Cullowhee, N.C. – Justice Bigbie lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center field to plate freshman Zach Ketterman with the go-ahead run as Western Carolina broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning and tacked on three insurance markers in the following two frames as a part of the four-unanswered runs to fend-off Towson 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
The pitching staffs allowed just a combined nine base hits on getaway day while netting 20 total strikeouts – 12 by the Catamounts and nine for Towson.
 
The victory completed the four-game season-opening nonconference sweep for the Catamounts. It marked the second-straight season WCU had taken its first four home games from a single-opponent and the third-consecutive opening-weekend sweep in Cullowhee that included Chicago State (4-0 in 2020) and Oakland (3-0 in 2019).
 
Bigbie (0-for-2) plated two of the four Catamount runs without securing an official base hit on Sunday, driving in the squad's first run in the home half of the first inning on an infield ground out. Freshman Pascanel Ferreras posted two of WCU's four hits including a double and a two-run single in the seventh inning as the potent Catamount offense was held to just four base knocks in the finale.
 
Freshman Drew Needham and junior Seth Graves, a late innings substitution, collected WCU's other two hits in the winning effort.
 
Junior Ryan Mitschele struck out seven through 5.0 innings of work in the start, pitching around a walk and four hit batters to limit Towson to a run on two hits. Freshman Nick Hyde (1-0) scored the victory, inheriting runners at the corners and just one out in the top of the sixth inning. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C., native struck out two around a two-out walk to strand the bases loaded and keep the game tied before the Catamounts took the lead in the home half.
 
Western Carolina opened the scoring in the home half of the first inning as Ketterman was plunked ahead of his classmate Ferreras who doubled to left field. Two batters later, Ketterman scampered home on a run-scoring ground out to short by Bigbie for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Half an inning later, Towson responded, though, as Billy Godrick was hit by a 2-2 pitch. The Tigers would eventually load the bases on two additional freebies with a walk and a hit batter. Matt Arceo then dribbled one back to the right side of the mound where Mitschele fielded but was caught between tagging Arceo and throwing home for the force play. The pitcher from Statesville, N.C., made the safe play in just the second inning and threw to first for the out as Towson tied the game. Mitschele minimized the visitor's rally by closing the frame with a strikeout.
 
Neither team could muster any offense on the breezy Sunday afternoon through the middle innings as WCU was retired in order in the third through fifth innings while Towson managed just one runner in the third and fourth.
 
The Tigers threatened in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two walks sandwiched around a single before Hyde slammed the door with his second strikeout. In the bottom of the frame, Ketterman led-off with the first of consecutive walks with an infield fielder's choice putting runners at the corners with one away. Bigbie then drove a 2-2 pitch deep to left-center where the gusty wind knocked it down at the wall, but Ketterman tagged and scored on the sacrifice fly.
 
Ferreras provided the two-out insurance base knock as a Tigers' error proved costly to prolong the bottom of the seventh with both Ketterman and pinch-runner Immanuel Wilder scoring on the sharp single. Wilder again found himself in scoring position in the eighth, reaching on a walk and getting to third base on a passed ball and wild pitch. Wilder scored on a failed pick-off attempt at first base as the throw was dropped and rolled just far enough away to allow the Madison, Ala., native to race home with his second run of the day to provide the final tally.
 
WCU relievers Davis Tyndall, Eric Wallington, and Jack Snyder combined to throw the final three innings, striking out one apiece with Tyndall tossing 2.0 innings.
 
Reliever Kody Reeser (0-1) was saddled with the loss, tossing two innings in relief of starter Nick Ramanjulu who struck out five while allowing one run on just one base hit with a walk and HBP. Reeser issued two walks to start the bottom of the sixth inning before being lifted with Ketterman representing the one inherited runner allowed to score with what proved to be the game-winning run.
 
First-baseman Nick Brown posted a multi-hit game and reached base four times, finishing 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Nolan Young doubled in a 1-for-5 outing with Billy Godrick reaching twice on a single and an HBP.
 
Western Carolina (4-0) continues its season-opening five-game homestand on Tuesday, Feb. 23 as it hosts mountain-rival UNC Asheville at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The game marks the first of the season for the Bulldogs who were idle on college baseball's opening weekend. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm and is slated to be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).