Cullowhee, N.C. – Junior transfer
Angel Torres blasted a three-run home run as a part of a five-run third inning as Western Carolina completed the four-game season-opening series sweep of Chicago State at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Eight of WCU's nine gold-clad starters recorded hits in Sunday's victory with four players finishing with two-hit games. Torres plated a game-high three runs on his third-inning home run in a 2-for-4 outing while
Daniel Walsh scored twice, reaching on a pair of singles and tallying an RBI. Junior
Will Prater beat out a bunt for an infield single and legged out a double for his 2-or-4 showing while
Seth Graves drove in one with two singles, likewise finishing 2-for-4.
Juniors
Immanuel Wilder and
Justice Bigbie both reached base twice despite one-hit outings, Wilder drawing the lone walk issued by Cougar pitching to go along with a double and Bigbie reaching on an HBP in addition to a single in the third. Redshirt senior
Andrew Bullock tallied a run-scoring double in a 1-for-4 performance.
Chicago State (0-4) opened the scoring in the first inning as Judah Wilbur lifted a one-out single to right field before scoring from third on an infield single that ricocheted off WCU pitcher
Ty McCulloch allowing all three runners to be safe. WCU's southpaw starter would regroup as Graves made a diving stab in leftfield to end the threat, stranding two.
After going in order in the home half of the first inning, the Catamounts knotted the game in the bottom of the second. Walsh singled and stole second base before scoring on a base knock to right field by Graves to make it 1-1 through two complete.
An inning later, WCU broke it open with five runs on five hits, all coming with one out.
Daylan Nanny singled into left field to start the rally with Bigbie pushing a single through the left-hand side to put two aboard. Bullock then belted a double off the fence in left-center field to bring Nanny home. Bigbie touched home on a single to right field by Walks with Torres taking care of the remaining three markers on his line-drive homer down the right-field line.
Chicago State threatened in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases with a trio of walks, but a force-out at third base ended the threat and stranded three runners. A sixth-inning double by Dalton Daily pushed Andy Gaytan home to trim the lead to four, 6-2, through six innings. WCU capped scoring in the bottom of the eighth a Prater doubled to lead-off the frame before stealing third, scampering home on an error as the throw to the bag at third base got away down the left side.
Junior RHP
Ryan Mitschele (1-0) scored his first collegiate victory, scattering five base hits and limiting Chicago State to one run over 5.2 relief innings. The Statesville, N.C., native struck out four while working around four walks in the winning effort. McCulloch was chased with one out in the second inning after seeing the bases load on three hit batters, but Mitschele promptly delivered a double-play ball to end the threat.
Freshman
Alec Woodard struck out one in an inning of hitless relief work while classmate
Tristen Campbell held the Cougars scoreless with one hit allowed as both first-year arms made their collegiate debuts.
Cougar starter Vinnie Venturi (0-1) was saddled with the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits over three innings, striking out one. Offensively, Daily finished 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI with infielder Christian Kuzemka going 1-for-4 and driving in Chicago State's other marker.
Western Carolina returns to action in tournament play in Conway, S.C., playing three neutral field nonconference games at Coastal Carolina's Springs Brooks Stadium. Feb. 21-23. The Catamounts open play at the Brittain Resorts & Hotels Invitational against Big Ten foe, Illinois, on Friday before facing Kennesaw State on Saturday and Saint Joseph's on Sunday. Each game is slated for an 11 am first pitch.
