Box Score

Greensboro, N.C. - Senior infielder Nobu Suzuki collected half of Western Carolina's hits on Sunday afternoon and scored the team's only two runs as the Catamounts dropped the rubber match of their Southern Conference-opening series, 8-2, at UNCG.

The Spartans limited WCU to just two runs on four hits while collecting four, two-run frames to take game three and win the series, 2-1. The Spartans scored two in the first, fourth, seventh, and eighth innings, doing so on 14 total hits.

Suzuki led-off the game with a double to left center field and eventually scored on a RBI ground out by Bryson Bowman as Western Carolina took a short-lived, 1-0, lead after half an inning. UNCG (15-9, 2-1 SoCon) responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs scoring on a Caleb Webster single and subsequent Catamount throwing error as the home squad took a lead it would never relinquish.

Suzuki also belted his first home run of the season on a solo shot over the fence in left in the sixth inning for the Catamounts. Bowman reached twice with a single and a walk to extend both his reached base safely and active hitting streaks to 23 and eight games, respectively. Senior Matt Smith added a double to left center in the ninth inning to account for each of the Catamount hits.

Junior LHP Brendan Nail (1-5) took the loss despite six and a third solid innings, striking out seven against two walks. The Greensboro, N.C., product who was pitching in his hometown scattered 10 hits while surrendering six runs, only four of which were earned. Senior Korey Anderson tossed the final inning and two thirds, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout in relief.

UNCG sophomore starter Matt Frisbee (4-1) stymied the Catamounts over five innings, limiting the potent WCU offense to one run on two hits with four strikeouts. Ace reliever Andrew Wantz tossed the final four innings, surrendering one run on the Suzuki homer with just one additional hit allowed while striking out two with a walk.

Offensively for UNCG, five players posted multi-hit games including a 3-for-4, two run outing by reserve first baseman Michael Goss. Webster and Ryne Sigmon both finished 2-for-4 with three combined RBI, two by Webster.

Western Carolina (9-14, 1-2 SoCon) has one mid-week game scheduled on Wednesday against mountain-rival, UNC Asheville, slated to be played at McCormick Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm. The Catamounts welcome The Citadel to Cullowhee next weekend for a three-game SoCon series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.