April 29, 2011
Cullowhee, N.C. - San Diego State scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to break a 2-2 tie and went on to a 4-3 win over Western Carolina in the first-ever meeting between the schools Friday evening at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C.
Sophomore right-hander Corey Black turned in a solid effort on the mound, going seven innings and allowing two runs on just three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. His effort earned him the victory as he improved to 3-4 on the season.
Western Carolina (17-22-1) took the initial lead in the contest with a run in the bottom of the third. A leadoff walk to Aaron Attaway and single by Macon Smith put runners on first and third. The Catamounts then executed a double steal to make it 1-0.
SDSU (13-29) grabbed the lead in its next at bat with a pair of runs. Jomel Torres singled up the middle with one out and went to third on a double to left center by Chris Wilson. A grounder to second off the bat of Tim Zier scored Torres with Wilson coming home soon after on a wild pitch. Torres' hit was the first of his two in the contest marking the fifth straight game (and sixth time in the last seven) that he notched a pair of hits.
Black held the Catamounts at bay over the next two innings before some wildness on his part allowed the home side the tie the score in the bottom of the sixth. WCU's Ross Heffley singled and advanced to second and third on a pair of wild pitches before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Matt Johns to knot the game at 2-2.
San Diego State's winning rally came in the top of the next inning and it began with a bunt single by leadoff hitter Cody Smith. After a sacrifice bunt by Pat Cowell, Brandon Meredith singled to left to drive home Smith with the go-ahead run. Torres followed with a single to left with an ensuing wild pitch moving both runners up a base. Wilson then lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Meredith with the all-important fourth run.
The Catamounts threatened to score in the bottom of the eighth after a pair of one-out singles off SDSU reliever Craig Rasmussen put runners on first and second. But Bryan Crabb came out of the bullpen to extinguish the threat and keep the score at 4-2. Crabb would allow a run in the ninth, but was able to get the final two outs with the potential tying run at first to record his third save of the year.
San Diego State and Western Carolina will continue their three-game weekend series with a contest ion Saturday (April 30) set for a 3:00 p.m. (ET) start,