WESTERN CAROLINA RALLIES PAST FURMAN 6-5
Greenville, S.C.--Western Carolina scored two runs in the top of the ninth
inning to take a 6-5 lead, and Ryan Foster pitched out of a bases loaded jam
in the bottom of the inning to seal the win for the Catamounts in baseball action
Saturday night at Furman Baseball Stadium.
Furman jumped on starter Seth Foster in the first inning as Clint Hill led-off
with a triple to start the game. Hill later scored on a Derek Norman ground-out
to give the Paladins a 1-0 lead.
The Catamounts responded in the next frame after Rod Goldston blasted a two-run
home run off the scoreboard in right field, giving Western Carolina a 2-1 lead.
The Paladins reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame when they scored
two runs off three hits. Sam McLain led-off the inning with a double and Case
Cassedy followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Cole Hubka then
singled in McLain to tie the game at 2-2. Hill’s ground-out then allowed
Cassedy to score, giving Furman a 3-2 lead.
In the third inning, Alan Beck hit the Catamounts’ second home-run of the
game, another two-run job, this time to left field, giving Western Carolina
(20-8, 10-1 SoCon) a 4-3 lead.
The Paladins were able to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning
after Hill reached on an error that plated Nick Wajda from third. Furman (11-13,
3-8 SoCon) then claimed the lead for the third time in the game in the fifth
inning when Dominic Frankey’s sacrifice fly scored Stephen Hildreth, making
the score 5-4.
Kyle Funk and reliever Ryan Hodinka kept the lead safe for Furman over the next
three innings, allowing only one hit.
In the ninth, reliever Coogie Freedman came on for Hodinka and walked Jimmy
Cochran and Brian Sigmon to lead off the inning. Sigmon and pinch-runner Matt
Nelson then stole second and third to put runners in scoring position for the
Catamounts. Todd Roper then tied the game at 5-5 on a sacrifice fly that scored
Nelson and advanced Sigmon to third. After another walk, Freedman (0-2) was
chased from the game, allowing closer David Mitchell to try to end the Catamount
rally. Mitchell, however, threw a wild pitch that scored Sigmon, giving Western
Carolina a 6-5 advantage.
The Paladins had their turn to rally in the bottom of the inning as Wajda led-off
with a walk. A.J. Davidiuk then singled to centerfield, moving Wajda to third.
Next senior Brandon Barrett sacrificed Davidiuk to second, giving Furman two
runners in scoring position. After an intentional walk to Derek Norman by reliever
Ryan Foster to load the bases, Foster got Jon Stallsmith to ground-out, allowing
the Catamounts to take game two of the three game series. Foster picked up his
fifth save of the year and his 20th save of his career, which ties a Western
Carolina school record.
Brian Barnes (3-3) pitched two innings of relief to pick up his third win of
the year.
Frankey led the Paladins at the plate going 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Beck
led the Catamounts going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
The two teams conclude the three-game series tomorrow at Furman Baseball Stadium in a 1:00 p.m. game.