Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Trailing by three entering the final frame, Western Carolina got the game-tying run to the plate in the home half of the ninth inning but was unable to complete the comeback, falling to Wofford, 11-8, in its Southern Conference series opener at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Wofford, which snapped a six-game winless drought to the Catamounts with the victory, broke open a tie ballgame with a seven-run seventh inning to grab a lead it would never relinquish. All told, the opportunistic Terriers capitalized on three WCU errors and seven walks issued by Catamount pitching on the night.

Six Catamounts finished with multi-hit games, each with two base hits apiece. Junior Danny Bermudez drove home three in a 2-for-4 outing including a two-run double. Senior Jacob Hoyle plated a pair of runs with two, RBI singles in a 2-for-5 showing. Matt Smith and Kramer Ferrell both recorded RBI with two singles in the loss, while Bradley Strong also reached twice on singles.

Freshman Matthew Koehler collected his first multi-hit game of his Catamount career, finishing 2-for-3 with his first collegiate extra base hit with a RBI double in the bottom of the third inning.

Catamount starter B.J. Nobles (3-1) was the tough-luck loser on Friday, striking out two against five walks in six innings. Three-consecutive singles to start the decisive seventh inning chased the sophomore from Raleigh, N.C. Overall, he surrendered just seven hits on the day. Relievers Colton Davis and Taylor Durand combined to strike out three in an inning and two-thirds while freshman Corey Sikes struck out one in an inning and a third of hitless, scoreless relief work.

Western Carolina (12-14, 4-3 SoCon) took the early lead with two runs in the home half of the third inning as Koehler plated Austin Atwell who reached on a one-out single. Smith then drove home the second run to score Koehler for the 2-0 advantage.

Two innings later, the Terriers were able to pull even with a two-spot. First baseman Conor Clancey led-off with a solo homer, and later James Plaisted reaching on a fielder's choice and an error in the middle of the diamond allowing the game-tying run to score. However, WCU was able to curtail the rally to keep the game deadlocked at two through five innings.

Wofford took control of the game in the seventh, scoring seven runs on seven hits and taking advantage of two Catamount errors to pull ahead, 9-2. The Terriers sent 12 players to the dish in the frame with pinch hitter Mack Nathanson delivering one of the big swings. Nathanson cleared the bases with a triple to right center field, eventually scoring on the play on a WCU error.

The Catamounts chipped away at the Terrier advantage, answering with a three-run bottom of the seventh inning. WCU had five hits in the inning, four coming with two out in the inning. Hoyle, Bermudez and Ferrell each delivered run-scoring singles in the frame as the Wofford lead was trimmed back to four, 9-5.

Wofford answered, though, pushing across two runs with a two-out rally of its own in the top of the eighth inning to stretch its lead back to six, 11-5. With the bases loaded, shortstop Derek Hirsch dropped a double into shallow center field, just out of the reach of WCU second baseman Bradley Strong, allowing two runs to come home.

The Catamounts managed a second, three-run frame in the home half of the eighth. Jason Smith led off with a pinch hit single with pinch runner Garrett Brown scoring on Hoyle's second RBI single. Bradley Strong, who reached on a walk, and Hoyle both eventually scored on a double to left center field by Danny Bermudez to provide the final tally, 11-8.

In the ninth, junior Reece Strong led off with a double to the fence in right field with freshman Brett Pope drawing a walk to bring the game-tying run to the plate. However, Terrier set-up man, Jacob Condra-Bogan, finished off striking out the side to end the threat and the game, collecting his first save of the season.

Wofford (24-9, 3-1 SoCon) had five players post two-hit games led by Clancey who was 2-for-3 with a double and the homer, finishing with two RBI. Hirsch (2-for-4) doubled with two runs driven in while Alec Paradowski and Matt Ramsay were both 2-for-5, while Matt Pelt finished 2-for-6 with a RBI.

Starter Matthew Milburn (7-0) stayed perfect on the season, scattering 11 hits through six and two thirds innings. He allowed five earned runs with a walk and five strikeouts. Condra-Bogan struck out three with the one hit and one walk allowed in an inning of scoreless relief.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 2:00 pm. Fans can follow the action with live audio and GameTracker through CatamountSports.com, with live video through the SoCon Digital Network.