Paladins, 18-4, on a rainy Monday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Furman used a lead-off single and a trio of walks to take an early lead before an out was recorded in the top of the first, chasing the Catamount starting pitcher. The visitors welcomed the relief hurler with a sacrifice fly to extend its lead before an inning-ending double-play allowed WCU to escape trailing by just two, 2-0.

However, after the shaky start in the top of the first, the Catamounts responded with runs in five of the next six frames, including scratching the scoreboard for eight in the decisive sixth inning as they completed its first three-game conference series sweep of the season - and first three-game sweep of Furman since 2004. The victory also moved WCU into sixth place in the SoCon standings, leapfrogging archrival Appalachian State.

Freshman T.J. Page (1-0) earned his first collegiate win, tossing a career-long seven innings out of the bullpen in relief of classmate Preston Hatcher who was chased in the opening frame. Page struck out a career-best six while limiting Furman to just one run on five hits with a walk. The Savannah, Ga., native managed three, 1-2-3 innings on the mound.

Sophomore Andrew Blackwell and freshman Adam Curtis each threw an inning apiece out of the bullpen, both striking out two in recording their three outs.

Offensively, every starter for WCU secured at least one hit with seven recording multi-hit games with all but two of the players that took swings on Monday securing a base hit. Sophomore Ross Heffley led the Catamounts with a 3-for-4 outing with a pair of doubles, a walk and a game-high six RBI. It is the second time this year that Heffley has driven in six runs in a single-game.

Senior Tyler Kirkpatrick also finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in while Austin Schultz was 3-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI.

Sophomore Radley Haddad, who was a mid-game substitution behind the plate, finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a trio of singles and a run scored with seniors Dylan de Graaf (2-for-3, 1 stolen base) and Trevor Collias (2-for-6, 2 RBI) rounding out the Catamounts with multiple hits.

Both Tyler White and Cameron Dullnig recorded doubles during WCU's offensive onslaught.

After scoring two in the bottom of the first inning to knot the game at two, Western Carolina pushed across four in the second and three in the third to claim a seven-run, 9-2, lead through three innings.

Leading 10-2 entering the sixth inning, WCU rapped out 10-consecutive, one-out base hits including eight singles and two doubles to further break it open as eight runs came home. During the rally, Kirkpatrick drove in two with a base knock and Haddad singled twice in his two plate appearances to help hand the Catamounts an insurmountable 18-2 lead.

The Paladins would add solo runs in the seventh and eighth innings to provide the final tally.

Furman starter Kevin Gaid (1-5) took the loss after surrendering six runs on five hits with one walk. Gaid faced six batters without registering an out in the second inning before giving way to Nate Smith who allowed three runs on four hits with a pair of walks. Reliever Jay Friedman came on in the sixth and gave up eight runs on nine hits for the Paladins.

The two teams combined to strand 19 runners on base including 12 by the Catamounts.

Western Carolina opens its final road swing of the regular season with a five-game road trip beginning Wednesday night at High Point. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm. The Catamounts will have a three-game SoCon series at Samford this Friday through Sunday, and concludes with a nonconference road tilt at Tennessee Tech next Tuesday, May 18 with a 4:00 pm CT / 5:00 pm ET start.

All five games of the upcoming road swing will be broadcast by the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard online at CatamountSports.com with air time scheduled for 15 minutes prior to first pitch.