May 2, 2001

Box Score

Asheville, N.C. - Western Carolina third baseman Ryan Schade had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Catamounts to a 5-4 win over UNC Asheville at McCormick Field Wednesday night before a crowd of 500.

Schade drove in WCU's (25-23) first three runs of the game and extended his hitting streak to 15 games. However, the Catamounts had to hold off a late UNC Asheville (14-32) rally to win their fourth straight game over the Bulldogs this season and sixth straight overall.

Western also welcomed Alan Beck back to the lineup after missing the last eight games with an injured hand, suffered in WCU's 16-1 defeat of UNCA on April 18. Beck, who now sports a hefty .371 batting average, returned in mid-season form, going 2-for-3 with two walks. The sophomore ranks among the nation's top 20 in runs batted in and doubles and is ranks among the Southern Conference's top five in nine offensive categories.

Schade drove in runs with run-scoring singles in the fourth and sixth innings to give WCU a 2-0 lead. His RBI-double in the eighth gave the Catamounts a 3-0 lead. The Cats also got a run-scoring double from Donovan Minero in the eighth to score Schade to push WCU to a 4-0 margin.

The Bulldogs roared back in the bottom of the frame, scoring three runs on nine hits to close within, 4-3. Jason Ronai drove in UNCA's first run on an RBI-groundout, followed by a run-scoring single by Curtis Moncus. A bases loaded walk to Jeremy Manning closed the gap to 4-3. But reliever Ryan Foster got out of the jam by striking out Nick Jaksa with the bases loaded.

Beck led off the ninth with his 13th homer of the year to give the Catamounts a 5-3 lead. UNCA fought back in the bottom of the ninth as Matt Neils and Corey Mercer led off with singles. A sacrifice bunt from Ronai put runners on second and third.

Reliever Dan Foley got Moncus to ground out to score Neils to cut the lead to 5-4. Foley then struck out Stephen Hull to end the game on a 3-2 pitch. Foley earned his first save of the season. The win went to starter Seth Foster (4-3) who pitched the first three innings. After allowing UNCA's first batter of the game to reach on a double, S. Foster retired nine of the next 10 batters he faced. Jared Burton also had an outstanding pitching performance for the Catamounts, pitching the next three innings. He did not allow a hit, run or walk, while fanning three.

The tough-luck loss went to UNCA starter Nick Brannon (5-8) who pitched the first four innings and allowed just one run.

Western Carolina will play a home weekend series against Davidson in a key Southern Conference match-up. WCU will host Davidson Saturday at Noon in a doubleheader before playing its final home game of the season at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.