Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina pitching tallied 11 total strikeouts on Tuesday afternoon, but the midweek struggles continued for the Catamounts, falling to Bryant, 7-3, in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Bulldogs capitalized on WCU miscues for a two-run second inning and a three-run home run in the third to build a lead they would never relinquish in scoring the victory in the first-ever meeting between the two.
 
WCU (8-7) remained winless in the midweek, dropping its third-straight home game after opening the year with four-consecutive wins. The Catamounts have another crack at their first victory outside of the weekend on Wednesday afternoon, hosting Bryant in game two of the two-game set with first pitch scheduled for 2 pm. Coverage of game two on the Catamount Sports Network is available with online streaming audio.
 
Junior Will Prater paced the Catamounts with the lone multi-hit game, doubling as a part of a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and a run scored. Seniors Andrew Robinson and Kitt Capell as well as junior Justice Bigbie each doubled as four of WCU's six hits went for extra bases. However, the Catamounts stranded five on base in the loss.
 
Corey Bright (0-2) battled through five innings in the starting effort before being saddled with the loss despite striking out six. The Barbourville, Ky., native surrendered five runs – four of which were earned – on just four hits and two walks. Reliever Tristen Campbell struck out each of the three batters he faced while Davis Tyndall, Nick Hyde, and Jack Snyder combined for the final three innings of work. Snyder worked out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth to keep the Catamount hopes alive, surrendering an unearned run in the ninth that provided the final tally.
 
A double, walk, and error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases for Bryant in the top of the second inning with the first of two runs scoring on a 6-4-3 double-play turned by the Catamounts. WCU looked to be out of the inning with just the solo marker allowed, but a dropped fly allowed an unearned marker to cross, making it 2-0 through two complete.
 
In what proved to be the decisive third, three-consecutive hits including a three-run homer by designated hitter Gaby Cruz pushed the visitors in front, 5-0.
 
Back-to-back doubles by Prater and Capell lit the scoreboard for the first time for the Catamounts in the third with Andrew Robinson pushing a bunt that was fielded and thrown home where Capell slide around the tag to plate the second run in the third inning. A frame later, Daylan Nanny bounced a single up the middle before eventually scoring on a Prater knock up the middle to trim the deficit to two, 5-3, through four complete.
 
While the offense was trying to get going, WCU's pitching retired 13-consecutive Bulldog hitters between the third sixth innings including three-straight, 1-2-3 frames between the fourth and sixth.
 
However, Western Carolina was never able to mount much of an offensive charge, managing just three base runners over the final five innings. Robinson doubled as did Bigbie with Angel Torres, a pinch hitter in the sixth inning, reaching on a HBP accounting for the only base runners.
 
Bryant starter Mason Palmieri (1-1) scored the victory, scattering three runs on five hits over six innings of work in halting the team's six-game seasonal slide. The senior struck out four against two walks. Three relievers combined for the final three frames with Jack Ipsen striking out two and Matt Stansky fanning one.
 
Cruz led a trio of Bulldogs with two-hit performances with his third-inning, three-run homer. Infielders Jake Gustin and Nick Viscariello both reached base three times, walking in 2-for-4 performances. Shane Kelly went 1-for-4, also drawing one of the three walks issued by WCU. Bryant left nine men on base in the win.
 
Game two of the midweek series with Bryant is scheduled for a 2 pm first pitch on Wednesday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Live stats and live audio are slated to be available online at CatamountSports.com.