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Greene’s homer gives WCU series sweep over Princeton
Jonathan Greene’s two-run homer in the 12th inning Sunday gave Western Carolina a 10-8 victory over Princeton and a three-game series sweep at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Down 8-7 to start the home half of the 12th, Steven Strausbaugh, the Southern Conference player of the week, doubled with one out and scored the tying run on Blake Murphy’s two-out double. Greene then belted the first pitch he saw over the center field fence capping a rally from a 7-0 deficit.
The Tigers had gone up 8-7 in the top of the 12th on an RBI double by Dan DeGeorge.
Western Carolina baseball players greet Jonathan Greene at home plate Sunday after his home run in the 12th inning gave the Catamounts a three-game series sweep of Princeton. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Greg Holland (1-2) picked up the win by pitching the final 4.1 innings and allowing one run.
Zach Wendkos’ two-run double put Princeton on top in the first.
The Tigers made it 3-0 in the third by scoring a run without a hit.
Princeton extended the margin to 7-0 in the fourth. Andrew Salini had an RBI double, and Wendkos ripped a three-run homer.
The Catamounts (9-9) scored their first run in the fifth when Murphy walked with the bases loaded.
They cut the gap to 7-4 in the seventh. Strausbaugh had an RBI double, and Trey McDaniel singled in a run. Tim Hallam was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Strausbaugh’s RBI double made it 7-5 in the eighth.
WCU tied the game 7-7 in the ninth as Barrett Shaft doubled in two runs with two out.
Steven Miller took the loss.
Shaft was four of six to lead the Western offense. Strausbaugh and Greene added three and two hits, respectively.
Wendkos and Stephen Wendell both had three hits for the Tigers. DeGeorge, Salini and Aaron Prince all finished with two hits.
The series began Saturday with the Cats taking both ends of a doubleheader. They won the opener 10-3 and took the nightcap 13-8.
Strausbaugh and Donnie Wilson were both two of four in game one.
Tyler Sexton (4-1) allowed only one earned in seven innings for the win.
Princeton scored first when Wendkos homered in the opening inning.
Greene countered with a solo shot in the second for a 1-1 tie.
Western scored five times in the fourth with the help of three errors to go up 6-1. Hallam had an RBI single, and Scott Ward drove in a run with an infield out. The other three runs scored on errors.
WCU went up 10-1 in the sixth. Strausbaugh had a two-run triple, and Shaft singled in a run. An error allowed another run to score.
The Tigers plated the game’s final two runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Derek Beckman and Aaron Prince.
Princeton starter Erik Stiller took the loss.
Prince led the Tiger offensive with three hits, and Matthew Becker had two.
In the second game, Hallam and McDaniel both had three hits while Shaft, Strausbaugh, Murphy and Jason Haynes all contributed two.
Strausbaugh homered in the first, and Murphy delivered an RBI triple for a 2-0 lead.
Princeton went up 3-2 in the third as Salini singled in a pair and Prince had an RBI single.
The Cats regained the lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the third on Strausbaugh’s RBI double and an RBI single from McDaniel.
Shaft put Western up 6-3 with a two-run double in the fourth.
The Tigers closed within 6-5 by scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth on Salani’s homer and an RBI ground out by Prince.
Western regained control at 13-5 by scoring seven runs in the eighth. Greene and Wilson both had two-run singles while McDaniel and Murphy each singled in a run. Another run scored on an error.
Princeton scored three runs in the ninth. Micah Kaplan had an RBI single. The other runs scored on Wendkos’ sacrifice fly and an error.
Brian McCullen (1-1) pitched 3.2 innings of middle relief for the win.
DeGeorge, Salini and Kaplan all had two hits for the Tigers.
Princeton starter Gavin Fabian was the losing pitcher.
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