<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:s="https://catamountsports.com/services/xml_schema/story" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title>Western Carolina University</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/rss.aspx</link><description>Latest news items for Western Carolina University</description><atom:link href="https://catamountsports.com/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><language>en-us</language><ttl>60</ttl><item><title>Catamount Women’s Golf Concludes Season at SoCon Championship</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/22/womens-golf-catamount-womens-golf-concludes-season-at-socon-championship.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/22/womens-golf-catamount-womens-golf-concludes-season-at-socon-championship.aspx</guid><category>Women's Golf</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Elsa - SoCon Day 3 - Recap - FRONT" src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/22/Elsa_SoConDay3_FRONT.png" /><br /><br />Blythewood, S.C. – Western Carolina women's golf matched Monday's opening round with a team score of 309 through Wednesday's final 18 holes at the 2026 Southern Conference Women's Golf Championship, finishing eighth overall with a three-round total of 949 as competition concluded at the par-72, 6,089-yard Columbia Country Club.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/Elsa_SoConDay3_FRONT.png" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/Elsa_SoConDay3_FRONT.png"><media:title>Elsa - SoCon Day 3 - Recap - FRONT</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/Elsa_SoConDay3_FRONT.png" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:00:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>11</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11975</s:story_id></item><item><title>Jackson Lyda Named Semifinalist for Brooks Wallace Award</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/22/baseball-jackson-lyda-named-semifinalist-for-brooks-wallace-award.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/22/baseball-jackson-lyda-named-semifinalist-for-brooks-wallace-award.aspx</guid><category>Baseball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="2026 - Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist - Jackson Lyda" src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/22/2026_BASE_BrooksWallaceAward_FRONT.png" /><br /><br />Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina's Jackson Lyda was one of 50 shortstops in the NCAA today named a semifinalist for the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award, honoring the nation's top collegiate shortstop. The top 50 shortstops in the country were selected based on both their offensive and defensive production this season.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/2026_BASE_BrooksWallaceAward_FRONT.png" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/2026_BASE_BrooksWallaceAward_FRONT.png"><media:title>2026 - Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist - Jackson Lyda</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/2026_BASE_BrooksWallaceAward_FRONT.png" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>1</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11974</s:story_id></item><item><title>Softball Sets More Records in Sweep at N.C. Central</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/21/softball-sets-more-records-in-sweep-at-n-c-central.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/21/softball-sets-more-records-in-sweep-at-n-c-central.aspx</guid><category>Softball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Tate Stewman Post HR vs Upstate " src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/3/26/DB3A9090.jpg" /><br /><br />Cary, N.C. – For the second time in as many weeks, Western Carolina softball put together a big offensive inning as the Catamounts scored 16 runs in the fifth inning, earning a 20-1 run-rule victory in game one of a midweek doubleheader over host N.C. Central from Thomas Brooks Park.  The Catamounts closed the day with an 8-0 shutout to stretch their seasonal win streak to five in a row with the sweep in Tuesday's final nonconference doubleheader.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/3/26/DB3A9090.jpg" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/3/26/DB3A9090.jpg"><media:title>Tate Stewman Post HR vs Upstate </media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/3/26/DB3A9090.jpg" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:00:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>8</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11971</s:story_id></item><item><title>Middle Inning Push Lifts Catamounts over Runnin’ Bulldogs</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/21/baseball-middle-inning-push-lifts-catamounts-over-runnin-bulldogs.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/21/baseball-middle-inning-push-lifts-catamounts-over-runnin-bulldogs.aspx</guid><category>Baseball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Owen Austin tossed three innings in the starting role on Tuesday, earning the victory over Appalachian State." src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/15/OwenAustin_vsApp2_MH.jpg.jpg" /><br /><br />Boiling Springs, N.C. – Western Carolina broke open a one-run game with a three-run fifth inning that ignited a 10-run outburst over the middle frames as the Catamounts completed the two-game, midweek nonconference series sweep of regional rival Gardner-Webb, downing the Runnin' Bulldogs 11-1 in eight innings on Tuesday night at John Henry Moss Stadium.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/15/OwenAustin_vsApp2_MH.jpg.jpg" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/15/OwenAustin_vsApp2_MH.jpg.jpg"><media:title>Owen Austin tossed three innings in the starting role on Tuesday, earning the victory over Appalachian State.</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/15/OwenAustin_vsApp2_MH.jpg.jpg" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:30:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>1</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11972</s:story_id></item><item><title>Niebauer, Steinarsdôttir Lead Catamounts at SoCon Championship</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/21/womens-golf-niebauer-steinarsd-ttir-lead-catamounts-at-socon-championship.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/21/womens-golf-niebauer-steinarsd-ttir-lead-catamounts-at-socon-championship.aspx</guid><category>Women's Golf</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="EC NIebauer - Sand - 2026 SoCon Championship - Day 2" src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/22/ECNiebauer_SoConDay2_FRONT.jpg" /><br /><br />Blythewood, S.C. – Western Carolina fought through a tough second round at the 2026 Southern Conference Women's Golf Championship on Tuesday, seeing a key part of its scoring five withdraw due to injury as the Catamounts slipped to eighth after 36 holes.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/ECNiebauer_SoConDay2_FRONT.jpg" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/ECNiebauer_SoConDay2_FRONT.jpg"><media:title>EC NIebauer - Sand - 2026 SoCon Championship - Day 2</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/22/ECNiebauer_SoConDay2_FRONT.jpg" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:00:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>11</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11973</s:story_id></item><item><title>Catamounts Climb Mid-Major Ranks, Visit Gardner-Webb Tuesday</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/20/baseball-catamounts-climb-mid-major-ranks-visit-gardner-webb-tuesday.