Tennessee Tech - weekend series

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Location: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Date: Friday & Saturday, May 3d & 4th
Time: Fri - 6:00 pm, Sat - 2:00
Radio: none
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: Catamount All Access
TTU Record: 33-12 Overall, 19-5 in Ohio Valley
Series: The Cats are 12-4 all time against TTU



Both the Cats and Golden Eagles take a break from conference play this weekend as head coach Matt Bragga brings his first place Ohio Valley Conference Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles to Cullowhee for a two-game weekend series on Friday and Saturday against the Catamounts.

Tennessee Tech is coming off a 10-6 victory over East Tennessee State on Wendesday night, upping their record to 33-12 overall, however, TTU has two victories in that total against non-DI teams (Berea & Maryville).   The Golden Eagles are on a 6 game win streak coming into the Friday game and are 8-2 in their last 10 game.  The Golden Eagles have a 10-7 road record on the season.  TTU currently sports a 132 RPI.

Projected WCU Starter Pitchers:
Fri. - Soph. RHP Jeremy Null (5-2, 4.10) - Avg. 8.0 K's per start
Sat. - Jr. RHP Jordan Smith (4-3, 4.02) - Has won three-straight Sunday starts

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Cats win 9-3 over Owls

The Catamounts picked up the win early on, scoring five runs in the top of the third inning, three coming off of Julian Ridings homerun and two more on an RBI double from Dykota Spiess.

With the win today, the Cats sweep the two game, home and home series with Kennesaw State, and improve their record to 31-17 on the season.



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Kennesaw State (game #2)

Kennesaw State Owls
Location: Stillwell Baseball Stadium
Date:  Wednesday, May, 1st
Time: 5:00 PM
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
Live Stats: KSU Live Stats
Live Video: none
KSU's Record: 22-24 Overall, 10-11 in A-Sun
Series: The Cats are 8-4 all time against the Owls


The Catamounts will travel to Kennesaw, Georgia on Wednesday to play the Kennesaw State Owls.  This game is the "away" portion of this season's home & home, mid-week non-conference series with Head Coach Mike Sansing's Kennesaw State baseball team.  The Cats won the first meeting in Cullowhee by a 2-0 score on April 23d.

The Catamounts will be playing at KSU in the first of only three games this week.  This week's games also include a non-conference, two game series with Tennessee Tech (Friday & Saturday) in Cullowhee, prior to next week's break for exams. There is no SoCon games scheduled until Friday, May 10th, when the Wofford Terriers travel to Hennon Stadium.

The Owls are currently in sixth place in the Atlantic Sun, with a 10-11 record, that puts them five and a half games out of first place. The Owls are 14-13 at home this season, but are in the midst of a 3 game, home losing streak.  KSU is 3-7 in their last ten games.

The Owls have a RPI of 151, and are 4-12 this season against teams with an PRI of 100 or less (WCU is at 68).

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SoCon Baseball Standings

as of April 29th

SoCon Baseball	SoCon					Overall
Team	Record	Pct	Home	Away	Neutral	Record	Pct	Home	Away	Neutral
Western Carolina	18-6	.750	9-3	9-3	0-0	30-17	.638	19-7	11-7	0-3
Citadel	14-6	.700	6-3	8-3	0-0	27-17	.614	17-7	10-10	0-0
Elon	15-9	.625	7-5	8-4	0-0	23-23	.500	13-10	10-12	0-1
College of Charleston	12-8	.600	5-6	7-2	0-0	24-19	.558	15-11	9-6	0-2
Georgia Southern	12-12	.500	8-4	4-8	0-0	23-20	.535	14-11	9-9	0-0
Appalachian State	11-11	.500	5-3	6-8	0-0	23-16	.590	12-6	11-9	0-1
Samford	9-11	.450	4-5	5-6	0-0	23-21	.523	16-9	6-11	1-1
Furman	9-14	.391	3-8	6-6	0-0	22-19	.537	11-11	11-8	0-0
Wofford	9-15	.375	7-5	2-10	0-0	18-28	.391	14-12	4-15	0-1
Davidson	8-16	.333	7-8	1-8	0-0	13-29	.310	12-12	1-17	0-0
UNCG	6-15	.286	3-9	3-6	0-0	18-26	.409	13-16	4-10	1-0

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Preston Hatcher becomes WCU career leader in saves

Western Carolina's senior closer Preston Hatcher became the Catamount's career leader in saves, earning his 13th of the year and 23rd of his career in game one in Saturday's double header against UNCG in Greensboro.

