WCU junior pitcher, Adam Curtis. Photo: Doug Powell
Senior All-American second baseman, Ross Heffley went 4-for-4 and freshman first baseman, Jacob Hoyle drove in five RBI as Western Carolina took down Duke on Tuesday night, 12-4 in Cullowhee, N.C.
“This year we have been off to a hot start. The starting pitching has been awesome. It really helps when innings are flowing quick and there is tempo and flow to the game,” Heffley said.
The Blue Devils were plagued by two costly errors to start the game and poor pitching from junior pitcher, Chase Bebout led to an 8-2 Catamounts lead after the fifth inning. The runs would keep piling in for WCU as Duke would give up nine earned runs on the night.
Hoyle finished the game going 3-for-5 with five RBI and sophomore right fielder, Cody Jones went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
“They had great approaches today and that’s what we talked about, you have to have great approaches against the pitching and when you have a great approach and you got some talent we are going to be successful,” coach Bobby Moranda said.
Junior pitcher, Adam Curtis earned his third win of the season with a solid seven innings pitched and only two earned runs.
“I’m just trying to work hard and do everything right every week and come to play every day,” Curtis said.
“He’s worked hard on his breaking ball and he’s added a changeup this year. He’s really competing. He’s down in the strike zone with three pitches, with good movement and when you do that you’re going to be successful,” Moranda said of Curtis.
Western Carolina is on a five-game winning streak and hopes to keep the momentum going forward.
“Hopefully we can keep it going, we have a big series this weekend against the Citadel and hopefully we can keep winning to get momentum going into the conference,” Curtis said.
The Catamounts are back at home tomorrow against East Tennessee State at 4 p.m. before hitting the road with a series against the Citadel in Charleston, S.C.
“We need to play our system at a higher level and if we do that we have a chance to win a lot of baseball games,” Moranda said.
