May 19, 2011

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina seniors Matt Johns and Stephen Notaro drove in the go-ahead and insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Catamounts survived a bases-loaded scare from the visiting Bulldogs in the ninth to hold on for a 7-5 series-opening victory over The Citadel Thursday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday evening with a pair of freshman right-handers scheduled to start. WCU's Jordan Smith (5-6, 5.83 ERA) will face Bulldog rookie Justin Russell (1-6, 6.14 ERA) on the mound.

Coverage of all three games of the series will be available online with live GameTracker, with a live game chat blog also available online at CatamountSports.com.

After surrendering a one-run lead in the top of the eighth inning, WCU (20-29-1, 10-18 SoCon) pushed across two runs in the bottom of the frame as Johns singled home freshman Macon Smith who reached on a one-out single to left center and was moved to third by a double by another senior, Austin Schultz. Johns drove a 1-0 pitch through the right side to break the 5-5 deadlock, advancing Schultz to third. With the bases loaded, Notaro worked a full count before delivering the sacrifice fly to right to plate the second run, stretching the Catamount advantage to two.

Sandwiching three base hits around a force play at second base for the first out of the inning, The Citadel (20-34, 8-20 SoCon) managed to load the bases in the top of the ninth against WCU senior reliever Brandon Johnson. The Morehead City, N.C., native was able to record the second out on a tap back to the mound by Justin Mackert that Johnson threw home for the force play.

The Bulldog's next batter, Drew DeKerlegand, worked a full count before popping into foul territory down the third base line where Schultz twisted, turned and fell, cradling the ball with a basket catch for the final out, sealing the victory and halting a four-game slide against The Citadel in the head-to-head series. The WCU win also handed the Bulldogs their 10th-straight loss on the season.

Five Catamounts recorded multi-hit games as the two-through-five hitters all tallied two hits apiece with Smith in the nine-hole also legging out a pair of singles. Heffley and Notaro both finished 2-for-3 with three runs driven in with Heffley also drawing a pair of walks, one intentionally. Johns and Smith were 2-for-4 while Tyler White posted a 2-for-5 showing at the plate to compliment another strong defensive effort at first base for WCU.

Johnson walked and struck out one in scoring the victory out of the WCU bullpen, tossing the final inning and a third in relief of classmates Andrew Chilcoat and starter Matt Benedict. Making the final home start of his career, Benedict scattered five runs - only four of which were earned - on eight hits through seven and a third innings. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native struck out five against three walks in factoring in the no-decision.

Benedict, who made two starts against the Bulldogs a season ago including taking the mound in the conference title game, was touched up in the opening frame for two runs on three hits. Nick Orvin, who recorded a game-high four hits in the contest, opened the game with an infield single to short ahead of Brad Felder who tripled to left center to plate the first run. WCU's defense turned a double-play along the middle, but allowed the second run to cross making it a 2-0 lead for the Bulldogs.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Johns was aboard after reaching on a two-base error when Ross Heffley belted his team-leading ninth home run of the season to left center to knot the game at two.

The Citadel again pulled ahead by a run in the fourth as DeKerlegand drove home William Ladd with a one-out single through the right side to take a 3-2 lead. But the Catamounts responded in the fifth as consecutive walks to Schultz and Johns allowed Heffley to drive in his third run of the game on a single to left field, tying the game at three. WCU loaded the bases during the frame, but could only manage the one marker.

A solo homer by Orvin in the top of the seventh inning again handed the Bulldogs a one-run edge in the see-saw affair. But a one-out rally in the bottom of the frame gave the Catamounts the upper hand. Johns singled through the left side before swiping second - one of a career-high four stolen bases on the game for the Stafford, Va., native and one of two in the frame. After Heffley drew a free pass, the duo executed a perfect double-steal to put runners at second and third with one out. Notaro then laced a single up the middle to plate both runs, giving Western Carolina the 5-4 edge after seven.

The Citadel manufactured the game-tying run in the top of the eighth inning Ladd was plunked by Benedict before matriculating to third on a stolen base and wild pitch before scoring on a tough error up the middle on a would-be, inning-ending out.

Ladd finished with three hits in a 3-for-4 performance to accompany Orvin's four-hit night. Matt Simonelli finished 2-for-5 to cap the Bulldogs' multi-hit performers.

For the Bulldogs, reliever T.J. Clarkson (1-4) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts against a walk in an inning and two thirds. Starter Matt Talley, a preseason All-SoCon selection alongside Benedict at starting pitcher, worked six and a third before being retired, surrendering five runs on eight hits, fanning six while walking four.