May 21, 2010

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Austin Schultz delivered a two-out double to right center field to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as Western Carolina scored four in the final frame to rally past the upset-minded Davidson Wildcats, 7-6, Thursday night in the Southern Conference series opener at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday night.

Schultz finished 3-for-6 with the lone RBI in the extra inning victory, WCU's second of the season.

Senior Dylan de Graaf laced a two-out single through the right side in the bottom of the eighth inning as Western Carolina broke a 2-2 tie to pull ahead for the third time in the contest. However, half an inning later, the Wildcats knotted the game at three and eventually force extra innings with an RBI single to left field by Seth Freeman driving in Coleman Barron who singled to open the frame.

Davidson (19-30, 5-23 SoCon) pushed three runs across in the top of the 10th inning to seize control in the extra frame. Consecutive one-out singles by J.P. Craven and Calvin Sigelbaum put two aboard at the corners before Will General laid down a would-be sacrifice bunt back to the mound. The ensuing relay to the plate could not prevent Craven from scoring with a passed ball to the subsequent batter plating a second run. The Wildcats capped their rally with a sacrifice fly by Barron to take a 6-3 lead.

Walks to both Trevor Collias and Ollie Goulder sandwiched around Cameron Dullnig's school-record tying 22nd hit batsman loaded the bases for the Catamounts in the home portion of the 10th inning. Freshman Bryant Noteboom then lifted a pinch hit bloop single to right field to drive in two runs with de Graaf driving a sacrifice fly to left field to score Goulder from third to tie the game at six, setting up Schultz's heroics.

Schultz's double tailed away from Wildcat centerfielder Barron who dove on the play which allowed the ball to roll deep into the alley with Noteboom and the game-winning run racing home in the process. Also, for Dullnig, the 10th inning HBP tied him for the school single-season record matching former Catamount Jonathan Greene's total from 2007.

Noteboom led WCU with two RBI on the one swing, while de Graaf also drove in a pair for the Catamounts.

After missing his second save opportunity of the year, junior reliever Brandon Johnson (7-1) picked up the win thanks to the WCU rally. The Morehead City, N.C., native worked two innings allowing four runs - only one of which was earned - on four hits with a strikeout.

Davidson's ninth-inning rally thwarted WCU starter Matt Benedict's bid for his team-leading ninth victory. He tossed eight solid innings, striking out a career-high eight batters against two walks while scattering eight base hits. Neither of the two runs allowed were earned as the St. Petersburg, Fla., native lowered his ERA to a SoCon-leading 2.45.

Each time WCU managed a lead, Davidson was able to rally back within the next half inning. Sophomore Ross Heffley gave WCU an early 1-0 lead with his 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. He finished 2-for-4 on the day and was among three Catamounts with multiple hits in the win.

However, the Wildcats responded with a run in the top of the second to tie the game at one.

In the third, consecutive singles by de Graaf and Schultz followed by a double-steal put runners at second and third before a walk to Heffley loaded the bases with one out. Senior Tyler Kirkpatrick then walked to force home a go-ahead run, 2-1, but the Catamounts ended up stranding three in the frame.

The Wildcats again responded in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally as a costly WCU error allowed the game-tying run to score, setting up the three frames that saw a combined nine runs score.

For Davidson, reliever Andy Bass (0-4) took the loss after pitching the final two and two thirds, surrendering four runs on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Starter Thomas Middour tossed six innings with four walks and three strikeouts, limiting WCU to a pair of runs on eight hits.

Freeman finished with three hits on a 3-for-5 showing to lead five Wildcats with multi-hit games.