May 12, 2011

Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina failed to find a rhythm offensively on Wednesday evening as Kennesaw State handed the Catamounts a 6-2 nonconference loss at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. WCU was held to just five base hits - all singles - in suffering its seventh loss in its last eight games.

With the defeat, WCU split the regular season series with the Owls after downing KSU 5-1 on the road back on March 15.

Making his first collegiate start on the mound, junior Cameron Dullnig (0-1) suffered the loss for the Catamounts after allowing just two runs on three hits. The San Antonio, Texas, native worked around one walk with a career-high four strikeouts. Four WCU relievers combined to toss the final five innings with Adam Curtis surrendering two runs on two hits in an inning while Jeremy Sluder tossed two and a third, giving up a run on three hits with a strikeout.

Kennesaw State (27-21) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second with a pair of runs, the first coming after Peyton Hart was plunked by a 2-2 pitch ahead of Sean McClurken who tripled to right center field to give the Owls the advantage. The next batter, Drew Fowlkes, lifted an RBI double to right to push across the second run.

The visitors extended their lead with a two-spot in the top of the fifth off a solo homer by Ronnie Freeman before consecutive walks and an RBI single by McClurken handed the Owls a 4-0 lead through five.

McClurken and Fowlkes both drove in a pair of runs for the Owls with the latter finishing 3-for-5 in the winning effort.

The Catamounts scratched the scoreboard in the home half of the seventh with a pair of runs. Tyler White opened with a four-pitch walk with Aaron Attaway delivering a two-out single to right center to score White from second. Luke Gragg then singled through the right side with Attaway advancing to third on the play. KSU's relay to third got away from the third base man allowing Attaway to scamper home for the second run of the inning with Gragg ending up at third base on the play where he was stranded.

Five different Catamounts recorded the squad's five base hits with Attaway recording the lone RBI on Wednesday. Ross Heffley drew a pair of walks in a 0-for-2 outing on the day.

Kennesaw State added runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to provide the final tally, 6-2.

Steve Janas (1-0) earned the victory for Kennesaw State by working five scoreless innings and holding the Catamounts to just two hits. He worked around a pair of walks with three strikeouts. Reliever Dean Jordan worked around three walks and three hits, allowing two runs before Andrew Austin and J.B. Johnson closed out the final two frames to secure the win.

Western Carolina (18-27-1) opens a crucial three-game Southern Conference series at Furman on Friday night at 7 pm with the series continuing Saturday at 4 pm and concluding with a 1 pm first pitch on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard online at www.CatamountSports.com.