Spartanburg, S.C. – Western Carolina struck for three runs in the top of the first inning on Friday afternoon in bouncing back for a 5-2 victory over USC Upstate in nonconference action at Harley Park.
 
The win halted a two-game seasonal slide for the Catamounts who had suffered back-to-back shutout losses. It was also the squad's first win in its first true road game this season. WCU's three-run first halted a scoreless drought that lasted 22 innings dating back to a three-run outburst in the 5-3 victory over Kansas last Sunday.
 
Three Catamounts recorded multi-hit games in the nightcap of the Friday twin bill with freshman Carson Ford reaching base three times in a 2-for-3, two-run outing, adding a HBP. Junior Will Prater went 2-for-4 with a RBI while classmate Daniel Walsh went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and one driven in. Justice Bigbie doubled as did Colin Bertsch in a pinch hit role, plating a run.
 
Redshirt junior Chase Walter (1-2), who started his collegiate career at neighboring Spartanburg Methodist, earned his first victory of the season, striking out a season-high seven over five innings of work on the blustery afternoon. The Peachtree City, Ga., native worked around five walks and limited the Spartans to one unearned run on one hit before giving way to the bullpen.
 
WCU's third weekend starter, junior Ryan Mitschele, tossed a pair of relief innings, surrendering an unearned run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout while junior Zach Franklin closed the game with two relief innings of scoreless relief, surrendering two hits while striking out a pair.
 
Redshirt senior Andrew Bullock collected both of his RBI in what proved to be the decisive first inning as he singled to right field scoring both Walsh, who doubled, and Bigbie, who reached on an outfield error by the Spartans in the first inning. Bullock later scored the third marker on a RBI single by Prater to make it 3-0 after half an inning.
 
WCU scored runs in the top of the fourth and sixth only to see USC Upstate answer with solo markers in the corresponding innings. Ford singled and later scored on a Walsh single in the fourth, also reaching on a base knock in the sixth. After stealing second and taking third on an error on the play, Ford scored on the Bertsch pinch hit double.
 
USC Upstate starter Jordan Marks (3-1) suffered his first loss, allowing five runs – three of which were earned – on eight hits with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Reliever Will Lancaster tossed 3.2 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief with a walk and four strikeouts.
 
Outfielder Julian Rip finished 2-for-3 and scored both Spartan runs on Friday afternoon, tallying a third of USC Upstate's six hits. Mason Stewart reached twice with a 1-for-3 outing with a walk and the Spartans' lone RBI.
 
WCU forced USC Upstate to strand 11 base runners in the win while it left nine on base.
 
Western Carolina (8-6) returns home for a brief, two-game midweek series against the Bryant Bulldogs on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10-11. UPDATE: First pitch on Tuesday has been bumped to 3 pm with a 2 pm start on Wednesday afternoon, adjusting the schedule because of weather.