Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina plays a Friday doubleheader against a pair of nonconference foes on Friday afternoon at Harley Park in Spartanburg, S.C. The Catamounts face a third Big Ten opponent this season in Northwestern beginning at Noon followed by a 4:30 pm game against host USC Upstate.
 
The Catamounts (7-5) look to bounce back from a 2-0 shutout loss at home against Appalachian State on Wednesday night in Cullowhee. Friday's first game is WCU's seventh neutral field game of the season to date with the afternoon tilt with the Spartans representing the first true road game for the Catamounts.
 
Scouting Northwestern:

• The Wildcats return to the Palmetto State for a second-time this season, taking two of three from the South Carolina Gamecocks – both in extra innings – between Feb. 21-23 … Northwestern dropped 2-of-3 to Omaha to open the year and was swept in Florida by USF;
• Northwestern's projected starter Mike Doherty was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team last season, leading all Wildcat pitchers with a 3.72 ERA – a mark that ranked him second in the Big Ten among first-year starting pitchers … Doherty had five wins and held opponents to a .251 batting average against;

 
Series History – Western Carolina vs. Northwestern:

• Western Carolina leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 3-0, sweeping the Wildcats back in the 1992 season on the road in Evanston, Ill.
• Northwestern represents the third Big Ten foe the Catamounts have played this season … WCU defeated Illinois, 9-2, in Myrtle Beach, S.C., back in the first game of the Brittain Resorts & Hotels Invitational on Feb. 21 … the Catamounts dropped a one-run affair against Michigan State, 4-3, at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C., at the First Pitch Invitational on Feb. 29.

 
Western Carolina (7-5) vs. Northwestern (4-6)
When: Friday, March 6 | Noon
Where: Harley Park
Coverage: Live Stats (USC Upstate)
Pitching Match-Up:
WCU – So. RHP Zebby Matthews (3-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. NU – So. RHP Mike Doherty (0-0, 1.20 ERA)
 

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Scouting USC Upstate:

• USC Upstate was picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Big South Conference by the league's head coaches in the preseason poll;
• The Spartans have already started 3-0 against the Southern Conference, upending Palmetto State rivals Furman, Wofford, and The Citadel this season and are a combined 9-3 at home to date;
• USC Upstate's projected starting pitcher is a three-year starter and has won 11 games over the past three seasons (11-13) including a perfect 3-0 start to this season … He has allowed just five runs, only two of which have been earned with 25 strikeouts;
• USC Upstate is led by first-year head coach Mike McGuire.

 
Series History – Western Carolina vs. USC Upstate:

• Western Carolina leads the all-time series against USC Upstate, 6-2, with all eight meetings coming during the 1980s between 1986 and 1989 … WCU is 3-1 in games played in Spartanburg;
• The Catamounts have won five-straight in the head-to-head series between the two.

 
Western Carolina at USC Upstate (10-3)
When: Friday, March 6 | 4:00 pm
Where: Harley Park | Spartanburg, S.C.
Coverage: Listen Live (Upstate Audio) | Live Stats
Pitching Match-Up:
WCU – R-Jr. RHP Chase Walter (0-2, 10.80 ERA) vs. UPSTATE – Jr. RHP Jordan Marks (3-0, 0.89 ERA)
 
Up Next:
Western Carolina returns home for a pair of midweek games against the Bryant Bulldogs in Cullowhee at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Tuesday, March 10 at 4 pm and Wednesday, March 11 at 5 pm. The Catamounts return to the road for a three-game nonconference series at former SoCon-member, Elon, March 13-15 (4 pm / 2 pm / 1:30 pm).