Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina baseball split its Saturday doubleheader with Holy Cross, putting together a 15-run inning in a 22-11 victory in game one before falling to the Crusaders in the night cap, 9-3. The two teams wrap-up the four-game, nonconference series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Sophomore Matt Smith led the Catamounts offensively in the twin bill, finishing 4-for-8 with a triple and his second career home run, scoring five runs while driving in four. Junior Danny Bermudez drove in a team-high five runs in the two games, collecting three hits including a double and a home run, while senior Bradley Strong collected his team-leading 20th RBI on a three-hit day, stretching his career-long hitting streak to 25 games.

Redshirt junior Kramer Ferrell also recorded three hits in the two games, driving in three runs. Seeing action in the first game, junior Reece Strong plated three runs on a 2-for-2 showing at the dish.

Game One: Western Carolina 22, Holy Cross 11
With its lead down to one run, 7-6, Western Carolina erupted for 15 runs in the home half of the seventh inning to down Holy Cross, 22-11. The Catamounts pushed across the 15 runs using just six hits, capitalizing on seven walks, four hit batters and one error.

Five Catamount batters recorded multi-hit games with Matt Smith pacing the squad with a 3-for-4 showing including a triple and home run. Kramer Ferrell and Reece Strong joined Smith by finishing with three RBI in the victory.

Western Carolina pulled out to a 4-0 lead through the first four frames with two runs in the first and two again in the fourth inning. After Holy Cross closed to within three, 4-1, in the top of the fifth, the Catamounts hung a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-1 through five complete.

Five runs between the sixth and seventh innings including four in the top of the seventh alone made it a one-run affair before the 15-inning rally for WCU after the seventh inning stretch. Holy Cross added five runs with four in the eighth and one in the ninth to provide the final tally.

Freshman Corey Sikes (1-0) picked up the victory in game one after tossing 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in relieving junior starter Jonathan Waszak. Sikes allowed five runs on six hits, striking out three against a pair of walks. Waszak held Holy Cross scoreless through four innings, working around five walks with three strikeouts in just his second career start - the first since his freshman season.

Junior Colton Davis struck out one in two thirds of an inning while Nate Williams fanned two in two frames of work, allowing one run on two hits with a walk.

Holy Cross starter Donny Murray (0-1) was tagged with the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits in 3.2 innings. Murray struck out five with a pair of walks as the first of eight pitchers used by the Crusaders.

Game Two: Holy Cross 9, Western Carolina 3
Holy Cross pitchers Ben White and Sean Gustin combined to hold the potent Western Carolina offense to just four hits through nine innings, taking game two of Saturday's doubleheader, 9-3, at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

White (1-2) allowed just three runs - two earned - while scattering four hits to pick-up the victory. He struck out nine without issuing a walk, tossing seven total innings. Gustin was nearly perfect over the final two innings, striking out three with one walk in two innings of hitless, scoreless relief.

Four Catamounts combined for the four hits with Bradley Strong, Kramer Ferrell, Matt Smith and Spencer Holcomb each reaching base by hit, Ferrell legging out a double.

Catamount starter Korey Anderson (0-1) was saddled with the loss, surrendering five runs - four earned - on four hits with a strikeout and two walks in his first collegiate start. Reliever Dillon Bray struck out two in two and a third while Taylor Durand tossed three and a third of two-run, three-hit relief, striking out one with three walks. B.J. Nobles struck out three to add to his team-leading tally of 22 Ks, allowing just two hits in an inning and two thirds out of the bullpen.

WCU fell behind 5-0 in the top of the second inning only to rally with two in the home half of the inning to pull back within three, 5-2. Ferrell led-off with a double to center field before Smith delivered a RBI single up the middle. Holcomb then plated Smith from third with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Catamounts would get to within two with a third run in the bottom of the third inning. Bradley Strong singled before stealing second and then moving over to third where he was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Danny Bermudez.

It was as close as WCU would get, however, as Holy Cross answered with two runs in the top of the fourth and two insurance runs in the eighth to score the 9-3 victory.

Fans can follow Sunday's series finale with live GameTracker, online at CatamountSports.com.