Western splits doubleheader to open conference baseball slate

The Catamounts (6-9) claimed a 10-1 victory in game one while dropping a 5-4 decision in the nightcap.

In the opener, Jared Burton (2-1) had his best outing of the season to earn the win. He pitched eight innings and allowed eight hits and one run. He recorded six strikeouts and walked no one. Offensively, Todd Roper was four of five with two RBIs and two runs scored. Alan Beck was two of four with four RBIs and Todd Buchanan was three of four with two doubles.

Western broke a scoreless tie by scoring four runs with two out in the fifth. After Roper singled in the first run, Beck capped the inning with a three-run homer.

WCU make it 5-0 in the fifth before three Wofford errors with two out in the eighth led to a five-run inning for a 10-0 lead.

The Terriers got on the board in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI ground out by Brian Casey. Tate Osterman allowed five earned runs in 7.2 innings for Wofford. Lawson Burnat and Strat Stavron were both two of four at the plate.

In the second game, Wofford's George Lehr tossed a complete-game victory. He allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one.

With the Terriers trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Chris Cotugno delivered a two-out, two-run pinch-hit double off the wall in right-center to put Wofford ahead 4-3. Casey followed with a base hit to score Cotugno.

Donovan Minero hit a one-out solo home run in the top of the ninth to pull Western Carolina 5-4. Both teams tallied a single run in the first inning. WCU pushed two runs across the plate in the fifth to make the score 3-1. Beck delivered a two-out double to score Roper and Rod Goldston, who was two of three in the contest. Beck was two of four.

Ryan Basner (1-2) took the loss in relief. Seth Foster started and gave up two hits and two runs in five innings.

Beck was four of five with three RBIs and four runs scored leading Western to a wild 19-10 victory over UNC-Asheville on Feb. 28 at Hennon Stadium/Childress Field.

Down 6-2 heading into the home half of the fifth, the Cats scored nine runs on eight hits to take an 11-6 advantage. Goldston, who was three of six with three RBIs and three runs, started the inning with a double and scored on Beck's. Ben Rhoney delivered an RBI triple and scored on Ryan McCurry's base hit. With the bases loaded, a dropped fly ball allowed three runs to score. Goldston capped the uprising with a two-run homer.

UNC-A scored at least one run in six innings, including three in the eighth, cutting the gap to 13-10.

WCU responded with six unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final margin. The big blow was Minero's grand slam.

Robbie Hoover (1-2), entered the game in the fourth and picked up the win. He went 2.2 innings and allowing three runs, three hits and two walks. Basner earned his first save by pitching the final 1.2 innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

Roper went three of six at the plate with two RBIs, three runs scored and two doubles. McCurry and Ryan Schade both had two hits.

UNC-A was led by Derek Anderson, who was three of three. Jason Ronai, Corey Mercer and Nick Jaska all had two hits. Mercer and Curtis Moncus both hit home runs.

Reliever Marshal Reese was the loser. All six runs he allowed were unearned.

Western will return to action this weekend with a three-game league series at College of Charleston. The teams will play at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Cats will travel to Tennessee for a 3 p.m. game next Wednesday.

Back to Sports: 03/08/01.