May 25, 2003

Final Stats

Charleston, S.C. - Southern Conference Tournament MVP Brian Sigmon went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead Western Carolina (41-19) to a 6-5 win in 11 innings over Georgia Southern (39-21) to win its ninth SoCon Tournament title Sunday evening at Riley Park. The evening contest was setup after The Eagles handed the Catamounts an 8-4 loss.

The game was won in the bottom of the 11th. Rod Goldston had a two-out, infield single and advanced to second on the play thanks to an Eagle throwing error. Two pitches later, Denver Edick singled up the middle to drive in the game-winning run.

Western Carolina, who won the SoCon regular-season title as well, receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regional, marking the Cats' 10th NCAA appearance and first since 1997.

The game saw the momentum shift several times throughout the contest. Western Carolina took early command, scoring one in the bottom of the first. Todd Roper hit the first pitch he saw to right for a single. Wayne Kilmer followed with a single to center, but an error on the Eagle centerfielder allowed Roper to score from first. The Cats tried to expand their lead, but Kilmer was thrown out at home attempting to tag up on a fly ball for the third out. In the second, Western tried to tag up on another fly ball to take a 2-0 lead, but Denver Edick was thrown out at the plate for an inning-ending double play.

The Eagles tied the game in the top of the third. A.J. Zickgraf had a leadoff single and scored on a Brendan Gilligan double.

Georgia Southern took advantage of a WCU error to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Grant Burruss singled to start the frame and moved to second in a ground out. Rocky Baker reached on a fielder's choice, but a throwing error allowed Burruss to score and Baker to advance to second.

The Catamounts tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Rod Goldston drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on an error and to third on a bunt single by Chris Davis. Brian Sigmon plated Goldston with a sacrifice fly to center.

In the ninth and the game tied 2-2, Georgia Southern loaded the bases with no outs, but Rod Goldston threw snagged a fly ball and threw out pinch-runner Brandon Williams at the plate. Derrick Hawk then got Gilligan to ground out to end the threat.

In the top of the 10th, Georgia Southern had runners on the corners with one out when pinch hitter Matt Hammond singled off Hawk's glove for an RBI. After Hawk loaded the bases, Ryan Foster came out of the bullpen, but gave up an RBI single to Baker. With the bases loaded again, Bursed was hit by a pitch to force another run across, making the score 5-3.

In the bottom half, the Cats scratched three, two-out runs to tie the game. Buchanan walked to start the home half and Goldston followed with a single. After Edick struck out and Davis grounded out, Nelson punched the first pitch he saw to right for an RBI single. With runners on the corners, Sigmon hit an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a single to plate Goldston. Roper, down 1-2 in the count, doubled to center as Payne made a diving attempt, to score Alex Gary, who came in to pinch run.

In the top of the 11th, Foster struck out Long to start the inning and, after a Burruss single, struck out Love. Pinch-hitter Brent Stephens reached on a fielding error, putting runners at first and third. Foster then got Baker to pop up to third to end the inning.