Sunday, April 10, 2005

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Apr. 10, 2005) - East Tennessee State had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, but could not push a run across as the Bucs fell to Western Carolina, 9-8, Sunday afternoon from Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C. With the win, Western Carolina raises its record to 21-11, 9-6 in Southern Conference games while ETSU falls to 17-10, 7-8 in conference play.   

            The Catamounts took the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Barrett Shaft and Tim Hallam led off the inning with back-to-back walks, then moved into scoring position on a groundout by Steven Strausbaugh. Shaft would later cross the plate on a wild pitch.

            Western Carolina added two runs to its lead in the bottom of the second. Chris Davis led off the inning with a walk and Jonathan Greene followed with a two-run homer over the right-center field wall, his fifth of the season.

            ETSU got on the board with two runs in the top of the third. Sophomore designated hitter Mike Giroud (St. Petersburg, Fla.) laced a double to left-center and freshman first baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) followed with a towering two-run homer over the left-center field wall.

            The Bucs took the lead with two more runs in the top of the fourth. With one out, junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) hit a double to right-center and later scored on a two-out single to left by Giroud. Russell then came through again, hammering a double to the gap in left-center to score Giroud.

            The Catamounts wasted little time regaining the lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Davis led off with a bunt single and Greene followed with a walk. With one out, Brandon Zollman hit a two-RBI triple and later scored on a groundout by Shaft.

            ETSU cut a run off the Catamount lead in the as Buccaneer senior second baseman Nick Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.) led off the frame with a solo homer to right.

            WCU plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, running their lead to 8-5. With one out, Trey McDaniel hit an opposite-field solo homer over the left field wall. Davis followed with a triple to right-center and later scored on a single by Greene.

            The Bucs responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to trim the Catamount lead to 8-7. Hargis led off the inning with a double to right-center and scored on a subsequent single to center by junior left fielder Josiah Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.). After a double-play, Russell doubled to right-center and later scored on a single up the middle by junior third baseman Greg Roberts (Douglas, Ga.).

            East Tennessee State tied the game once again with a run in the top of the seventh. Senior catcher Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled with one out, then moved to third on consecutive wild pitches. He then scored as sophomore centerfielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice.  

            Western Carolina went back on top with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Davis reached on an error to lead off the inning, followed by a walk to Greene. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch and Nate Hall scored Davis with a sac fly to center.

            In the top of the ninth, Crowe was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After moving to second on a sac bunt by junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.), Moore was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Hargis walked to load the bases, but WCU reliever Clint Ramsey was able to get out of the inning unharmed.

            Luke Miller (3-1) earned the win for the Catamounts, pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, not allowing a baserunner. Freshman righty Jonathan Stoudt (Marietta, Ga.) was charged with the tough-luck loss (0-1) for the Bucs, allowing an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning of work.

            Ramsey earned his third save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth.

            Russell led the Bucs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI's. Hargis and Giroud also had two hits in the loss for ETSU.

            Western Carolina was led by Greene, who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the win. Davis was 2-for-3 with four runs scored.

            The Bucs return to action on Tuesday night as they travel to Knoxville to face in-state rival Tennessee. First pitch from Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for 7 p.m.