Box Score

Wilmington, N.C. - Four Catamount errors proved costly on Saturday afternoon as Western Carolina dropped its opening game of the Hughes Bros. Challenge, 6-4, to the host UNC Wilmington Seahawks at Brooks Field. Two, three-run innings by the Seahawks that were spurred by the four miscues erased WCU's early, 3-0, advantage.

Catamount freshman Brett Pope and redshirt junior transfer Austin Atwell led the Catamounts offensively, both finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Captains Bradley Strong and Danny Bermudez both drove in two runs apiece to account for WCU's scoring in the loss.

Earning the start in his hometown of Wilmington, N.C., sophomore LHP Bryan Sammons (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound. The southpaw gave up six runs - only three of which were earned - on nine hits with three strikeouts against a walk. Junior Jonathan Waszak faced one batter before giving way to junior Taylor Durand who tossed the final two and two thirds of one-hit, scoreless relief. Durand struck out three of the nine batters he faced.

Western Carolina (2-2) loaded the bases with three-straight hits including an infield bunt single by J.D. Long in the top of the second inning to grab the game's first lead. The Catamounts climbed on top on a one-out walk by senior Bradley Strong to drive home Pope who opened the rally by dropping a single into left field. WCU would add two additional runs on a two RBI, chopper single to the right side by Bermudez to make it 3-0 after one and a half.

However, WCU was unable to get the shutdown inning it was looking for as UNCW (4-0) responded in the bottom of the frame. The Seahawks capitalized on two hits and a couple of Catamount fielding miscues to knot the game at three apiece through two complete.

The Catamounts seemingly reclaimed a two-run cushion in the top half of the fifth inning when Matt Smith was aboard when Danny Bermudez cleared the fence down the left field line. However, after initially ruled a two-run homer, the umpiring crew gathered to overturn the call. Bermudez would eventually draw a walk but was left on base as WCU stranded runners at the corners.

After three scoreless frames, the home squad lit the scoreboard for a second, three-run inning in what proved to be the decisive sixth. Kennard McDowell lifted a one-out double to center field before moving to third on an infield single by Brian Mims to put runners at the corners. Steven Linkous gave UNCW the lead with a RBI single deep in the hole at short. The Seahawks would load the bases on a single to left by Zach Shields, chasing WCU starter Sammons.

With the bases full, preseason all-conference selection Casey Golden reached on an infield fielding error that allowed two runners to cross the plate resulting in a 6-3 lead for UNCW.

All told, three Seahawks collected two hits apiece including Linkous (2-for-5), Shields and McDowell who were both 2-for-4.

Western Carolina threatened in the ninth as Austin Atwell led off with a single down the left field line before being erased on an infield fielder's choice by Long. Pinch hitter Reece Strong put two aboard with a single through the right side before his brother, Bradley, singled to center field to score Long from second base to trim the deficit to two, 6-4. That was as close as WCU would get, however, as a groundout put runners at second and third before a strikeout ended the threat and the game.

For UNC Wilmington, freshman RHP Austin Magestro (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory, striking out four with one walk while limiting the potent Catamount offense to one run on three hits. Jordan Ramsey tallied his second save of the young season, entering the game with two Catamounts aboard in a two-run ninth inning, registering a strikeout to end the game.

Western Carolina continues play in the Hughes Bros. Challenge on Saturday evening, facing the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Brooks Field at approximately 7:00 pm.