April 23, 2003

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - WCU senior Rod Goldston, the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week, hit a two-run home run in the 10th to lead the Catamounts (29-14) to a 9-7 come-from-behind win over Georgia State (21-22) Wednesday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. Western, who led 6-0 through four innings, allowed the Panthers to score in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings to give up the advantage.

Goldston was 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored , while Denver Edick and Chris Davis each drove in two. Alan Beck (2-for-3) singled to start the 10th for WCU, walked three times and scored three times. Derrick Hawk came out of the WCU bullpen to improve to 7-1 on the season. The Sylva native pitched the final four innings, giving up just two hits and one run.

Western jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Beck hit an infield single, moved to third on Todd Buchanan's single through the middle and score on Goldston's single to center. The Catamounts extended their advantage to 6-0 in the bottom of the third. After GSU starter Romas Hicks walked the bases loaded with one out, Edick doubled to left-center to plate Wayne Kilmer and Beck. Davis followed with a two-run double and Nelson made it runners on the corners with a single to chase Hicks. Brian Sigmon capped the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice.

Georgia State got in the board in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs and making the score 6-2. Justin Newman led off the inning with his fourth home run of the season. After Mike Buchanan reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Kevin Kawasaki singled to score Buchanan. The Panthers cut their deficit in half (6-3) with a run in the sixth. Stanley Wise had a one-out single, stole second and advanced to third on Newman's single up the middle. Wise later scored on a wild pitch.

Georgia State tied the game at 6-6 with three runs in the top of the seventh. Kawasaki got a leadoff walk off new WCU pitcher Brian Barnes and advanced to second on an infield single by Sean Fitzgerald. Stephen Burroughs reached on an error, allowing Kawasaki to scored from second. With runners now on second and third, Rusty Bennett singled through the right side to plate two. Hawk came out the bullpen, recorded a strikeout and induced a double play to end the threat.

The Panthers grabbed their first lead of the series (7-6) with a run in the top of the eighth. Buchanan and Kyle Breitbach produced back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. Mike DeVeaux drove in Buchanan with a ground out to third. The Cats tied the game in the bottom half. Todd Roper had a leadoff single and, after an out, moved to third on back-to-back walks to Beck and Buchanan. Goldston brought home Roper with a sacrifice fly to center. Panther closer Scott Boatman recorded a strikeout to end the frame.

In addition to Goldston, Nelson had a three-hit day for the Catamounts. He lifted his season average to .315 by going 3-for-4, while Davis was 2-for-5. WCU starter Ryan Basner did not figure in the decision, pitching six complete. The senior surrendered seven hits and three runs (two earned) with two walks and four strikeouts.

Georgia State was led by Fitzgerald and Newman, who each had two hits. Boatman ended threats by WCU in the eighth and ninth innings, before giving up the homer to Goldston and falling to 2-2 on the season. He allowed four hits and two runs in two innings of work.

Western Carolina will take a break from Southern Conference action this weekend and will return to action with a pair of games at 20th-ranked Oklahoma State on Tuesday and Wednesday (April 29-30).