Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina used a pair of three-run innings in the second-half of Friday's series opener with Holy Cross to upend the Crusaders, 7-5, in nonconference baseball action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts scratched the scoreboard with a trio of runs in the home halves of both the fifth and seventh innings to halt the three-game home losing skid and two-game seasonal drought.

Two Catamounts recorded multi-hit games as redshirt junior Garrett Brown and sophomore Matt Smith both tallied two-hit games in 2-for-4 outings - a career best for Brown who also Brown drove in two runs. Both scored a run in the winning effort.

Senior Bradley Strong drove in three combined runs on a 1-for-3 showing at the plate, extending his current hitting streak to 23-straight games dating back to last season. The Richlands, Va., product pushed a run across in the first inning on an infield ground out before drawing a bases loaded walk to plate a second run in the three-run fifth inning. As a part of the decisive seventh, Strong collected his streak-continuing base knock on a RBI single to right field.

Reliever B.J. Nobles (2-0) tallied the victory for the Catamounts on the mound, entering the game with a 4-4 tie in the seventh in place of starter Bryan Sammons. Nobles struck out two with an unearned run on two hits allowed through two innings. Sammons, the second-year southpaw, scattered seven base hits while allowing four runs - only two of which were earned. The Wilmington, N.C., native struck out six against five walks and plunked one batter.

For the first time this season, Western Carolina was able to hand the ball to its ace closer, senior Tyler Powell, in a save situation. The Charlotte, N.C., native bookended the ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts and one slow-rolling ground out to score his first save of the year - and the 16th of his Catamount career.

All told, WCU's defense turned a pair of double-plays in the victory and the pitching staff managed to strand 10 Crusader base runners.

Western Carolina (4-5) got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning as Brett Pope reached on a fielding error before taking second on a wild pitch and moving to third on a fly ball out. Strong then bounced one to the right side of the infield for a ground out, allowing Pope to score without the benefit of a hit.

The Catamount lead stood until the top of the third inning when Holy Cross pushed across a matching marker as Evan Ocello was driven home by Jack St. Clair to knot the game at one. The Crusaders would later add two in the top of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Ocello homered to open the inning before St. Clair singled and worked his way around the bases before scoring on an infield single by Cam O'Neill.

WCU's first of two, three-run innings opened with a Kramer Ferrell walk in the bottom of the fifth inning. Smith then broke the no-hit bid with a single through the left side. Austin Atwell was plunked to load the bases with no outs before Brown singled off the pitcher's glove with the ball bouncing into shallow left field allowing two runs to scamper home. With the bases again loaded, Strong drew a run-scoring free pass to give WCU the 4-3 lead through five innings.

Holy Cross tied the game in the sixth inning with an unearned run plated by the RBI double of Ocello to make it 4-4.

In the seventh, Atwell opened the fireworks with a double into left field before Brown pushed a bunt to the left-side of the infield putting runners at the corners. A second bunt in the inning by Pope loaded the bases ahead of Caleb Robinson. The freshman tapped one to short with the throw coming home for the would-be force out. However, it was ruled that the catcher failed to touch the plate, scoring a run on the error. Strong then dropped his streak-extending single into right center to bring home the game-winning run before Ferrell lifted a sacrifice fly to right field for WCU's final marker, making it 7-4.

Holy Cross would add another unearned run in the top of the eighth inning to provide the final tally, 7-5, with Powell working a perfect ninth.

Western Carolina's latter inning offensive output overshadowed an otherwise dominant pitching performance for Holy Cross starter Brendan King, who factored in a no-decision. King was nearly spotless through four innings, retiring 12-consecutive Catamounts after the lead-off error in the bottom of the first inning. WCU did not register its first hit until Matt Smith punched one through the left side in the fifth inning.

Reliever Phil Reese (0-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs - one of which was earned - on four hits.

Offensively for Holy Cross (2-10), four players combined to record all nine of its hits. O'Neill finished 3-for-4 with three singles while Ocello had two extra base knocks - a double and the homer - in his 2-for-4 day. St. Clair and Bobby Indeglia also both tallied two hits with the latter doubling.

Western Carolina and Holy Cross continue the four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at Noon. The series wraps up on Sunday morning with an 11:00 am start at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.