Feb. 18, 2011

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman Aaron Attaway blasted a two-run home run in his first collegiate at bat with junior Ross Heffley adding a three-run shot as a part of a six-run seventh inning as Western Carolina opened the 2011 season with a 9-2 victory over Morehead State at the newly renovated Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Friday evening.

Game two of the three-game, season-opening nonconference series is set for 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. The evening will culminate with the "Celebration of Catamount Baseball" at 6:00 pm in the Grand Room of the Hinds University Center on-campus.

Pressed into the starting rotation after projected starter Matt Benedict was lifted after coming down ill on Thursday, sophomore Taylor Sandefur (1-0) picked up the win for the Catamounts. The hard-throwing right-hander from Mechanicsville, Va., scattered three base hits through five innings, pitching around two walks with five strikeouts.

WCU's bullpen pieced together the final four frames with freshman Dakotah Thomas recording two strikeouts in the one inning he worked, allowing one earned run on two hits. Jeremy Sluder and Andrew Blackwell pitched perfect seventh and eighth innings, respectively, both tallying a punch out.

Western Carolina (1-0) jumped out on top in the home half of the second inning as Attaway blasted a two-run home run in his plate appearance in the Purple & Gold. The Morganton, N.C., native took a 2-2 pitch over the fence to hand the Catamounts a lead they would never relinquish, plating classmate Dykota Spiess.

In the fourth, Attaway struck again with a double down the left field line to push Spiess across the plate to stretch the advantage to three, 3-0.

Morehead State (0-1) got one run back in the top of the sixth inning as Travis Redmon singled through the right side to open the frame before moving to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball. Eagle designated hitter Eric Bainer then painted the third base line with a hot shot that was snared and smothered by Austin Schultz, with the relay to first just missing nailing the runner on a bang-bang play which allowed Redmon to scamper home.

Leading just 3-1, Cameron Dullnig ignited a decisive six-run seventh inning for Western Carolina with a bunt single. Freshman Julian Ridings then singled to right ahead of Heffley who crushed a shot over the "Purple Monster" in left field for a 6-1 lead. Sophomore Tyler White doubled home Matt Johns for the fourth run of the inning, while catcher Stephen Notaro doubled in White one batter latter. Attaway capped his four RBI night with a single to left score Notaro, giving WCU a 9-1 advantage.

The Eagles pushed across one final run in the top half of the ninth as pinch hitter Cole Cleveland drew a bases loaded walk before Chilcoat was able to come in from the bullpen and strand three base runners to lock down the win.

Attaway finished 3-for-4 on the night while Heffley (3-for-4), Schultz (3-for-5) and Notaro all posted multi-hit games for the Catamounts.

Starting pitcher Trey Smith (0-1) took the loss for the Eagles, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Reliever Cody Gibson was touched up for six earned runs on six hits, recording just two outs in his appearance. Tyler Hieneman finished off the game for the Eagles, tossing an inning and a third of scoreless, one-hit relief.