Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Western Carolina baseball team dropped a doubleheader Saturday afternoon to Southern Conference foe Furman. The Catamounts led in both contests but late inning runs by the Paladins gave Furman the series. The Paladins took game one 5-3 after scoring two runs in the seventh and picked up an 8-3 victory in game two following a six-run sixth inning.

Junior Kramer Ferrell led the way at the plate for the Catamounts as he went 4-for-8 over the two games with a homerun, an RBI and two runs scored. He solo shot came in the second inning of the first game giving WCU an early 1-0 lead which the Catamounts held until the fifth.

Senior Bradley Strong picked up three hits over seven at bats including a run scored while sophomore Matt Smith went 3-for-9 at the dish with an RBI and a stolen base. Junior Danny Bermudez was the only other Catamount with a multi-hit day as he picked up a pair of singles while scoring and walking twice.

Junior Reece Strong made the most of his one hit on the day as he picked up a two-RBI double. He also added a third RBI on a sacrifice fly.

On the mound, sophomore Bryan Sammons took the start in game one. He lasted 5.2 innings while striking out three and walking four. He gave up three runs off of six hits. Junior Colton Davis suffered the loss as he pitched just a third of an inning while allowing two runs on four hits.

Sophomore Korey Anderson took the mound in game two and went 5.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. He allowed three runs including two earned runs off of four hits. Senior Tyler Powell took the loss as he came on in relief and allowed five runs on seven hits. He was able to pick up three strikeouts in his 3.1 innings of work while walking a pair.

WCU took the early lead in game one on a Ferrell homerun in the second but Furman answered with three runs in the fifth. R. Strong then drove in two runs in the sixth to tie the game at three before a two-run inning by the Paladins in the seventh proved to be the difference.

In game two both squads plated a run in the opening stanza. WCU would take the lead in the fourth as Bermudez scored on a wild pitch and R. Strong drove in another run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The lead would last just two innings as Furman exploded for six runs in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead. The Paladins would add an eighth run in the ninth to secure an 8-3 win.

The Catamounts fall to 16-19 overall and 8-7 in Southern Conference play while the Paladins improved to 18-20 overall and 7-8 in league action.

Western Carolina will return to action Tuesday, April 21 as the Catamounts host former conference rival Appalachian State at 5 pm.