April 9, 2011

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Redshirt senior Stephen Notaro put Western Carolina ahead for good with an opposite field, two-run home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning, and five relief pitchers combined to secure the victory for the Catamounts over Samford, 3-2, in Southern Conference action Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

The final game of the three-game series is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 pm. Fans can follow the game online at www.CatamountSports.com with live GameTracker.

Freshman starter Jordan Smith (4-3) earned the win for the Catamounts, limiting Samford to two runs on six hits through seven innings, working into the eighth. The Liberty, N.C., native finished with seven strikeouts against two walks. Sophomore Jeremy Sluder was the last of five relievers used in the win, picking up his first career save after issuing an intentional walk and getting a ground ball out to end the game.

Senior Andrew Chilcoat, who was key in Friday night's win out of the bullpen, tossed two thirds of an inning with both Vance Chavis and Sluder recording one out apiece in relief. Morgan McKinney came on in relief of Andrew Blackwell, who was the first out of the pen for head coach Bobby Moranda on Saturday.

Brandon Miller put the Bulldogs ahead in the top of the second inning, hitting the first pitch of the frame over the fence in center field to give Samford the 1-0 lead. Following the homer, Smith rallied to strike out the next two batters. Miller finished 3-for-3 with a homer, double and a pair of walks, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

An inning later, the Catamounts took advantage of the first of two Samford errors. Aaron Attaway drove a one-out single up the middle and was moved to second on the first of three hits by Cameron Dullnig. Attaway scored the game-tying run on an infield error off the bat of Ross Heffley, knotting the game at one apiece.

Dullnig finished 3-for-4 with a trio of singles while Tyler White legged out WCU's only other extra base hit with a double in the eighth inning.

The Bulldogs surged back in front with a single run in the top of the sixth inning as Miller doubled to left field, again putting the first pitch of the at bat into play. Smith again fanned the next two batters of the inning before a single by Stephen Ballard drove home the go-ahead run.

Freshman Adam Martin led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field and was at second when Notaro went with a full-count pitch - the seventh of his at bat - and sailed over the right field fence to give WCU the 3-2 advantage.

Samford (20-13, 8-6 SoCon) threatened in both the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings, but the WCU pitching staff was able to shut the door to preserve the win.

Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases in the eighth with no outs. McKinney was then summonsed from the bullpen and induced a pop-up just off the infield grass for the first out and Schultz made a diving stab on a hot-shot at third, throwing home for the second out and saving a run. Chilcoat then got an infield ground ball to Tyler White, covering the bag to end the frame.

In the ninth, consecutive one-out singles put two aboard and chased Chilcoat, with Chavis getting a ground ball out that moved runners to second and third with two away. Sluder then intentionally walked Miller and got C.K. Irby to ground out to end the game.

The teams combined to leave 21 on base including 12 by the Bulldogs and nine for WCU.

Starter Charles Basford was tagged with the loss for the Bulldogs, surrendering three runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts. The Samford bullpen held WCU to three base hits over the final three innings.