April 1, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Chris Downard hit a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning to lead Appalachian State (9-20, 7-7 SoCon) to a 13-11 victory over Western Carolina (14-16, 8-6 SoCon) in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at Hennon Stadium.

Carey Hobbs got the Mountaineers started in the 10th inning with a one-out single to right-center field. Two batters later, Robbie Huffstetler delivered a two-out single, putting runners at first and second. Doward, who was 3-for-4 with four RBI, plated Hobbs and Huffstetler with his game-winning double to the right-center field gap. Western mounted a threat in the bottom half as Ryan Schade and Todd Roper singled, only to be left stranded.

Matt Wood (2-1) was credited with the win, pitching the final two innings. He surrendered one run and one hit, a game-tying home run by Alan Beck in the ninth, with a strikeout. Ryan Foster (0-2) was saddled with the loss, giving up four hits, two runs and a walk in 3.0 innings of work.

The Catamounts used four, two-out singles and an error to take a 3-0 lead after one complete. Appalachian State answered with a pair of runs in the second, two runs in the third and a single run in the fourth to make the score 5-3. Adam Ennis provided the scoring in the second with a two-run home run to left-center. In the third, Wes Timmons hit a leadoff single and scored on a Huffstetler double. Downard followed with an RBI single to left. In the fourth, Nich Baughn singled and, after a ground out, scored on Timmons' single to right.

Western Carolina regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to take a 6-5 lead. Donovan Minero reached after being hit by a pitch and Ben Rhoney followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Schade brought the runner home with a one-out single to right and would eventually score on a Todd Roper sacrifice fly.

Appalachian State knotted the game at 6-6 when Huffstetler began the fifth with a double and scored on a two-out single by Marko Little. ASU looked to have the game in hand, scoring five runs in the sixth. A Luke Little leadoff walk, followed by consecutive singles by Baughn, Hobbs and Huffstetler put two runs on the board in the sixth. Hobbs later scored on a wild pitch. After WCU turned a double play, Downard and Mike Lee hit back-to-back home runs to make the score 11-6.

The Catamounts cut the lead to two in the bottom of the seventh as Todd Buchanan hit his third home run of the season, a three-run blast to right field. Western scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Goldston drew a leadoff walk, to chase ASU starting pitcher Ben Hager, and Beck followed with his 11th home run of the season. Beck was hit by a pitch early in the at-bat, but was not awarded first when it was determined he leaned into the pitch.

Hager allowed 11 hits, 10 runs (nine earned) and two walks, while striking out six in 8.0 innings. WCU starter Jared Burton pitched 5.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, eight runs and two walks.

Appalachian State pounded out 18 hits in the contest, including six for extra bases. Four of the Mountaineers top five hitters recorded three hits in the contest, including Timmons (3-for-6), Huffstetler (3-for-6), Downard and Little (3-for-5). Baughn and Hobbs added two hits each.

Western Carolina five players with multiple-hit performances, including Beck (3-for-4), Buchanan (2-for-5), Minero (2-for-4), Rhoney (2-for-5) and Schade (3-for-5).

Western Carolina will end its current 11-game homestand on Tuesday when it hosts nationally-ranked Clemson. The Tigers are under the direction of Jack Leggett, who was head coach at WCU for nine seasons (1983-91). First pitch is set for 3 p.m., at Hennon Stadium.