April 7, 2001

Box Score

CHARLESTON, SC --- Sophomore left-hander Eric Talbert pitched a complete game shutout to lead No. 23 The Citadel past Western Carolina, 7-0, in Southern Conference baseball action Friday afternoon in Riley Park.

The Citadel (23-10, 10-3 SoCon) was held in check by Western starter Ryan Basner for five innings before scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Third baseman Dallas McPherson's RBI double that scored leftfielder Daryl Byrd, and first baseman Philip Hartig's RBI single that plated McPherson highlighted the frame.

The Bulldogs tacked on four more in the seventh, when McPherson singled home two runs and Hartig singled home another. McPherson later scored on the back end of a double steal with Hartig, to account for the four runs in the inning. The Citadel's final run came on a RBI double by second baseman Orlando Garcia in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Talbert allowed six hits and struck out two to improve to 7-1 on the season. The complete game by the crafty left-hander marks his second in a row. The 7-0 decision also stands as his third shutout this season and his first complete game shutout of his career. Offensively for the Bulldogs, McPherson, Hartig and Garcia each added two hits, while McPherson added three RBI.

Western Carolina (14-17, 8-7 SoCon) received a strong outing from Basner, as he pitched 6.2 innings, allowed five hits and struck out three to fall to 3-6 on the season. Offensively, leftfielder Alan Beck and second baseman Todd Roper, who each contributed two hits, led the Catamounts.

The two teams will square off tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm in Riley Park in game two of the three game series.