Feb. 22, 2002

Final Stats

Charleston, S.C. - Virginia Tech junior left-hander Joe Saunders, rated one of the top pitchers in the nation by Baseball America, pitched eight innings and struck out five to lead the Hokies past Western Carolina, 5-1, in game number two of the Berkeley Electric Cooperative Shootout in Riley Park.

Virginia Tech (1-0) started the scoring in the bottom of the second when right fielder Brad Bauder doubled down the right field line and then scored on a single catcher Brian Copeland. The Hokies added two more in the bottom of the third as second baseman Marc Tugwell was hit by a pitch and then scored on a RBI double by center fielder Chris Hutchinson. Third baseman John West then singled home Hutchinson.

Western Carolina (3-1) was held in check until the sixth inning as the Catamounts scored a run as left fielder Alan Beck singled, advanced on a pass ball and later scored on a RBI single by catcher Brian Sigmon.

Virginia Tech scratched another across in the seventh when left fielder Matt Kalish reached on an error by Western Carolina and scored on a ground out by Tugwell. The Hokies tacked on another as West scored on a sacrifice fly by Bauder.

Saunders scattered 10 hits and allowed only one earned run in his season opener. Western Carolina starter Jared Burton pitched six innings and struck out six, while allowing three runs and fell to 1-1 on the season.

Dan Foley, who had been battling an illness through most of the preseason, saw his first action of the season, pitching 2.0 innings and striking out two. Neither Burton nor Foley allowed a walk in the contest. Five Catamounts contributed two hits on the day, as Western out-hit the Hokies, 11-10. Beck, Todd Buchanan, Sigmon, Doug Myers and Todd Roper were each 2-for-4. The difference in the game was Western leaving nine runners on base, compared to just six by Tech.

Western Carolina will play Virginia on Saturday at 1:30 pm and wrap up the weekend with a 10 am meeting with West Virginia on Sunday.