April 14, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - East Tennessee right fielder Nathan Copeland hit a two-run double in the ninth, which proved to be the game winner, as the Buccaneers defeated Western Carolina, 9-5, Saturday afternoon at Hennon Stadium.

ETSU (15-22, 7-10 SoCon) used a four-run ninth with only two hits to seal the Catamounts (18-19, 11-8 SoCon) fate. Ryan Hyder started the frame with a single to center and, after a sacrifice bunt, Andy Baxter was intentionally walked. Copeland plated the two and scored along with Kirk Keithley after two WCU errors. The Cats would commit five miscues on the day.

The Catamounts mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs on Alan Beck's 12th home run of the season. ETSU's Jackson Simerly, who pitched the final 2.2 innings, got a fly out and a ground out to end the rally and record his first save of the season.

Simerly worked out of a jam in the seventh, entering the game with two one and one out. He recorded consecutive outs to close the seventh and struck out the side in the eighth.

Buccaneer starter Donnie Sharp improved to 4-1 on the season, pitching 6.1 innings. The freshman, making his fifth start of the season, allowed five hits and three runs (one earned) with four walks and three strikeouts.

Western Carolina started the scoring when Beck was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Todd Buchanan followed with an RBI single to center.

The lead was short lived as ETSU responded with a pair of runs in the second. After leadoff singles by Chad Boruff and Keithley, Jason Brotherton delivered a one-out, RBI double. Tim Turner would bring home Keithley on a ground out to second. The Bucs increased their lead to 3-1 in the fourth. Keithley started with a single and moved to second on an attempted pick-off at first. Two batters later, Turner hit a two-out single down the left field line to score Keithley.

The Catamounts tied the contest at 3-3, scoring two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a two-out walk to Matt Price, Ryan Schade hit a fly ball to center, which was dropped. Price scored and Schade ended up on third. Todd Roper followed with an RBI single to right.

ETSU regained the advantage in the seventh. Turner walked and advanced to third on a throwing error, the second of the day by WCU on an attempted pick-off at first. Cross singled home Turner and scored on a ground out by Copeland.

The Bucs' Hyder, Baxter, Keithley, Brotherton and Turner each collected two hits, while Turner added two RBI and Keithley had three runs scored.

Western's Seth Foster fell to 3-2 on the season, suffering his first loss in SoCon action. Offensively, the Cats were led by Roper (2-for-5) and Buchanan (2-for-4). Beck was 1-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored, two walks and a hit by pitch.

Western Carolina and East Tennessee State will conclude the weekend series at Hennon Stadium with a single game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., which is a change from the original schedule.