Feb. 17, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Doug Myers blasted a pair of home runs and Michael Roane went 4-for-5 with two doubles to lead Western Carolina to a 15-2 win over Wright State Saturday afternoon at Hennon Stadium. WCU, using a nine-run fifth inning to break open a tight game, tallied 21 hits in the contest, including four home runs and seven doubles.

Complementing WCU's potent offense was sophomore pitcher Jared Burton (1-1). The Westminster, S.C., native pitched six innings and only surrendered three hits, one earned run and two walks, while striking out five. He set the tone early, fanning four of the first six Raiders. Burton entered today's contest with only four strike outs in the two games.

"We swung the bats extremely well today," said Catamount head coach Todd Raleigh. "Jared (Burton) kept us in the game early until we on track offensively. Our kids were ready to play today. They were definately happy to be playing at home. We showed good poise in the game today and in preparing for the game, despite having to deal with the bad weather all week long."

The Catamounts broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. Rod Goldston began the inning with a walk and moved to third on the first of two doubles on the day by Alan Beck. Todd Buchanan plated Goldston one batter later on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Wright State immediately answered in its half of the fourth on a leadoff home run by Raider third baseman Tom Bohr. In the bottom half of the inning, WCU regained the lead. junior third baseman Ryan Schade began with a double and scored two batters later on a Donovan Minero ground out.

Burton worked his way out of a jam unscathed in the top of the fifth, allowing a leadoff single and having the inning extended by one of four Catamount errors in the game. In the bottom half, WCU exploded for nine runs on eight hits. Myers delivered a one-out home run to start the scoring and ended the scoring in the inning with a two-run shot to left.

WCU added three runs in the seventh on a solo home run by Beck and a two-run homer by pinch-hitter Jeremy Hamrick. Wright State pushed across a ninth-innings run to provide the final margin.

Beck and Myers each finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Buchanan (2-for-5), Dan Woodley (2-for-4) and Schade (2-for-5) each enjoyed multiple hit games for the Catamounts.

Wright State was led by Lance Links, who had two of hit team's seven hits. Raider starter Chris Bedford (0-1) was saddled with the loss, giving up 10 hits, seven runs (six earned) in 4.1 innings of work.

The game, which was Wright State's (0-1) first of the season, was the first home game for the Catamounts (1-6) after playing a pair of three-game road series versus No. 11 Auburn and No. 23 East Carolina to begin the season.

Western Carolina and Wright State will return to action for a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Hennon Stadium is set for Noon.