May 31, 2003

Final Stats

Wilson, N.C. - Sophomore Brad Josey (7-2) pitched his first career nine-inning complete game and Todd Buchanan drove in three runs as third-seed Western Carolina avoided elimination with a 9-5 win over fourth-seed Le Moyne (33-17) in the 2003 NCAA Baseball Regional, played at Fleming Stadium. The Catamounts (42-20) will face the loser of the North Carolina State-Virginia Commonwealth game tonight weather permitting.

After a two-hour and 34 minute rain delay to start the game, Western jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Todd Roper had a leadoff triple and scored on Wayne Kilmer's sacrifice fly. Alan Beck followed with a double and moved to third on a balk, but was left stranded to end the inning.

The Catamounts tacked on three runs in the top of the third. Brian Sigmon started the frame with a single up the middle. Roper followed with a sacrifice bunt, but an error allowed Sigmon to go to third and Roper to second. Kilmer drove in his second runner of the game with an RBI ground out and Roper later scored on a passed ball. With two out, Buchanan hit a solo home run for his 12th blast of the season. Western made it a 5-0 game in the top of the fourth. Chris Davis, who had two intentional walks, singled and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Sigmon plated Davis on a sac fly to center.

The Dolphins got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jeff Justice delivered a one-out triple and scored on a Tony Woods sacrifice fly. After a single by Mike Pecchia, Andre Enriquez hit a two-run home run to right to make the score 5-3.

The Cats answered with two in the top of the fifth, making the score 7-3. Kilmer walked and moved to third on Beck double. The two-bagger was Beck's 60th for his career to moved to eighth on the SoCon's all-time list. Rod Goldston fouled out, but the ball was deep enough to bring home Kilmer for an RBI sac fly. After a Denver Edick walk, Beck scored when new Le Moyne pitcher Andy Weimer was called for a balk on his first pitch of the game.

Western took advantage of an error and two-out single by Buchanan to add two runs in the top of the sixth, making the score 9-3. Roper had a one-out walk and Kilmer reached on an error. After a strikeout, Buchanan singled up the middle to bring home Roper and Kilmer. With three RBI on the day, Buchanan moved to 10th on the SoCon all-time list, now with 181.

After the Dolphins scored in the fourth, Josey retired the next 12 with Anthony Aquilino ending the streak with two-out double in the bottom of the eighth. Le Moyne then cut its deficit to four when Kyle Brown hit a two-run home run to left.

In the ninth, Goldston had a leadoff double, giving him 26 for the season and 70 for his career. The 26 gives him sole possession of the WCU single-season record and ties the SoCon single-season mark with Lee Curtis (College of Charleston) this season and Dustin Langley (Georgia Southern) in 2000.

Beck (2-for-5), Buchanan (2-for-5), Goldston (2-for-4) and Davis (2-for-3) led the way with two hits each. Kilmer added two RBI with Sigmon and Goldston driving in one each, Josey scattered seven hits with four of his five runs allowed coming on a pair of two-run homers. The sophomore walked one and struck out three. Josey's other complete game was a seven-inning, 10-0 win over Davidson earlier this season.

For the Dolphins, Justice had two hits and two RBI with Enriquez driving in two. Starting pitcher Matt Scherer fell to 4-4 on the season, allowing six hits and five runs (two earned) in four-plus innings pitched.

Western Carolina, who is making its 10th NCAA Regional appearance, has now won at least once in four of its last five berths. In addition to a win this season, the Cats won once in 1997, once in 1994 and three times in 1992.