WCU Baseball Sweeps Furman With an 11-3 Victory on Sunday
Cullowhee, N.C. - WCU All-American centerfielder Donovan Minero went 4-for-5, including a pair of home runs, to lead the Catamounts to an 11-3 win over Furman Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
The win gives Western (18-8, 9-3 SoCon) its second consecutive SoCon series sweep, taking three from Appalachian State last weekend, and its first back-to-back SoCon sweep since defeating VMI and Furman on consecutive weekends in 1999. The Paladins fall to 10-19 on the season and 3-9 in the conference.
Furman got on the board first when Drew Latora hit a leadoff home run to left-center field. The blast was his second of the season and extended his current hitting streak to 20 games. Latora added a double to be the only Paladin with multiple hits on the day.
The Catamounts answered with a six runs in the bottom of the second on the strength on three home runs. Todd Buchanan hit a leadoff homer, while Minero followed with a blast to center. After a Chris Davis single, Clint Ramsey hit his third homer of the season to drive in Davis. Todd Roper, who doubled, scored on an RBI single by Ryan Schade. Rod Goldston, who was hit by a pitch, scored from second base on a ground out to short by Alan Beck.
Western made its lead 7-1 in the third. Minero had a leadoff single and later scored on a ground out by Roper.
Furman cut their deficit to 7-2 in the fourth, taking advantage of a Catamount error. Derek Norman had an infield single and stole second. Norman would later score on a throwing error by WCU on an attempted double play.
The Catamounts took a 9-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Beck and Minero hit solo home runs. Beck now has five homers on the season, while Minero now has 10 homers to lead the Southern Conference. Western added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Roper singled home Davis in the seventh, while Minero drove home Buchanan in the eighth.
Furman capped the scoring in the ninth. With heavy rain and a 10-minute delay for lightening in the frame, pinch hitter Brett Henninger hit a leadoff double. Henninger advanced to third on a ground out and would score on a wild pitch. The Catamounts turned a game-ending double play to seal the win. It was WCU's fourth double play in the game, turning double plays in each of the first three innings.
In addition to being 4-for-5, Minero accounted for six of Western's 11 runs with three RBI and three runs scored. Schade, Buchanan, Davis and Roper each added two hits, while Beck, Ramsey and Roper each contributed two RBI.
Catamount starter Dan Foley improved to 2-1 on the season, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks with two strikeouts in 7.0 innings. It was Foley's longest outing of the season and the fewest runs he had allowed in 2002. The senior had a slow start to the season as he suffered from mononucleosis. Rob Hoover had a walk and a strikeout in the eighth. Alex Obert surrendered a hit, walk and a run in the ninth.
Furman starter Danny Rueckel (2-3) surrendered 10 hits and nine runs in 4.0 innings. Corey Etheridge held the Cats in check over the next 2.0 innings, allowing a hit, no runs and two walks with two strikeouts. Brian Corcoran and Sam Perry each gave up a run in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Western Carolina will return to action on Wednesday (April 2) when it hosts region rival UNC Asheville. First pitch at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium is set for 3:00 pm. The Catamounts will close out its nine-game home stand next weekend with a key three-game set with SoCon leader The Citadel. Furman will return to action on Wednesday at 7:00 pm when it plays the Greenville Braves at G-Braves Stadium.