March 16, 2002

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina All-American Donovan Minero blasted a pair of two-run home runs to lead the Catamounts to a doubleheader sweep over Wofford Saturday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. WCU (10-6, 3-2 SoCon) won game one, 6-3, and defeated the Terriers (14-8, 3-2 SoCon) in game two, 12-4.

Minero, who was only four for his last 29 at the plate, went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored in game one and was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored in game two.

In the first game, Western jumped out to a 2-0 lead through two complete as Brian Sigmon, Minero and Doug Myers hit consecutive doubles. In the top of the third, Wofford cut the lead in half with a solo home run by Matt Lein, the reigning SoCon Player of the Week. Western answered in the bottom half as freshman second baseman Chris Davis hit his first career home run to make the score 3-1.

The Terriers once again trimmed their deficit to one, 3-2, on a solo home run by Steve Casey. However, the Cats got an RBI single by Ryan Schade in the fifth and Minero's two-run shot in the sixth proved to all WCU would need. Wofford did add a final tally in the eighth on a solo home run by Chris Cotugno.

Despite giving up three home runs, Jared Burton, the reigning SoCon Pitcher of the Week, improved to 3-2, surrendering three runs on eight hits in 8.0 innings, while striking out 10 for the second consecutive start and walking just one. Junior Ryan Foster pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season. The Charlotte native now has 11 career saves, which ranks fourth on the WCU all-time list.

Myers joined Minero in going 3-for-4 in game one, adding two doubles and an RBI.

Wofford starter Tate Osterman fell to 1-4, allowing nine hits and six runs in 5.1 innings with three walks and two strikeouts. Nick Hewitt pitched the final 2.2 innings and only gave up one hit with three strikeouts. Offensively for the Terriers, Lein, Strat Stavrou and Cotugno accounted for six of their team's eight hits.

In game two, Wofford got on the board first as Lein hit a two-run home run to center field in the top of the first. However, in the bottom half, Western had three hits which led to four runs to make the score 4-2 after one complete. Schade and Beck each delivered one-out doubles to make the score 2-1. Todd Buchanan walked to put runners at first and second then Minero singled to left, but a fielding error allowed two runs to cross. With Minero now on third, Myers hit a sacrifice fly to center to make the score 4-2.

Western's Schade doubled home Todd Roper, who reached on an error, in the second inning to make the score 5-2. The Catamounts added three in the fifth on Minero's two-run blast, followed by a Myers solo shot. Wofford made the score 8-3 in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Casey. The two homers on the day by the sophomore were the first of Casey's career.

The Catamounts blew the game open with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Beck drove in three on a double to left-center. Beck would score one batter later on a single by Buchanan.

Wofford catcher D.J. Rhodes provided the final 12-4 margin with a solo home run in the ninth.

Beck went 3-for-3 in game two with three runs scored and four RBI. All three of his hits were doubles, which tied a WCU record. He becomes the 16th Catamount to collect three doubles in a game. (Doug Myers was the last Catamount to have three double in a game, getting three versus UNC Asheville on March 7 of last season.) Schade went 2-for-4 with two doubles, while Myers was 2-for-3 with two RBI.

After a tough first inning when he gave up two runs on two hits, Seth Foster settled down to improve to 4-0 on the season. He pitched seven complete innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out seven, while walking none.

Culley Kline dropped to 2-2 on the season, allowing nine hits, eight runs and two walks with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Offensively, Brian Casey went 2-for-2, while five Terriers each had one safety.

Western Carolina and Wofford will complete their three-game series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.