March 25, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored six runs in the fifth inning, thanks to home runs by Alan Beck and Donovan Minero, and scored five runs in the eighth to defeat Georgia Southern, 13-8, Sunday afternoon at Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts (12-14, 6-5 SoCon) won two of three games versus the Eagles (16-10, 6-6 SoCon) to win the weekend series.

Beck (3-for-5 with six RBI) and Minero (4-for-5 with five RBI) drove in 11 of WCU's 13 runs. Beck tied his career high with six RBI, matching his total in leading the Cats to an 11-9 win last Sunday versus UNC Greensboro. Minero established career highs with four hits and five RBI, while tying his career high with two home runs in a game.

Western's Ryan Basner had his best outing of the season, and perhaps his best of his career. The sophomore improved to 2-5, pitching 7.0 innings out of the bullpen. Basner only allowed four hits and one run, while striking out a season high seven and walking none. Basner entered the game in the third inning with Georgia Southern leading 6-1 with no outs and the bases loaded. He got Chris Walker to hit into a double play (GSU scored on the play and pushing its lead to 7-1) and Jemel Spearman to line out to left field. Basner would retire 19 of the 23 batters he faced, having three up and three down innings in the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth.

After getting a lone run in the fourth to make the score 7-2, Western Carolina's Beck ledoff the bottom of the fith with a solo home run to straight away center field. The blast was his eighth of the season and ended an 0-for-12 spell at the plate. Todd Buchanan followed with a double and scored one batter later on a home run to center by Donovan Minero. Ben Rhoney, who reached on a walk and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, scored on a two-out, infield single by Michael Roane. Roane and Todd Roper, who also reached on an infield hit, scored when Beck got his second hit of the inning, a two-run double to left. The two-bagger chased Eagle starter David Ray (1-3) and gave Western an 8-7 lead.

WCU, who had only scored eight runs all season in the seventh inning, scored five runs in the frame Sunday versus Georgia Southern to increase their advantage to 13-5. Roane (single), Roper (hit by pitch) Rod Goldston (walk) all scored on a three-run double by Beck. Beck would be brought home two batters later on Minero's second home run of the game.

Roane (3-for-5) and Roper (2-for-3 with two walks) contributed to Western's 15-hit attack. Goldston, who drew four walks on the afternoon, made two key defensive plays (one to end the sixth and one to end the seventh) to rob Scott Henley and Rocky Baker, respectively, of extra-base hits.

As it did in the previous two games, Georgia Southern took an early lead, scoring two runs in the first and four runs in the second. Both Eagle runs in the first came off Henley's home run to left field. Henley finished the weekend going 11-for-14 at the plate with three home runs and nine RBI. In the second, GSU sent 10 men to the plate and scored its four runs with only two hits. Carlos Love began the frame by being hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a one-out single by Rocky Baker. Baker stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a fielding error. A Spearman double plated Walker, who had reached on the error. Matt Herring delivered an RBI single to bring home Spearman and make the score 6-1.

Western Carolina scored single runs in the first and fourth innings. In the first, Goldston scored on an RBI single by Minero, which was the only Catamount safety until fourth. In the fourth Minero ledoff with his second hit of the day, moved to third on a Rhoney single and scored on a Ryan McCurry single. With bases loaded and no outs, Ray escaped further damage by getting a ground ball force out at home, a strikeout and a ground out.

Georgia Southern's final run in the contest came when Baker started the eighth with a triple and scored one batter later on a J.R. Revere ground out.

With three home runs today, Western Carolina has now 26 on the year, surpassing last season's total of 24.

Western Carolina will return to action Tuesday (Mar. 27) when it hosts Tennessee at 3:00 p.m., at Hennon Stadium. The Vols are ranked 11th nationally and have won 13 of their last 14, including a 6-3 decision over WCU on Mar. 14 in Knoxville.