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Cullowhee, N.C. - Freshman Justice Bigbie gave Western Carolina an early 3-0 lead on Saturday afternoon with a first-inning, three-run home run to left center field. However, UNCG responded with nine unanswered runs to pull away from the Catamounts in taking the delayed series opener at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium by a count of 9-3.

Capitalizing on a lead-off HBP of Bo Fricks and a streak-extending single by senior Cameron Blaquiere, WCU put its first two runners aboard in the home half of the opening frame. With one out, Bigbie parked a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left-center field for a three-run home run.

Bigbie's second career round-tripper broke a nearly month-long void for the Catamount baseball team, halting a 13-game drought since its last home run that came in the Ball State series back on March 10.

WCU's seven hits were spread between seven different players on Saturday afternoon with sophomore Andrew Robinson collecting the only other extra base hit for the Catamounts on a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning. Blaquiere stretched his career-long hitting streak to 12-straight games with his first-inning single through the left side, while Bigbie reached base for the 12th-consecutive game. Fricks reached base twice, adding a base on balls in addition to being plunked.

Half an inning after Bigbie's blast, UNCG (22-7, 3-1 SoCon) got a three-run home run of its own in the top of the second inning to knot the game at three apiece. A Dillon Stewart single and a walk issued to Cesar Trejo put two men aboard before the one-out homer by catcher Ryan Clinch to right field tied the game.

The Spartans pulled ahead for good in the fourth inning, using a run-scoring triple by Zach Kuchmaner and a two-run homer by Tripp Shelton for a second, three-run frame to lead 6-3 after four complete. UNCG managed three insurance markers including two in the seventh on a two-run single by Trejo, who finished 2-for-4 on the day, and a run-scoring double by Austin Embler who recorded a pair of two-baggers in the winning effort, the second providing the final tally, 9-3.

Western Carolina's best chances to get the offense rolling came in the seventh inning after Andrew Robinson's one-out, pinch-hit double and in the eighth on a pinch-hit single by Justin Sparks followed by a two-out Luke Robinson single. However, in both frames, WCU was unable to manufacture a run with Andrew left at third in the seventh inning and two stranded in the eighth.

WCU starter Chase Walter (0-4) took the loss for the Catamounts, surrendering six runs -- only three of which earned -- on seven hits through 4.1 innings of work. The redshirt freshman was a victim of an elevated pitch count that included three strikeouts, hitting the century mark before reaching the qualifying minimum innings of work on Saturday. Reliever Jake Moebius was tagged for two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings of work, countering a pair of walks with three strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore Blake Therrian matched Moebius with 2.1 innings of work, allowing one unearned run with a strikeout.

Three UNCG pitchers combined in the win with starter Matt Frisbee (6-0) remaining perfect on the season, striking out nine with just one walk in seven innings of work. A native of nearby Candler, N.C., Frisbee limited WCU to five hits while on the mound, despite surrendering the three-run homer in the first before settling into a groove, recording a trio of 1-2-3 innings.

Spartan relievers Jack Maynard and Easton Welch both tossed an inning of scoreless relief out of the bullpen with Maynard tagged for two hits countered with a strikeout.

The two teams will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon with the first game to be broadcast on ESPN3 with a 1:00 pm first pitch before the series finale that slated for an approximate 5:00 pm start time. Fans can follow both games with live GameTracker, available online at CatamountSports.com, with updates also available through Twitter using the handle, @Catamounts.