March 7, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina survived a five-run ninth inning by UNC Asheville to edge the Bulldogs, 9-7, Wednesday afternoon at Hennon Stadium.

The Catamounts (7-9) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, sending 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. WCU freshman Todd Roper leadoff with a double and was brought home one batter later on an RBI double by Rod Goldston. Western increased its lead to 3-0 on an Alan Beck home run. Cleanup hitter Donovan Minero followed with a walk and went to third on a Doug Myers double. Minero and Myers each scored on a single by third baseman Ryan Schade. The Catamounts final run of the frame came on a Michael Roane sacrifice fly, plating Chad Emery.

After UNCA (1-8) tallied a single run in the top of the second, Western added to its advantage with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Myers began the inning with a double, the second of three two-baggers on the day for the Catamount designated hitter. Emery followed suit with a double of his own to score Myers. Like in the first inning, Emery was brought home by Roane, however, this time on a single by the WCU short stop.

The two teams traded runs with UNCA scoring one in the seventh and WCU scoring one in the eighth to make the score 9-2.

In the ninth, the Bulldogs used three walks, a hit batsman and three singles to score five runs. With two men on and one out, WCU head coach Todd Raleigh looked to his new closer out of the bullpen, Ryan Basner, to preserve the win. The sophomore responded with two outs, throwing just two pitches, as UNCA catcher Brett Mulhlan grounded out to the first baseman and Jesse Thompson grounded out to Basner.

WCU starter Dan Foley (2-1) picked up the win, allowing one run, three hits and a walk in 3.0 innings. (Foley was able to earn the win because it was predetermined by Coach Raleigh that he would only work three innings and give way to the pen prior to the game.) Basner was credited with his second save of the season.

Offensively for the Catamounts, Myers recovered from an 0-for-8 outing at Wofford to go 3-for-4 against the Bulldogs -- all hits being doubles -- with two runs scored. Roper, Goldston, Beck and Schade each contributed two hits. Beck, who leads the team with five home runs, had added two RBI, as did Schade and Roane.

Western Carolina also defeated UNC Asheville, 19-10, last Wednesday (Feb. 28) and have won four straight over the Bulldogs after claiming victories of 7-4 and 8-5 in the final two games of last season. The two teams will resume the four-game series on April 18 for an encounter on UNCA's campus, followed by a meeting on May 2 at Asheville's McCormick Field.

The Catamounts return to action with a three-game set at the College of Charleston this weekend (Mar. 9-11). Western will play single games versus the Cougars on Friday (7:00 p.m.), Saturday (1:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.).