April 11, 2001

Box Score

Atlanta, Ga. - Todd Buchanan had a career-high five hits and Matt Price drove in three runs to lead Western Carolina to a 13-7 victory at Georgia State Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Catamounts (17-18) split the two-game series with the Panthers (16-21).

Georgia State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after posting a run in each of the first two innings with RBI singles by Josh Vandiver and Jay Fields.

Western Carolina tied the game with two runs in the third. Todd Roper, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, put WCU's first run on the board after walking and coming home on a two-out double by Buchanan. The Catamounts threatened to take the lead on an RBI single that plated Rod Goldston, but right fielder Mic Knox threw out Buchanan at the plate for the third out. It was the second runner Knox threw out trying to score in the game, having thrown out Alan Beck to end the first inning.

The Catamounts succeeded in taking the lead in the fifth, posting four runs in the frame. Brian Sigmon singled home Beck and Buchanan, who had walked and singled respectively. Price added the final two runs in one swing, a towering home run to left, his second of the season.

Georgia State managed to scratch across another run in the bottom half with a RBI single by Kyle Breitbach to move within three, 6-3.

After posting a run in the seventh on an RBI double by Price, Western Carolina exploded for six runs in the top of the ninth to take a 13-3 advantage. After loading the bases on a Buchanan single, a Minero walk and a Ryan McCurry bunt single, Ryan Schade started the scoring with a one-out, RBI single to left field, bring home Buchanan and Minero. A fielding error by GSU loaded the bases once again. Roper would double home McCurry and Schade, followed by a two-run single by Goldston.

Georgia State rallied in the bottom half, scoring four runs (two unearned) off Price. Josh Vandiver provided the big hit with a two run homer to left center. Paul Schlosser followed with a single and Kyle Breitbach reached on an error by the shortstop. Garrett Greer and Corey Chatman each singled to center to plate runs, but State could not manage any more.

Jeff Skinner (1-0) pitched 2.1 innings in releif to earn the win. Dan Foley started for the Cats, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) with a walk and a strikeout in 3.0 innings of work before giving way to Skinner. Joe Camac, who has now strung together six impressive outings, followed Skinner, allowing just a walk with no hits or runs in 1.1 innings. Robbie Hoover followed Camac's lead, posting the same line in his 1.1 innings (one walk, no hits and no runs). Price started the ninth, allowing five hits and four runs (two unearned) before Ryan Foster got Shane Robbins to fly out to center to end the rally.

Offensively for the Catamounts, Buchanan finished the day 5-for-6, while Roper, Goldston, Price and Schade each had two hits apiece. In addition to Price's three RBI, Roper, Goldston, Sigmon and Schade drove in two.

Western Carolina will return to action with a three-game set at home versus East Tennessee State this weekend. The teams will play a single game on Friday (April 13) at 3:00 p.m., a single game on Saturday (April 14) at 1:00 p.m. and a single game on Sunday (April 15) at 2:00 p.m., which is a change from the original schedule.