April 1, 2012

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Two decisive innings that erased three-run deficits highlighted play at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Western Carolina and Davidson split the Southern Conference double-header.

WCU pushed across nine runs in what proved to be the game-winning inning in the 12-6 series-opening victory, while the Wildcats capitalized on four walks and three Catamount errors to plate six runs in the sixth inning of the night cap to even the series with a 7-5 win.

Sunday's finale will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with air time of 12:45 pm with streaming video through Catamount All-Access (subscription required), both online at www.CatamountSports.com.

Three Catamounts recorded four-hit days in the doubleheader as Julian Ridings (4-for-9), Tyler White (4-for-10) and Aaron Attaway (4-for-11) led the way for the Catamounts. Cody Jones finished 3-for-7 with two extra base hits including a double and a two-run home run coming in the bottom of the second inning in the series opener. Jones led WCU with four RBI in the two games.

Dykota Spiess posted a 2-for-7 day with a pair of walks while also blasting his fourth home run of the year coming in game two that helped stake the Catamounts to a three-run, 4-1, lead.

In the series opener, Western Carolina rallied from a three-run deficit to pick up the victory. Trailing by three runs, 6-3, the Catamounts plated nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out the win. Davidson struck first with a solo home run by James Cerbie in the top of the second only to have Jones belt a two-run shot in the bottom of the frame to put the Catamounts on top, 2-1.

The Wildcats reclaimed the lead with two runs in the top of the third as Drew Gadaire lifted a sacrifice fly to center and Andrew Barna hit an RBI single to left to push Davidson back on top, 3-2. Senior Ross Heffley tied the game in the home half of the same frame on a RBI single to left field, driving home Attaway and creating a 3-3 deadlock.

Davidson was able to pull back in front with three runs in the top of the fifth inning and chase WCU starter, Jordan Smith. The Wildcats scored runs on a RBI double by Gadaire and singles by Barna and James Cerbie to lead, 6-3, after four and a half.

Smith factored in a no-decision after surrendering six runs on seven hits. The Liberty, N.C., native struck out four but walked five in four and a third innings of work.

But it was the nine-run sixth inning that led the Catamounts to the victory. In the decisive frame, WCU took advantage of four walks with both Ridings and White delivering a RBI center up the middle, while Jones drove in his third run of the game on a single to center. Strong delivered the big swing with a three-RBI triple in a pinch-hit role, later scoring on a wild pitch to cap scoring in the inning.

Reliever Jeremy Sluder (1-0) scored the victory for the Catamounts in the first game, tossing three and a third innings out of the bullpen, holding the Wildcats scoreless with three strikeouts. Hunter Brister faced one batter, inducing a double-play ball to end the fifth inning, while Andrew Blackwell also threw two-thirds of an inning.

In game two, Davidson came back from a 4-1 hole with six runs to hold on for a 7-5 victory over WCU to set up Sunday's rubber match.

The Wildcats took the early one-run lead in the top of the first inning as Berman drew a lead-off walk and later scored on an error down the third base line, 1-0. Then, in the home portion of the second inning, Jones hit a one-out double to left center ahead of Spiess who belted a two-run homer over the scoreboard in right center to give the Catamounts a 2-1 lead.

Western Carolina added a two-spot in the home half of the sixth inning to pull out to a three-run, 4-1, lead over Davidson. White and Heffley singled to open the inning with Luke Gragg successfully sacrificing the two into scoring position. Jones plated one run on a sacrifice fly to left field with Adam Martin singling to score the fourth run.

The three-run edge was short lived, though, as Davidson scored six runs in the top of seventh inning to pull out to a 7-4 lead. The Wildcats took advantage of three hits, three WCU errors and four walks in the decisive seventh inning.

Down by three, WCU threatened in the ninth as Strong singled to center with a failed pick-off attempt moving him to third base. Ridings then drove him home on a double down the left field line, trimming the deficit to two, 7-5. With Ridings at third base, White swung and missed a strike out three but reached on a throwing error by the catcher. As the ball sailed over the head of first baseman Calvin Sigelbaum, Ridings attempted to scamper home. However, second baseman James Cerbie scooped up the loose ball and threw home, nailing Ridings at the plate.

Heffley singled to continue the Catamounts' threat with two out in the ninth, but WCU was unable to muster any more runs in the 7-5 loss.

WCU freshman Tyler Powell (0-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing Forrest Brandt to single in the seventh. Powell only faced one batter, giving way to Preston Hatcher who tossed two thirds of an inning out of the bullpen. Hatcher allowed two runs on two hits with a pair of walks. Redshirt senior Vance Chavis tossed the final two innings for WCU, striking out three against one walk of scoreless relief.

Starter Morgan McKinney struck out a career-high 10 in six and a third innings, also factoring in a no-decision. The Gainesville, Fla., native allowed one earned run of the four allowed, walking four.

Brandt and Barna both collected four hits apiece to lead Davidson while Gadaire drove in four runs on two hits on the day for the Wildcats.