March 9, 2001

Box Score

Charleston, S.C. - Western Carolina sophomore pitcher Jared Burton had one his best career outings, but it was not enough as the College of Charleston rallied for a 3-2 victory Friday night at Patriots Point Park.

Burton struck out a season-high seven batters with no walks, six hits and two earned runs.

Western Carolina (7-10, 1-2 SoCon) jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring two runs in the top of the second. Catamount third baseman Ryan Schade delivered a two-out triple, scoring Ryan McCurry, who reached on a fielder's choice. Schade was brought home one batter later when short stop Michael Roane singled up the middle. Schade and Roane would lead WCU offensively, collecting two hits each.

The College of Charleston (11-7, 3-1 SoCon) mounted a pair of threats in the third and fourth innings, but was thwarted thanks to inning ending double plays in each frame. From that point, Burton retired nine of his next 10 batters, including three strike outs.

WCU began the eighth with consecutive singles by Alan Beck and Todd Buchanan but could not pad its advantage as Cougar relief pitcher Brett Davey came in and recorded three consecutive outs.

Davey (2-1) would pick up the win despite pitching just one inning because CofC puched three runs across the plate in the bottom half of the eight. The Cougars sent nine men to the plate in the frame and, along with three hits, took advantage of two walks, a wild pitch and an error to take the lead.

Catamount reliever Ryan Basner (1-3) was saddled with the loss, allowing two inherited runners to score and a run of his own without recording an out. Cougar closer Andy Hutchings earned his sixth save of the season with a three-up, three-down ninth.

The game marked Western's first night game of the season and was its first loss, now 6-1, when leading after seven innings. However, WCU is now 0-9 when trailing after eight innings and are 0-8 when scoring four runs or less this season.

Western Carolina and the College of Charleston will meet two more times, playing 1:00 p.m. games on both Saturday and Sunday.