Box Score

Greenville, S.C. - Redshirt sophomore Justin Sparks led the Western Carolina offense with a four-hit, three RBI effort while redshirt freshman right-hander Chase Walter matched a career-high with nine strikeouts in a gritty performance on the mound as the ninth-seeded Catamounts defeated the No. 1 seed UNCG Spartans 8-4 in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon at the Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.

After being swept by UNCG in the regular season, the Catamounts topped the Spartans two times in four days, outscoring the regular season champion 18-6 in the two contests. UNCG saw its season end at 39-15 overall.

Western Carolina combined for 13 hits from seven different batters, featuring four players with at least two hits. Both Luke Robinson and Cameron Blaquiere had two hits and two RBIs to keep the Catamounts alive in tournament play with Blaquiere doubling twice. Sparks matched a career-high with four singles, continuing his strong tournament play.

Spencer Holcomb reached base on a third inning HBP to extend his reached base safely streak to a team-best 30-consecutive games. However, he was hit on the hand and eventually forced him to the sidelines after catching every other game on the week in the tournament.

UNCG combined for nine hits in the loss, led by All-SoCon first-team member Caleb Webster, who was 3-for-5 with two runs batted in.

With Western Carolina clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, Sparks drove in a pair of runs to give the Catamounts the much-needed run support. Bryson Parks then launched a solo home run over the fence in left center field in the eighth inning to give Western Carolina an 8-4 advantage and providing the final tally.

Working on short rest after starting Tuesday's single-elimination game victory over No. 8 seed The Citadel, Walter (3-7) delivered a gutsy effort in the win-or-go home game. The Peachtree City, Ga., native tossed 7 1/3 innings, limiting the potent UNCG lineup to just four runs while striking out nine batters to earn the victory. Redshirt junior southpaw Taylor Purus picked up his second save of the year, throwing 1 2/3 innings while recording four strikeouts among the five batters he retired including striking out the side in the eighth.

SoCon Pitcher of the Year, UNCG's Matt Frisbee (10-2), also working on short rest, was tagged with the loss. The right-hander, who was saddled with his first loss of the year in Wednesday's defeat against Western Carolina, lasted three innings, giving up six hits and four runs.

UNCG got on the board in the top of the second when Cesar Trejo singled to put the Spartans ahead 1-0. Western Carolina's Caleb Robinson matched Trejo in the bottom half of the inning, singling to left to even the game at one apiece.

After the Spartans took a 2-1 in to the bottom half of the third inning, the Catamounts put three runs on the board to take a lead they would not relinquish. With runners on second and third, Blaquiere drove a double to left center, scoring Spencer Holcomb and Will Prater. Sparks then singled up the middle to plate Blaquiere.

An inning later, Caleb Robinson led-off with his first home run of the tournament, blasting a shot over the fence in left center field

The Spartans pulled to within one run in the fifth when Caleb Webster singled up the middle to score fellow All-SoCon first-teamer Austin Embler, making the score 5-4 before the Catamounts put distance between the two teams by scoring a pair in the seventh on a two-RBI single by Sparks. Then in the ninth, freshman Bryson Parks smashed a solo home run to left center to take the 8-4 victory.

With the win, WCU advanced in the bracket to face No. 5 seed Mercer, which fell into the loser's bracket earlier in the day on Saturday after falling to No. 2 seed Samford.