May 1, 2001

Box Score

Athens, Ga. - Junior Doc Brooks drove in four runs and hit his team-leading 14th home run to lead 18th-ranked Georgia past Western Carolina, 7-2, Tuesday at Foley Field.

The Bulldogs (33-15) have won seven straight and sit atop the Southeastern Conference's East Division, while the Catamounts fall to 24-23.

Senior right-hander Shaun Helmey matched his career high, pitching six innings to move his record to 2-1 while WCU starter Robbie Hoover dropped to 3-5. Helmey scattered nine hits and two runs, did not walk a batter and struck out five. Hoover allowed five runs on five hits with five walks in three innings.

Georgia got on the board early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Jody Pollock drew a one-out walk, moved to third on consecutive wild pitches and scored on Jeff Keppinger's ground out to third. Western evened the score with a run in the top of the third. Todd Roper hit a leadoff single and found himself on third after a Michael Roane single. Minero then plated Roper with an RBI single to right.

The Bulldogs broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Brooks smashed a two-run blast off of Hoover and a batter later, Adam Swann (2-4) followed with a solo home run to centerfield to make it 4-1.

The Catamounts cut it to 4-2 in the top of the fourth on a successful delayed double steal. Brian Sigmon led off with a base hit and advanced to third when Ryan Schade singled to right. After Helmey struck out Matt Price, Schade broke for second, and when the throw went towards second, Sigmon raced home as the throw back to catcher Tony Burchett was broken up by Sigmon's slide.

Georgia added single runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings for the final margin.

Roane, Sigmon and Schade continued their respective hitting streaks as each collected two hits. Roane, who was 2-for-4 with a walk, has hit safely in all four games since moving to the top of the WCU batting order. He additionally has had at least two hits during the streak. Sigmon (2-for-4 with a run scored) has a nine-game hitting streak, while Schade (2-for-3) owns a 14-game hitting streak. Minero added two hits as well and an RBI.

Western will return to action Wednesday night when it completes the four-game, season series with UNC Asheville. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., at McCormick Field, the home of the Asheville Tourists.