University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Western Carolina
WCU Slips Past UNC Asheville Baseball, 12-10
03.26.2008 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Western Carolina scored twice in the top of the ninth inning as the Catamounts edged UNC Asheville 12-10 in college baseball action at McCormick Field Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs (12-14) were led at the plate by shortstop Kevin Wiedenbacher who went 3-for-5 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in three runs. He extended his hitting streak to 21 games and tied a school record set by Rob Vernon last year.
The Catamounts (8-14) opened the ninth inning with a pinch-hit double from Ryan Matthews. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and came home on a wild pitch for an 11-10 WCU lead. The Cats added an unearned insurance run to lead 12-10.
WCU had 15 hits on the night and was led by shortstop Brent Greer who went 4-for-4 with three RBI. He scored two runs.
In the bottom of the ninth, Asheville placed runners on first and second with one out but Kevin Mattison lined into a double-play to end the game. The win went to reliever Garrett Ozar (3-2) who pitched one inning of relief. Chris Masters threw one pitch to get the save. It was his second of the year.
UNC Asheville tied the game in the eighth with two runs. Trailing 10-8, Mattison doubled down the right-field line with one out. Wiedebacher tripled into center-field, scoring Mattison to narrow the Cats lead to 10-9. Elliott Arrington followed with an infield to single to knot the game at 10-10.
The Bulldogs exploded for six runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-6 lead. Justin Schumer led off with a solo homer to cut the WCU lead to 6-3. Asheville loaded the bases with one out before Wiedenbacher had a two-run single to carve the lead to 6-5. Arrington's run-scoring single tied the game at 6-6.
Reid Kreiser followed with a two-run triple to plate two more runs for an 8-6 Asheville lead.
The Catamounts came back with a four-spot in the sixth inning. Greer opened the inning with a single. Blake Murphy had a bunt single to put runners on first and second. J.C. Lyons RBI-double cut the Bulldog lead to 8-7. One out later, Matt Johns hit a three-run homer for a 10-8 WCU lead.
UNC Asheville opens Big South Conference play against High Point Friday night at 7 p.m.
