March 20, 2002

Final Stats

Atlanta, Ga. - After almost a 30-minute rain delay before the game and a 40-minute rain daily during the game, the Western Carolina baseball team forced extra innings by scoring a run in the ninth. However, Georgia State pulled out a 9-5 victory with a grand slam in the 10th.

Georgia State (12-8) struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Breitbach hit his second home run of the season, which brought in Clint Mize who reached on a walk.

The Panthers added to their two-run lead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly from Mize. Catamount starter Brian Barnes left the game after walking Breitbach to load the bases loaded with two outs. WCU reliever Rob Hoover got Dustin Phillips to fly out to left field and ended the Panther threat.

Western Carolina (10-8) finally put a run across the plate in the top of the fifth, cutting the Panther lead to three runs. Clint Ramsey's RBI-single to left field scored Doug Myers who had reached on a double into left field.

After Panther starter Braden Staranchuk recorded the final out in the top of the fifth, the game was haulted due to rain. After a 40-minute delay, both teams changed pitchers with mixed results for both teams.

Panther reliever Isaac Haynes surrendered two runs when Donovan Minero homered to deep center field, cutting the Georgia State lead to one run, 4-3. It marked the fourth homer in four games for Minero, who was named SoCon Player of the Week on Tuesday. Georgia State responded with a run when Dustin Phillips drove in Mize from second.

Western Carolina rallied in the ninth to tie the game when Todd Buchanan singled off David Hawkins into left field, scoring Todd Roper from second. Ronnie Robinson (3-2) recorded the final out of the inning and pitched a scoreless tenth for the Panthers.

With one out and the bases loaded following an intentional walk to Phillips, in dramatic fashion Josh Vandiver nailed the first pitch he saw off WCU releif pitcher Joe Camac over the left field wall to give Georgia State the win.

After the rain delay, WCU freshman pitcher Brad Josey kept the Catamounts in the game, pitching an effective 3.2 innings. Buchanan, Minero, Myers and Ramsey each had two hits to lead Western's offense.

Western Carolina will return to league play this weekend with a doubleheader at Appalachian State on Saturday (Mar. 23) at Noon. The two teams are scheduled to play a single game on Sunday at 1:00 pm.