April 14, 2002
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Donovan Minero, an All-American center fielder, lived up to his billing by going 2-for-5 with two home runs, including a game-winning grand slam in the 11th, and leading Western Carolina to a 13-9 victory over the College of Charleston Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
After both teams scored two runs in the 10th, Western (22-12, 12-6 SoCon) used a two-out rally in the 11th en route to the win. Ryan Schade and Alan Beck had back-to-back hits and Todd Buchanan loaded the bases with a walk. WCU had bases loaded with no outs in the 10th, but was unable to push the winning run across. The Catamounts would not suffer the same fate in the 11th as Minero deposited a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence.
The game, which was the second extra inning affair in as many days for the two teams, saw momentum shift several times thanks to some key home runs. In the first, WCU would take an early 2-0 lead when Buchanan drove in Beck with his fourth home run of the season.
In the second, the College of Charleston (23-12, 9-6 SoCon) made it a 2-1 game on Brett Anderson's solo home run. The Cougars tied the contest in the fourth on a solo home run by Brett Spivey. It was Spivey's fifth of the season and second of the series. Charleston briefly took a 3-2 lead in the sixth, when Anderson scored on a WCU fielding error.
The Catamounts looked to have the game in control, scoring a run in the fifth to tie the game, three in the sixth and one in the seventh to make the score 7-3. In the fifth, Roper had a two-out single and scored after a Beck single to center. In the sixth, Minero hit a leadoff home run. The senior, who led the SoCon with 17 homers last season, now has 12 round-trippers in 2002, which also leads the league. Doug Myers followed with a single and later scored on a Rod Goldston double. Goldston, who had just entered the game after being scratched from the starting lineup due to an injury, came around on a single to right by Roper. In the seventh, Beck started the frame with a single and, after a Cougar error, scored on a Myers single.
In the eighth, after consecutive singles by Spivey, Anderson and Zach Strong, Victor Martinez tied the game at 7-7 with a blast to left-center field for his fourth homer of the season and the first grand slam for the Cougars this season.
The Catamounts threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out. However a ground out and pop out kept the game tied. Western also had runners in scoring position in the ninth, but did not capitalize.
In the 10th, Martinez came up with another key hit for Charleston, hitting a leadoff double. The Cougars put runners on the corners with a single by Jack Arroyo. Matt Lauderdale followed with a two-run double down the left-field line. A fielder's choice retired Lauderdale at third and Ryan Foster got two fly balls to end the inning.
Western started the 10th with a leadoff walk by Roper. The Catamount second baseman would score on a single by Schade as the ball got past the CofC center fielder. Schade, who was on third after the error, scored on a double by Beck. Buchanan doubled but Beck was only able to advance to third as he had to wait to see if the ball would be caught in the air. After an intentional walk to Minero, Beck was later retired at home on a fielder's choice. Western left the bases loaded after a strike out and a fly out.
The Cougars had consecutive singles to start the 11th by Spivey and Anderson. However, Spivey was picked off at first and Anderson was left on third as the Cats recorded the final out of the frame.
Western,s Foster, a closer who pitched a season-high 4.0 innings, improved to 1-1 on the season. He allowed eight hits, two runs and one walk. Phillip Watkins (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up three hits, four runs and a walk in 1.2 innings.
Offensively for the Catamounts, Beck led the way, going 5-for-6 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Roper and Buchanan each contributed three hits, while Minero had a game-high five RBIs. For the Cougars, Anderson matched Beck's performance, going 5-for-6 with three runs and an RBI. Spivey had four hits, while Arroyo, Curtis and Martinez added three hits.
Western Carolina will return to action Tuesday (April 16), facing former Catamount head coach Jack Leggett and the Clemson Tigers. First pitch at Clemson, who is currently the top-ranked team in the nation, is set for 7:15 pm.
