April 4, 2003

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Rod Goldston went 3-for-3 - including a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth - with three runs scored and three RBI to lead Western Carolina to a 7-5 victory over Georgia Southern Friday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts improve to 21-10, 11-2 to remain atop the Southern Conference standings, while the Eagles fall to 19-11, 8-4.

After Georgia Southern has tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the ninth, the Cats regained the advantage in the bottom half and held on the for the win. Buchanan started the rally with a leadoff walk and Goldston sent the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a two-run homer and his second blast of the season.

Sophomore Brandon McDowell retired 11 of 12 batters from the fourth inning until the eighth with the only batter reaching was via a catcher's interference in the fifth. He additionally pitched 4.2 innings of hitless baseball, with Rocky Baker's double with one out in the eighth ending both streaks. McDowell, whose previous long outing was five innings on four occasions, lasted 7.2 innings and would have gotten out of the eighth unscathed, however an error extended the inning, allowed an Eagle run to score and prompted WCU head coach Todd Raleight to go to his bullpen. The Franklin, N.C., native additionally tied a career high with six strikeouts. He only walked one, allowed five hits and surrendered two runs (one earned).

Georgia Southern put a runner on in the ninth when pinch hitter Brent Stephens walked with one out. After a fly out, WCU closer Ryan Foster entered the game to face Baker and got him to ground out to end the game. Derrick Hawk, who entered the game in the eighth, was credited with the win and improved to 5-0 on the year. Foster got his sixth save of the year and 21st for his career, which sets a WCU all-time record. The total additionally ranks sixth on the SoCon all-time list.

Georgia Southern jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on A.J. Zickgraf's third home run of the season. However, the Catamounts answered with a run of their own in the bottom half. Goldston got a leadoff double and advanced to third on Denver Edick's ground out. Two batters later, Chris Davis had an RBI ground out to third.

Western made it a 3-1 game in the bottom of the fourth. Todd Buchanan had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Goldston followed with an RBI double, moved to third and eventually scored on Alex Gary's sacrifice fly to center. The Cats added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-1. Freshman Matt Nelson started the home half with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Alan Beck was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Buchanan followed with a single to left to plate Nelson and an error allowed Beck to scored.

In the top of the eighth with two outs, the Eagles rallied for four unearned runs to tie the game at 5-5. With two outs, Carlos Love reached on a error. Grant Burruss followed with an RBI single, leaving runners on first and second and chasing McDowell. Zickgraf deposited the first pitch from Hawk over the left field fence to tie the game.

With his two doubles tonight, Goldston now has 57 for his career to rank third on the WCU and seventh on the SoCon all-time lists. Buchanan finished the game by going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Burruss and Zickgraf led the Eagles, each collecting a pair of hits. Georgia Southern starter Dennis Dove, who entered the game with a 5-1 record and a league-best 13.99 strikeouts per game (71 in 45.2 innings) gave up seven hits and five runs (four earned) in six complete innings. He also walked two and struck out one.

Western Carolina and Georgia Southern will play the second of their three-game set on Saturday at 4 pm.