May 8, 2011

Box Score

Boone, N.C. - Western Carolina nearly erased a 10-run deficit, scoring nine unanswered runs over the final six innings before falling to Appalachian State by one, 10-9, Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference action at Beaver Field / Smith Stadium.

The Catamounts belted a season-high four home runs and kept the Mountaineers off the scoreboard in their final five at bats in mounting the rally. WCU's bullpen limited ASU to just three hits over the final five frames.

The final game of the three-game conference series is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Monday afternoon in Boone. The Catamount Sports Network broadcast online at CatamountSports.com airs at 12:45 pm ahead of the first pitch. Sophomore Taylor Sandefur is scheduled to start for WCU.

Having trimmed the Mountaineer advantage to two entering the ninth, Matt Johns doubled to right center to open the final frame. Two batters later, Cameron Dullnig drove him in on an RBI single to right center to bring WCU back within a run. However, with Dullnig at first, pinch hitter Cody Jones was struck out swinging and Luke Gragg sharply lined out to short to end the game.

Appalachian State (29-19, 12-11 SoCon) jumped on top with 10 runs in the first three innings including five in the first, four in the second and what proved to be the game-winning run in the third. The Mountaineers pounded out five hits in the opening frame and used a two-run home run by Trey Holmes in the second to chase WCU starter Jordan Smith, also picking up two runs on a two-RBI double by Preston Troutman.

Smith, the first of eight Catamount hurlers used on Sunday, surrendered seven runs on seven hits in recording just one inning of work. Jeremy Sluder allowed a pair of runs on two hits with a pair of strikeouts as the first out of the bullpen. Sophomore TJ Page had the longest outing in relief, scattering three ASU hits in two innings and allowing one run with three walks and a strikeout.

Leading 9-0, ASU pushed across the 10th run in the third as Hector Crespo opened with a single to right center before coming around to score on an infield ground out by Jack Myers.

Western Carolina (17-26-1, 7-16 SoCon) began its rally in the fourth inning as Johns reached on a throwing error and promptly stole second base, his team-leading 19th theft of the season. Tyler White singled to right to move Johns to third ahead of Dullnig who delivered a RBI single to center field to break up the shutout. Aaron Attaway drew the first of consecutive walks to load the bases with classmate Luke Gragg earning a free pass to plate a second run. The third run of the inning crossed the plate on an infield hit by Austin Schultz, trimming the App lead to seven, 10-3.

In the fifth, senior Stephen Notaro blasted his second home run of the series with a solo shot over the centerfield fence to again cut into the Mountaineer lead.

Two home runs in the Catamount sixth resulted in three WCU runs. Dullnig opened the frame with his first homer of the season with an opposite field shot to left. Attaway then drew his second walk of the game, chasing Mountaineer starter Nathan Hyatt with Gragg welcoming reliever Chad Farmer with his first collegiate home run - a two-run shot over the fence in right to cut ASU's lead to three, 10-7.

Dullnig led the Catamounts with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate, finishing a triple shy of the cycle with three RBI with Gragg also driving in three.

Tyler White, who finished 2-for-5, homered to open the seventh to bring the Catamounts back within two where they stood entering the final inning.

Hyatt (5-5) scored the win for the Mountaineers allowing six runs on five hits with six walks against four strikeouts in the starting role. Reliever Taylor Miller picked up his 10th save of the season, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts over the final two innings.

With the loss - the sixth-straight on the season for the Catamounts - WCU slips back into 11th place on percentage points in the SoCon standings. However, a victory on Monday would catapult the Catamounts back into a three-way tie for eighth-place, the final cut-off for the final spot in the post-season conference tournament in Charleston, S.C., at the end of the month.