Box Score

Charleston, S.C. - Bulldog starter Dylan Spence tossed a complete game on the mound and The Citadel capitalized on one big inning to upend Western Carolina baseball, 5-1, on Friday evening in both squad's Southern Conference opener at Riley Park.

Spence scattered six hits and limited WCU to just the one run with six strikeouts against a walk in picking up his first victory of the season. The Citadel (10-11, 1-0 SoCon) broke a scoreless deadlock with a four-run fifth inning using five hits and capitalizing on a WCU error to score all the runs it would need in winning game one, halting the Catamounts' three-game series winning streak.

Western Carolina's six hits were scattered between six different players with sophomore Luke Robinson stretching his hitting streak to a team-best seven with a double down the first base line in a 1-for-4 performance at the plate. Freshman Justice Bigbie was also 1-for-4, extending his active hit streak to four-straight and scored WCU's lone run on an RBI ground out by Justin Sparks. A pinch hitter in the sixth inning, Sparks finished 1-for-2 with a single to right center in his second trip.

Friday's game was a situation of taking advantages of opportunities -- The Citadel cashed in its chances while the Catamounts were unable.

Redshirt junior Matthew Koehler drew a two-out walk for WCU in the top of the second inning and promptly stole second base, but was stranded there. In the third, Spencer Holcomb ignited a would-be rally with a sharp lead-off single through the right side followed by singles by Bryson Parks and Andrew Robinson loading the bases with one out. However, the Bulldogs escaped harm with a double-play ball to keep the game scoreless.

Caleb Robinson led off the fifth by being plunked, reaching base for the fourth-consecutive game, but was later left at second as the next three hitters were retired in order.

While the Catamounts (2-18, 0-1 SoCon) bottom of the fifth inning. Consecutive singles by Andrew Judkins and Taylor Cothran put two men aboard ahead of Ben Peden, who had a productive ground out that moved both runners into scoring position. The No. 9 hitter in the order, J.D. Davis, then looked to push a bunt to the right side to score a run, but the ball was misplayed by WCU allowing two runners to score. The Citadel tacked on two more markers in the frame on a two-run single to right field by Jonathan Sabo to grab a 4-0 lead through five complete.

The Catamounts were able to scratch the scoreboard in the sixth inning, trimming the deficit back to three, 4-1. Bigbie drove a one-out single to right center ahead of Luke Robinson's double up the first base line before Sparks pinch hit ground out put WCU on the board.

The Citadel got the run back, though, in the home portion of the seventh as a one-out error scored Davis from second on the RBI double by William Kinney to provide the final tally.

WCU starter Chase Walter (0-3) was saddled with the loss despite another quality start for the Purple & Gold. The Peachtree City, Ga., native allowed five runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits including nine singles by the Bulldogs. Walter struck out three with just one walk during his 6.2 innings of work. Senior relievers Corey Sikes, who faced one batter in a situational role, and Jake Niezen tossed the final inning and a third of one-hit, shutout relief.

For The Citadel, four players collected two hits apiece on Friday with Sabo driving in two while Kinney and Davis both plated runs on one-hit performances.

Due to the forecast for inclement weather on Sunday, game officials at The Citadel have decided to move Sunday's scheduled game two of the three-game series to Saturday afternoon in doubleheader fashion. The two teams will play game one at the regularly scheduled 2:00 pm start time with game three to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

Both games are slated to be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio available online at CatamountSports.com. Fans can also watch the action with the SoCon Digital Network produced by The Citadel. Live updates will also be made throughout both games on Twitter using the handle, @Catamounts.