April 17, 2002

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Todd Buchanan, who had a grand slam versus top-ranked Clemson last night, went 3-for-4 with a grand slam Wednesday afternoon to lead Western Carolina to a 11-7 win over Tennessee Tech at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

With WCU trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the third, the game had an hour and twenty minute rain delay. Prior to the delay, Western (23-13) loaded the bases after a leadoff hit by Clint Ramsey and walks by Alex Gary and Chris Aeschlimann. Todd Roper lined out and Ryan Schade had an 2-0 count on him when the game was delayed. When the game resumed, Schade walked to force in a run and Alan Beck followed with an RBI single, keeping the bases loaded. Buchanan then hit a 1-2 pitch over the right-field fence to give the Cats a 6-4 advantage.

Tennessee Tech (18-17) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second. After a leadoff single by Casey Benjamin, Jake Allen hit a two-run home run, for his third homer of the season. Ryan Hay, who reached on a error, added the final run of the frame, scoring on a double by Philip Hatch.

In the third, Allen doubled down the left-field line, plating Cole Helms. The Golden Eagles nearly made it a 6-0 lead through two and a half. However, WCU All-American center fielder Donovan Minero robbed what would have been a two-run home run by Mike Meihls to record the third out.

After WCU's six-run third, Tennessee Tech trimmed its deficit to 6-5 with a single tally in the top of the fourth after back-to-back doubles by Scott Terry and Hatch. Western used back-to-back doubles and a home run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 10-5. Gary started the WCU fourth with a walk and scored on Aeschlimann's double. Roper then doubled to drive in Aeschlimann. Schade, who was 2-for-4 with three RBI, hit his fifth home run of the season, scoring Roper on the play.

Western added an insurance run in the sixth. A single and a balk put Schade on second. He would score on a Beck single to center.

Tennessee Tech had a rally going in the eighth. Hay had a leadoff double and TTU had runners on second and third after a double by Hatch. Ben Shannon singled to left to score Hay and Jesse Johnson doubled to plate Hatch. With runners on second and third again and just one out, Western's Jared Burton got a pop out and a strike out to end the scoring.

In addition to Buchanan and Schade, Western was led by Beck (2-for-4), Ramsey (2-for-4) and Aeschlimann (2-for-3). Schade added three RBIs and three runs scored, while Beck had two RBIs.

Western used five pitchers on the day and it was Brad Josey who picked up the win, improving to 2-1. The Charlotte native only allowed two hits and one walk with two strike outs in 3.0 innings.

Tennessee Tech was paced by Hatch's 3-for-4 performance, while Helms and Allen each had two hits. All nine Golden Eagle starters had at least one hit as TTU out-hit the Cats, 13-12. Allen contributed three RBIs with Shannon adding two. Tech starter John Stepp (0-2) took the loss, allowing five hits, nine runs and four walks in 3.1 innings.

Western Carolina, who plays its eight games on the road, returns to league action with a Saturday doubleheader at Davidson. First pitch for game one is set for Noon.