March 9, 2002

Final Stats

Greensboro, N.C. - The UNCG baseball team pounded out a season-high 20 hits, including three home runs, to withstand a late Western Carolina rally and pick up its first Southern Conference victory of the season, 13-11, in college baseball action from UNCG Baseball Stadium Saturday afternoon.

After managing just three hits and no runs in the opener on Friday night, the Spartans (8-4, 1-1 SoCon) wasted no time getting the offense back into gear. UNCG knocked Catamount starter Brad Josey (0-2) around for 1.1 innings. The Spartans scored five runs in the second inning and collected five hits versus the southpaw starter.

The Spartans added a single tally in the bottom of the third and took a 6-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning. At that time, Western Carolina (8-5, 1-1 SoCon) exploded for four runs, thanks in part to a two-run blast by Ryan Schade, to cut the gap to just a single run, 6-5.

UNCG answered with four runs of there own in the bottom half of the fifth and looked as if the game was in hand, but Western Carolina again stormed back. The Catamounts tied the game on Todd Buchanan's grand slam and took its first lead of the game, 11-10, on Brian Sigmon's RBI single.

As occurred time and time again, UNCG responded with two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth and Michael Gulledge (2-0) tossed the final 3.0 innings to pick up the victory. The freshman right-hander gave up three hits, but just one earned run and retired the final six Catamount hitters.

Seven UNCG players registered multiple hit games paced by Justin Lee and Ryan Galligan. Lee went 2-for4 with a pair of solo home runs, while Galligan went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Kirk Strebin added three hits and two runs scored. Jay Maule also went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Maule ripped a double and blasted his first home run of the season and career.

Rod Goldston paced the Catamount attack. The right-fielder was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Buchanan went 2-for-5 with a run scored and four RBI. Also contributing were Doug Myers (3-for-5), Alan beck (2-for-4) and Sigmon (2-for-3 with two RBI).

Chris Cloninger started for the Spartans. The senior tossed 4.2 innings and limited Western Carolina to four runs, three earned, on six hits. Scooter Michael pitched 1.1 innings of work and gave up four runs, three earned, including the two-run home run by Shade. Aaron Horne walked one and served up the grand slam without retiring a batter.

Western's bullpen combined to give up 15 hits and eight runs in 7.2 innings. Although Western only stranded four baserunners, compared to 12 by UNCG, the Spartans turned five double plays to end several WCU threats.

The Spartans and Catamounts return for the rubber match of this three-game series Sunday afternoon. First-pitch is set for 1 p.m.