March 13, 2011

Box Score

Greensboro, N.C. - Western Carolina built a five-run lead in the top of the fourth inning, pounding out five-consecutive extra base hits including a two-run home run by Ross Heffley to jump on top of UNC Greensboro, 5-0, through four innings.

The lead would not last, though, as the Spartans plated nine runs in its final four frames including tying the game with a four-run sixth inning as UNCG completed the three-game sweep of the Catamounts with a 9-6 victory Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference action.

It was the second-straight year that the Catamounts have dropped a seasonal series to UNCG, with the Spartans sweeping WCU for the first-time since 2004.

Heffley was the lone Catamount to finish with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with the two RBI coming on his home run. Seven other WCU players combined for the remainder of the squad's nine hits, five of which went for extra bases including four doubles.

Senior Matt Johns opened the barrage in the fourth with a double down the left field line before Heffley belted the second pitch of his at bat over the fence in left for a 2-0 Catamount lead. Senior Austin Schultz then doubled to right center field with classmate Stephen Notaro driving an RBI double to left center to make it 3-0, chasing UNCG starting pitcher Colby Hyatt.

Cameron Dullnig then welcomed reliever Dylan Hathcock to the game with a RBI double down the left field line for the fourth run of the frame. Dullnig later stole third base before scampering home on a wild pitch by Hathcock giving WCU a 5-0 lead.

UNCG's Bobby Martin singled and later scored in the bottom of the fifth to break up WCU's shutout with Trevor Edwards hitting his second home run of the series, a solo shot that closed the deficit to three runs, 5-2.

WCU (7-6, 0-3 SoCon) tacked on one run in the top of the sixth inning as Notaro drew a lead-off walk before moving to third on a ground out and wild pitch. Freshman Adam Martin - who played first base, left field and caught on Sunday - drove Notaro home with a RBI single down the left field line.

Trailing 6-2, UNCG tied the game in the bottom of the frame, though, scoring four runs on five hits to pull even at 6-6. A passed ball allowed one run to score with a bases-clearing triple by Cody Walker plating two, while Bobby Martin singled home the tying run.

A Drew Gehringer single and stolen base sandwiched between a pair of strikeouts set up the go-ahead run for the Spartans in the seventh. Martin then dribbled a grounder to short but an error allowed him to reach and Gehringer to score. Pinch hitter Joe Hager drove in a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as the Spartans pulled away for the 9-6 victory.

Brandon Johnson (3-1) took the loss for Western Carolina, tossing the final three innings in relief allowing five runs - only two of which that were earned - on five hits. The Morehead City, N.C., native walked two with one hit batsman while fanning a pair in the relief effort.

Freshman Dakotah Thomas had a solid outing in just his second collegiate start, scattering eight hits through five innings while allowing four earned runs. He worked around a pair of walks with four strikeouts, giving way to Johnson in the sixth inning.

Reliever Tyler Hollstegge (2-0) picked up the victory holding the Catamounts hitless and scores over the final three innings with one strikeout. Five Spartans recorded two-hit games with just three extra base hits including the Edwards homer, Walker triple and a double by Ray Crawford.

Another telling stat from Sunday afternoon was WCU left just two runners on base while UNCG stranded 11 on the day.

Western Carolina travels to Kennesaw State on Tuesday night in the first of two mid-week games before returning home to host UNC Asheville on Wednesday in the first of five-straight games in Cullowhee. The Catamounts host Elon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium this weekend for a three-game SoCon series.