March 9, 2003
Cullowhee, NC-Alan Beck and Denver Edick hit seventh inning homeruns to lead Western Carolina over The Citadel, 8-5, in the opening series of Southern Conference baseball Sunday afternoon in Hennon Stadium.
Western Carolina (10-6, 2-1 SoCon) jumped out to an early, 1-0, lead in the bottom of the first inning on three consecutive hits, including a two-out double by Alan Beck. Beck was immediately plated by Todd Buchanan, who drove-in Beck on a RBI single to leftfield. Citadel starting pitcher Ryan Owens got Rod Goldston to groundout to end the inning.
The Catamounts added two runs in the fourth after Denver Edick doubled to left centerfield and scored on Brandon McDowell's single to left. Edick advanced to third on a balk by Owens before scoring on McDowell's base hit. Goldston, who reached on a walk, later scored on Matt Nelson's groundout to take a, 3-0, lead over the Bulldogs.
The Citadel (6-7, 1-2 SoCon) tied the score in the fifth with three runs on four hits. The rally began when the leadoff hitter Chris Altman, the designated hitter, hit his first homerun of the season to straight away center. Chris Ard, who had four hits in as many at-bats, and Brook Dantzler followed with a singles and advanced into scoring position on a sac bunt by Andy Phillips. Ard preceded to score on Jon Aughey's groundout to the Catamount shortstop to cut the lead to, 3-2. Dantzler tied the score at three on Matulia's RBI single to right field.
With its second homerun of the game, the Bulldogs took the lead, 4-3, on a sixth inning Chip Cannon homerun to left centerfield. The Cannon homer is the second of the season and 13th of his career.
Western Carolina answered with two runs of their own to retake the lead, 5-4, in the bottom of the sixth on a McDowell homerun to left. Goldston, who led off the inning with a single to center, scored on the McDowell's homer.
The Bulldogs tied the score, 5-5, in the seventh on a fielder's choice by Jason Randall that allowed Aughey to score on the play. With one out in the inning, Aughey tripled in the right centerfield gap, allowing him to score on Randall's fielder's choice.
Beck, who had the game-winning hit on Friday to give the Catamounts a, 8-7, victory over the Bulldogs, hit a towering homer to centerfield to break the tie and give the Catamounts a, 6-5, lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Western Carolina added two more in the seventh on another Catamount homerun by Edick over the left field fence. Todd Buchanan, who reached on a base hit to right, scored on Edick's homer.
Ryan Owens (0-3) took the loss for the Bulldogs on 6.2 innings pitched giving up seven runs on ten hits, while striking out five. Brian Barnes (2-2) got the win for the Catamounts.
Jordan will take his club to Wilson, NC, to take on the Wolfpack of North Carolina State on Tuesday, March 11, at 2:00 pm at Fleming Stadium. Following the game against NC State, the Bulldogs will host Wofford on Saturday, March 15, in a double header that begins at 1:00 pm. The two will meet again in the third game of the series on Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 pm.
