Box Score |   

Cullowhee, N.C. - Tennessee scored runs in seven of the nine innings on Tuesday evening, racing out to an early advantage before cruising to the 17-3 victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, sweeping both ends of the midweek, nonconference baseball home-and-home over Western Carolina.

The Volunteers (17-9) scored four runs in the first inning, three in the second and third before solo markers in both the fourth and fifth innings to grab a 12-1 lead. After being held scoreless in the sixth, Tennessee again lit the scoreboard for multiple runs with three in the seventh and two in the eighth to cap scoring for the visitors. Meanwhile, the Catamounts pushed across three, one-run innings in the third, sixth, and seventh innings.

Senior Spencer Holcomb led four Catamount hitters with multi-hit games, legging out a pair of doubles in a 2-for-4 showing with a RBI and a run scored. Holcomb is riding a five-game hitting streak that includes four, multi-hit games. Classmate Cameron Blaquiere, back in the lineup after missing The Citadel series due to illness, matched Holcomb with a pair of hits including a triple and a run scored. The Jacksonville, Fla., native extended his active hitting streak to seven-straight, while sophomore Luke Robinson singled in his first trip to stretch his streak to 10-consecutive.

Freshman Justice Bigbie and redshirt freshman Kitt Capell both went 2-for-4 with Bigbie adding to his team-leading RBI count with a run-scoring ground out.

Catamount starter Caleb Bishop (0-3) was the first of eight pitchers used by WCU in the nonconference loss, chased after an inning and two-thirds. Redshirt sophomore Blake Therrian was the second arm out of the bullpen, striking out two in 2.1 innings. Sophomore infielder Luke Robinson made his collegiate debut on the mound, issuing a walk in a third of an inning, while freshman Zach Franklin struck out the side in the ninth, stranding the bases loaded in the final frame.

Eight of the nine Tennessee starters recorded hits with three posting multi-hit games. Catcher Nico Mascia finished 4-for-4 with three doubles, a home run, and three RBI. He reached two additional times on a pair of HBPs to lead the Vols. Justin Ammons (1-for-2, 2 RBI), Jay Charleston (3-for-5, 2 RBI) and Zach Daniels (1-for-6, 2 RBI) each joined Mascia with a home run and multiple RBIs in the win.

On the mound, freshman Sean Hunley (4-0) scattered eight hits over five innings to remain perfect on the season. He surrendered an earned run in the third inning, halting his streak of scoreless innings against WCU at 11-straight including the complete game shutout back on March 14. Five other UT arms combined for the final four innings, combining for four strikeouts to give the Vols eight combined.

Despite the lop-sided final score, both teams managed to record double-digit base hits on Tuesday with the Volunteers finishing with 16 hits while the Catamounts tallied 12. A combined 10 of Tennessee's hits went for extra bases including four home runs, while WCU had just three hits extended beyond singles.

However, one of the biggest factors in the game were freebies. Tennessee took advantage of seven walks, four hit batters, and a combined seven Catamount errors in the winning effort. Tennessee finished with 15 runners left on base, while WCU stranded a dozen.

Western Carolina (3-20, 1-2 SoCon) travels to Spartanburg, S.C., for a three-game Southern Conference series against the Wofford College Terriers (17-9, 1-2 SoCon) at Russell C. King Field. The first two games on Thursday and Friday are slated for 6:00 pm starts with Saturday's finale set for a 2:00 pm first pitch.