Box Score

Wilmington, N.C. - Western Carolina scored runs in five of the nine innings on Sunday morning as it powered past George Mason, 14-5, in its finale at the Hughes Bros. Challenge hosted by UNC Wilmington on-campus at Brooks Field. The Catamounts tallied 15 total hits in the win including 13 singles.

Senior captain Bradley Strong drove in four runs as a part of a 3-for-4 outing with one of WCU's two doubles, scoring twice. Strong, one of five Catamounts with multi-hit games, also walked once and was hit by a pitch. The Richlands, Va., native recorded a career-high six stolen bases on the day.

Freshman Caleb Robinson matched Strong with three base hits (3-for-5) adding a pair of RBI while Kramer Ferrell (2-for-3), Brett Pope (2-for-5), and Danny Bermudez (2-for-6) all had two hits apiece. Bermudez recorded three RBI for WCU.

Junior reliever Jonathan Waszak (1-0) picked up the victory after coming on for freshman starter Brendan Nail in the fifth inning. Nail held the Patriots to three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts against two walks in four and two thirds while Waszak officially tossed just a third of an inning, getting the Catamounts out of the fifth. The Wendell, N.C., product did face two batters in the sixth and was saddled with a run allowed after leaving the game.

Taylor Durand struck out one with a pair of walks in an inning and a third while sophomore B.J. Nobles, the reigning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week, punched out four with just one hit allowed in an inning and two thirds. Senior closer Tyler Powell fanned one in tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning in a non-save situation.

George Mason (1-5) pulled ahead in the home half of the first inning as Luke Willis laid down a bunt single and was aboard when the next batter, Tyler Nelin, homered over the fence in left field for the early 2-0 advantage.

The Catamounts were able to rally back in the top of the third inning, capitalizing on four singles and a run-scoring balk. Caleb Robinson led-off with a single into left field ahead of Kramer Ferrell as the two worked a perfect hit-and-run as Ferrell chopped one through the left side. Brett Pope, who moved into the lead-off role for WCU, moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt which allowed Robinson to score on the pitching miscue balk.

The inning continued as Bradley Strong bounced one down the left field line for his first RBI of the day. The senior promptly stole both second and third to move into scoring position where junior Danny Bermudez brought him home for the team's first lead on a RBI single into left field giving the Catamounts the 3-2 lead.

Western Carolina tacked on runs in the top of the fifth as Pope reached on an infield error before Austin Atwell belted a stand-up double to left field putting two runners in scoring position. Strong then delivered again with a double down the left field line plating two and stretching the lead to 5-2.

In the bottom of the frame, George Mason got one run back, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. However, the WCU middle infield turned a double-play with Willis coming home with his second run of the day to clear the bases but trim the Catamount advantage to two, 5-3.

The two teams traded runs in the sixth inning before a three-run seventh handed the Catamounts a 9-4 cushion. Strong drew a lead-off walk before swiping both second and third, scoring on a pinch hit infield fielder's choice by his younger brother, Reece Strong. Robinson drove in the second run with Ferrell plating the third marker in the frame.

George Mason trimmed the margin back to four with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Western Carolina put the game away, plating five runs in the ninth inning.

For the Patriots, Willis, Nelin and Derek Evans collected two hits apiece with Nelin pacing the squad with two RBI coming on the two-run homer. Starting pitcher Jake Kalish (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs - four earned - on nine hits in five innings of work.

Western Carolina is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25 as the Catamounts travel to mountain-rival, UNC Asheville. First pitch at Greenwood Field is scheduled for 4:00 pm.