April 8, 2001
Box Score
Charleston, S.C. -
Right-hander Seth Foster struck out a career-high seven batters to lead Western Carolina past No. 23 The Citadel, 12-6, in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon in Riley Park.
The Citadel (23-12, 10-5 SoCon) out hit the Catamounts 11-10 in the defeat. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning as rightfielder Stuart Jordan belted a three-run homer over the rightfield fence. The Bulldogs plated two more in the second, when third baseman Dallas McPherson singled home a run, as did Jordan. The Citadel's last run came in the seventh when first baseman Philip Hartig blasted a solo shot over the leftfield wall.
Western Carolina (16-17, 10-7 SoCon) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when rightfielder Rod Goldston singled home second baseman Todd Roper, who doubled to lead off the frame. The Catamounts tacked on three more in the second inning, as designated hitter Brian Sigmon, centerfielder Donovan Minero and catcher Ryan McCurry all scored in the inning. The Catamounts took the lead for good in the top of the fifth as leftfielder Alan Beck singled home Roper and Goldston scored on a fielder's choice. To highlight the frame, however was not Beck's single it was when he stole home to account for the third run of the inning. Western added four more in the seventh and another in the eighth to make the final score 12-6.
Foster picked up the victory after pitching a season-high 7.2 innings and striking out seven. For the Bulldogs right-hander T.A. Fulmer took the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season.
Offensively, the Catamounts received strong outings from Minero, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Roper, who collected two hits on the day and scored a game-high three runs.
Of note, the last time The Citadel lost a Southern Conference series was three years ago, when UNC Greensboro took three from the Bulldogs in April of 1998.
Western Carolina will return to action with a pair of mid-week games versus Georgia State. The Catamounts will face the Panthers in Athlanta, Ga., Tuesday (April 10) at 6:00 p.m, followed by a single game on Wednesday (April 11) at 4 p.m.
