April 30, 2011

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - San Diego State used a pair of two-run innings coming in the fourth and seventh and held off Western Carolina for the 4-3 victory Friday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. First pitch of game two of the three-game nonconference series is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.

Catamount starter Matt Benedict struck out seven through six innings of work, limiting the Aztecs to two runs - only one of which was earned - on five hits in factoring in a no-decision. Sophomore Adam Curtis (1-4) was saddled with the loss after surrendering one run on one hit in the seventh inning.

WCU (17-22-1) struck first in the bottom of the third as freshman Aaron Attaway drew a one-out walk and moved to third as classmate Macon Smith singled through the right side. With Austin Schultz at the plate, Smith took off for second on the front end of a double-steal with Attaway racing home just ahead of the throw home to put the Catamounts ahead, 1-0.

Half an inning later, SDSU rallied with a two-spot to take the lead. With runners at second and third, Tim Zier grounded out to second to drive in the game-tying run with the go-ahead marker scoring on a passed ball.

In the sixth, the Catamounts again scratched the scoreboard for a solo run to knot the game at two apiece. Ross Heffley singled up the middle and advanced to third on consecutive wild pitches. Senior Matt Johns then drove a full-count pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Heffley.

San Diego State (13-29) manufactured two runs in the seventh to reclaim a two-run, 4-2 lead. Back-to-back bunts including an infield single and sacrifice put Cody Smith at second base where he was plated by Brandon Meredith on a single through the left side. The fourth run came home on a sacrifice fly by Chris Wilson.

The Catamounts threatened in the seventh, moving a runner to second base before consecutive strikeouts ended the inning. In the eighth, WCU loaded the bases with one-out singles by Schultz and Heffley followed by a two-out walk by Stephen Notaro, but could not plate a run and went to the ninth trailing by two.

Heffley was the only Catamount to record a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored and six assists defensively.

In the final frame, Kyle Deese struck out the side in the top of the inning to keep it a two-run margin entering the home portion. Freshman Luke Gragg opened with a pinch hit single to center before taking second on a balk. He later scored on a single by Attaway to close within a run, 4-3. With the tying run on first, however, Aztec reliever Bryan Crabb recorded the final two outs on a strikeout and fly out to right to end the game and pick up his third save of the year.

All told, the two squads combined to strand 15 runners on base including eight by SDSU and seven Catamount runners.

San Diego State starter Corey Black (3-4) scored the victory after keeping WCU off-balance through seven innings, scattering three base hits and only allowing two runs. Black worked around three walks with eight strikeouts. Crabb struck out two in an inning and two thirds to pick up the save.