Box Score

Kennesaw, Ga. - Senior Jacob Hoyle belted a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to pull Western Carolina back to within two runs, 4-2, in Tuesday night's midweek nonconference meeting with Kennesaw State. However, the Owls responded with a three spot in the bottom of the inning, adding two insurance runs late to down the Catamounts, 9-2, at Stillwell Stadium.

Kennesaw State pushed across all nine of its markers in four, multi-run innings including three, two-run frames and the decisive three-run fifth.

Hoyle, who didn't start but came on as a substitution after an injury to catcher Spencer Holcomb forced WCU to rotate players, finished 2-for-3 at the plate, adding a double to his second home run of the season. The Hickory, N.C., native now has 31 career homers, moving into a three-way tie for 17th in school history.

Junior Danny Bermudez recorded his 10th multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish as the only other Catamount with multiple hits. The Cumming, Ga., product reached on a bunt single and legged out an eighth-inning triple.

Kennesaw State (15-13) scored two unearned runs in the first inning without recording a base hit, capitalizing on a pair of walks and an infield error that drove home the first run. The Owls scored a second run on a pitch that got away at home plate to pull ahead, 2-0.

In the fourth, KSU used back-to-back singles from Jeremy Howell and Corey Greeson to put two aboard ahead of Kal Simmons who plated a pair of runs with a double to left center field, stretching the lead to 4-0.

Austin Atwell delivered a one-out single in the top of the fifth and was aboard when Hoyle's first-pitch round-tripper trimmed the margin back to two, 4-2. However, the Owls got a two-RBI triple by Cornell Nixon and a run-scoring double down the left-field line from Howell to pull ahead, 7-2, in the bottom of the frame.

Kennesaw State tacked on two runs in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final tally, 9-2.

WCU junior starter Taylor Durand (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits with four walks against three strikeouts over three innings. Durand was the first of six Catamount pitchers used on the night. Danny Schneider walked two with a strikeout in an inning and a third of relief while Nate Williams fanned two with four walks. Jonathan Waszak had one punch out in two-thirds of a frame.

Left-hander Chris Erwin (2-2) picked up the victory for Kennesaw State, limiting WCU to two runs while scattering seven hits with a pair of strikeouts. Erwin also walked twice at the plate offensively. KSU had two players post multi-hit games with Howell going 3-for-4 with two doubles and Simmons finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Western Carolina (12-13) returns home to host the Wofford Terriers in Southern Conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 pm with game two slated for a 2:00 pm start. Sunday's series finale, which will also be broadcast on WMYA-TV and the American Sports Network, is scheduled for a 1:05 pm first pitch. The first two games will be video streamed on the SoCon Digital Network.