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Clemson, S.C. - Spencer Holcomb and Justin Sparks combine for eight of Western Carolina’s 11 hits on Wednesday night as the upset-minded Catamounts battled fifth-ranked Clemson to a two-run affair, falling 10-8 in midweek nonconference action at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Holcomb homered as a part of scoring four runs while Sparks drove in four including two on a two-run double as a part of strong performances at the plate. A product of Pfafftown, N.C., Holcomb’s first inning bunt single extended his reached base safely streak to a career-long 19-straight games while also pushing his active hitting streak to a career-best seven-games, finishing with a career-high tying four base hits.

Collecting career-highs for both hits and RBI with four in the loss, Sparks stretched his reached safely streak to 15-consecutive games. Infielder Will Prater was a third Catamount with a multi-hit game, doubling as a part of a 2-for-5 showing at the plate, scoring twice with an RBI on a productive out.

Western Carolina grabbed the early advantage on Wednesday as Prater singled ahead of Holcomb who pushed a bunt past Clemson starting pitcher Sam Weatherly to put two men aboard. Justice Bigbie drove in the first run on an infield ground out with Sparks driving a run-scoring single to the fence in left to bring Holcomb home from second base.

The lead stood until Clemson erupted for five runs in the home half of the second inning, turning the two-run deficit into a three-run advantage. Holcomb hammered his third home run of the season over the wall in left field in the third to bring it back to a two-run margin, 5-3, before Tiger slugger Seth Beer blasted a two-run shot to center in the fourth inning, pushing the scoreboard to 7-3.

Prater jumpstarted a three-run rally in the fifth inning for the Catamounts with a double down the left field line with Holcomb singling and classmate Cameron Blaquiere walking to load the bases before the first out. Bigbie plated his second marker of the game on another infield groundout before Sparks doubled down the right field line to score two, closing to within a run, 7-6.

In the sixth, the Catamounts pulled even with the nationally-ranked Tigers as Colton Henthorne singled up the middle, making the big turn at first which drew a throw from the Clemson defense. However, the arrant toss bounced into the home dugout with Henthorne awarded two bags on the error. Prater then drove in the game-tying run on an infield groundout, knotting the game at seven.

However, Clemson responded with a three-spot in the home half of the sixth to reclaim a lead it would never relinquish. With a runner at third and two outs, Tiger catcher Kyle Wilkie bounced a check-swing slow-rolling groundout to the infield that plated the go-ahead marker in Sam Hall, who opened the frame with a walk. Beer was intentionally walked ahead of Chris Williams who dropped a two-RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead.

Trailing 10-7 entering the final frame, the Catamounts brought the game-tying run to the plate twice in the top of the ninth inning but only managed to scratch the scoreboard once on a Sparks’ fourth hit of the night, plating his fourth run to provide the final tally, 10-8.

WCU starter Corey Sikes tossed five innings on Wednesday, scattering eight hits while allowing seven runs with a pair of strikeouts against three walks. He gave way to reliever Blake Therrian (0-4) who was saddled with the loss, striking out two in an inning and two-thirds innings. Therrian allowed three runs on three hits with freshman Zach Franklin tossing the final inning and a third, fanning two with just one hit allowed.

Clemson reliever Travis Marr (5-1) was the first of three arms out of the bullpen for the Tigers, scoring the win after three and a third innings of work, allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Starter Sam Weatherly was chased after three and two-thirds.

Wilkie (3-for-5) collected a team-best three hits for the Tigers while both Seth Beer (2-for-4) and Sam Hall (2-for-3) tallied two-hit games. Beer hit a two-run home run while Logan Davidson belted a two-run homer for his lone hit of the contest.

Western Carolina (6-40) returns home this weekend to host the Samford Bulldogs for a three-game Southern Conference series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. It’s WCU’s final three home games of the regular season with the team honoring its seniors prior to first pitch on Sunday afternoon.