April 21, 2001
WESTERN CAROLINA EDGES FURMAN 7-5 IN SUNDAY BASEBALL ACTION
GREENVILLE -- Western Carolina took advantage of a pair of walks and two hit batsmen to score five runs in the third inning en route to a 7-5 win over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday at Furman Stadium.
With the win, Western Carolina (21-21, 13-0 SoCon) avoided a three-game series sweep and moved back into a fourth place tie with Furman (23-19, 13-10 SoCon) in the league standings. The loss halted the Paladins' four-game winning streak and five-game series winning streak against the Catamounts.
Western Carolina scored all five runs in the decisive third inning against Paladin starter and staff ace Toby David (7-3). David, who hit Catamount designated hitter Brian Sigmon to open the inning, retired the next two batters before surrendering a single to Todd Roper and a walk to Ryan Schade to load the bases. Todd Buchanan then walked to force in a run, and David plunked the Catamounts' next batter, Donovan Minero, to make it 2-1. Western Carolina's Matt Price followed with a single to right field to drive in a pair of runs to give the Catamounts a 4-1 lead, and Rod Goldston completed the rally with a bunt single down the third base line to plate Minero for a 5-1 advantage.
The Catamounts stretched the lead to 7-2 in the fifth when Sigmon belted a one-out, two-run home run off David over the left field fence.
Furman sliced it to 7-4 with a pair of runs in the sixth on an RBI triple by Chris Valdes, who later scored on an groundout by Ryan Presnell.
The Paladins made it 7-5 with a Valdes home solo home run in the eighth and came close to tying the game with two outs in the ninth and a runner on third, but Catamount left fielder Doug Myers robbed Adam Etherington of a potential two-run home run with a leaping catch over the fence to end the game.
Furman outhit Western Carolina 8-5, but the Catamounts took advantage of seven Paladin walks to make a winner of Jared Burton (5-2), who yielded six hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings of work. Ryan Foster worked the ninth inning to record his fourth save.
Chris Valdes paced Furman at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, including a home run, a triple, a sacrifice fly, and two runs scored. Rusty Putnam pitched 4.0 innings of no-hit ball in relief of David in the losing effort.
Furman returns to action on Wednesday when it takes on High Point in High Point in a 3:00 p.m. game. Western Carolina, meanwhile, travels to Clemson on Tuesday for a 7:15 p.m. game against the Tigers.