Western losses three games to Tigers as baseball season open

Trent Pratt had three hits and five RBIs in Friday's rout.

Auburn broke a scoreless tie with an eight-run fourth. Jonathan Schuerholz had a three-run double, and Pratt homered with a man aboard. Pratt added a three-run triple in the sixth.

WCU's tally came in the top of the fifth. Michael Roane led off with a single, advanced on an error, moved to third on Dan Woodley's infield single and scored on a double play.

Alan Beck and Donovan Minero each had two hits for the Catamounts.

Hayden Gliemmo went 5.1 innings for the win. He allowed six hits and an unearned run.

Robbie Hoover took the loss.

Scott Schade's two-out single scored Pratt in the sixth inning for the winning run in Auburn's 4-2 victory Saturday.

The Tigers scored twice in the second on a ground out by Gliemmo and Schade's single.

Western tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth. Rod Goldston's double plated Todd Roper, who led the Cats with two hits. Donovan Minero's sacrifice fly knotted the score.

Auburn took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth and added an insurance run in the eighth when John Tyler singled after Bobby Huddleston doubled.

Lavele Speigner pitched the first seven inning for the victory. He yielded seven hits and two earned runs while walking no one and, striking out four. Brandon Luna picked up the save.

Joe Camac was the loser in relief.

Auburn rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to complete the series sweep and take a 5-4 victory Sunday.

Ryan Foster (0-1) hit two batters and issued a walk to load the bases. Reliever Dan Foley walked John Tyler to force in a run and another run scored on a wild pitch. Javon Moore's infield hit tied the game, and the winning run scored on a wild pitch.

Auburn got on the board first on Ernie Carvalho's sacrifice fly in the second.

The Cats answered immediately as Doug Myers, who was two of four, homered in the third.

WCU broke the 1-1 tie in the eighth. Myers doubled and went to third on an infield hit by Matt Price, who was two of three. Roper's ground out put the Cats on top, and Alan Beck had a two-run single.

Western starter Ryan Basner went 6.1 innings, surrendering three hits, an earned run and two walks, while striking out three.

Auburn's Eric Brandon went seven innings Andrew Skinner (1-0) was the winner after pitching a perfect ninth.

Western will be in action Friday through Sunday with a three-game series at 23rd-ranked East Carolina, directed by former WCU Coach Keith LeClair. The games are set for 3 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Back to Sports: 02/08/01.