Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman RHP Jordan Smith scattered two hits over five scoreless innings in his first career start as Western Carolina blanked the visiting Morehead State Eagles, 18-0, on Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium in game two of the three-game season-opening nonconference series.

WCU pounded out a season-high 20 hits - the most since recording 22 against Furman last May - including eight for extra bases as the Catamounts won its eighth-straight home game dating back to last season.

Smith (1-0), a native of Liberty, N.C., native worked around three walks with five strikeouts in scoring the victory, only allowing one base runner past first base. Reliever T.J. Page struck out two in his one inning of work with a walk with walk-on Darron Dotson likewise fanning a pair while allowing one hit. The final two frames were tossed by junior transfer Mike Gaffigan and junior Kyle Stewart.

Junior Ross Heffley finished a career-best 5-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI as five Catamounts recorded multi-hit games. Combined, 20 different players saw action on Saturday afternoon for WCU.

Western Carolina (2-0) scored all the runs it would need in the home half of the opening frame as Austin Schultz drew a lead-off walk ahead of Julian Ridings who singled back up the middle. Heffley tallied his first RBI on a line drive single back up the middle plating Schultz for the first of his three runs scored.

Later in the opening inning, Ridings was erased on a fielder's choice after getting caught in a run-down between third base and home plate. The freshman from Shelby, N.C., had to leave the game, however, after being spiked while trying to avoid the tag during the aforementioned run-down.

WCU took a 2-0 lead in the first when Tyler White sharply grounded out to short, pushing Heffley across the plate.

Schultz was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, twice getting plunked by pitches with White finishing 2-for-5 with the RBI. Freshman Aaron Attaway continued his strong start to the 2011 season with a 3-for-6 performance, legging out a double.

The Catamounts pushed across four runs in both the second and fourth innings highlighted by a two-run double by Heffley in the second and four-singles followed by a bases-clearing, three-RBI double by Cameron Dullnig in the four-run fourth. Dullnig finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and was hit by a pitch, a statistical category in which he set a school-record a season ago.

Western Carolina (2-0) added with a six-run fifth inning with freshman catcher Adam Martin blasting his first career home run - a solo shot to left - as a part of a two-run frame in the seventh.

Five different Eagles combined for Morehead State's five hits, all of which were singles. Morehead State starting pitcher Josh Schneider was tagged with the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits with three walks against five strikeouts. Noah Smallwood gave up six more runs on six hits in one inning of relief, while Casey Branham was tagged for four earned runs in one third of a inning.

All told, Eagle pitching plunked five Catamount batters while also issuing five walks.

Game three is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.