Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman Andrew Bullock belted a towering three-run home run over the batter's eye in straight-away center field to push Western Carolina ahead for good as the Catamounts claimed Friday night's Southern Conference series opener at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, 8-5, from league-leading UNCG.

Bullock was one of two Catamounts to homer in the victory, answering UNCG's game-tying three-spot in the top of the fifth with the three-run, round-tripper that gave WCU a 7-4 lead it would never relinquish. The first-year slugger from Chesapeake, Va., Bullock was one of three Catamounts to post two-hit games, finishing 2-for-2 with the career-high three RBI while also walking twice.

Junior Matt Smith finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk, a RBI, and a trio of runs scored while senior Danny Bermudez posted a 2-for-4 outing, doubling in the early going for the Purple & Gold.

On the mound, junior left-hander Bryan Sammons (7-3) collected the victory, scattering six base hits and pitching around five walks with six strikeouts over five innings. Sammons, a product of Wilmington, N.C., surpassed 200 career strikeouts on the mound in Friday's victory. Senior Colton Davis tossed the final four innings of four-hit, shutout relief to collect his first save of the season -- and the third of his career after recording two back in 2014. Davis struck out two, tossing 32 strikes among his 44 pitches.

For Western Carolina (24-24, 14-8 SoCon), it was the seniors that set the stage from the outset. After holding UNCG scoreless despite a lead-off triple to open the game by Spartan second baseman Ben Spitznagel, WCU redshirt senior Garrett Brown put the Catamounts on the board in the first inning for the 27th time this season with a lead-off home run over the fence in center field.

The rally wasn't through, though, as WCU managed to plate two more runs with two outs in the opening frame. Smith reached on a single and moved to third on a double by Bermudez ahead of senior Kramer Ferrell. The Ellensburg, Wash., native dropped a single in to left field, scoring two for the 3-0 advantage after one.

Brown added two walks as did redshirt junior J.D. Long as the Catamounts drew 10 free passes on the night, one shy of a season-high.

UNCG (35-16, 13-6 SoCon) lit the scoreboard with a solo homer in the top of the third inning as Tripp Shelton pushed one over the fence in right center just beyond the reach of a leaping Brown to make it 3-1 in favor of the home squad.

But just as the Catamounts did all Friday evening, WCU responded in the home half, getting the run back in the home portion of the frame. Smith reached on a lead-off walk and eventually circled the base paths on an infield error, scoring as Ferrell reached on the miscue to push the margin back to three, 4-1.

In the top of the pivotal fifth inning, the Spartans loaded the bases with no outs twice with L.J. Kalawaia delivering a two-run single into center field and Dillon Stewart lifting a sacrifice fly to right field to drive home three runs. WCU used the first of two double-plays along the middle infield to curtail the rally, keeping the game tied at four headed to the bottom of the frame.

Smith and Bermudez set the stage for Bullock who smacked the one-out pitch over the fence to push WCU back in front, 7-4.

UNCG trimmed the margin back to two, 7-5, with a solo marker in the top of the sixth inning as Cesar Trejo singled into center field, chasing Sammons. A failed pickoff attempt moved the runner around where catcher Jake Kusz singled him home. However, WCU was able to again answer in the bottom of the sixth as Smith lifted a bases loaded sacrifice fly to left to cap scoring and provide the final tally.

Spitznagel led UNCG offensively with a 3-for-5 showing at the dish including the lead-off triple that took a big bounce in center. Shelton was 2-for-4 with the homer while Kusz drove in a run in a 2-for-4 performance. Kalawaia also tallied a pair of hits in a 2-for-5 game, driving in a team-best two.

UNCG starter Hunter Smith (6-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits in five innings. Smith pitched around three walks with six strikeouts. Reliever Andrew Wantz walked four but only surrendered one run in two-thirds of a frame while Collin Woody vacated his starting position at third base to pitch the final 2.1 innings of hitless, scoreless relief with three free passes.

Game two of the three-game SoCon series is scheduled for a 2:00 pm start on Saturday afternoon. Fans can follow the game with live streaming video on the SoCon Digital Network and through social media on Twitter using the handle, @Catamounts.