April 29, 2001

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Matt Price had a career-high four hits and a game-high three runs scored to lead Western Carolina to a 9-3 victory over North Carolina A&T Sunday afternoon at Hennon Stadium.

Freshman Joe Mitcham (1-0) was credited with the win in his first collegiate start. The Charlotte native, who entered the game with six appearances in relief, scattered six hits over four innings, allowing an unearned run and only one walk with a career-high four strikeouts.

Western started the scoring with a pair of runs in the first. Michael Roane hit a leadoff single and came around on Todd Buchanan's double. Brian Sigmon followed with an RBI double to center. The Aggies cut the lead in half in the top of the second, when Bruce Williams scored on Kevin Allen's single.

The Catamounts added four runs in the third. Sigmon hit a one-out double and scored on Ben Rhoney's single to left. Rhoney and Price, who reached on a single to center, each scored on a two-out single by Todd Roper. Roper capped the scoring after stealing second and advancing on a pair of wild pitches.

North Carolina A&T cut the WCU advantage to 6-3 in the fifth, scoring two runs on four hits and two wild pitches off WCU relief pitcher Jeff Skinner. However, the Cats answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half. Price started the frame with a single and, after a Roper double, scored on Roane's sacrifice fly. Ryan Schade followed with an RBI double to plate Roper. Western added an insurance run in the seventh. Price once again hit a leadoff single and came around on a Roane single to right.

In addition to Price's 4-for-5 performance, the Catamounts received big production from Schade and Sigmon, who each had three hits and an RBI. Roane and Roper each went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Buchanan also turned in a multi-hit game, hitting a double and a single.

The Aggies pounded out 12 hits, put stranded 11 runners. Adonis Smith, Austin Love, Williams and Allen each had two hits. North Carolina A&T starter David Nelson (1-5) suffered the loss in a complete-game effort, surrendering 18 hits, nine runs and three walks with seven strikeouts.

Five Catamount pitchers each tossed one inning to close out the game. Skinner surrendered two runs on four hits in the fifth. Ryan Basner pitched a one-two-three sixth inning and Joe Camac pitched a scoreless seventh. Dan Foley, who earned the win in the second game the doubleheader on Saturday, struck out two Aggies in the eighth, while Ryan Foster pitched the ninth. Foster's appearance gave him 31 on the season, which ranks second on WCU's single-season list. The school record is 40, set by Mike Manning in 1994.

Western Carolina will travel to Athens, Ga., to face the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are coming off a weekend sweep of nationally-ranked Tennessee to take sole possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Foley Field.

The starting time for Western Carolina's game on Wednesday versus UNC Asheville has been changed to 7:00 p.m. The game will be played at McCormick Field. Both the Georgia and UNC Asheville games can be heard locally on WRCG (680 AM) or via the internet at www.wrgc.com.