May 18, 2003

Final Stats

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - Sean Oliver had a no-hitter through 3.1 innings and only surrendered four hits in six-plus to lead the College of Charleston to a 3-2 win over 28th-ranked Western Carolina in the teams' regular-season finale Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point Field. The Cougars take the three-game series and improve to 30-25 overall and 17-13 in the Southern Conference, while the Catamounts fall to 37-18, 22-8.

Western Carolina took advantage of two errors to stake a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Todd Roper worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on an error on a pickoff attempt. Alan Beck flied out to center, allowing Roper to move to third. He would score on the play as the CofC shortstop threw the ball away attempting to get Roper at third.

The Cougars took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Brett Spivey started with a single and, after an out, Victor Martinez walked. Spivey and Martinez stole third and second, respectively, and each advanced to home and third on the play due to a throwing error. Following a single by Davy Cheek and a fielder's choice, Brett Gardner singled home Cheek.

Western got a run back in the top of the seventh, making the score 3-2. The Cats loaded the bases on a Rod Goldston single, a Denver Edick single and Brett Kasten being hit by a pitch. Goldston scored on a Matt Nelson ground out.

Oliver (1-2) only gave up two runs (one earned) and two walks with three strikeouts. Barry Richardson, who entered the game in the seventh with two on and no outs, recorded his fourth save of the season. He pitched the final three innings, did not allow hit or a run and struck out four, including fanning the side in the eighth. Spivey led the way offensively, going 3-for-4, while Gardner and Cheek each had two hits.

Western's Goldston had two of his team's four hits, with Wayne Kilmer and Edick accounted for WCU's other safeties. Seth Foster pitched well, but fell to 3-5 on the season. He pitched six complete, allowed three runs and scattered eight hits. Foster only walked one and struck out six.

Western Carolina will return to action Wednesday (May 21) in the first round of the 2003 Southern Conference Championship, held at in Charleston, S.C., at Riley Park. The Catamounts will enter the championship as the number one seed and face eighth-seeded Davidson at 1 pm. The remaining SoCon schedule will be: #4-seed UNC Greensboro vs. #5 Furman at 10 am. #2-seed Georgia Southern vs. #7 VMI at 4 pm and #3 The Citadel vs. #6 College of Charleston at 7:30 pm.