Box Score

Clinton, S.C. - Sophomore reliever Korey Anderson struck out a career-high eight in three and two thirds innings and classmate Matt Smith reached base four times with two walks and a team-high two hits, but it was not enough to overcome Presbyterian in nonconference action, falling 5-1 Tuesday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex.

Blue Hose starting pitcher Tanner Chock (2-0) struck out five against two walks, holding the potent Catamount offense to just four hits in six innings of work to earn the victory. The freshman hurler got help from his offense as PC pushed across five runs on eight hits, capitalizing on a trio of Catamount errors and free passes to pick-up the home win.

WCU suffered it's first-ever loss to Presbyterian in the four all-time series meetings. It was also WCU's first road meeting with the Blue Hose.

Matt Smith finished 2-for-2 with a double, scoring WCU's lone run that tied the game in the fourth inning. Junior J.D. Long drove in Smith with a RBI single with freshman Brett Pope and redshirt freshman Pierce Suttles also delivering singles - Suttles' coming in a pinch-hit role in the ninth inning.

Deadlocked at one through five innings, Presbyterian (13-4) used back-to-back, two-run innings to pull off the victory. In the two-run sixth, the Blue Hose loaded the bases with a trio of walks around a pair of strikeouts. The Catamounts seemingly were out of the inning as Anderson induced a ground ball, but a throwing error on the force play at second base allowed two runners to score giving Presbyterian the 3-1 lead.

The following frame, the Blue Hose added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning to provide the final tally.

WCU tried to mount a rally in the ninth as Smith drew a lead-off walk before moving to third on a pinch hit single to right center field by Suttles. However, a strikeout and double-play ball ended the threat and the game.

Sophomore B.J. Nobles earned the start for the Catamounts, striking out one in two innings of work, allowing one unearned run on three hits in two innings of work. The Catamounts followed Anderson with relievers Dillon Bray, Taylor Durand, Dylan Biumi and Corey Sikes, the latter recording a strikeout for his third of an inning.

Behind Chock, Blue Hose relievers Russell Thompson, Brian Kehner and Hayden Deal each worked an inning apiece, limiting WCU to just two base runners with one hit and one walk allowed over the final three frames.

Lizanich matched WCU's Smith with two hits and two walks with third baseman Ryan Hedrick also collecting a pair of hits coming on three plate appearances. Outfielder Peter Johnson scored two of the five runs, reaching on a single and a walk.

Western Carolina returns to action this weekend with two games against Liberty and one scheduled against Penn State in Lynchburg, Va. Fans are encouraged to check CatamountSports.com for impending schedule changes due to inclement weekend weather.