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Cullowhee, N.C. - Jackson Greer hit a two-run home run to set-off an offensive barrage for East Tennessee State on Friday night as the visiting Buccaneers homered three times in taking game one of the Southern Conference series from Western Carolina, upending the Catamounts 11-4 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.

ETSU (21-17, 6-7 SoCon) took advantage of seven walks and a pair of hit batters issued by Catamount pitching as five of the runners put aboard by the freebies scored. The Buccaneers scored runs in five different innings with four, multi-run frames in twice erasing Catamount leads. WCU lit the scoreboard with single runs three times, taking a 1-0 lead after the home half of the first and a 2-1 edge after the fourth. However, WCU was unable to find the timely hit in the loss, stranding nine runners on base.

Western Carolina out-hit ETSU on the day, 12-to-10, with four players posting multi-hit games in the loss in the series-opener. Freshman Will Prater matched a career-high with three base hits including legging out his second career double while senior catcher Spencer Holcomb matched with a trio of singles to lead the Catamounts. Holcomb also threw out three runners on the base paths, reclaiming first in the SoCon in the stat category.

Redshirt sophomore Justin Sparks singled twice in a 2-for-4 performance while classmate Colton Henthorne doubled off the fence with a RBI attached as a part of a 2-for-4 showing in just his fourth start of the season. Senior infielder Cameron Blaquiere plated a pair of runs including one on a first-inning fielder's choice before collecting his first home run of the season on a two-out, solo shot in the ninth inning that provided the final tally.

Catamount starter Chase Walter (1-6) was strong through four-plus innings of his scheduled start on Friday including recording a four-pitch inning in the third inning. Despite striking out three, the Peachtree City, Ga., native surrendered a two-out solo home run in the fourth before a one-out walk and two-run homer followed in the fifth pushed ETSU in front for what proved to be for good. Things turned sour in the sixth as a lead-off single and stolen base ignited a three-run frame as four freebies -- a hit batter and three walks, two driving in runs -- was capped by a sacrifice fly by Greer to make it 6-2.

ETSU touched-up Catamount reliever Jake Moebius for three runs on one hit with a pair of walks and a strikeout over an inning and two-thirds, while Jake Niezen surrendered two runs on three hits with a pair of punchouts in his two-relief innings.

Buccaneer starter Micah Kaczor (4-4) scattered 10 base hits, minimizing WCU's chances through seven innings in limiting the Catamounts to three runs, two of which were earned. He issued a walk and struck out one before handing the ball to reliever Logan Gentry for the final two innings, giving up the Blaquiere homer as one of his two hits and accounting for the lone run.

ETSU's middle of the lineup -- the 4-5-6 hitters -- accounted for six of the Bucs' 10 hits and six runs driven in. Christian Bailey finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI while Cullen Smith plated two in a 2-for-4 outing that included a double. Caleb Longley homered for his lone RBI, posting a 2-for-5 showing at the dish for ETSU with Greer plating three on his lone hit of the night on the two-run shot in the fifth with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for a 2:00 pm start on Saturday afternoon in a game presented by Goodwill of Northwest North Carolina. Fans are encouraged to bring donation items to Saturday's game, receiving $3 admission with a donation.

Sunday's series finale has been moved to a 1:00 pm first pitch.