Purple & Gold congratulates Preston Hatcher on this accomplishment.



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Cats sweep UNCG in Twinbill

The UNCG baseball team could not snap the Catamounts' SoCon winning streak Saturday, as the Cats swept the Spartans in a doubleheader by scores of 10-7 and 15-5 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Western Carolina (30-17, 18-6) is the first team in the SoCon to reach 30 wins and has now captured 11-straight conference victories, that includes 3 consecutive series the Catamounts have swept.

In today's games, the Cats had a total of 25 runs off of  25 hits, and committed only 1 error.  Morgan McKinney won game one, and Jordan Smith won game two.


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Cats win game one at UNCG

A grand slam by Tyler White in the fifth inning of a 1-1 tied game, sent the Catamounts to a 5-1 lead and helped the Cats on their way to a 7-3 victory at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.  The Cats have now won nine-straight SoCon games.

UNCG scored first in the bottom of the second as Eric Kalbfleisch led off with a triple to center field. A RBI ground-out by UNCG's TJ Spina made the score 1-0 after two complete innings, but the Cats responded in the fourth with a one-out home run by Jacob Hoyle.

The big blow by Western happened in the fifth with one out and Luke Gragg on second, a walk by Cody Jones and a single by Arron Attaway loaded the bases. After Julian Ridings struck out White came to the plate and drove a ball just over the glove of Eric Kalbfleisch and out of the park for the grand slam.

Jeremy Null pitched 7 and one third inning and was credited with the win, while Preson Hatcher pitched one and one third and is credited with the save.

A double header is on tap for Saturday.


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Baseball: UNCG

UNCG Spartans
Location: UNCG Baseball Stadium, Greensboro, NC
Date: Friday-Sunday, April 26th-28th
Time: Friday-6:00 pm, Sat-1:00 pm, Sun-1:00 pm
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
Live Stats: UNCG Live Stats
Video: UNCG Game Central
UNCG 's Record: 18-23 Overall, 6-12 in the SoCon Series: The Cats are 21-28 all time against the Spartans.



On Friday, the Catamounts travel to Greensboro, NC to for a SoCon series with the UNCG Spartans.

First year head coach Link Jarrett's Spartans currently sit in 9th place in the conference, seven and one-half games out of first place, and a half game ahead of both Wofford and Davidson. The Spartans just completed a three game series with Davidson, losing the series, 1-2. The Spartans are 14-13 in games played in Greensboro, and 2-8 in their last 10 games.

UNCG is currently on a 3 game losing streak, with an RPI of 221. UNCG has a 3-23 record against teams with an RPI under 100.

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Preston Hatcher named the SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week

WCU senior pitcher Preston Hatcher has been named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for April 24.

Last week, Catamount closer Preston Hatcher made four appearances as Western Carolina went 5-0, defeating Gardner-Webb and Kennesaw State in mid-week action and sweeping Georgia Southern to move atop the SoCon standings.

In his four appearances, Hatcher secured a victory and three saves, scattering three hits through five and a third innings pitched without allowing a run. Hatcher limited opposing hitters to a .167 batting average against, working around two walks with five strikeouts. A two-time SoCon Spring Academic All-Conference selection, Hatcher is on the ballot for baseball’s CoSIDA Academic All-America with All-District voting currently underway.

A preseason All-America selection, he was additionally named to the first mid-season National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year watch list.

Courtesy SoConSports.com

Wednesday's WCU Games

WEDNESDAY, APR 24
Sport	Opponent	Time	Coverage
Baseball	at Clemson	6:30 PM	Listen LIVE
Softball	vs Presbyterian	4:00 PM
Softball	vs Presbyterian	6:00 PM

Schedule courtesy WCU Media Relations

Clemson

#13/25  Clemson Tigers
Location: Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Clemson, SC
Date: Wednesdy, April 24th
Time:  6:30 PM
Radio:  Catamount Sports Network
Live Stats:  TigerCast
Live Video: TigerCast
Clemson's Record:  27-13 overall, 13-8 ACC
Series:  The Cats are 15-55 all time against the Tigers. The Tigers lead 38-5 in games played at Clemson


The Catamounts travel to Clemson, SC on Wednesday to meet former Catamount coach Jack Leggett and his nationally ranked Clemson Tigers in the second game of this season's home and home series between Western and Clemson.  The Cats lost the home game opener, 12-9 back on April 9th.

