Box Score

Knoxville, Tenn. - Tennessee freshman Sean Hunley scattered seven Western Carolina singles in tossing a complete game shutout on Wednesday afternoon as the SEC's Volunteers dealt the Catamounts a 5-0 loss in the frontend of a midweek, nonconference home-and-home at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Hunley (3-0) struck out three without issuing a walk in his nine innings of work. Behind him, the Volunteers (12-6) scored three runs in the home half of the first inning, and tacked on two insurance markers in the middle frames to collect the victory, their fourth-straight over the WCU on the diamond. The Catamounts were relegated to their 12th-straight seasonal loss.

The start of Wednesday's game was bumped up two hours due to the threat of frigid temperatures forecasted for the evening hours.

Back in the Catamount lineup, senior catcher Spencer Holcomb paced WCU with a trio of hits in a 3-for-3 showing at the dish. The Pfafftown, N.C., native beat out a bunt single for the squad's first hit of the day before lacing two singles to either side of center field. He was the only Catamount to reach third base in the road loss, doing so following his third-inning bunt.

Sophomore Luke Robinson finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles for the Catamounts, with senior Cameron Blaquiere (1-for-3) and redshirt sophomore Justin Sparks (1-for-4) combining for the remaining WCU base hits.

Tennessee loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on a RBI single by Benito Santiago, a run-scoring walk, and a sacrifice fly to take the early lead.

WCU's best chances to score came in the third as Holcomb reached on a one-out bunt before taking second on a wild pitch. An infield groundout left him 90-feet away at third, but a pop-up behind the bag at second field by the shortstop ended the threat. Two innings later in the fifth, consecutive one-out singles by Blaquiere and Holcomb put two aboard, but a line drive double-play thwarted the rally, keeping the Catamounts off the scoreboard.

The Vols tacked on a marker in the sixth as Brodie Leftridge singled before stealing second and taking third on a passed ball, eventually scoring on an infield single by Brandon Chinea to make it a four-run cushion. Scoring was capped in the seventh inning after consecutive hits to open the frame put runners at second and third. Zach Daniels then grounded out on the infield to push the marker across and provide the final tally.

Santiago led the Volunteers with a 3-for-4 performance with a double, both scoring and driving in a run, while Andre Lipcius scored twice in a 2-for-3, one walk showing. All told, Tennessee walked four times and was hit by pitch twice.

Freshman southpaw Caleb Bishop (0-2) suffered the loss in his first collegiate start, allowing three, first-inning runs in three total innings of work on the mound. The Wilmington, N.C., native issued four walks and hit a pair of batters, but kept the Catamounts in contention while on the mound.

Redshirt sophomore Blake Therrian continued his recent upswing, surrendering two runs -- only one of which was earned -- while scattering six hits over four relief innings, striking out a pair. Junior Jake Moebius tossed the final frame of one-hit, scoreless relief.

Western Carolina (1-15) returns home this weekend to host Kent State for a three-game series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Each game is slated to be broadcast on the SoCon Digital Network (weather permitting). First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5:00 pm with a 3:00 pm start on Saturday ahead of a 1:00 pm start on Sunday afternoon.

Be sure to 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).