Greenville, S.C. – Sophomore transfer
Zebby Matthews struck out a career-high eight in tossing his first career complete-game on Friday night in Western Carolina's opener in the 2020 First Pitch Invitational as the Catamounts rallied past Ball State, 6-3, at Fluor Field.
WCU (6-3) answered a two-run top of the fifth inning with a four-run home half of the frame to take a lead it would never relinquish, halting a three-game slide with the three-run victory.
Matthews (3-0) eclipsed his previous career-high of seven K's by fanning eight in the winning effort, limiting the Cardinals to just three runs on seven hits, four of which were singles and did not issue a walk. The Cullowhee, N.C., native retired 12-consecutive hitters from the first through the first out of the fifth inning, and then sat down nine of the final 10 batters he faced, stranding the game-tying runner at third base in the seventh inning.
Junior transfer
Daniel Walsh drove in two runners in a 2-for-4 performance while classmate
Justice Bigbie plated one in a 2-for-5 showing. Junior
Immanuel Wilder reached base three times, drawing his team-best 11th HBP and a walk in a 1-for-3, two run performance with
Daylan Nanny collecting a run-scoring in the fifth inning.
Ball State (2-5) broke open the scoreless deadlock in the top of the fifth inning, putting two aboard on consecutive hit batters by Matthews. Back-to-back Catamount errors loaded the bases and allowed the game's first run to score before Aaron Simpson lifted a sacrifice fly into centerfield and Wilder's throw to the plate wasn't in time.
The lead was short-lived, though, as WCU responded in the bottom of the fifth. Walsh opened the inning with an infield single before taking second on a wild pitch and eventually scoring on an error that allowed
Andrew Bullock to reach. With Bullock and
Angel Torres, who walked, on board, WCU got three-consecutive, two-out run-scoring singles from Wilder, Bigbie, and
Daylan Nanny to grab a 4-2 lead through five complete.
In the seventh, three-consecutive hits to open the frame pulled the Cardinals back to within one, 4-3, with the tying and go-ahead runs at the corners. However, Matthews got a strikeout and a pair of fly ball outs to center to end the threat.
Walsh delivered a bases-loaded single to right center in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the game out of reach, scoring Wilder and
Will Prater in providing the final tally, 6-3.
Ball State starter John Baker (0-2) was lifted in the sixth inning, completing 5.2 innings in the loss. The preseason third-team All-America selection surrendered four unearned runs on six hits, striking out seven with one walk. Reliever Lukas Jaksich gave up two unearned runs with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Cardinals' five hits were scattered between five individuals with Ryan Peltier finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI and catcher Chase Sebby doubling in his 1-for-3 showing. Outfielder Zach Cole scoring twice, reaching on a single and a fifth-inning HBP.
Western Carolina returns to action against tournament host Michigan State (6-3) on Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 pm at Fluor Field.