Clemson enters Wednesday's game with a 27-13 overall record and 13-8 ACC mark after falling twice in three games at Miami (FL) last weekend.

The Tigers have won 11 of their last 13 games, are 17-7 at home in 2013. Clemson is 5-2 since their win over the Catamounts, but dropped their last two games to Miami on the road this past weekend. The Tigers are averaging 4.9 runs per game and hitting .270 with a .355 slugging percentage and .340 on-base percentage.  

Clemson is second in the Atlantic Division of the ACC, tied with Florida State, and has an RPI of 13.

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Cats win 2-0 over KSU

Adam Curtis

The Catamouts picked up win #27 today, as they shut out the Kennesaw State Owls.  The Cats pushed across two runs late in the game, for the final score of 2-0, to take a victory in the first game of a two game, home and home, series with the Owls.

Catamount pitching held the Owls to 4 hits and made 5 strike outs overall.  Tyler Powell started the game, pitching 3 innings and gave up 3 hits.  Senior Adam Curtis came into the game in relief in the top of the 4th inning.  He pitched four and two-thirds inning, striking out two.  Aaron Attaway got the Cats on the board in the six inning, with a home run to left field, over the Purple Monster.  Curtis was credited with the win, and Preston Hatcher picked up another save.

Nathan Harsh started for KSU, pitched six and two thirds innings, and struck out a personal best 8.    Harsh picked up the loss for the Owls.

The two teams will play again in a midweek game at Kennesaw next Wednesday.

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Tuesday's WCU Games

TUESDAY, APR 23
Sport	Opponent	Time	Coverage
Baseball	vs Kennesaw State	5:00 PM
Men's Golf	at Southern Conference Championship (18 holes)	All Day	Live Scoring

Schedule courtesy WCU Media Relations

WCU’s Martin, Null Sweep Weekly SoCon Baseball Awards

Adam Martin

Jeremy Null

Western Carolina catcher/outfielder Adam Martin has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week and battery-mate Jeremy Null has been named the SoCon Pitcher of the Week for all games April 15-21.

Martin hit a staggering .727 with four walks, seven RBIs and five runs scored as the Catamounts went 4-0 last week with a win over Gardner-Webb and a sweep of Georgia Southern. The Marietta, Ga., junior had five extra-base hits in the four games, rapping out four doubles and a home run. In a 9-6 win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs on Wednesday, Martin entered as a pinch-hitter and stayed in to catch. He went 1-for-2 with a three-run homer as the Catamounts picked up the win. Against Georgia Southern on Friday, Martin was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. The next day, he was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. He capped his week with another 3-for-3 showing Sunday, hitting a pair of doubles, walking twice, scoring twice and driving in two runs. He started Sunday’s game in right field before moving to catcher and was instrumental in locking up the 7-4 win, catching a foul ball behind the plate and throwing out a runner trying to steal in the ninth.

Null threw a gem Friday against the Eagles to set the tone for the series, striking out a career-high 14 batters and not issuing a walk in the 9-3 win. He recorded 10 straight outs via strikeout between the fourth and seventh innings. The sophomore right-hander from Claremont, N.C., allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings in improving to 4-2 on the season. With his third double-digit strikeout performance of the season, Null moved his season total to a league-best 74 Ks. He was also named a Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week for his performance. First-place Western Carolina, which has won seven straight games and swept its second straight SoCon opponent.

Courtesy SoConSports.com

Sigmon Named SoCon Player of the Week

Western Carolina freshman Taylor Sigmon has been named the Southern Conference Softball Player of the Week. 

Sigmon hit .500 in the series against Georgia Southern last week, helping Western Carolina claim a series win over the Eagles. She had at least one hit in all three games including going 2-for-4 in the Catamounts' 7-2 game two win.

In game three, Sigmon put a tight game out of reach when she hit her seventh home run of the season, in the bottom of the sixth inning. The freshman first baseman went 2-for-3 in the third game scoring two runs and picking up two RBI.

Sigmon was also part of two of the Catamounts three double plays they turned in the series over the Eagles.

