May 12, 2003

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina senior Rod Goldston, who extended his career-long hitting streak to 21 games with a 3-for-5 performance, hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to lift the 28th-ranked Catamounts to a 10-8 victory over Appalachian State Monday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.

Western Carolina (36-15, 21-6 SoCon) clinches the 2003 Southern Conference regular-season title outright for the first time since 1997. The Mountaineers fall to 12-34, 6-21.

The Catamount rally in the eighth began with a solo home run by Matt Nelson, his second blast of the season. Todd Roper followed with a walk and Wayne Kilmer singled to put runners on the corners to chase Mountaineer starter Joe Norton. Jonathan Reeder (0-3) came out of the bullpen and walked Alan Beck. After a strikeout, Goldston sent an 0-2 fastball over the right field fence.

Sylva native Derrick Hawk picked up his second win of the series, improving to 10-1 on the season. He came in relief of Ryan Foster in the seventh and surrendered three hits, two runs and no walks in the win.

Western Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of first. Roper, WCU's junior second baseman, led off with a walk and advanced to second on a balk. Two batters later, Todd Buchanan delivered two-out single through the right side of the infield to plate Roper.

The Mountaineers answered with two runs in the top of the second. Leftfielder Travis Hunnicutt had a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a steal and to third on a ground ball. Ben Marsh then tallied ASU's first hit with an RBI bloop single to left. Marsh then moved to second on a Ty Racette walk and to third on a Justin Thomas fly ball. WCU starting pitcher Brandon McDowell then threw a wild pitch, allowing Marsh to score.

Western answered with three runs in the bottom half of the second, making the score 4-2. After Nelson reached on a fielder's choice to avoid an inning-ending double play, Roper just missed his first career home run, resulting in an RBI triple. Kilmer followed with a double to right, plating Roper. Beck drove in Kilmer with a sharp single to left.

The Apps tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the third. A leadoff double by Derek Smith and a two-out, RBI double by Hunnicutt. Marsh singled to right to bring home Hunnicutt and tie the game. The Mountaineers took their first lead of the game (5-4) in the top of the fourth. Thomas started the inning with a single and moved to second on a throwing error on an attempted pickoff. He scored two batters later on Smith's single to left. With two on and one out, WCU closer Foster got a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.

Appalachian State extended its lead to 6-4 in the top of the sixth, thanks to a single, a hit batter, an error and an RBI ground out. Smith singled to start the frame and moved to second when Eric Pittman was hit by a pitch for the third time of the contest. For the second time in the game, an errant throw on a pickoff attempt set up an unearned run. With runners now on second and third, Graham Thompson grounded to short to plate Smith.

The Mountaineers made it an 8-4 game in the top of the seventh. Marsh singled and moved to second on a Ty Racette sacrifice bunt. A single to center by Thomas put runners on the corners, then a Joey Robinson sacrifice bunt set up a two-run single by Smith.

The Catamounts cut its deficit to 8-5 with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Denver Edick singled to third, but a throwing error on the play allowed him to move to second. McDowell followed with a single to center to score Edick.

Western took its first lead since the second inning in the bottom of the eighth on Nelson's leadoff homer and Goldston's grand slam.

In addition to Goldston's performance, Kilmer, Buchanan and Edick added two hits. Roper, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI, scored three times, while Kilmer and Nelson each scored twice. Foster held the Mountaineers in check through the middle innings, but did not factor in the decision. Western's all-time saves leader allowed two hits and an unearned run with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Appalachian was led by Smith, who went 4-for-4 for the second time in the three-game series with three RBI and two runs scored. Marsh also contributed four hits in five at bats. Norton surrendered 13 hits and eight runs (seven earned) with six walks and a strikeout. Reeder only allowed one hit, Goldston's grand slam, and two runs with three strikeouts in one inning's work.

Western Carolina will return to action Tuesday night (May 13) with a game at Tennessee Tech, making up a game that was rained out on Feb. 19. First pitch in Cookeville is set for 6:00 pm (CT), which is 7 pm (ET).