Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - East Tennessee State sailed out to a 13-1 lead through the first three frames on Saturday afternoon before weathering the Catamount storm late in scoring a series-clinching, 14-12, victory in game two of the three-game Southern Conference series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee.

After allowing 13 runs to cross the plate over the opening three frames, WCU lit the scoreboard for 11-unanswered markers to make it a ball game, drawing to within one, 13-12, headed to the ninth inning. ETSU used a solo home run in the top of the final frame as insurance to push the margin back to two with the Catamounts down to their final three outs.

With two away in the bottom of the ninth inning, redshirt junior Matthew Koehler smashed a triple off the batter's eye in center field to bring the game-tying run to the plate. However, the magic just ran out as WCU was unable to complete the comeback as ETSU closer James Giambalvo recorded his second strikeout of the frame to end the game.

All told -- and though it looked improbable after the way the game started -- WCU dropped its 19th game of the season by three-or-fewer runs.

Senior reliever Corey Sikes was masterful out of the bullpen for the Catamounts making the offensive rally possible. The Monroe, N.C., native used four strikeouts to work around four free passes -- two walks and a pair of hit batters -- in charting 5.1 hitless, scoreless innings. Sikes induced a double-play ball in the fourth and picked-off a runner in the fifth inning while sitting the Buccaneers down in order in the eighth as a part of retiring five-straight to conclude his outing on the mound.

As the southpaw Sikes kept throwing up goose eggs on the scoreboard, the Catamount offense slowly worked its way into the picture. Including a much-needed three-run home half of the third inning, WCU match ETSU's three big innings as it clawed to within one run in the home half of the eighth inning

Six Catamounts finished with multi-hit games in the loss including three-hit showings by freshman Justice Bigbie and Caleb Robinson, who blasted his team-leading seventh home run to account for the three-run fifth inning. Bigbie, who halted a three-game slump with his sixth three-hit game of the season, added to his team-leading RBI tally with two runs driven in.

Senior catcher Spencer Holcomb drove in two runs including a sacrifice fly and a ninth, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate while freshman infielder Will Prater continued his hot streak, lacing his first career triple off the fence in right field in scoring WCU's first run the opening frame as a part of a 2-for-4 performance. Holcomb has reached base in 14-straight games. Koehler also tripled on the day as both he and senior Cameron Blaquiere both finished with 2-for-5 showings at the plate.

Like Holcomb, first baseman Justin Sparks stretched his reached base safely streak on Saturday , now standing at 10-consecutive. Sparks singled and walked on the afternoon.

From the first pitch of the afternoon, ETSU's offense has a bead on Catamount starter Tristan Baker (1-6) who was saddled with the loss. Baker was lifted after 2.1 innings of work with 12 of the 13 runs accredited to him coming on 14 base hits. Junior reliever Michael Davis finished the third inning by recording the final two outs, allowing a run on a hit with a walk and a strikeout. Behind Sikes, freshman Zach Franklin tossed the final two-thirds of an inning, striking out one while allowing the home run on the breezy day in Cullowhee.

ETSU scored five runs on six hits -- five of which were singles -- in the first inning before following it up with a four-run second coming on five hits that included a Chris Cook double and a two-run homer by Caleb Longley. The scoring barrage over the opening third concluded with a four-run third inning coming on four more hits, three singles and Cook's third double of the day.

Buccaneer starter Ryan Simpler (5-4) ended up with the victory, though the Catamounts made the hard-throwing right-hander work for it. Simpler lasted six innings, allowing eight runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Giambalvo was the fourth Buccaneer arm to see action, striking out two in tossing the ninth with only one hit allowed.

The Bucs saw five players finished with multi-hit games paced by catcher Ben Jackson who finished 4-for-6 with a home run for his RBI. Cook doubled in his first three plate appearances, finishing 3-for-6 with three runs scored and a team-best four runs driven in. At the top of the lineup, outfielder Aaron Maher (3-for-5) also finished with three hits while Cullen Smith drove in three on a 2-for-5 showing at the plate. Longley's only base knock of the day was the second inning, two-run home run.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 pm first pitch at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Sunday's game will be broadcast on the ESPN3 (free) with live GameTracker available online at CatamountSports.com.