April 12, 2003

Final Stats

Greensboro, N.C. - UNC Greensboro's Justin Saltalamacchia ground ball to third enabled Allen Thomas to score the game-winning run in the Spartans' 5-4 win over 29th-ranked Western Carolina in the first game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.

With one out in the ninth, Thomas reached on a one-out double and moved to third on a wild pitch. After an intentional walk, Saltalamacchia hit one down the line, which WCU third baseman Brett Kasten dove to field. Kasten fired a strike home, but Thomas was ruled safe to end the game.

Western Carolina jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Todd Roper and Wayne Kilmer started the game with back-to-back hits, then Todd Buchanan drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Senior Rod Goldston sent a 2-2 pitch to left field, plating both Roper and Kilmer.

UNC Greensboro cut the deficit in half with a single run in the bottom of the second. Kirk Strebin came through with a one-out double and scored as Jay Maule followed win a single to center. The Spartans threatened in the bottom of the third after back-to-back infield singles. However, after a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, WCU starting pitcher Brad Josey got a pop out and a strikeout to escape.

The Spartans did tie the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a Catamount error. With one out, Maule hit a fly ball to right field, which was dropped, allowing him to reach second. Two batters later, David Adams singled up the middle to plate Maule.

The Catamounts regained the advantage with two runs in the top of the seventh. Goldston drew a leadoff walk and went to third on a single by Alex Gary. Brian Sigmon popped up to second, but Jason Sarvis had to dive to make the play, allowing Goldston to score on a sacrifice fly. Kasten followed with a triple to plate Gary, chasing UNCG starting pitcher Jay Metzger.

UNCG rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Adams led off with a triple and Thomas was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Saltalamacchia brought home Adams with a ground out to third and Ryan Gordon singled just beyond the reach of Todd Buchanan to plate Thomas.

WCU relief pitcher Derrick Hawk (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season, giving up two hits and one runs in 1.2 innings pitched. Spartan reliever Jarrett Santos improved to 7-2 on the season, pitching the final 2.1 innings.

The Cats were led offensively by Gary and Kasten, who each had two hits. Thomas, Sarvis and Adams led UNCG with two hits each.