Feb. 17, 2002

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Ryan Schade and Alan Beck each collected three hits to lead Western Carolina to a 9-6 victory over Wright State Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The win gives Western a 3-0 record and a series sweep over Wright State (0-3).

Like the first two games of the series, Western jumped out to an early lead, plating three in the first and one in the second. Junior Todd Buchanan put WCU's first two runs on the board with his first career triple, driving in Schade and Beck, who reached on back-to-back singles. Buchanan scored one batter later on an infield hit by Donovan Minero. In the second, Todd Roper drew a one-out walk and, after stealing second, scored on Schade's single to left.

Wright State cut the lead to two, 4-2, with a pair of runs in the third. With two outs, Chris Tuttle walked and Trent Matthews singled to center. On Matthews hit, the ball got away from Minero, which allowed both Tuttle and Matthews to score.

Five hits and one costly error allowed the Raiders to take their first lead of the weekend one inning later, scoring four in the fourth. After Chad Waters delivered a one-out single, Western had a chance to get out of the inning with a double play, but an error kept the inning alive. Matt Barhorst singled to load the bases and Tuttle singled to drive in two. Two batters later and with WCU starter Brian Barnes being lifted for senior Rob Hoover, designated hitter Matt Hay delivered a two-out, two-run single, making the score 6-4.

Hoover (1-0) ended the fourth with a strikeout and struck out the side in the sixth en route to picking up the win. In the bottom of the sixth, Western reclaimed the lead on a play that was nearly a carbon copy of Wright State's first two runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Beck singled to center to drive in Clint Ramsey and Roper. On the play, the ball got away from Raider center fielder Bill Johnson, allowing Schade, who walked, and Beck to come around and make the score 8-6.

Hoover got into some trouble in the seventh walking two and putting both runners in scoring position after a wild pitch. Junior Joe Camac came in to strikeout Johnson to get out of the inning. Camac would go on to strikeout two more Raiders in the eighth, while allowing no hits or walks in 1.1 innings.

Schade and Beck gave Western an insurance run in the eighth. Schade had a two-out single, but advanced to third on the play due to an error by the right fielder. Beck followed with a single to left to plate Schade and provide the final margin, 9-6.

Western closer Ryan Foster recorded and 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to earn his first save of the season. The junior now has 10 for his career to move into fourth on the WCU all-time list.

Schade, a senior from Lewisburg, Pa., had three hits in all three games versus the Raiders and opens the 2002 season with a .692 batting average (9-of-13). The start is significantly better for the Catamount shortstop, who was hitless in his first six games last season before finishing the year getting a hit in 22 of his last 23 games and posting a .344 average.

With two singles today, Beck has now reached base by either a hit or a walk in 59 consecutive games.

Barnes pitched well in his collegiate debut. A native of Fredericksburg, Va., Barnes pitched 3.2 innings, allowing eight hits, six runs and two walks. However, only one run was earned.

Raider starter Casey Abrams also had a solid outing, pitching 5.0-plus innings and striking out seven. He allowed seven hits, five runs - all earned - and four walks. Relief pitcher J.P. Jung (0-1) took the loss in three innings of work. The sophomore surrendered four hits, four runs and two walks. Only two of Jung's runs were earned, while he fanned two.

Offensively for Wright State, Matthews, Hay and Jason Hart each had two hits, while Hay and Tuttle each drove in two.

Western Carolina will return to action on Friday (Feb. 22) when it faces Virginia Tech at 1:30 pm in the Berkeley Electric Shootout. The Catamounts will then face Virginia on Saturday at 5:00 pm and West Virginia on Sunday at 10:00 am. All three games will be played at Riley Park in Charleston, S.C., which is the annual home of the Southern Conference Championship.