Tuesday, March 06, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Mar. 6, 2007) - Western Carolina tallied six runs through the middle innings and the Bucs offense never got rolling as the Catamounts notched a 7-4 victory over ETSU Tuesday afternoon at Cardinal Park.

After three scoreless innings that saw Western Carolina strand five runners, the Catamounts (7-4) broke through in the fourth, scoring a pair of two-out runs off ETSU reliever Jimmy Tidwell (Acworth, Ga.).

Holding a 2-0 lead, the Catamounts scored two more times in both the fifth and the sixth innings off reliever Darren Caldwell (Spartanburg, S.C.), while holding the Bucs to a lone fifth inning run to enter the seventh inning with a 6-1 advantage.

Sophomore Troy Mendez (Roswell, Ga.) drove in freshman Tanner Moore (Chattanooga, Tenn.) in the seventh, cutting the deficit to 6-2, and the Bucs loaded the bases later in the inning, bringing senior Justin Aughey (Davie, Fla.) to the plate with the tying run, but right fielder Andy John hauled in Aughey's blast on the warning track, ending the threat.

The Bucs (9-5) threatened again in the ninth inning, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 7-4, and had the tying run on deck in senior Michael Courtney (Knoxville, Tenn.), but Western Carolina reliever Corey Martin induced a fielder's choice for the game's final out.

Tidwell (0-1) took the loss for the Bucs, surrendering two runs in 1 1/3 innings of work; his first runs allowed in six appearances this season.  Catamount starter Chris Masters (2-0) limited the Bucs to one run in his six innings of work, striking out five and walking just one for his second career win.  Martin pitched the final three innings for his first save of the season.

The Bucs are back in action Wednesday afternoon, taking on Appalachian State at 5 p.m. at Cardinal Park.