June 3, 2007

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Jonathan Ingram put Western Carolina ahead to stay with a two-run homer in the third and finished a double shy of the cycle in the Catamounts' 9-5 victory over East Carolina on Sunday night in an NCAA tournament elimination game.

Western Carolina (42-19) snapped a 13-game losing streak against the Pirates, beating them for the first time in 30 years and avenging a loss in the first game of the Chapel Hill regional.

Western Carolina will face North Carolina (50-12) on Monday, with the Catamounts needing two wins over the Tar Heels to advance to the super regionals.

Ingram's towering two-run drive off starter Josh Dowdy, his 15th of the season and second of the weekend, broke a 4-4 tie. Ingram also singled in the second, tripled home a run in the fifth and finished with three RBIs.

Kenny Smith also homered, and No. 9 hitter Brent Greer drove in three runs for Western Carolina. Brock Thornburg (4-2) won in relief, and Chris Masters worked 2 1-3 innings for the first save of his career.

Stephen Batts homered, doubled and extended his school-record hitting streak to 29 games for second-seeded East Carolina (40-23).

The game was delayed six hours by rain.