March 24, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Georgia Southern scored runs in all but one inning and handed Western Carolina (11-14, 5-5 SoCon) a 17-3 defeat Saturday afternoon at Hennon Stadium.

Eagle designated hitter Scott Henley went 4-for-5 and Jemel Spearman (2-for-4) drove in six runs to lead the GSU attack. Henley is 9-for-10 in two games versus the Catamounts with two home runs, hitting his fifth of the season Saturday. Carlos Love also went deep, giving the Eagles seven homers in two games.

Georgia Southern (16-9, 6-5 SoCon) broke open a close game (5-3 after five complete) with four runs in the sixth and six runs in the seventh. The Eagles used three consecutive singles by Brandon Burnsed, Rocky Baker and J.R. Revere to increase their advantage by two runs to 7-3. Following a strikeout, Spearman delivered a two-out RBI single. He would score one batter later on Henley's single to left, making the score 9-3.

In the seventh, Georgia Southern sent 10 men to the plate in scoring six runs with only three hits. WCU relief pitcher Jeff Skinner, who started the frame with a strikeout, hit the next two batters and surrendered a single to Baker to make the score 10-3. After a fielder's choice and error made the score 11-3, Spearman, for the second time in as many innings, ripped a two-out single to bring home Revere and Chris Walker. Henley followed with a two-run blast to left field, giving GSU a 15-3 advantage after seven.

The Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Walker doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a WCU error. The Cats answered with a single run in the bottom half as Rod Goldston reached on an error and scored two batters later on a Todd Buchanan single to center.

Georgia Southern used sacrifice flies by Spearman and Matt Herring in the top of the third to make the score 3-1. Western cut the lead to one in the bottom half when Goldston, who reached on a double and made his way to third after consecutive walks, scored on a wild pitch.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth, GSU scoring on Love's home run and WCU using a hit batter, fielder's choice and error to plate Ryan Schade. Georgia Southern scored single runs in the fifth, eighth and ninth innings to provide the final margin.

Eagle starting pitcher Dennis Dove (3-1) earned the win. The freshman pitched 6.0 innings and allowed six hits, three runs and three walks with five strikeouts. Classmate Brian Rogers picked up his first save of the season, pitching three scoreless innings with three hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Catamount starter Dan Foley (3-2) took the loss, giving up 10 hits and seven runs (six earned) in 5.1 innings.

Georgia Southern pounded out 17 hits, six for extra bases, in the contest. Revere (3-for-5), Burnsed (2-for-4) and Baker (3-for-5) joined Henley and Spearman with multiple hit performances. Rod Goldston, Matt Price and Ryan Schade accounted for six of Western's nine hits -- each getting two.

Western Carolina and Georgia Southern will play the rubber match of the three-game set on Sunday. First pitch for the series finale is set for 1:00 p.m., at Hennon Stadium.