Box Score CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth) hit his third home run of the season in an 8-5 loss to the Western Carolina Catamounts on Friday night at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C. Shelton has now homered in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. He had missed the previous 27 games due to an injury prior to Wednesday's contest with UNC Asheville. UNCG falls to 35-16 on the season and 13-6 in the Southern Conference. Western Carolina improves to 24-24, and 14-8 in the SoCon.
“We didn't execute enough on the mound tonight.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “With ten walks, eventually that catches up with you and it got us today. Offensively, the momentum from the first inning kind of set the tone. (Ben) Spitznagel leads off with a triple, and if we plate that run it might change the complexion of the early part of that game. We let them off the hook and they capitalized the next half inning with their lead off man hitting a home run. We fought today, we had some good moments but it wasn't consistent enough for us to get over the hump. The lack of execution on our pitches put us in a hole with the amount of base runners we had to deal with. We'll come back strong tomorrow.”
Shelton provided a bulk of the offensive damage Friday night, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) set the table at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-5, and a run scored, including a lead off triple to start the game.
L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) and Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) each had a pair of hits, with Kalawaia driving in two, and Kusz one. Cesar Trejo (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) added a 1-for-2 performance, with a run scored. Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) scored a run in the contest.
Hunter Smith (Whiteville, N.C./Whiteville) (6-3) suffered the loss. The redshirt junior threw 5.0 innings, gave up eight hits and struck out six batters. Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) worked 0.2 innings in relief, picking up a strikeout. Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) made his 16th appearance on the hill, and first since Apr. 29th. The senior worked the final 2.1 innings without allowing a hit or a run to be scored.
Western Carolina jumped out early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Garrett Brown led off with a solo home run to right center before Kramer Farrell drove in a pair on a single to left field.
The Spartans were able to cut into the lead in the top of the third inning on Shelton's solo blast to right center.
WCU increased their lead back to three in the bottom of the frame, scoring an unearned run when a throwing error allowed a runner to score.
UNCG was able to tie the game up in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three times. After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Kalawaia muscled a pitch off the handle to shallow center field to score two. Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) then tied the game up, hitting a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in a run.
The Catamounts answered back in their half of the fifth, taking back a three run lead on an Andrew Bullock three-run home run.
Kusz gave the Spartans some life in the top of the sixth. Trejo singled and advanced to second on a failed Western Carolina pick off attempt. Kusz singled to right field to bring in Trejo and cut the lead to 7-5.
Western Carolina again responded, scoring a solo run on a sacrifice fly from Matt Smith in the bottom of the frame. Both teams were scoreless through the remaining two and a half innings.
UNCG and WCU are back in action on Saturday, May 14th, as they will play in game two of the three game series at 2:00 p.m. at Hennon Stadium.
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