Alan Beck Named Player-of-the-Week
Alan Beck, a sophomore left fielder at Western Carolina,has been named the Southern Conference baseball Player of the Week, it was announced.
Beck (Hudson, N.C./South Caldwell) raised his batting average 48 points by going 8-for-14 (.571) with nine RBI at the plate and led WCU to a 2-1 record for the week. He was 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored in a 19-10 win over UNC Asheville (February 28).
In game one of a doubleheader at Wofford (March 4), Beck broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth with a three-run blast to center field. He would finish the game going 2-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored, leading the Catamounts to a 10-1 victory. In the second game, Beck was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double.
Beck, who was 2-for-4 with a home run in Wednesday’s (March 7) victory over UNC Asheville, has been a fixture in the WCU lineup, batting third in all 16 contests this season. He leads the team in batting average (.415), home runs (five), RBI (24), doubles (eight) and slugging percentage (.769). Beck additionally leads the team in multiple-hit games and multiple-RBI games, tallying eight in each category.
Beck entered the 2001 season as WCU’s top returning hitter, posting a .287 average in 52 games as a freshman. He has already surpassed his home run total of last year (four) and only needs seven RBI to eclipse his RBI mark of 2000 (30).
Catamount Baseball Results:
- March 7, 2001 – WCU 9, UNC Asheville 7
WCU survived a five-run ninth inning to edge the Bulldogs. The Cats jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, adding a two-spot in the bottom of the fifth to lead 8-1 before the Bulldog rally.
Catamount starter Dan Foley picked up the win, his second on the season. WCU was led at the plate by Doug Meyers, who went 3-for-4 with all his hits being two-baggers.
- March 9, 2001 – Charleston 3, WCU 2
The Cougars scored three times in the bottom of the eight to erase a two-run Western Carolina lead to claim their eighth one-run win of the season.
Ryan Basner took the loss for WCU. Reliever Ryan Foster misplayed a ground ball back to the mound which allowed the game-winning run to cross the plate.
The Cats were led offensively by Ryan Schade and Michael Roane, both notching 2-for-4 performances.
- March 10, 2001 – WCU 7, Charleston 3
Western Carolina pulled even in the three-game series by defeating the College of Charleston 7-3 Saturday in Charleston.
Michael Roane collected three hits and scored three runs to lead the Cats offensively. On the hill, twin hurlers Seth and Ryan Foster combined to shutdown the Cougars, surrendering three runs while scattering five hits.
Seth Foster (1-1) picked up the win.
Rod Goldston, Todd Buchanan, and Chad Emery all picked up two hits apiece in the win.
- March 11, 2001 – Charleston 5, WCU 2
The College of Charleston win the rubber-match of the three-game Southern Conference baseball series Sunday, shutting down WCU in a 5-2 victory.
WCU pitcher Robbie suffered his third loss of the season after surrendering four runs on six hits over three innings of work. Dan Foley pitched well in relief, going four and a third allowing on one run on three hits, striking out a trio.
Offensively, the Cats struggled. Rod Goldston was the only WCU player with two hits, one of which was a double. Ryan Schade and Alan Beck also added two-baggers.
