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Cullowhee, N.C. - Tied at five after six complete innings, 11th-ranked Kentucky used a lead-off solo home run by Luke Becker to spark a two-run seventh and the Wildcats' bullpen held off the upset-minded Catamounts to earn the 7-5 victory over Western Carolina on Wednesday night in midweek nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

Western Carolina rallied from a four-run deficit to tie the game in the home portion of the sixth before the Wildcats were able to reclaim the lead on Becker's home run. The victory for Kentucky evened the all-time series between the two programs, while relegating WCU to its 10th-consecutive seasonal loss.

Senior Spencer Holcomb finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles to lead the Catamounts offensively, exiting the game, however, during his final plate appearance after being plunked on the wrist. His classmate Caleb Robinson drove in three on a 2-for-4 showing including a solo home run -- his third of the year.

Cameron Blaquiere singled twice in a 2-for-5 performance as the senior drove in a run in the fifth inning, while freshman Justice Bigbie extended active hitting streak to nine-straight with a fourth-inning double. His classmate Will Prater finished 2-for-4, collecting his first career extra base hit with a one-out double in the ninth as WCU attempted to rally, but was stranded on the base paths as the game ended on a scalded shot to right as Blaquiere flew out.

Kentucky's Alex Rodriguez finished 4-for-5 with three doubles and a pair of RBI, while Troy Squires drove in three in a 1-for-3 performance that included a pair of sacrifice bunt to lead the 11th-ranked Wildcats offensively.

Consecutive, two-run innings in both the third and fourth innings allowed Kentucky to build a 4-0 advantage in the second all-time series meeting. Squires drove a two-run single into right field to break the scoreless stalemate in the third before Rodriguez delivered a two RBI double in the fourth on a third-consecutive base hit to start the frame.

WCU responded in the home half of the fourth as Luke Robinson singled and Bigbie doubled ahead of Caleb Robinson who belted a two-run scoring single to center, advancing to second base on the relay throw. An inning later, the Catamounts clawed to within a run as Andrew Robinson singled before moving to third base on a pair of wild pitches. Blaquiere then dropped a single down the third base line allowing Robinson to score, making it 4-3 through five.

In the sixth inning, Kentucky regained the two-run cushion as Rodriguez again doubled to start the frame, eventually scoring on a sacrifice bunt squeeze play by Squires. Caleb Robinson's solo home run opened the home portion of the frame for the Catamounts. Holcomb doubled to left center field and scampered to third to third on a wild pitch. However, he was forced out on a play at the plate for the second out that allowed Matthew Koehler to reach. Another errant pitch moved Koehler to second where he scored the game-tying run on the RBI single by Prater.

Becker's lead-off home run over the fence in left center was followed by a walk to Kole Cottam who provided the final tally when he scored from third base on an infield double-play in the seventh.

Catamount reliever Blake Therrian (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout in two innings out of the bullpen. Starter Corey Sikes was tagged for four runs on seven hits, chased after three innings on the mound with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. WCU also got three relief innings from senior Jake Niezen who limited the Wildcats to a run on two hits with a strikeout, while freshman Zach Franklin struck out one in an inning of hitless, scoreless relief.

For Kentucky, reliever Carson Coleman (2-0) scored the victory out of the bullpen, holding the Catamounts scoreless over 2.2 innings and only surrendering one base hit while strikeout four. Closer Chris Machamer picked up his fifth save of the season, striking out one while allowing the Prater double in an inning of relief work in the bottom of the ninth.

Western Carolina (3-28, 1-8 SoCon) travels to Lexington, Va., for a three-game Southern Conference series against the VMI Keydets (15-17, 4-5 SoCon) this weekend. Each game will be broadcast on ESPN+, a new subscription web-based streaming platform that launches Thursday, with live stats available online through StatBroadcast and linked through VMIKeydets.com.