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 Barrett Shaft had three hits and two RBI in Western's 8-3 win over UNC Greensboro Friday. |
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May 5, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - For the third consecutive outing pitcher Bryan Tupper established a career high for innings pitched and the senior picked up his third consecutive win as Western Carolina defeated UNC Greensboro 8-3 Friday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The game, which started an hour late due to rain in the area, saw Western's Barrett Shaft have three hits and two RBI, while Jonathan Greene added two hits and two RBI.
Tupper, who now owns a 4-1 record, pitched a career-high 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and two runs with two walks and five strikeouts.
The Spartans (19-27, 8-11 Southern Conference) drew first blood, scoring once in the first. Leadoff hitter Greg Feltes walked on four pitches, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Guy Welsh plated Feltes with a soft line drive just beyond the shortstop's range.
Western (26-20, 12-10 SoCon) knotted the game at 1-1 in the home half of the first. Tim Hallam and Shaft had consecutive singles. While Shaft was retired at second on a fielder's choice, Hallam was able to move to third and later scored on a passed ball.
In the second, Western loaded the bases with no outs thanks to two walks and bunt single. Freshman Mitchell Hatley drove in Greene with a sacrifice fly to right. With two outs, Shaft delivered an RBI single up the middle, scoring Scott Ward and giving the Cats' a 3-1 lead.
UNCG cut into its deficit in the third. With two out and two strikes, Jermaine Mitchell hit a home run to right-center for his fourth blast of the season. The Catamounts got that run back in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Trey McDaniel, who had a leadoff double, scored on a wild pitch.
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In the seventh, the did some two-out damage. Feltes started things with a two-out double and the Spartans then loaded the bases with back-to-back walks. Welsh made the score 6-3 with an infield single, driving in Feltes on the play. With the bases still loaded, WCU closer Greg Holland came in the game and struck out the only batter he faced to limit the damage.
Holland pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn his seventh save on the season. He scattered three hits with no runs, no walks and three strikeouts.
Western answered in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to take an 8-3 cushion. With two outs and runners on the corners, Shaft singled to left, scoring pinch runner Jason Haynes. A fielding error by the left fielder on the play allowed Donnie Wilson to advance to third. Then, on the play, a throwing error by the left fielder allowed Wilson to score.
Offensively for the Catamounts, Hallam, McDaniel, Ward and Wilson each had two hits.
For the Spartans, Mitchell led the way with three hits and two RBI. Starter Nick Starnes, who was one of six Spartan pitchers on the evening, suffered the loss, falling to 4-3. He allowed seven hits and six runs (five earned) with five walks and four strikeouts.
Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro will play game two of the weekend set on Saturday. Game time is set for 7 pm as Western will have graduation exercises in the afternoon.
