Feb. 11, 2001

Box Score

Greenville, N.C. - ast Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, which proved to be enough in handing Western Carolina a 12-1 loss Sunday afternoon at Harrington Field.

Six Pirates had multiple-hit games as 23rd-ranked ECU (3-0) tallied 18 hits, completing a three-game sweep of the Catamounts (0-6). WCU opened the season with a three-game road series with 11th-ranked Auburn and will play its first home game this weekend (Feb. 17) when it hosts Wright State. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for Noon on Saturday.

Joseph Hastings led the offensive attack for the Pirates, going 3-for-3 with four runs, a double and RBI. ECU starting pitcher Sam Narron (1-0) held Western Carolina to one run (unearned) and three hits in seven innings of work, while striking out four.

East Carolina opened the scoring with three runs in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Warren Gaspar reached via bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error by the WCU third baseman. One-out later, Chad Tracy doubled to left field plating Gaspar. Hastings then doubled down the left field line scoring Tracy. Hastings proceeded to swipe third base and then score on a wild pitch. The Pirates added a single run in the second and fourth inning and another pair of runs in the third.

Western Carolina, who was paced by Todd Buchanan's 2-for-4 performance at the plate, scored its lone run of the game in the top half of the third inning. Dan Woodley led off the inning with a single to left field and moved over to third on a fielding error and a sacrifice bunt. Ryan Schade then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, plating Woodley.

Gaspar, who finished 2-of-3 with two runs and a RBI, set the stage for ECU`s biggest inning of day with a single to right field in the sixth. Bryant Ward followed him with third home run of the season pushing the Pirates` lead to 9-1. Tracey then singled and Hastings drew a walk. John Williamson then drove one in the gap, scoring Tracy and advancing Hastings to third. Following a wild pitch that moved Williamson to second, Poppert reach on a infield single, which drew an errant throw, allowing both Hastings and Williamson to score for a 12-1 advantage.

WCU starting pitcher Ryan Basner (0-1) lasted just two innings before being lifted. Basner was saddled with his first loss of the season, allowing six runs on seven hits with two base on balls and a strikeout.