June 1, 2003

Final Stats

Wilson, N.C. - NCAA Region MVP Colt Morton's home run in the top of the 14th propelled 12th-ranked North Carolina State to a 6-4 win over Western Carolina in the NCAA Baseball Regional championship Sunday afternoon, sending the Wolfpack to the NCAA Super Regional next weekend. NC State improves to 45-16, while the Southern Conference champion Catamounts end their season with a 43-21 record.

The 14 innings was the longest game in WCU history and it marked Western's second appearance in a NCAA Regional championship game, falling to Florida State in 1992.

Western Carolina was able to make it to the 14th inning thanks largely to the pitching of Sylva native Derrick Hawk and the timely hitting of Matt Nelson. Hawk, who entered the game with WCU trailing 4-2 in the sixth, pitched a career-high eight innings with five hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and four strikeouts. Nelson, was only 1-for-6 on the day, but drove in all four of WCU's runs.

The Wolfpack took early control, scoring one in the top of the second. WCU starter Seth Foster got two quick outs. However, the second might have been costly as Chad Orvella lined the ball off S. Foster's pitching hand. S. Foster then walked the next batter, Marc Maynor, and Adam Hargrave followed with an infield single. Matt Camp singled to plate Maynor. S. Foster would walk the bases loaded, but got out of the jam with a ground out.

The Catamounts answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second, knotting the game at 1-1. Rod Goldston had a leadoff walk and Denver Edick was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch put runners on second and third. After a strikeout, Nelson came through with an RBI ground out to second, scoring Goldston.

NC State regained the advantage with three runs in the fourth, taking a 4-1 lead. A leadoff single by Orvella and a double by Maynor put runners on second and third. S. Foster got an out, but left the game in favor of Joe Camac, who promptly surrendered a two-run single by Camp. After a walk, Ryan Foster came on and nearly got out of a jam, but Justin Riley reached on an error, allowing Camp to score. R. Foster did induce a double play on the next batter to end the inning.

Western was able to once again answer the Pack's scoring in the bottom half, however still trailed 4-2. Goldston was hit by a pitch and Edick singled. Chris Davis moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt and, for the second time in the game, Nelson grounded out to second to score Goldston. The Cats avoided a three-run deficit in the top of the fifth when Goldston fielded a single and threw out David Hicks at the plate to end the inning.

Western tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Goldston reached on an error and moved to second on a Edick single. Davis was unable to advance the runners, but a balk put runners in scoring position. Nelson followed with a sharp single to right-center, bringing home both Goldston and Edick.

The Cats avoided another jam in the seventh. After back-to-back walks to start the inning, Hicks was asked to bunt. Davis made a diving catch and doubled up Morton at second. The next batter, Orvella, grounded out to end the inning. In the bottom half, the Wolfpack avoided damage as well. With two on and no out, Alan Beck struck out and Todd Buchanan flied out, allowing Todd Roper to tag and advance to third. On a double steal attempt, Roper was thrown out at home to end the inning.

The Pack threatened in the 11th, loading the bases with one out. However, Morton hit into a double play to end the inning.

Morton redeemed himself in the top of the 14th, hitting his 19th home run of the season to break the deadlock.

For their play in the 2003 NCAA Regional, Roper, Davis, Goldston and Brandon McDowell were named to the All-Tournament team. Roper led WCU with a .294 batting average in the Regional. He also made outstanding plays at second, namely preserving McDowell's no-hitter in the eighth inning on Saturday. Roper ended the season with 14 consecutive games without an error (64 chances) and just one error over his last 103 chances. Davis batted .267 at Wilson, but made his biggest contribution in the field. Although he was credited with one error, he came up with numerous big plays, including the diving catch and double play to get WCU out of a jam in the championship game. Goldston joined Davis with a .267 batting average and led the Cats with four runs scored. Like Roper and Davis, Goldston came up with several gems in the field. McDowell made the team for throwing his first career game, which was a one-hit shutout over 19th-ranked VCU to advance to the championship game.