Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Valparaiso plated four runs in the middle third of the game Monday night to overshadow Western Carolina's offensive heroics as the Crusaders held off the Catamounts, 8-7, in baseball action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Valpo escaped a ninth inning rally by WCU, stranding the bases loaded with the game-tying run just 90 feet away.

The two teams are scheduled to wrap-up the two-game, mid-week nonconference series on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 pm. Fans can follow the game with live GameTracker and streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network online through CatamountSports.com.

Western Carolina (3-4), which suffered its second-straight home defeat this season, showed signs of on-field rust in its first game in over a week. The Catamounts committed a season-high five errors including three of the throwing variety in working against Crusader base runners.

One area in which the Catamounts were not sluggish, though, was at the plate. WCU pounded out 17 hits including six for extra bases in the loss. Freshman Caleb Robinson led the way with a career-best, 4-for-5 showing at the dish including legging out his first career extra base hit with a double. Robinson also collected an RBI.

Juniors Kramer Ferrell and J.D. Long finished with three hits apiece including the first home run of the year by Ferrell, while senior Bradley Strong and junior Danny Bermudez both collected two hits. Strong doubled on Monday and Bermudez hit his second round-tripper of the year on a two-run shot over the fence in left, clearing the "Purple Monster" for a second-time this season. Bermudez led the team with three RBI.

Sophomore Bryan Sammons (1-2) suffered his first-ever loss inside the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, tossing one inning in relief of starter Colton Davis. Sammons allowed two runs on two hits with a strikeout. Davis pitched into the fifth inning, recording 4.2 innings on the mound with six runs - only two of which were earned - on seven hits. He struck out and walked three apiece.

B.J. Nobles struck out and walked one in an inning of relief scoreless, one-hit action while Taylor Durand worked two and a third, likewise walking as many as he struck out with two. Durand did not allow a Valpo hit in his time on the mound.

Both teams hung a three on the board in the first inning, mirroring each other through the first frame of the first-ever meeting between the two on the baseball diamond. A walk to the ninth man in the Valpo lineup, Mark Johnson, coupled with a two-base throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt and followed with a RBI single by Nate Palace gave the Crusaders a 4-3 lead after the top of the second inning.

The lead would stand until the Catamounts again put three on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Strong drew a lead-off walk and was aboard for the Bermudez home run down the left field line. Two batters later, Ferrell cleared the fence in right center field to hand WCU a 6-4 advantage.

However, Valparaiso pushed across single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game at six before retaking the lead with a two-spot in the top of the sixth inning. The Crusaders scored their final three runs with two outs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Western Carolina mounted a ninth inning rally to try and complete a home comeback against the visitors from northwest Indiana. Ferrell collected his second extra base hit of the night with a one-out double to right field before consecutive singles by Long and Robinson plated a run and left two men aboard. Freshman Brett Pope kept hope alive by beating out a two-out infield single to the right side of the diamond to load the bases.

With the game hanging in the balance, redshirt junior outfielder Austin Atwell battled through a double-digit pitch at bat before putting the ball into play up the middle. However, Valparaiso shortstop Chad Jacob ranged to his left and made a play in front of the second base bag, relaying the throw on to first to get the speedy Atwell by a step to end the game.

For Valparaiso (1-6), starter Drew Hasler factored in a no-decision after allowing six runs on eight hits through the first eight innings. Reliever Ellis Foreman (1-0) scattered eight hits through five and a third out of the bullpen, striking out four while stymieing WCU's offense, only allowing the ninth-inning run. Bryce Yoder scored his first save of the season, surrendering an infield hit in two-thirds of a frame.

Palace finished with three hits on a 3-for-5, three RBI evening to lead Valpo. Designated hitter Nolan Lodden had the only other multi-hit game for the Crusaders who finished with 10 hits, posting a 2-for-4 evening. Both Palace and Lodden doubled.