March 16, 2011

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina manufactured a pair of fifth inning runs to take a short-lived, 2-1, lead over mountain-rival UNC Asheville. However, the Bulldogs hung a four-spot on the board half an inning later and a trio of relievers kept the Catamounts off the bases as UNCA halted a 10-game losing skid with a 6-2 win Wednesday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Western Carolina (8-7) was held to just four hits on the afternoon as the top five in the batting order finished 0-for-19. Three WCU players combined for the squad's four hits - all singles.

Reliever Kyle Stewart (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in relief of left-handed starter Vance Chavis, who made his first appearance on the season. Stewart struck out three and walked one in three innings of work while Chavis walked two with one strikeout.

All told, WCU used seven pitchers in the mid-week tilt.

UNC Asheville (5-10) took the early lead as Cody Buch, who drew a one-out walk, came home on a sacrifice fly to center by Eli Miller to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead through three innings.

In the fifth, the Catamounts scratched the scoreboard for two runs to pull out to a one-run lead. Cameron Dullnig and Tyler White both drew walks to open the frame with Macon Smith laying down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position at second and third. Freshman Aaron Attaway then singled to left to plate Dullnig, knotting the game at one apiece and chasing Bulldog starter Tommy Houmard. Another rookie, Julian Ridings, greeted the new hurler with a RBI bunt single to score White, handing the Catamounts a 2-1 lead.

Even with moving runners back to second and third with one out on a balk by UNCA's third pitcher, Grier Harrington, the Catamounts were unable to stretch their advantage as Attaway was gunned out at home on a play in the infield and Matt Johns drove one to deep left but into the glove of left fielder Beau Zinman.

Ridings was the lone Catamount to post a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. Attaway and White recorded the other two markers for WCU in the losing effort.

The Bulldogs answered with four runs on five hits in a decisive top of the sixth inning, all coming after WCU turned its third double-play of the contest. With Jordan Lurie at third after opening the inning with a single, Patrick Koontz doubled to left center to score Lurie and tie the game. Mike Vaughn then snuck a double down the left field line by a diving Austin Schultz to score Koontz, with Ian Graham collecting a third-straight hit with a single through the right side, chasing Stewart.

WCU reliever Darron Dotson was tagged with a two-RBI double to left field by Zinman to cap the inning's scoring with the visitors leading, 5-2. Dotson rallied to strike out Buch to end the inning.

UNCA added a solo run in the top of the ninth for a little more breathing room, but the Bulldog pitching staff kept the Catamounts off the bases and off the board in scoring the win.

Western Carolina continues its current five-game home stand by opening a three-game Southern Conference series against the Elon Phoenix this Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The series continues with first pitch at 2:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon.