March 16, 2003

Final Stats

Davidson, N.C. - After holding off Davidson in the completion of the suspended game from Saturday, 5-4, Western Carolina finished off a three-game sweep of the Wildcats behind the pitching of Ryan Basner by a final of 9-0.

The Catamounts improved to 14-7 on the season and 5-1 in Southern Conference play to tie for first in the league, while Davidson fell to 4-10 and 0-8 in the conference.

In the regularly scheduled game, Basner (2-1) dazzled in eight innings on the mound, allowing just five hits without walking a batter and striking out six. Only two Wildcat runners even reached second base in the game. Alex Obert pitched a perfect ninth, including a strikeout, to close out the shutout.

Western Carolina scored three times in the second and twice more in the fifth to chase Wildcat hurler Brian Akin (0-1). The key hit in both innings was an RBI double, provided by Matt Nelson in the second and Alan Beck in the fifth.

Denver Edick put the game away in the seventh with a three-run homer, his second of the season, to give WCU an 8-0 lead.

Lead-off hitter Todd Roper reached base four times in the game with three singles and a walk, while Edick had a pair of hits and drove in four.

Western Carolina will return to action with a game versus region rival UNC Asheville on Tuesday (Mar. 18). Game time is scheduled for 2 pm and the contest will be played at Greenwood Field on UNCA's campus.