March 23, 2002

Final Stats

Boone, N.C. - Western Carolina used six home runs to sweep a Saturday doubleheader at Appalachian State on Saturday. The Catamounts (12-6, 5-3 SoCon) came from behind to win game one, 26-10, while posting a 17-3 win over the Mountaineers (3-16, 1-7 SoCon) in game two. Both games were cut short due to the new Southern Conference 10-run rule.

In game one, which only lasted eight innings, Ryan Schade hit a pair of three-run home runs en route to collecting a career-high seven RBI. Schade was 4-of-6 in the game with three runs scored. The senior also had two doubles. Alan Beck drove in five, hitting his fifth home run of the season. The junior from nearby Hudson, also doubled in the contest. Clint Ramsey, a freshman from Weaverville, hit his first career home run, going 2-of-5 with three RBI.

Another offensive star for Western was Todd Roper. The sophomore from Greenville, S.C., had a career-high five hits in five attempts, scoring four runs. Roper went 3-for-4 in game two to five the second baseman had eight hits on the day, coming into the contest with just 11 hits for the 2002 season and raising his batting average over150 points.

Western starting pitcher Jared Burton got off to a slow start in the opener, allowing four runs in the first. However, the Cats exploded for seven runs in the top of the third, thanks to back-to-back homers by Schade and Beck, to take a 7-4 lead.

App State pushed across a single run in the bottom of the third and three in the fourth to regain the advantage, 8-7. From that point, the WCU offense forced the Mountaineers to go through seven pitchers, scoring 19 runs over the next four innings.

Appalachian State made one final run. Down 14-8, ASU scored two runs in the sixth and had runners in scoring position. Western escaped when Ryan Basner came out of the bullpen and got an out in one pitch. Basner would only give up one hit over the final 2.1 innings.

Burton gave up a season-high 10 hits and 10 runs (six earned) in 5.2 innings, but still improved to 4-2, striking out four and walking two. App State starter Monty Fast surrendered seven hits and seven runs in 2.1 innings, but relief pitcher David Batten (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Rod Goldston flew out to center in the day's first at bat, then proceeded to reach base in his next 10 at bats in the doubleheader. Goldston had three singles, a walk and was hit by a pitch to close out game one, then went 3-for-3 with two walks in five at bats in game two. Todd Buchanan added three hits in game one and Minero two.

In game two, which was called after seven innings, Western wasted no time in jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Neither team scored over the next two and a half innings until the Cats tacked on six runs in the top of the fourth. Minero's three-run homerun to straight away centerfield highlighted the inning. Minero now has seven homers on the season and has five bombs in his last six games.

The Catamounts increased their lead to 12-0 in the top of the fifth, thanks to Ramsey's second blast of the day.

Dan Foley returned to his form from last season when he led the Cats in wins. He did not give up a hit until the fifth inning, when the Mountaineers scored twice in the frame to make the score 12-2. Western put the game out of reach with five runs in the top of the sixth. App State scored an unearned run in the sixth to provide the final margin, 17-3.

Foley improved to 1-1, giving up three hits and two runs in 5.0 innings. Freshman Alex Obert pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and one run with two strikeouts.

Goldston, Ramsey and Roper each had three hits in game two, while Beck, Buchanan and Minero each had a pair of hits. Minero led the way with four RBI with Beck and Buchanan each drove in three.

Western Carolina and Appalachian State will complete their three-game series with a single game at 1:00 pm on Sunday in Boone.