Game One - Box Score   |   Game Two - Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina claimed its season-opening nonconference three-game series with Purdue, splitting a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts pounded out 19 hits and got a solid relief pitching effort from sophomore B.J. Nobles in a 15-4 series-clinching victory in game one before dropping the finale, 9-5.

Between the two games, WCU outscored Purdue, 20-13, but was unable to complete the season-opening series sweep. The loss in the second game also snapped WCU's 11-game home winning streak which dates back to last season. It was the first home loss for the Purple & Gold since dropping back-to-back games against Furman on April 12 and 13 of 2014.

Senior Bradley Strong shined on Saturday for the Catamounts, finishing 7-for-11 in the twin bill with four extra base hits including a pair of doubles and two triples. With the pair of three-bag hits, Strong moved into a tie for the school record for career triples, matching former Catamount Martin Barrow (15, 1995-98). Strong scored three runs while driving in five over the two-game set.

With hits in all three games, Strong also extended his current hitting streak to 17-straight dating back to last season.

Overall, WCU had seven extra base hits in the doubleheader with four doubles, two triples and a home run by senior Jacob Hoyle. However, Purdue managed to out-slug the Catamounts on the day, finishing with nine extra base hits with seven doubles, a triple and a solo home run by Justin Gubser.

Game One Recap: Nobles Fans Career-High 11 in Series-Clinching Victory
Western Carolina sophomore reliever B.J. Nobles struck out a career-best 11 in six relief innings as the Catamounts downed Purdue, 15-4, to claim the series with the Boilermakers with a victory in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.

Nobles came on in the fourth inning and tossed six scoreless innings, scattering three hits to pick up his first seasonal victory - and the second of his WCU career. The Raleigh, N.C., product struck out the first four batters he faced out of the bullpen and retired seven-straight hitters between the seventh and ninth innings.

Freshman Brendan Nail threw three innings in his first career start on the mound for WCU, surrendering four runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the third inning, Western Carolina seized control of game one with a five-run frame. The Catamounts had the bases loaded with two outs when J.D. Long reached on an infield single to plate the game-tying run. Then, freshman Caleb Robinson singled to the shortstop to plate a run, and the force throw looking for the third out sailed high and allowed two more runs to score. Strong then drove his first of two, two-RBI doubles to the gap in left center field to make it 7-3.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth before WCU got a two-spot in the home half of the fifth on a RBI triple by Strong and a Matt Smith RBI single through the right side to stretch the Catamount lead to six, 10-4.

Leading 11-4, the Catamounts pushed across four runs with two outs in the eighth inning to provide the final tally. Austin Atwell started the two-out rally with a double down the right field line before freshman Brett Pope drove him home on a single up the middle. Long collected his second RBI of the day on a single into center field to score Pope and move Kramer Ferrell, who was hit by a pitch, into scoring position. Freshman Spencer Holcomb then delivered his first collegiate base hit with a two-RBI single into left field. Holcomb finished 1-for-1 with a walk in his two trips to the plate.

For Purdue, starter Brett Haan (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs - only three of which were earned - on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk in two and two thirds innings. Kyle Van Hoeck worked a third of a frame before Shane Bryant tossed the final five innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with two Ks and one free pass.

The two hitters at the bottom of Purdue's lineup - Jeff Evak and Harry Shipley - both had two hits apiece on 2-for-4 showings at the dish, Shipley posting an RBI. Justin Gubser drove in two runs on a 1-for-3 outing, belting solo home run to open scoring in the second inning.

Game Two Recap: Purdue Salvages Win in Finale to Prevent the Sweep, 9-5
Purdue pushed across five runs in the opening two frames and held off Western Carolina to claim the series finale Saturday afternoon, winning 9-5 over the Catamounts.

The top four hitters in Purdue's lineup all had multi-hit games in the finale including three-hit showings by Michael Vilardo and Brandon Krieg. Kyle Johnson drove in three runs on two hits to pace the Boilermakers offensively.

Strong was again the catalyst for WCU, which stranded eight base runners in the finale. The Richlands, Va., native finished 3-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored. He was the only Catamount with multiple hits in the final game.

After falling behind 5-0, WCU managed to trim the lead to two, 5-3, with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The left-handed batting Hoyle dropped a RBI single into the opposite field to put WCU on the scoreboard in plating Strong, with Pope drawing a bases loaded walk to drive in the second run. Hoyle capped the scoring in the frame by scoring on a passed ball as WCU stranded two in the inning.

Purdue responded, though, with two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-3 lead only to see WCU answer with a two-spot of its own in the bottom of the inning. Redshirt freshman Pierce Suttles opened the inning with a single to center field and advanced to second on an error in the outfield. He later took third on a wild pitch before coming home on an infield single and error to Strong who wound up on second base. After swiping third, Strong capped scoring on a Danny Bermudez groundout to make it 7-5.

That was as close as the Catamounts would get, though, despite several opportunities late. Strong tripled to open the seventh before WCU stranded runners at the corners. Down four, WCU had two runners aboard in the ninth before reliever Joe Eichmann, who earned the save, struck out three Catamounts in a row to end the game.

Meanwhile, Purdue plated solo runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings to provide the final score. Vilardo tripled to open the eighth before coming home on a double by Krieg to make it a three-run game, 8-5. Then, in the ninth, an error on a failed pickoff attempt at first base allowed a Jack Picchiotti to score from second base.

Purdue reliever Kyle Wood (1-0) picked up the win after throwing three innings in relief of starter Matt Frawley. Wood scattered four hits and limited the potent Catamount offense to two runs - only one of which was earned - with seven strikeouts. Frawley was solid in the start, fanning five against three walks while giving up three runs on just three hits, tossing a no-hitter through the first three innings.

Catamount starter redshirt sophomore Dillon Bray (0-1) was saddled with the loss in his first collegiate start. The Hamptonville, N.C., product surrendered five runs on five hits with two strikeouts against a walk. Junior Colton Davis tossed three and a third innings in relief, striking out three with three walks while giving up two runs on four hits.

Junior Taylor Durand struck out four against a pair of walks in two innings of two-hit, two-run relief while senior Tyler Powell tossed the ninth, striking out a pair.

Western Carolina is scheduled to host mountain-rival UNC Asheville in mid-week, nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm.