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Cullowhee, N.C. - Five Catamounts posted multi-hit games including a perfect 4-for-4, five RBI showing by senior Matt Smith as Western Carolina outslugged the Marshall Thundering Herd, 20-15, on a windy Saturday afternoon in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

The two teams combined for 35 runs on 37 hits including 22 for extra bases on Saturday afternoon in a game that spanned four hours as the Catamounts claimed the series with wins on the first two days.

Smith reached base six times in the victory, legging out a single-game career-best three doubles to go along with a single and added a walk and a hit by pitch. The Fredericktown, Ohio, product was able to shake off an early-season slump, raising his average 133 points on Saturday to .333 through the first six games. The preseason all-conference outfielder collected five RBI, one shy of his individual best.

Junior infielder Brett Pope also recorded four base knocks on Saturday including two singles, a two-run double, and his first career home run, a two-run shot to left center field that pushed WCU ahead for good. The Statesville, N.C., native matched Smith with five RBI, a single-game career-best for the third-year infielder. Freshman catcher Luke Robinson also recorded a multi-RBI day with a bases clearing, three-run pinch hit double in the eighth inning.

Earning the start as the designated hitter, junior Spencer Holcomb doubled twice and jump-started a second-inning rally with a towering lead-off solo homer to center field. The Pfafftown, N.C., native matched his career-high for hits in a game with the 3-for-4 showing. Rounding out WCU's hitters with multiple hit games were senior Bryson Bowman with a double in a 2-for-5 outing while junior transfer Cameron Blaquiere finished 2-for-4 with a triple, adding a pair of walks.

On the mound, senior reliever Chad Mabini (1-0) scored the victory for the Catamounts as the first arm out of the bullpen as WCU used a combined four pitchers. The Alpharetta, Ga., native scattered three hits over two innings, surrendering three runs with a walk and a strikeout. Starter B.J. Nobles battled through 4.2 innings for the Catamounts, countering three walks with a trio of strikeouts while allowing eight runs on 10 base hits.

Left-hander Corey Sikes faced two batters out of the bullpen before giving way to redshirt senior LHP Dillon Bray who finished off the game to earn the save. Bray struck out one with a walk, allowing three runs on three hits.

Marshall (1-5) jumped out to the early 3-0 lead over the first two frames before the Catamounts were able to get on the board with back-to-back, five-run frames. Holcomb's homer started the second inning rally that also included a two-run doubles by both Pope and Smith. In the third, Holcomb again lit the fuse in the third with a lead-off double to left center that just missed getting out as the first of four-straight Catamounts to reach. Redshirt freshman catcher Justin Sparks singled up the middle to score Holcomb with Pope driving in a run on a sacrifice fly. Bowman and Smith then both tallied back-to-back run-scoring hits as WCU grabbed a 10-3 lead through two innings.

After getting a solo marker in the top of the fourth, Marshall pushed across six runs in the fifth inning to knot the game at 10 headed to the home half of the fifth inning.

Western Carolina (4-2) then pulled ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning with the first of back-to-back, two-run frames. Pope's two-run round-tripper handed the Catamounts a 12-10 advantage with two markers in the sixth putting the home squad ahead four, 14-10.

The Thundering Herd closed the deficit back to two in the top of the seventh with consecutive run-scoring singles. But WCU pushed the game back outside of arm's length with a six-run eighth. Blaquiere tripled to open the frame with J.D. Long scoring him from third on a sacrifice fly to center. Smith belted his second two-run double before Robinson pushed across three runs on his pinch hit double. Marshall got a second home run from Sam Finfer in the top of the ninth to cap scoring on the wild afternoon.

Finfer finished 4-for-6 with a double and two home runs and seven RBI while Andrew Zban tallied three RBI on a 3-for-5 showing at the dish with a home run. Shortstop Leo Valenti doubled and tripled as a part of a 2-for-3, three-run performance for the visitors.

For Marshall, starter Jacob Niggemeyer factored in a no-decision despite exiting after just two complete innings, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits. The fourth Thundering Herd pitcher out of the bullpen, Jacob Bradley (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up two-runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning after Marshall had tied the game at 10 apiece in the top of the inning.

Game three of the nonconference series is schedule for Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Junior LHP Brendan Nail is scheduled to face LHP Patrick Murphy in the pitching match-up. Following the game, kids are invited to run the bases for free as is the Sunday tradition.