Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Catamount senior left-hander Bryan Sammons struck out nine while limiting Marshall to just one base hit over six solid innings, and redshirt sophomore Matthew Koehler broke a scoreless stalemate with his second career home run as Western Carolina blanked the Thundering Herd, 8-0, in a four-hit shutout Friday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

On the strength of its fourth-straight victory over Marshall dating back to 2008, Western Carolina (3-2) has won its home-opener in eight of the 10 years under head coach Bobby Moranda, only failing to do so in 2016 (L, 11-6 vs. ULM) and Moranda's debut in 2008 (L, 14-9 vs. Marshall).

Sammons carried his no-hitter into the fifth inning on Friday before Marshall outfielder Cory Garrastazu led-off the frame with a double into left field, but was later stranded at third base. All told, Sammons stranded a total of six Thundering Herd base runners, tallying back-to-back strikeouts to end three different innings. Sammons just missed matching his career-high with the nine punch outs to counter four walks in the winning effort.

A native of Wilmington, N.C., Sammons made his 44th career start on Friday, moving into sole possession of sixth all-time, just three starts shy of the top five. He also claimed his 21st career victory on the mound (21-10) to move into sole possession of ninth all-time in program history, just five wins shy of fifth-place.

While Sammons was dealing in the top of the frame, Marshall starter Wade Martin was matching in the bottom. He tossed the first five innings of one-hit scoreless baseball as both starting pitchers continually hung zeroes on the scoreboard through five and a half innings. Martin struck out four against two walks, factoring in a no-decision.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Western Carolina finally broke through. Junior transfer Cameron Blaquiere drew a lead-off walk off of Marshall reliever Matt Reed (0-1) before Koehler battled back from a 0-2 count to run it full. The Raleigh, N.C., native then belted the seventh pitch of his at bat over the fence in right field for a two-run shot to give WCU a lead it would never relinquish. WCU would add two more runs in the sixth including a RBI ground out by Matt Smith and a run scoring on an infield error for the 4-0 Catamount advantage.

WCU tacked on four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the opportunistic Catamounts capitalized on four freebies -- three walks and an HBP. The Catamounts pushed the runs across with a bases loaded walk by Blaquiere and a pair of RBI singles including a two runs crossing on a single by Koehler and Andrew Robinson's first collegiate base hit, a run-scoring single up the middle to give the McLeansville, N.C., product his first career RBI.

Koehler finished with WCU's only multi-hit game with a 2-for-5 performance, driving in four for his second multi-RBI game this season. His home run was the lone extra base hit for the Catamounts.

Behind Sammons, Catamount relievers Korey Anderson, Corey Sikes, and Jake Moebius combined for the final three frames. Anderson struck out one in an inning of work while Sikes recorded one of his two outs via the K. Moebius fanned two against a walk in an inning and a third of work out of the bullpen as both he and Sikes saw their first action of the 2017 season.

Garrastazu finished 2-for-3 with a double to go along with a walk and a strikeout to lead Marshall (1-4) offensively, while first baseman Tommy Lane reached four times with three walks and a single in a 1-for-1 showing. Reed, the second of six total pitchers used by Marshall, was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs -- three earned -- on just two hits with a pair of walks in a third of a frame

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 2:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The first 100 fans through the gates will receive a commemorative 2016 Southern Conference Championship poster autographed by head coach Bobby Moranda. Senior RHP B.J. Nobles (1-0) will take the mound for the Catamounts against Marshall right-hander Jacob Niggemeyer (0-1). Fans can follow the game online at CatamountSports.com with live GameTracker, or on Twitter using the handle, @Catamounts.