March 17, 2002

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Wofford used a pair of bunts in the ninth inning to post a 12-10 come-from-behind win over Western Carolina on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Terriers improve to 15-8 overall and 4-2 in the Southern Conference, while the Catamounts fall to 10-7, 3-3.

Down 9-5 through five innings, Wofford put five runs on the board in the top of the sixth to take a 10-9 lead. Catcher Scott Holloway delivered a one-out single to up the middle to score D.J. Rhodes and Kyle Raulinaitis. With Holloway on third after a Tony Carbone double, Western played the percentages, bringing in lefthanded pitcher Joe Camac to face the left-handed hitting Strat Stavrou. Camac had not surrendered a hit to a lefty all season, but the senior Stavrou cleared the bases with his first career home run.

Western tied the game in the eighth when Donovan Minero singled home Todd Roper, who was pinch-running for Chris Davis.

In the ninth, Terrier third baseman Matt Lein started the inning with a walk, then Chris Cotugno had a bunt single to move Lein to second. Brad Haynes singled off new WCU pitcher Ryan Foster to load the bases. Rhodes hit a sacrifice fly to left, which scored Lein and allowed Cotugno to advance to third. One batter later, Brian Casey laid down a safety squeeze bunt to provide the final 12-10 margin.

Wofford jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second, taking advantage of two Catamount errors. Western Carolina cut its deficit to one on a two-run single by freshman Clint Ramsey. The Catamounts tied the game at 3-3 when Ryan Schade started the WCU third inning with a solo home run to left field.

The Terriers regained the advantage (4-3) in the fourth on an RBI single by Raulinaitis. The Wofford run in the fourth was one of three unearned runs it scored on the day, as Western committed six errors in the contest.

Despite its fielding woes, WCU looked to have the game in hand after scoring six runs in the bottom of the fourth and take a 9-4 lead. Myers started the frame by being hit by a pitch. The sophomore missed the remainder of the game due to the injury and will be further examined this week. After a back-to-back bunt singles by Ramsey and Davis, Schade had a two-run single, followed by a three-run home run by Alan Beck. Two batters later, Minero hit his third home run of the series and the fifth of the season.

Wofford took advantage of three Catamount errors to score one in the fifth, to make the score 9-5, then exploded for five in the sixth en route to the win.

George Lehr pitched 5.2 innings in relief to improve to 6-0 on the season. He allowed six hits and one run with a walk and five strikeouts. Wofford starter Chad McGill surrendered nine hits and nine runs in 3.1 innings. Camac (1-2) suffered the loss, as both runners who scored in the ninth reach while he was on the mound. WCU starter Dan Foley last 5.1 innings, giving up nine hits and eight runs. Only five of his runs were earned, while he fanned five and walked none.

Raulinaitis led Wofford offensively, going 4-for-5 with three RBI. Carbone, Stavrou and Steve Casey each added two hits. Stavrou drove in three and Holloway two.

Western's Schade went 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ramsey and Davis each had three hits and Minero contributed two. Beck joined Schade in having three RBI, while Minero and Ramsey each drove in two.

Western Carolina will play its next four games on the road, starting with a single game on Wednesday (Mar. 20) at Georgia State. First pitch in Atlanta is set for 4:00 pm. The Catamounts will stay on the road to play a three-game set at Appalachian State on Saturday (Mar. 23) and Sunday. Wofford also returns to action on Wednesday, playing nationally-ranked South Carolina at 7 pm.