Feb. 25, 2011

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Manhattan's Chad Salem posted a 3-for-4 outing including a pair of two-run home runs in his first two plate appearances as the Jaspers jumped out to an 8-0 lead through five innings and held on for an 11-6 victory over Western Carolina on Friday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Manhattan (1-0) starting pitcher John Soldinger no-hit the Catamounts through five innings until redshirt junior Cameron Dullnig laced a lead-off double to right field to snap the hitless proceedings in the bottom of the sixth inning. Soldinger worked around four walks with six strikeouts, surrendering three runs on three hits through six innings.

Reliever Kevin Bonanni worked through two and two thirds matching Soldinger's three runs on three hits with four strikeouts against three walks. With the bases loaded for WCU in the bottom of the ninth, Bonanni was pulled for Taylor Sewitt who induced a game-ending fly ball to center field on one pitch to earn the save.

Already down a man with leading hitter Ross Heffley out sick on Friday, the Catamount lineup took yet another blow when starting catcher, freshman Adam Martin had to be lifted in the fourth inning after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand. Normal starting catcher Stephen Notaro, who was in the lineup as the designated hitter, moved into the field and thereby eliminating the DH, putting the pitcher's spot in the offensive lineup.

Western Carolina (3-2) closed to within five runs, 8-3, with a three-spot in the home half of the sixth inning, ignited by Dullnig's two-bagger. Senior Matt Johns drove him home with a RBI single and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by classmate Stephen Notaro. Freshman Aaron Attaway completed the scoring by singling to left and scoring on a dropped fly ball off the bat of Cody Jones.

Dullnig led the WCU attack with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate and was aboard four times with a walk and his team-leading third hit batsman. Johns, Schultz Notaro and Attaway all had one hit apiece as WCU was out-hit 14-to-6 in the loss.

Manhattan answered WCU's three runs in the bottom of the sixth with two in the top of the seventh with the Catamounts matching in the home portion of the same frame. Austin Schultz doubled home freshman Macon Smith and eventually scored on a wild pitch to again make it a five-run deficit, 10-5.

The Jaspers added a solo home run - the team's third long ball of the day - in the top of the ninth inning by Mark Onorati to make it 11-5. Half an inning later, pinch hitter Jacoby Mitchell was plunked with the bases loaded to drive in a run, providing the final tally.

All told, WCU stranded the bases loaded in the home half of both the eighth and ninth innings in the loss.

Catamount starter Taylor Sandefur (1-1) suffered his first defeat of the season, allowing eight runs on nine hits through five innings of work. The Mechanicsville, Va., native struck out five with only one walk in his second start of the season.

Working around the vacant batters slot in the lineup vacated by Martin, WCU pieced the final four innings together with seven different pitchers with none throwing more than an inning out of the bullpen. Combined, WCU pitching struck out 12 Jaspers batters with T.J. Page fanning three and Mike Gaffigan striking out two to lead the way.

Game two of the three-game series is set for Noon on Saturday at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.