Feb. 9, 2001

Box Score

Greenville, N.C. - Junior centerfielder Donovan Minero accounted for four of Western Carolina's five runs, but it was not enough to lift the Catamounts over the 30th-ranked East Carolina Pirates, which won their season opener, 9-5, before 1,680 at Harrington Field.

Minero, a transfer from San Jose State, belted a pair of home runs, going 3-for-5 on the day, with three RBI and two runs scored. First baseman Todd Buchanan also had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-4 to increase his team-leading batting average to .385 for the season. Western's top returning hitter, Alan Beck, added two hits and an RBI.

East Carolina used the long ball in scoring all but one of its runs. The Pirates tied a school record by hitting seven home runs in the contest. Four of ECU's seven homers were hit during the fourth inning.

The Catamounts jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, scoring single runs in the second and third innings. In the top half of the second, Buchanan delivered a one-out single and was plated one batter later when Doug Myers doubled to left-center field. In the third, Minero hit the first of his two homers, a one-out solo shot to left.

The Pirates answered in the bottom half of the third when catcher Clayton McCullough led off the inning with a home run.

Trailing 2-1 heading into its half of the fourth inning, ECU erupted for five runs in the frame to break out on top. Junior Chad Tracy led off the inning with a solo shot to right center field, which was followed by a home run from senior Joseph Hastings on consecutive pitches. Following a ground out and a walk, senior Cliff Godwin hit a two-run homer to give the Pirates a three-run advantage. One out later Bryant Ward hit the first of his two home runs on the day and ECU`s fourth of inning, lifting the Pirates to a 6-2 lead after four complete innings.

Western sliced the advantage to two runs, 6-4, in the fifth. Second baseman Todd Roper led off the inning with a walk and was brought home on Minero's second homer of the day.

Leading 6-4 after five innings of play, ECU made a move to the bullpen and brought in sophomore Will Brinson. Brinson earned his second carer save, allowing just three hits and one run in four innings of work.

A pair of doubles by Clayton McCullough an Ward pushed ECU out to a 7-4 lead in the sixth and then solo home runs by Lee Delfino and Ward in the bottom half of the eighth ended the Pirate scoring.

The Cats rounded out the scoring in the ninth when Roper added his second run scored on an RBI single by Beck.

Senior Foye Minton (1-0) picked up the victory, tossing five innings, allowing four runs, eight hits, while striking out three and walking one. Junior Robbie Hoover (0-2) was saddled with the loss giving up six runs on six hits in three and two-thirds innings of work. The Catamounts used four pitchers during the game.

The two teams will continue their three-game series with game two Saturday afternoon, February 10. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 1 p.m.