Box Score

Wilmington, N.C. - Wake Forest pitching limited Western Carolina to just three base hits with 11 combined strikeouts as the Catamounts dropped their second game on Saturday, falling to the Demon Deacons, 8-2, at the Hughes Bros. Challenge hosted by UNC Wilmington on-campus at Brooks Field.

Wake Forest (4-2) scored all 10 of its runs in a four-inning span between the fifth and eighth innings, holding the Catamounts to just a two-run rally in the home half of the sixth inning.

Neither team could muster a base hit until the fourth inning when WCU's Danny Bermudez singled into right center field but was left on base - one of eight stranded by the Catamounts in the loss. Then, in the top half of the fifth inning, the Demon Deacons opened the scoring. Wake tallied three runs on three hits with one WCU error to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Trailing 4-2, Western Carolina (2-3) lit the scoreboard twice in the home half of the sixth to claw back within striking distance. Senior Bradley Strong lifted a lead-off double to right field ahead of freshman Brett Pope who walked to put two aboard. WCU loaded the bases with nobody out on an infield error allowing Bermudez to reach. With one out, junior transfer Austin Atwell tallied a RBI on a run-scoring walk to plate Strong and put the Catamounts on the board. Sophomore Matt Smith then drove home a run on a fielder's choice allowing Pope to score.

However, in the following frame, the Demon Deacons broke the game wide open with a four-run frame in the top of the seventh inning. Wake Forest capitalized on four singles, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly to push across the four runs and make it 8-2 for the Black & Gold.

The Deacs also scored twice in the eighth inning to tack on insurance runs to provide the final tally.

Catamount starter Colton Davis (0-1) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs on four hits including a double through five innings. He matched his career-high with seven strikeouts against a pair of walks with one hit batter. Sophomore B.J. Nobles struck out one in an inning of work with classmates Nate Williams and Korey Anderson tossing two thirds of an inning apiece, both recording a strikeout.

Two WCU hurlers - freshmen Corey Sikes and Dylan Biumi - made their collegiate debuts in relief. Sikes struck out one in two thirds of a frame, allowing a run on three hits, while Biumi allowed a hit and a walk as both faced five batters apiece.

Strong, Bermudez and Smith were the only Catamount hitters to collect base hits.

For Wake Forest, starter Parker Dunshee (2-0) tallied the victory after pitching five innings of two unearned run, two-hit baseball, facing three batters in the sixth before being lifted. Dunshee struck out eight with two walks. Relievers John McCarren and Paul Kirkpatrick tossed two innings apiece with McCarren walking and fanning one while Kirkpatrick gave up a single with two K's.

Offensively designated hitter Will Craig finished a game-best 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI, and a pair of runs scored. Jonathan Pryor, Stuart Fairchild and Justin Yurachak each collected two hits and a RBI apiece while Gavin Sheets drove in two on a pair of sacrifice flies.

Wake Forest finished with six stolen bases in the winning effort.

Western Carolina is slated to wrap-up play against George Mason (1-4) on Sunday afternoon in Wilmington, N.C., with first pitch slated for 11:00 am. The Patriots also dropped two on Saturday, falling to Wake Forest, 9-3, in their first game and saw UNCW rally to score a 12-8 victory in their second contest.

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