May 3, 2003

Final Stats

Spartanburg, S.C. - Alan Beck drove in six in game one, Ryan Basner pitched his first career nine-inning complete game in game two and Matt Nelson went 5-for-6 with his first career home run in the doubleheader as Western Carolina took a pair of game from Wofford, 17-5 and 11-1, Saturday afternoon at Duncan Park.

Western Carolina, in first place in the SoCon and winners of nine straight, improves to 33-14 overall and 18-5 in the league.

Beck was 3-for-4 in the first game, including a three-run double to highlight a 10-run third inning that gave the Catamounts an 11-0 lead. Beck now has 212 RBI in his career to move into a tie for third on the Western Carolina career list and a tie for fifth on the SoCon's all-time chart.

Brian Casey hit a two-run homer for the Terriers in the bottom of the sixth to give him 100 career RBI. He needs just four RBI in the final seven games to become Wofford's all-time leader in its Division I era (1996-present). Casey had a double in game two to give him 37 in his career, just two behind Strat Stavrou (1999-02) for Wofford's all-time record.

Brandon McDowell (5-2), who had two hits and two RBI as WCU's designated hitter in the second game, allowed just two earned runs on five hits over six innings to earn the game one victory.

Basner (6-2) then pitched his first career nine-inning complete game. He allowed one run on seven hits while striking out four and walking two.

Western Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth of game two on a Rod Goldston RBI double and a Nelson run-scoring single. Goldston had three doubles today and now has 23 on the season, moving him into second and ninth place, respectively, on the Catamount and SoCon single-season charts. His 67 career doubles leave him one shy of tying the all-time Western Carolina mark.

The Terriers (8-34, 6-19) closed to within 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when B. Casey and Steve Casey opened the inning with consecutive doubles. After a Blake Timanus grounder moved Steve Casey to third with one out, the Terriers were unable to get him home. Timanus had two hits in each game for Wofford.

Two Wofford errors in the top of the sixth led to a three-run inning as Western Carolina took a 5-1 lead.

Terrier starter Jarrod Rampey (3-9) allowed just two earned runs on six hits over five innings of game two before leaving the contest due to injury after taking hard-hit balls off each leg.

Joining Beck (4-for-8) and Nelson (had four RBI, five runs scored and raised his season batting average from .309 to .340) as stars for the Catamounts in the doubleheader include Jimmy Cochran, Goldston and Davis. Cochran entered the lineup in game one and remained a starter in game two after Todd Buchanan left with an injury after being hit on the elbow by a pitch. Cochran went 1-for-3 with two RBI in game one and was 2-for-4 with three RBI in game two. Goldston was 4-for-9 with nine putouts. Davis was 3-for-8, but made three stellar plays at third base.

Western Carolina and Wofford will complete their three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:30 pm.