Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Canisius College used a pair of three-run innings to rally past Western Carolina baseball on Saturday afternoon, completing the three-game series sweep with a 12-11 victory in 13 innings at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Golden Griffins erased a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth to force extra innings before grabbing a three-run edge in the top of the 13th inning in the winning effort.

Trailing by three and down to its final two outs, the Canisius (5-2) rode a solo home run by Ryan Stekl to pull within two before the game-tying markers reaching on a pair of walks, ultimately loading the bases on a two-out hit batter. Outfielder Canice Ejoh then dropped a single into left field to knot the game at nine and eventually forcing extra innings.

In the top of the 13th, a lead-off walk to Ejoh followed by a bunt single and a wild pitch moved runners into scoring position where Liam Wilson doubled two runs home to put the visitors ahead. Stekl's sacrifice fly to right plated what proved to be an important insurance marker as Wilson slide in ahead of the tag on the throw to the plate to make it 12-9.

The Catamounts responded in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of two Canisius errors with Matthew Koehler coming around to score on a wild pitch before Justin Sparks plated Andrew Robinson on an infield ground out to close the deficit to one. However, the Catamounts could not match the Golden Griffins' rally, falling by a run.

Three Catamounts posted multi-hit games led by Luke Robinson with a 3-for-6 showing, driving in two runs and scoring once. His twin brother Andrew Robinson and senior infielder Cameron Blaquiere, returning from illness, both went 2-for-6 with Blaquiere legging out a double.

Western Carolina jumped out to its first lead in the series on Saturday afternoon as Andrew Bullock opened the scoring with a solo home run to right center field in the bottom of the second inning to key a three-run frame. Senior catcher Spencer Holcomb added a second round-tripper in the frame for the home squad with a line-drive dinger over the fence in left.

With the margin trimmed back to two, 3-1, the Catamounts recorded their second, three-run frame of the game in the third. Caleb Robinson drew a bases loaded, run-scoring walk before his younger brother, Luke, drove in two on a first-pitch single to left field to make it 6-1 -- a margin that would stand until the fifth inning. Canisius took advantage of three WCU errors and a hit batter to jumpstart the rally with pinch hitter Gage Lanning delivering the big shot on a two-run single up the middle to cap the four-run frame, pulling the game back to a one-run margin, 6-5.

Both teams lit the scoreboard for a single marker in the seventh inning as the Golden Griffins tied the game in the top with a solo home run by William Krull. However, the Catamounts retook the advantage a half inning later as Justice Bigbie singled through the right side one batter after Bullock was intentionally walked to bring Koehler home.

WCU stretched its advantage back to three with two runs in the home half of the eighth as Blaquiere and Robinson both tallied RBI singles to make it 9-6 heading to the ninth before the Canisius rally.

Catamount freshman starter Zach Franklin did not factor in the decision, but tossed five strong innings, countering three walks with a career-best seven strikeouts. He allowed five runs -- only one of which was earned -- on five hits over the five innings of work.

WCU redshirt freshman reliever Ryan Mitschele (0-1) was saddled with the loss, tossing the second-most innings of the four arms for the Catamounts on the day with a career-long four with a career-high six strikeouts coming in his collegiate debut. Relievers Corey Sikes and Chase Walter both struck out one in two innings apiece out of the bullpen.

Canisius reliever Will Frank (1-0) picked up the victory as his offense rallied with him on the mound, tossing 3.2 one-hit, scoreless innings with five strikeouts and a walk. Tyler Smith was tagged with two unearned runs in the 13th, but scored his third save of the season. Golden Griffin starter Charlie Sobieraski was chased after 2.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on three hits with five walks and a strikeout.

Offensively, Canisius had two players record multi-hit games as Mark McKenna finished 4-for-7 while Ejoh was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Wilson drove home a game-high three.

Western Carolina (1-6) remains at home to conclude its season-long, six-game home stand by hosting a pair of mountain rivals early next week. WCU hosts archrival Appalachian State on Tuesday, Feb. 27 and UNC Asheville on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 pm both days.

Fans are reminded that they can keep track of any weather-related schedule changes online at CatamountSports.com or through WCU Athletics' social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts or @WCUCatamountBSB).