Cullowhee, N.C. - Unexpected torrential downpours during pregame batting practice coupled with the impending threat of thunderstorms including lightning across western North Carolina have prompted officials at Western Carolina to postpone Friday night’s Southern Conference series-opening baseball game with the Samford Bulldogs.

The two teams will now open the three-game conference series on Saturday, May 12 with first pitch at 2 pm with game two to follow approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Fans traveling to Saturday’s games are reminded to expect heavy traffic congestion through Sylva and onto campus as the University is conducting its two graduation commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

Fans can follow each game of the three-game series with live audio through the Catamount Sports Network as Kyle Rush has the weekend call. Live GameTracker coverage of each game is also available online and both can be accessed through CatamountSports.com.

Heavy rain left the playing surface at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium under water as the pop-up rain cell moved through and seemingly hung over the stadium for close to 30 minutes dropping a lot of water on the field. The Catamounts were amidst pregame batting practice and were unable to get the tarp on the field before it had been rendered unplayable.

The three-game weekend SoCon series concludes on Sunday with a 1 pm first pitch on Senior Day as WCU will honor its seniors in a special pregame ceremony. The three-game slate against Samford wraps-up both the league and the home portion of Western Carolina’s 2018 schedule. The Catamounts have dropped three of the last four in the head-to-head series with the Bulldogs including dropping the seasonal series in Birmingham, Ala., a year ago.

WCU is coming off its first, three-game series win as the Catamounts took 2-of-3 at Furman last weekend in Greenville, S.C.

Fans can keep track of any weather-related schedule changes online at CatamountSports.com or through WCU Athletics' social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts or @WCUCatamountBSB).