Courtesy CatamountSports.com

Kennesaw State

Kennesaw State Owls
Location: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Date:  Tuesday, April 23
Time: 5:00 PM
Radio: KSU Radio Network
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: Catamount All Access
Record: 21-21 Overall, 9-9 in A-Sun
Series: The Cats are 7-4 all time against the Owles


Kennesaw State Head Coach Mike Sansing in his 22nd season with the Owls, brings the potential new SoCon members to Cullowhee for the first of what will be a home and home series between the two teams.

The Catamounts, playing in what will be five games this week, take on Kennesaw State on Tuesday, prior to traveling to Clemson on Wednesday to meet the Tigers in the second game of that series.  The Cats will travel to Greensboro for a three game weekend series with UNCG.

The Owls are currently in 6th place in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 9-9 conference record.  Kennesaw State is 21-21 over all, with an RPI of 145.   The Cats, currently on a 7 game win streak, has improved their RPI to 87, from a low of 168 over the course of this season.

KSU is 4-11 against teams with an RPI under 100 this season and are 7-8 on road. The Owls are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are coming to Cullowhee on a two game losing streak.  However, the Owls beat Georgia Southern, 8-3 last Wednesday in Statesboro.


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Two SoCon T&F Championships

Courtesy WCU Sports Information


Congratulation to the both the Western Carolina Men's & Women's Track and Field Teams from Pruple & Gold

Breaking - WCU wins men's & women's T&F championships

Western Carolina men and women are the 2013 Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champions!

Statesboro, Ga. – The Western Carolina men and women claimed the 2013 SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Eagle Track & Field Complex at Erk Russell Athletic Park.

The Catamount men finished with a total of 222.5 points, while the women finished with a total of 197.5 points.

 Men’s Team Results – Final
1. Western Carolina – 222.5
2. Samford – 209
3. Appalachian State – 183.5
4. Davidson – 70.5
5. The Citadel – 55
6. Furman – 38
7. Chattanooga – 25
8. UNCG – 11
9. Wofford – 4.5

 Women’s Team Results – Final
1. Western Carolina – 197.5
2. Appalachian State – 159.5
3. Georgia Southern – 112.5
4. Elon – 111
5. Samford – 110
6. Furman – 32
6. College of Charleston – 32
8. Citadel – 23.5
9. Wofford – 13
10. Chattanooga – 12
10. UNCG – 12
12. Davidson - 4

Baseball: The Cats sweep Georgia Southern

Jordan Smith picks up win

The Catamounts, for the second weekend straight, pick up a conference series sweep.  Last weekend it was Samford, this weekend the boot fell on Georgia Southern, as Western Carolina won today's game, 7-4.

The Cats out hit the Eagles by a 12-9 margin, as Western to pushed across 7 runs in the game, with five of those coming in the fifth inning.  With the score 2-1 in favor of the Eagles going into the bottom of the 4th, Aaron Attaway started the at bat with a single to left field, and was followed by Julian Ridings hitting a double down the left field line, scoring Attaway.  Tyler White then singled to first base. After a strike out by Jacob Hoyle, Adam Martin doubled to right center, scoring both White & Ridings.  Dale Urquhart singled to left field, scoring Martin.  Luke Gragg also singled in the inning, scoring Urquhart.

Jordan Smith picked up the win, as he pitched for 6 inning, striking out 6 and only walking one, Preston Hatcher is credited with a save, giving him 10 saves for the season.  GSU's Sam Howard was credited with the loss.

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Attaway Named to Wallace Award Watch List

Western Carolina junior shortstop Aaron Attaway was listed among 25 collegiate shortstops on 2013’s first Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award Watch List released late Friday night.

Attaway is the only representative from the Southern Conference on the first watch list.

The Brooks Wallace Award, sponsored by Mizuno, recognizes the nation's top shortstop and will be presented during the College Baseball Hall of Fame's Night of Champions on June 29 in Lubbock, Texas.

Attaway has started all 40 games this season at shortstop – a position in which he has started all but one of his career games fielding. The preseason second-team All-Southern Conference selection at shortstop, Attaway ranks third on the Catamount baseball team in batting average at the time the list was released.

He has collected a SoCon-leading 60 base hits, including 11 doubles, three triples and seven home runs. He ranks second on the Catamount squad – and sixth in the SoCon – with 36 RBIs and has scored a league-leading 40 runs through 40 games played.

