Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored runs in each of the first four innings and used the strong pitching performance by Taylor Purus who limited the potent Kent State lineup to two runs on just two hits over seven-plus innings as the Catamounts claimed the series finale, 9-2, Sunday afternoon in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

The Catamounts played their most complete game of the season, using the effort to put the clamps on the program's longest winless drought that had reached 14-straight losses. WCU rode the left arm of Purus on the hill, while also rapping out a dozen, timely base hits in an overall solid offensive output to earn its first victory since Feb. 20.

Four Catamounts finished with multi-hit games as all but one WCU positional starter reached base on a hit in the team win. Senior Cameron Blaquiere doubled off the fence in center and drove in two as a part of a 2-for-4 performance, while classmate Spencer Holcomb and Luke Robinson also finished 2-for-4 with Holcomb driving in a run on one of his two singles.

But perhaps the day belonged to the Catamount youth movement. Freshman Justice Bigbie finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI while classmate Bryson Parks reached twice in a 1-for-4 performance including a run-scoring triple for his first collegiate hit, making his debut in a starting role in the lead-off spot in the lineup.

On the mound, Purus (1-4) tossed a career-long 7.1 innings on Sunday, capping the best three-game stretch for Catamount pitching this season with another solid starting effort. The Hudson, N.C., product only allowed a pair of base hits and was tagged for two base hits, both scoring after he left the game. Purus worked around seven walks with seven strikeouts, tossing seven scoreless innings before Kent State was able to get on the scoreboard in the eighth.

Senior relievers Corey Sikes and Jake Niezen combined for the final inning and two-thirds, scattering three hits with a walk and a strikeout to help lockdown the victory.

Western Carolina (2-17) opened the game with solo runs in both the first and second innings as Parks was plated from third base by Bigbie for the 1-0 lead with Parks repaying the favor to score Holcomb with his triple to the gap in right center field that rolled to the fence past a diving right fielder to make it 2-0.

But it was a four-run third inning that set the tone for the series finale. With two aboard, Blaquiere singled up the middle to drive in Bigbie. Following a bunt single by Matthew Koehler, redshirt freshman Kitt Capell scampered home on a wild pitch before Holcomb scored Blaquiere on a single through the left side to bring home the third run. WCU's fourth marker crossed the dish as Holcomb committed to a delayed steal, drawing an errant throw to second that sailed into center field allowing Koehler to race home for the 6-0 advantage.

WCU's frontend scoring barrage concluded in the fourth on another Kent State miscue as the Caleb Robinson stole third with the throw from home ricocheting off Tim Dalporto's glove into left field allowing the elder Robinson sibling to ramble home for the 7-0 lead through four complete.

Meanwhile, Purus was able to hold Kent State at bay, working around a lead-off single in the second inning, consecutive two-out walks in the third, and a lead-off free pass in the fourth to keep the Golden Flashes off the scoreboard. He retired eight-straight at one point between walks in the fourth through sixth inning.

Kent State (9-6) started its lone rally of the game in the top of the eighth, using a one-out walk by Mason Mamarella and a pair of wild pitches to move a runner to third base. A second walk of the frame put runners at the corners and chased Purus from the hill. The Golden Flashes used a two-RBI single by Pavin Parks to trim WCU's lead down to five, 7-2.

However, the Catamounts had the answer in the home portion of the frame, getting both runs back to reclaim the seven-run cushion. Bigbie drove in a run on a bases loaded ground out to first base with Blaquiere drawing the second of back-to-back walks to bring Parks home for the second time in the game in providing the final tally, 9-2.

Parks led Kent State, reaching base four times including a 2-for-2, two walk and two RBI performance, while Brad Hamilton doubled as a part of a 2-for-4 showing. Three players combined for the five hits for the Golden Flashes in the series finale.

Starter Jared Skolnicki (1-1) took the loss for Kent State, chased after allowing six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits with four strikeouts against a walk. Skolnicki was the first of six total pitchers for the visitors on the afternoon.

Western Carolina is scheduled to face Tennessee Tech in a neutral field game on Wednesday afternoon at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn., home of the Chicago Cubs Double-A minor league affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm with coverage planned on the Catamount Sports Network, online at CatamountSports.com.