May 3, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. - A slow moving storm front which has wreaked havoc from Tennessee eastward has again prompted officials at Western Carolina University to make a schedule change. Game two of the Southern Conference baseball series between the Catamouns and the Wofford Terriers has been pushed back to 6:00 pm in an effort to avoid the inclement weather.

The game, originally scheduled for 6:00 pm, was moved up to the afternoon as forecasts on Friday called for heavy rain to hit Western North Carolina in the early evening on Saturday. However, the system spawned showers across the region through much of the morning and early afternoon causing the second weather-related change to the start time.

Forecasts now indicate the weather system moving out of the area by early evening to allow game two to be played.

Western Carolina (22-24, 8-11 SoCon) edged the Terriers, 5-3, under the Friday night lights at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium to take a one-game-to-none lead in the series. Senior Barrett Shaft assumed the all-time career hits record with a lazy liner into left field, eclipsing former Catamount great Chris Moore (1996-99) for the record.

Although the night belonged to the fourth-year starter from Lilburn, Ga., it was freshman Ryan Mathews' first career triple which sparked a two-run rally in the home half of the eighth to propel WCU to the win, its' 14th-straight over the Terriers.

Fans can follow all of the action from Satuday evening's game on live GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and the WestCare Health System, by logging onto www.CatamountSports.com.