Courtesy SoConSports.com

Sunday's WCU Games

SUNDAY, APR 21
Sport	Opponent	Time	Coverage
Baseball	vs Georgia Southern	1:00 PM
Softball	vs Georgia Southern	1:00 PM
Track	vs Southern Conference Outdoor Championships	All Day	Live Results
Men's Golf	at Southern Conference Championship (18 holes)	All Day	Live Scoring

Schedule courtesy WCU Media Relations

2013 WCU Spring Football Game

Video courtesy WCU Media Relations

Cats take game 2, win series over GSU

Baseball vs Georgia Southern Game 2 Recap and Highlights

Video courtesy WCU Media Relations

The Cats win game 1 over Georgia Southern

Catamount pitching held the Georgia Southern to 5 hits and 3 runs as the Cats won game one, 9-3 in the weekend series between the two teams.

Jeremy Null picked up the win for the Cats, pitching 8 innings, and facing 31 batters.  Null struck out 14 Eagles, with no walks.  Justin Hess pitched 5 and two-thirds innings for Georgia Southern in the loss.  The Catamounts put up 9 hits, with Strong, Martin, & Ridings hitting for extra bases.  The Eagles had 5 charged errors, while the Cats had one.

Tonight's win extends Western's win streak to 5 games, and added a loss to the Eagles' slide, now at 6 games.


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2013 SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championship

The 2013 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship is set for Saturday and Sunday (April 20-21) at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga.

This will be the 89th annual Outdoor Track and Field Championship for the men and the 27th annual for the women. The championships will begin Saturday at 8:00 a.m. with the men’s decathlon events, followed by the women’s heptathlon events at 8:30 a.m.


Men's Indoor Track and Field Power Rankings:
Western Carolina - 243
Appalachian State - 202
Samford - 170

Women's Indoor Track and Field Power Rankings
Appalachian State _ 193
Western Carolina - 174
Samford - 132

Weekend Schedule

The awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday at 5:45 p.m.


Courtesy SoConSports.com

Spring Football Game - April 20 - only 1 day away

Western Carolina Catamount Football will host its annual Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 20, at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.

The free event is scheduled to start at 1:00pm.

The full day of activities kick off at 9:30am with three and a half hours of tailgating on-campus in Cullowhee.

Catamount Baseball and Softball will also be in action as both teams host Georgia Southern. Baseball will begin at 4 pm at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. Fans who attend the football scrimmage prior to Catamount Baseball will receive a voucher to get $2 off their baseball ticket.

Softball will host the Eagles in a doubleheader with games set for 1pm and 3pm. Catamount Softball is free admission for all fans throughout the entire season.

Courtesy WCU Media Relations


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Friday's WCU Games

FRIDAY, APR 19
Sport	Opponent	Time	Coverage
Baseball	vs Georgia Southern	5:00 PM

Schedule courtesy WCU Media Relations

Baseball- Georgia Southern weekend series

Georgia Southern Eagles 
Location: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Date: Friday, 4-19, Saturday, 4-20, Sunday 4-21
Time: Fri - 5:00 PM, Sat - 4:00 PM, Sun - 1:00 PM
Radio: Georgia Southern Radio Network
Live Stats: GameTracker 
Live Video: Catamount All Access
Record: 21-16 overall, 10-8 in SoCon play Series: The Cats are 53-53 all time against the Eagles


This weekend, former WCU player and head coach Rodney Hennon and the Georgia Southern Eagles visit Hennon Stadium for critical weekend series.

The Catamounts are currently tied with Elon for first place in the Southern Conference.  The Eagles are 10-8 in conference play this season, and are in 6th place, one-half game behind Appalachian State, and just 2 full games out of first place.

The Eagles are 9 - 6 in road games this season, but are currently in the midst of a 5 game losing streak (all home games), that included a weekend series sweep by The Citadel this past weekend (the Eagles only scored two runs the entire series with the Citadel.  Gerogia Southern is 3-7 in their last 10 games.

The Eagles currently have an RPI of 92


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Gardner-Webb post-game with the LFL

The Cats pick up win number 23 tonight, with a 9-6 victory over Gardner-Webb, then celebrate with the Left Field Lunatics.

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Gameday

Courtesy WCU Media Relations