Box Score

Lexington, Va. - Freshman Justice Bigbie blasted a three-run home run in the first inning to stake Western Carolina to an early lead on Friday night in its Southern Conference series-opener at VMI. However, the Keydets used a pair of big innings including a four-run bottom of the first and a decisive five-run home half of the sixth to take game one over the Catamounts, 11-7, at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Western Carolina (3-29, 1-9 SoCon) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth inning in coming away with three runs, but it was not enough as the Keydets snapped their seven-game losing skid against the Catamounts with the victory.

Bigbie finished 2-for-5 with the three RBI, one of three Catamounts to collect two hits in the loss as WCU reached double-digit hits for the second-consecutive game with 11. The first-year starter extended his active hitting streak to 10-straight with his first inning round-tripper, his third homer of the year. The Chesapeake, Va., native has a team-best 31 RBI on the season.

Senior Matthew Koehler belted his team-leading sixth home run of the season in a 2-for-3, two-run showing at the plate while sophomore Luke Robinson doubled as a part of a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored and a RBI on a ninth-inning single.

Cameron Blaquiere led off the top of the first by drawing an HBP before Luke Robinson belted a one-out double to right center to put two aboard ahead of Bigbie. The freshman blasted a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right for the early 3-0 lead for the Catamounts.

It was short-lived, though, as VMI (16-17, 5-5 SoCon) used four-consecutive extra base hits -- a double, triple, double and a two-run homer -- to push across four runs and overtake the Catamounts to lead, 4-3, after one complete.

A one-out home run to straight-away center field in the top of the second inning by Koehler tied the game at four where it would stay until the bottom of the fourth inning. The long-ball by Koehler was his sixth of the year -- and his first since hitting two against Marshall back on March 6. But a solo home run by first baseman Jake Huggins in the home portion of the fourth pushed VMI ahead for what proved to be for good.

After loading the bases but not scoring in the fifth inning, the Keydets struck in the sixth scoring five runs with two outs. Huggins led off with a single before Walter struck out the next two batters. However, consecutive walks out of the bullpen filled the bases before Will Malbon drilled a three-run double down the right field line. Following a second pitching change, Collin Fleischer cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left to cap the five-run frame.

The Catamounts attempted a late-inning rally against the Keydet bullpen with the help of a pair of VMI errors, pushing across three runs to provide the final tally. Koehler reached on an infield error before pinch hitter Immanuel Wilder collected his first collegiate base hit with runners ending up at second and third after an error on the same play. Blaquiere doubled to plate Koehler before a second pinch hitter in redshirt freshman Bo Fricks loaded the bases with a walk. Luke Robinson drove in a second run with a single through the right side with a third run scoring on a double-play. VMI then secured the win with a game-ending strikeout.

Redshirt sophomore starter Chase Walter (0-5) took the loss for the Catamounts, allowing six earned runs on nine this through 5.2 innings on Friday. But the Peachtree City, Ga., native struck out a career-high nine to counter three walks. Relievers Blake Therrian and Jake Niezen were touched for a combined four runs on three hits and two walks. Freshman Caleb Bishop tossed the final two innings out of the bullpen, allowing a run a hit with a strikeout.

WCU's offense got to the SoCon preseason Pitcher of the Year in Josh Winder (2-4) early in the game with four runs in the first two frames, but he settled in to strikeout 11 over eight innings of work. Reliever Eric Byrd faced three batters in the ninth, tagged with all three runs -- though only one was earned -- on two hits before Matthew Eagle secured the final three outs including a strikeout looking to end the game.

Malbon finished with a game-high five RBI including a two-run homer and a three-run double for the Keydets, while Fleischer was 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk and two RBI. Huggins, Matt Dunlevy and Matt Pita each collected two hits for the Keydets in the win as the home squad finished with 13 hits.

With inclement weather forecasted for Sunday, officials at VMI have made the move to play two on Saturday in doubleheader action. Game one will start at 1 pm with the series finale to follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two. Both games will be broadcast on the new ESPN+ (subscription) with live game stats available through StatBroadcast online at VMIKeydets.com.