March 8, 2002

Final Stats

Greensboro, N.C. - Western Carolina junior Jared Burton recorded his first career complete-game shutout to lead Western Carolina to a 2-0 win at UNC Greensboro Friday night. The game was the first league game for both teams this season. Western improves to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in the SoCon, while the Spartans fall to 7-4, 0-1.

Burton (2-2) only allowed five base runners, including three hits, a walk and a hit batsman. The right-hander struck out a season-high 10 batters, using just 125 pitches. This was Burton's fourth career complete game. Last season, he fanned a career-high 13 in a 10-1 complete-game victory versus UNCG in Cullowhee.

"Burton is a definite pro prospect and he pitched like it tonight," said UNCG head coach Mike Gaski. "When we were able to get to him, he just came through with big pitches."

After Todd Roper started the game with a strikeout, Rod Goldston knocked Spartan starter Everett Hancock out of the game with a line drive off Hancock's shoulder, breaking his collar bone. The line drive was all to familair for Hancock. The senior was knocked out of the WCU-UNCG game in the 2001 Southern Conference Tournament. Hancock had thrown six shutout innings before a line drive forced him to leave the game.

However, Jay Metzger entered the game for UNCG and held the Cats in check. Metzger only allowed five hits and one walk in 7.2 innings of relief. Both runs were credited to and he stuck out four

Roper gave WCU a 1-0 lead in the third. The sophomore singled, then advanced to second on a balk. Goldston then delivered a single to center to plate Roper. Western added an insurance run in the ninth. With one out, Todd Buchanan reached after being hit by a Metzger pitch. Spartan closer Schooter Michael, who is the reigning SoCon Pitcher of the Week, was welcomed with an RBI double by Donovan Minero.

Goldston helped preserve the shutout with an impressive dving catch in the bottom of the ninth. Western also got hits from Doug Myers and Buchanan.

Alan Beck had his streak of reaching base snapped at 67, going 0-for-4 tonight. The junior had reached by either hit, walk or hit by pitch in 67 straight dating back to the last eight games of his freshman season.

Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro will play the second of their three-game set on Saturday (Mar. 9) at 1 pm.