April 22, 2011

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Wofford plated three runs on a bases loaded double in the top of the ninth inning to pull away from Western Carolina on Friday night, defeating the Catamounts 11-7 in Southern Conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Konstantine Diamaduros doubled to left center field to score three as the Terriers opened up an 8-7 game to thwart WCU's would-be rally.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.

WCU starter Matt Benedict (2-3), who struck out four in six innings of work, managed to work around 11 base hits allowing six runs, only three of which were earned. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native was one of eight Catamount hurlers to record action on Friday with the staff issuing six walks against six strikeouts collectively.

Seniors Andrew Chilcoat and Brandon Johnson both tossed an inning apiece in the longest appearance for any reliever with Johnson fanning two while allowing the three runs on the Diamaduros double.

Terrier starter Cash Collins (7-1) was chased in the sixth inning, scattering five base hits and four earned runs with four strikeouts and four walks. Collins held WCU without a hit through the opening three and two thirds innings.

Matt Johns gave Western Carolina (14-20-1, 5-14 SoCon) a short-lived, 1-0, lead in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double to straight-away center field to plate Ross Heffley who drew a two-out walk in the frame.

However, the Terriers responded with three runs apiece in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-1 lead through five and a half. In the fifth, Mac Doyle drove in two on a single to center as a part of three Wofford hits in the inning with Clark Wise plating a pair off a triple to right center in the sixth inning.

The Catamounts got the three runs back in the home portion of the sixth as Austin Schultz and Heffley both singled around a strikeout with Johns drive in Scuhltz on a RBI single through the left side. Stephen Notaro then drew the first of three-consecutive walks for Catamount batters, the latter two plating runs. Freshman Adam Martin drew the free pass to drive in Heffley while Tyler White drew a four-pitch walk to score Johns. However, WCU left the bases loaded as a strikeout and pop-up on the infield ended the rally.

Wofford scored solo runs in the top of the seventh and eighth to pull out to an 8-4 lead before the Catamounts again lit the scoreboard with a three-spot in the home half of the eighth to make it a one-run game. Johns, who finished 4-for-5 with two RBI, opened the inning with a triple to right center field and was plated one pitch later as Notaro dropped a single into right field. Martin doubled to left before White punched a two-RBI single through the left side to claw back within a run, 8-7.

All told, WCU used four-straight hits to open the inning to chase reliever Ryan Traylor and to score all three runs.

Freshman Aaron Attaway sacrificed White into scoring position at second base where pinch hitter Luke Gragg reached on an infield error to put runners at the corners, still with just one out. However, Schultz popped out in foul ground down to right fielder Landon Bennett who then threw home to easily nail White who was trying to scamper home from third after tagging on the play.

A single and two walks loaded the bases in the ninth inning for the Terriers before Diamaduros belted a three RBI double to deep left center field to provide the final margin. WCU loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but White was fanned by John Cornely, who earned his eighth save of the season in two innings of work.

Both White and Notaro finished 2-for-4 with the previous driving in three and the latter plating one. Heffley finished 1-for-3 with two walks in the loss.

For Wofford (19-20, 6-10 SoCon) the first three hitters in the lineup all posted three-hit games as Wise was 3-for-5 while Josh McKinney and Diamaduros were 3-for-6. Catcher David Roney was 2-for-4 with a walk also for the Terriers.