May 23, 2003

Final Stats

Charleston, S.C. - Top-seeded Western Carolina was on its way to the quarterfinals of the 2003 Southern Conference Championship, leading Furman 5-0 through six and a half innings. However, rain halted play at 6:35 pm and the two teams were forced to return to Riley Park Friday at 11 am and resume play. The Catamounts (39-18) added a run in the eighth and kept the Paladins (32-23) off the scoreboard for a 6-0 win.

The WCU pitching staff continued to impress. WCU starter Ryan Basner dominated through six, but had his outing shortened due to rain. Basner (8-2) only allowed two hits with no runs, no walks and seven strikeouts. Combined with Brad Josey's performance in Wednesday's win over Davidson, the Catamount starting pitchers have yet to surrender a run or a walk with 17 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched. Ryan Foster pitched the final three innings to earn his seventh save of the season. He scattered three hits and fanned two. Western pitchers to throw in the two games - Josey, Basner, Foster, Brian Barnes and Clint Ramsey - have not allowed a run in 18 innings and have only allowed 10 hits and two walks with 20 strikeouts.

Western Carolina broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Denver Edick singled sharply to left and moved to second when Chris Davis was walked. Brandon McDowell followed with a single to center to plate Edick. Edick played a role in the Cats going up 3-0 in the fifth. After a single by SoCon Player of the Year Alan Beck and a walk to Todd Buchanan, Edick reached on a two-base error, allowing Beck and Buchanan to score and chasing Furman starter Jon Stallsmith.

In the sixth, Beck gave WCU a 5-0 lead. Todd Roper reached on a one-out bunt single. After a flyout, Beck hit a monster two-run, home run to left into a stiff wind. The blast was his 18th of the season. Beck led the way for the Cats offensively with a 3-for-4 performance. Edick and Davis each contributed two hits.

After 16-plus hours of delays, the game resumed in the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the eighth, Western added a final run. Matt Nelson had a first for WCU in the game as he was the first leadoff batter of an inning to reach. After his single, the freshman stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an error on the Furman first baseman.

Clint Hill paced the Paladin attack with a 2-for-4 performance, with Craig Caudill, Sam McLain and A.J. Davidiuk getting a hit each. Stallsmith fell to 4-6 on the year, allowing six hits and three runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings.

Western will face Georgia Southern in the semifinals at Noon on Saturday.