March 10, 2012

Box Score

Charleston, S.C. - Tyler White finished with a pair of singles, reaching base three times on Friday night to lead the Catamounts, but Western Carolina failed to string timely hits together in dropping its Southern Conference opener, 4-2, at Joe Riley Park.

Bulldog catcher Joe Jackson and left fielder Justin Mackert both drove in a pair of runs apiece including a two-run homer by the latter in the win for The Citadel which halted a three-game winning streak for the Catamounts in the overall head-to-head series. The loss also snaps WCU's six-game unbeaten streak.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon at Riley Park. The game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with a 1:45 pm air time and can be heard online at www.CatamountSports.com.

Catamount starter Jordan Smith (1-2) struck out seven in four and two-thirds innings of work, but five walks caught up with him. He surrendered four earned runs on six hits before being chased in the fifth inning. WCU (10-4, 0-1 SoCon) used five relief pitchers with junior transfer Hunter Brister fanning two in an inning of work. Seniors Darron Dotson and Vance Chavis both recorded a strikeout in an inning of work apiece.

All told, Western Carolina's pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts, but issued nine free passes including eight walks and a HBP.

Bulldog starter Austin Pritcher (2-1) kept the Catamounts off-balance through seven innings, striking out five against just two walks in limiting WCU to a pair of earned runs. Relievers Ross White and T.J. Clarkson combined for the final two innings with Clarkson tossing the final inning and two-thirds to score his second save of the year.

Back-to-back Bulldog base hits by Mason Davis and Jackson pushed the first run across for the home squad. Davis doubled to right center with Jackson singling up the middle to plate the runner. With Jackson at second, Mackert then belted a two-run home run down the left field line to stake the `Dogs to a three-run lead.

The Citadel (7-6, 1-0 SoCon) added an insurance run in the fourth as Jackson doubled down the left field line to score Bailey Rush from third and a 4-0 lead through four innings.

Western Carolina got on the board in the top of the seventh inning as White singled to center on the third pitch of his lead-off at bat. Pinch hitter Luke Gragg delivered a one-out single two batters later to put two on for pinch hitter Connor Andrus. A fielder's choice along the middle of the infield advance White to third. With runners at the corners, a balk by Bulldog starting pitcher, Pritcher, brought home the run, but a ground out ended the inning and WCU's threat.

In the eighth, Bryant Noteboom tallied his second hit after pinch hitting midway through the game, doubling down the left field line with Ross Heffley singling through the right side, advancing Noteboom to third and chasing Pritcher. Next batter, freshman Jacob Hoyle, recorded his team-leading 24th on a swinging bunt up the first base line. Noteboom wisely raced across an uncovered home plate to trim the deficit to two, 4-2.

However, with Heffley aboard and the batter representing the tying run with just one out, the Catamounts were unable to score providing the final margin.

WCU freshman Dale Urquhart delivered a two-out pinch hit double in the ninth inning, but was stranded at second when the final out was recorded. All told, the Catamounts left eight on base while The Citadel stranded 15 on the night.

Game two is scheduled for first pitch at 2:00 pm on Saturday.