Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. - Extra base hits proved profitable early for Western Carolina as the Catamounts used a pair of two-run home runs and a run-scoring double to take a lead it would never relinquish, evening its best-of-three Southern Conference series with Samford by winning 7-4 on Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Senior Bradley Strong and freshman Spencer Holcomb both belted two-run home runs in the opening two frames with a second freshman, Brett Pope, delivering what proved to be the game-winning run with a RBI double in the third inning as WCU led from start-to-finish to set-up Sunday's rubber match.

Coverage of Sunday's series finale is available again through the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio through CatamountSports.com. The game will also be televised through the American Sports Network (@LiveOnASN, check local listings). Locally to WCU, the game will be carried on WMYA-TV, My40 out of Asheville.

Six Catamount hitters combined for WCU's seven hits in the win with junior Danny Bermudez collecting the lone multi-hit game with a 2-for-5, two-run effort. Bradley Strong finished 1-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt and the two RBI on his first inning home run while Holcomb was 1-for-2 with a walk and his first career round-tripper. Pope finished the game 1-for-4 with the two-bag base hit.

With Bermudez aboard with a one-out single, Strong hit his team-leading eighth home run over the fence in right field on the second pitch of his at bat. His towering long ball gave WCU the early, 2-0, edge. An inning later after Matthew Koehler reached on an infield error, Holcomb belted a shot to centerfield that got over the fence, alluding a leaping centerfielder T.J. Dixon to give the Catamounts a 4-0 advantage through two.

In the third, Bermudez led-off with his second single of the game before Strong sacrificed him into scoring position. An infield ground out by Kramer Ferrell, who finished 1-for-4 with a run scored, pushed Bermudez to third ahead of Pope who lined one into left field to plate the run. Pope made the big turn at first before taking second on the same play as the ball had yet to return to the infield for a double.

WCU's five-run edge stood until the fourth and sixth innings as the middle of the Samford lineup did the damage. Freshman Austin Edens singled along the infield with one out ahead of Alex Lee who then delivered a run-scoring triple to center field. Lee later came home on a wild pitch to cut the margin to three, 5-2. Edens was again aboard in the sixth, reaching on a HBP ahead of Lee who homered to center field to cap his three RBI day. Lee finished the game 2-for-3 at the dish to lead Samford.

Clinging to a one-run lead, the Catamounts added two insurance runs in the eighth inning. Ferrell reached on a one-out single up the middle before taking second on an infield ground out. Pinch hitter Pierce Suttles was intentionally walked to put two aboard before Matthew Koehler reached for the third time on a second error, beating out the play in back of first to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Holcomb reached on a two-base throwing error allowing Ferrell and Suttles to score unearned markers, providing the final tally at 7-4.

Sophomore starter Bryan Sammons (4-4) struck out seven batters against five walks through six innings on the mound for the Catamounts on the hot Saturday afternoon to earn the victory. The second-year southpaw allowed four runs while limiting Samford to five hits. Junior reliever Colton Davis allowed just one hit in an inning of scoreless relief to set-up senior closer Tyler Powell who was perfect in the final two frames.

Making his 94th career appearance to move into sole possession of third in the school record books, Powell collected his seventh save of the season to give him 22 for his career, tied for second in the school ledgers with former reliever Ryan Foster who also saved 22 games from 2000-03. Powell is just two shy of matching former teammate and all-time saves leader, Preston Hatcher (24, 2010-13).

WCU's defense behind its trio of pitchers was solid on Saturday, turning two double plays - one coming to end a bases loaded jam - and stranding six Bulldog base runners.

Samford starter Parker Curry (6-6) took the loss after allowing five runs - four earned - on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 6.2 innings. Reliever Eric Wright was tagged for the two unearned WCU insurance runs in the eighth.

Game three is scheduled for a 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 pm CT first pitch on Sunday afternoon.