Cats lose to top-ranked Tigers; claim win over Tennessee Tech

In other non-conference action last week, WCU defeated Tennessee Tech.

The Tigers took the lead for good in the seventh with five runs to break an 8-8 tie. Chad Coder doubled to get things going and scored on L.J. DeMaino's single. A wild pitch brought a run home, and Greene belted his three-run shot.

Thomas Boozer earned the win by pitching 3.1 innings in relief. He allowed two hits and one run. Seth Foster (6-2), the third Western pitcher, took the loss. He was roughed up for seven runs in just 1.1 innings.

Western scored a run in the first when Alan Beck tripled and came home on Donovan Minero's single.

The Tigers went up 2-1 in the bottom of the frame on Baker's home run with a man on base. They made it 3-1 in the second as Coder reached on an infield hit, stole second and scored on DeMaino's single.

An RBI single by Beck and a two-run double by Todd Buchanan put the Cats up 4-3 in the third.

Johnson's two-run homer and Coder's RBI single helped Clemson take a 6-4 advantage in the third.

Buchanan unloaded a grand slam home run in the sixth giving the Cats an 8-6 lead. He was four of four at the plate with six RBIs.

Johnson struck again in the bottom of the sixth hitting another two-run bomb to knot the game at 8-8.

WCU scored its final run in the eighth as Beck doubled and came home on a balk.

Coder and DeManio both had three hits for the Tigers. Green, Baker, Johnson and Jeff Hourigan all added two hits.

Beck had three hits in five at-bats.

Buchanan hit another grand slam the next day in an 11-7 win over Tennessee Tech at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

With WCU trailing 4-0 in the third, the game had an hour and 20 minute rain delay. Prior to the delay, Western loaded the bases on a single by Clint Ramsey and walks to Alex Gary and Chris Aeschlimann. Following the delay, Ryan Schade walked to force in a run, and Alan Beck followed with an RBI single. Buchanan then hit a 1-2 pitch over the right-field fence to give the Cats a 6-4 advantage.

Tech jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second. Jake Allen homered with a man on base, and Philip Hatch had an RBI double. Allen's run-scoring double made it 4-0 in the third.

After WCU's six-run third, the Eagles trimmed the deficit to 6-5 in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Scott Terry and Hatch.

Aeschlimann and Roper had RBI doubles in the bottom of the fourth, and Schade belted a two-run homer for a 10-5 advantage.

The final run came in the sixth as Schade singled, advanced on a balk and scored on Beck's single.

Buchanan was three of four at the plate. Schade, Beck, Ramsey and Aeschlimann all had two hits.

Brad Josey (2-1), the third of WCU's five pitchers, picked up the win. He pitched three scoreless innings.

Hatch went three of four to pace the Eagles. Allen and Cole Helms each had two hits.

Tech starter John Stepp took the loss.

Back to Sports: 04/25/02.