March 29, 2011

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina built an 11-run lead through the first four innings and blanked the High Point Panthers, 11-0, in nonconference action Tuesday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts plated four runs in the third inning and batted around in hanging six on the scoreboard in the fourth en route to the squad's eighth-straight victory over the Panthers.

WCU starting pitcher Preston Hatcher (1-1) limited the Panthers to just three hits in scoring the victory for the Catamounts. The Atlanta, Ga., native worked around three walks with one strikeout in five innings of scoreless action. Jeremy Sluder, Andrew Blackwell and Vance Chavis each tossed one inning of scoreless relief with a strikeout apiece, while Kyle Deese fanned two in the ninth before Taylor Sandefur recorded the final out for a third of an inning pitched.

Five different Catamounts recorded two hits in the game as WCU pounded out a combined 13 including five doubles. Senior Matt Johns led the way with a 2-for-3 showing at the dish, scoring three times and driving in a game-high four. Ross Heffley also recorded two RBI on a 2-for-5 showing and was a part of turning two double plays in the field.

Johns scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second after being hit by a pitch, later coming home on a two-out single up the middle by Macon Smith, his first collegiate RBI.

High Point (15-12) recorded the first two outs of the third inning on just two pitches before the Catamount bats erupted for four runs on four hits - all of which were doubles. Freshman Julian Ridings doubled to left field ahead of Heffley who laced a RBI two-bagger down the left field line. Catcher Adam Martin drew the first of his two walks on the evening to put two aboard for Johns who doubled to the gap in left center to drive in two, handing WCU a 4-0 lead. Johns later touched home on an RBI double by Dykota Spiess for a 5-0 lead through three innings.

Using six hits in the fourth, WCU scored six runs to take a commanding, 11-0 lead. A total of 12 batters took swings in the decisive fourth as the Catamounts batted around. Johns drove in two on an RBI single up the middle, with Heffley also recording an RBI. Aaron Attaway walked twice during the frame with his second free pass drive in the sixth run of the inning.

Drew Dades (2-2) took the loss for High Point after surrendering five runs in two and two-thirds innings with a walk and a strikeout. He was one of eight Panther pitchers to toe the rubber on Tuesday night.

Offensively, designated hitter Scott Glover collected two of High Point's five hits on the night, finishing 2-for-3 in the loss.

Western Carolina (11-11-1) returns to Southern Conference action this weekend as it travels to the South Carolina Lowcountry to face the College of Charleston Cougars. The three-game series gets underway at 6:00 pm on Friday night at Patriot's Point, and continues at 3:00 pm on Saturday and 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon.