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Conway, S.C. - Junior transfer Cameron Blaquiere drove home classmate Caleb Robinson from third base with a bouncing single through the left-hand side to provide the Catamounts with what proved to be the game-winning run as Western Carolina upset the defending NCAA national champion, ninth-ranked Coastal Carolina, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium as a part of the Caravelle Resort's "Baseball at the Beach."

Robinson lifted a one-out double down the right field line, chasing Chanticleer reliever Austin Kitchen with Bobby Holmes -- one of the many Chanticleer heroes from last season's title run -- summonsed from the bullpen. After getting the second out on a first-pitch ground-out, Blaquiere chopped the second offering by Holmes through the left side allowing Robinson to scamper home for the go-ahead run.

WCU starter Bryan Sammons recorded the first out of the eighth inning before giving way to Catamount closer Korey Anderson who closed the game with consecutive strikeouts in the ninth to secure the victory with his first save of the year.

Western Carolina's eventual game-winning eighth inning offensive heroics were all set-up by the strong pitching performance by Sammons. The southpaw, who was perfect through the first three innings, limited the Chanticleers to four runs on four hits while striking out four to counter a pair of walks. Anderson tossed the final 1.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief with the two punch outs for his second career save.

All told, Sammons scored his 20th career victory for the Purple & Gold on Saturday afternoon. He moves into a tie with three former Catamount hurlers -- Tyler Sexton (2006-08), Brian Bain (1995-98), and Ken Hare (1980; 82-84) -- for ninth in program history for career wins. Saturday was his 43rd career start, tying him for sixth in school history.

Redshirt sophomore Matthew Koehler joined Blaquiere with a multi-hit game, both tallying two base knocks. Koehler finished 2-for-5 with a pair of singles and two runs scored while Blaquiere posted two singles. Junior SS Brett Pope reached base a team-best five times on Saturday, drawing three walks and an HBP to go along with a first inning double. Redshirt senior Bryson Bowman drove home two on a 1-for-4 outing for the Catamounts, while sophomore DH Andrew Bullock tallied his first RBI of the season on a first-inning sacrifice fly.

WCU (1-1) jumped out in front in the top of the first inning as Koehler singled and Pope doubled into left center to put runners at second and third. Bowman's infield groundout put WCU ahead, 1-0, with Bullock's bases loaded sacrifice fly making it 2-0 for WCU after one.

The Catamount lead held until the fourth inning when the Chanticleers hung a three-spot on the scoreboard. A close bases loaded, two-out ball-four call for Kieton Rivers allowed the first marker to cross with Cory Wood plating a pair on a single into left field to put Coastal Carolina ahead, 3-2.

The Chants' lead was short-lived, though, as J.D. Long was hit by a pitch to lead-off the top of the fifth inning as WCU went on to load the bases. Bowman drove home a run on a second HBP of the frame to knot the game at three. Matt Smith then bounced into a double-play to allow the go-ahead marker to come home as Koehler scored for the second time in the game.

Coastal Carolina made it 4-4 with a lead-off solo home run in the sixth inning by Billy Cooke, setting up WCU's late-game rally for the victory. Cook led CCU with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, both hits going for extra bases with a double and a home run.

Chanticleer starter Jason Bilous factored in a no-decision, exiting after four innings after allowing four earned runs on four hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Kitchens (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout, while Holmes allowed the inherited runner, Robinson, to score on two hits with a pair of Ks.

The win for WCU halts a seven-game slide against the Chanticleers in the all-time, head-to-head series with the Catamounts' first win over Coastal Carolina since 1999.

Western Carolina (1-1) wraps up tournament play on Sunday afternoon against in-state foe, North Carolina A&T, at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Park in Myrtle Beach. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm. Fans can follow the action with live GameTracker, online at CatamountSports.com.