Feb. 23, 2001

Box Score

Myrtle Beach, S.C. - Sophomore Alan Beck was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored in leading Western Carolina to a 9-5 victory over Kent State in the opening game of the three-day Baseball at the Beach Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Todd Buchanan and Ryan McCurry each joined Beck with three hits versus Kent State, while Jeremy Hamrick and Ben Rhoney each added two. In all, the Catamounts pounded 17 hits and was the beneficiary of six Golden Flash errors in the victory at Coastal Federal Field.

WCU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the top of the first. Beck delivered a two-out double to left-center field and was brought home one batter later on Donovan Minero's RBI single to center.

Kent State tied the game at 1-1 in its half of the second. Shortstop Chris Detweiler started the inning with a single to left and, after a stolen base and advancing to third on a fly ball, scored on a double by Anthony Battle.

Western Carolina regained the lead by scoring a pair of runs in the third and scoring four runs in the fifth. Second baseman Hamrick started the third with a double down the left-field line and scored two batters later on Beck's second double of the game. Beck was brought home on an infield single by Buchanan. In the fifth, the Cats took advantage of four hits and two errors in making the score 6-1. Hamrick walked and went to third on Rod Goldston's RBI single to left-center. Beck plated Hamrick for his second RBI of the day on a ground out to second base. Two batters later, Goldston scored on Buchanan's single to center. Buchanan and Ben Rhoney, who reached on a single, both scored on single by catcher McCurry and an ensuing error.

The Catamounts added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Ryan Schade and Michael Roane began the inning with a pair of singles. Beck delivered his third RBI of the contest with an infield single, while an additional run scored on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Kent State added a run in the seventh and three in the eighth to provide the final margin, 9-5.

Sophomore starter Jared Burton (2-1) picked up the win for the Catamounts. He pitched six innings, allowing eight hits, two earned runs and two walks, while striking out three. Golden Flash starter Dirk Hayhurst (0-1) took the loss in Kent State's first game of the season. He surrendered 11 hits and seven runs in 5.0 innings of work.

The Catamounts play host Coastal Carolina on Saturday and conclude the event with a meeting with Delaware on Sunday.