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/20/baseball-catamounts-climb-mid-major-ranks-visit-gardner-webb-tuesday.aspx</guid><category>Baseball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Noah Quarless behind the plate against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday in nonconference action." src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/3/18/DB3A8000.jpg" /><br /><br />Cullowhee, N.C. - Winners of six of their last seven, Western Carolina baseball remained 20th in the 11Point7 Mid-Major Power Rankings for Week 10 and made its debut in the Diamond Sports Rankings (DSR) Mid-Major Top 25 at No. 18 this week. The Catamounts carry those rankings to Boiling Springs on Tuesday night, playing the back end of the nonconference home-and-home against Gardner-Webb with first pitch at 6 p.m.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/3/18/DB3A8000.jpg" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/3/18/DB3A8000.jpg"><media:title>Noah Quarless behind the plate against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday in nonconference action.</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/3/18/DB3A8000.jpg" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:30:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>1</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11970</s:story_id></item><item><title>Women’s Golf Sixth After 18 Holes at 2026 SoCon Championship</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/20/womens-golf-womens-golf-sixth-after-18-holes-at-2026-socon-championship.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/20/womens-golf-womens-golf-sixth-after-18-holes-at-2026-socon-championship.aspx</guid><category>Women's Golf</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Elsa Maren Steinarsdôttir - SoCon Round 1" src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/20/Elsa_SoCon_FRONT.png" /><br /><br />Blythewood, S.C. – Western Carolina women's golf closed its opening 18 holes at the 2026 Southern Conference Championship in sixth place, just four strokes outside of the team top four after carding an opening round of 21-over par, 309, at the par-72, 6,150-yard Columbia Country Club. Sophomore Elsa Maren Steinarsd&ocirc;ttir leads the Catamounts in a 12th-place tie after shooting 3-over par 75, and is joined in the individual Top 20 by fifth-year senior EC Niebauer in a tie for 19th overall at 5-over par 77.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/20/Elsa_SoCon_FRONT.png" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/20/Elsa_SoCon_FRONT.png"><media:title>Elsa Maren Steinarsdôttir - SoCon Round 1</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/20/Elsa_SoCon_FRONT.png" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:30:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>11</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11969</s:story_id></item><item><title>Cole Jones Delivers 4 Hits, Walk-Off RBI in 10-Inning Win at VMI</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/19/baseball-cole-jones-delivers-4-hits-walk-off-rbi-in-10-inning-win-at-vmi.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/19/baseball-cole-jones-delivers-4-hits-walk-off-rbi-in-10-inning-win-at-vmi.aspx</guid><category>Baseball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Cole Jones had a career day, finishing 4-for-5 with a trio of singles and a home run, driving home a career-high six runs in Saturday's home win over Mercer." src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/11/4B5A8646_vwHnm.jpeg" /><br /><br />Lexington, Va. – Cole Jones delivered a two-out RBI single to score Noah Quarless in the top of the 10th inning before Kaden Fuller sealed the victory with a strikeout to strand a pair of Keydet base runners in the home half of the extra frame as Western Carolina claimed Sunday's rubber match in its Southern Conference series at VMI with a 4-3 win in 10 innings at Gray-Minor Stadium.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/11/4B5A8646_vwHnm.jpeg" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/11/4B5A8646_vwHnm.jpeg"><media:title>Cole Jones had a career day, finishing 4-for-5 with a trio of singles and a home run, driving home a career-high six runs in Saturday's home win over Mercer.</media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/11/4B5A8646_vwHnm.jpeg" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:00:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>1</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11965</s:story_id></item><item><title>Offense Propels Softball to Series Sweep of Chattanooga</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/19/offense-propels-softball-to-series-sweep-of-chattanooga.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/19/offense-propels-softball-to-series-sweep-of-chattanooga.aspx</guid><category>Softball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="Sydney Dirks vs UTC " src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/19/DSC_0450.jpg" /><br /><br />Cullowhee, N.C. –  Juniors Sydney Dirks and Becka Wonsick each connected on two-run homers to open the scoring and cap the scoring as Western Carolina softball earned the 10-1 run-rule victory over Chattanooga to complete the three-game Southern Conference sweep of the visiting Mocs on Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex. The series finale victory gives the Catamounts 30 wins in a season for the first time since the 2016 season.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/19/DSC_0450.jpg" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/19/DSC_0450.jpg"><media:title>Sydney Dirks vs UTC </media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/19/DSC_0450.jpg" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:45:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>8</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11966</s:story_id></item><item><title>Softball Heads to Durham for Final Nonconference DH</title><link>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/20/softball-heads-to-durham-for-final-regular-season-nonconference-dh.aspx</link><guid>https://catamountsports.com/news/2026/4/20/softball-heads-to-durham-for-final-regular-season-nonconference-dh.aspx</guid><category>Softball</category><description><![CDATA[<img alt="SB Preview at NCCU - FRONT " src="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2026/4/20/at_NCCU.png" /><br /><br />Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina softball closes the nonconference road portion of its schedule on Tuesday, visiting the N.C. Central Eagles for an afternoon doubleheader. Action between the Eagles and the Catamounts gets underway at 2 p.m. from Thomas Brooks Park in Cary. Live stats coverage of both games is available online at CatamountSports.com.]]></description><media:thumbnail url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_system&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/20/at_NCCU.png" /><media:content url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/20/at_NCCU.png"><media:title>SB Preview at NCCU - FRONT </media:title></media:content><enclosure url="https://catamountsports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&amp;image_path=/images/2026/4/20/at_NCCU.png" length="1" type="image/jpg" /><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:30:00 EST</pubDate><s:sport_id>8</s:sport_id><s:story_id>11968</s:story_id></item></channel></rss>