Cullowhee, N.C. – Junior Daylan Nanny doubled twice while classmate transfer Angel Torres drove home a game-high three runs, both finishing 3-for-5 on Friday afternoon as Western Carolina claimed its series-opener over Chicago State, 14-4, in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Hometown right-handed sophomore transfer Zebby Matthews struck out seven over six innings of work to lead the Catamounts to the season-opening victory for a second-consecutive season.
 
Western Carolina (1-0) plated two-or-more runs in each inning between the fifth and eighth to pull away in the winning effort in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
 
Nanny scored four runs while driving in two in a 3-for-5 effort while Angel Torres was likewise 3-for-5 with a trio of singles, each scoring Catamount runs. Another junior transfer Daniel Walsh went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two RBI in his WCU debut while redshirt senior Andrew Bullock and junior Will Prater both finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
 
Junior Justice Bigbie completed the six multi-hit games for the Catamounts by finishing 2-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI, wearing the honored No. 7 jersey for the first time.
 
On the mound, Cullowhee native Zebby Matthews allowed just three runs over six innings of work, scattering seven base hits with seven strikeouts in his Purple & Gold debut. Combined, he stranded five of Chicago State's seven runners left on base in the winning effort. Reliever Jack Snyder surrendered an unearned run in an inning of work with a strikeout while sophomore Davis Tyndall matched a career-high with four strikeouts against the only two walks issued by WCU pitching in two hitless, scoreless relief innings.
 
Two Cougars (0-1) finished with two hits games with Andy Gaytan homering while Dalton Daily doubled as both finished 2-for-4, combining for half of Chicago State's eight hits. Starting pitcher Dylan Cumming was saddled with the loss, tagged for eight runs – only five of which were earned – coming on 12 hits with four strikeouts and two walks. All told, four Cougar arms took the mound on a cold evening.
 
Dalton's first-inning double gave Chicago State a short-lived 1-0 lead in the first inning as WCU quickly loaded the bases on the first of three HBP's by lead-off man Immanuel Wilder and consecutive singles by Nanny and Bigbie. Andrew Bullock then drove a sacrifice fly deep to centerfield before Torres bounced one through the left side for the 2-1 advantage through one.
 
Both teams managed solo markers in the third inning with Gaytan homering to tie the game only to see transfer Daniel Walsh punch one up the middle to score Bigbie who doubled to reclaim the advantage. It was a lead that the Catamounts would not relinquish.
 
In the fifth inning, Torres singled home Nanny before eventually crossing the plate on a base hit by Will Prater, hitting home after the relay to the plate was dropped ahead of the would-be tag. A half-inning later, the Cougars had their best threat of the night but were limited to just one marker. J Brooks drove Daily home to close the deficit to two, 5-3. Chicago State went on to load the bases, but Matthews got a pop-up in foul ground and a strikeout to end the frame and preserved the lead.
 
Juiced by Matthews' seventh punch out of the night, the Catamount offense opened the first of three-consecutive three-run innings to extend the lead. Sophomore catcher Michael Goehrig opened the barrage with his first collegiate home run, blasting the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth over the batter's eye just right of straight-away centerfield. Torres and Walsh both tacked on markers with run-scoring hits to make it 8-3 through six complete.
 
Nanny drove in two with his second double of the game with Bullock plating the third marker in the seventh and the Catamounts pushed across the insurance markers in the eighth without the benefit of a base hit to provide the final tally. Senior Kitt Capell drew a bases-loaded pinch-hit walk ahead of Wilder who secured an RBI by being plunked a third time. The game's final run scored on a ground ball force play.
 
Western Carolina outhit the Cougars, 15-to-8, with four going for extra bases for the home squad and two for the visitors. The Catamounts ultimately stranded 11 base runners, seven by Chicago State.
 
WCU and Chicago State are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.