Wilmington, N.C. – Zebby Matthews struck out a season-high seven over his seven-inning start on Friday afternoon while Justice Bigbie and Daylan Nanny both drove in three in three-hit performances as Western Carolina claimed its nonconference series-opener at UNC Wilmington, 8-2, at Brooks Field.
 
The Catamounts led 8-0 through eight complete innings on Friday, with the Seahawks plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to provide the final tally as WCU halted a three-game losing skid against UNCW.
 
Matthews (2-0) held the Seahawks scoreless with just three hits allowed, fanning seven against one walk. The Cullowhee, N.C., native turned-in three 1-2-3 innings in the winning effort. Reliever Eric Wallington struck out one in an inning of work, with Jackson Kirkpatrick and Davis Tyndall combining for the ninth inning to close out the road victory. WCU's pitchers held UNCW to just five base hits on the day.
 
WCU had six different batters record hits with four tallying multi-hit games Bigbie finished 3-for-4 with a trio of singles and a stolen base, while Nanny doubled as a part of his 3-for-4 afternoon as the duo combined for six RBI – three apiece. Junior Daniel Walsh finished 2-for-4, and freshman Zach Ketterman went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
 
Bigbie opened the scoring with a one-out single through the left side to score Ketterman, who reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning. The one-run edge held through the fifth inning when the Catamounts pushed across four. Immanuel Wilder led-off with an HBP followed by a pair of hits by WCU freshmen Pascanel Ferreras and Ketterman, the second plating the run from third. Bigbie then delivered a run-scoring single down the left-field line to make it a 3-0 advantage. Nanny doubled down the right-field line to score two more with two outs, and as the dust settled, the Catamounts were up 5-0.
 
WCU tacked on three insurance markers in the top of the ninth as Bigbie drove in his third run on an infield single with the next batter, Walsh, singling to right field to plate a run. Nanny then followed suit by dropping a single into left field to score Bigbie for the 8-0 lead.
 
UNCW capitalized on its opportunities in the bottom of the ninth inning that included two base hits, a walk, hit batter, and two wild pitches to push home a pair of runs. However, Tyndall ended the game on a double-play ball, Ferreras to Walsh to Nanny.
 
Seahawks starter Landen Roupp (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs – four of which were earned – on six hits in 4.1 innings. Roupp struck out three while issuing two walks and a pair of hit batters. UNCW's bullpen allowed three earned runs on six hits over the remaining 4.2 innings
 
UNCW first baseman Kip Brandenburg (2-for-3) singled twice to lead the Seahawks, with Noah Liles driving in one while going 1-for-2 after entering as a pinch hitter.
 
Game two of the three-game nonconference series is scheduled for a 2:00 pm first pitch on Saturday afternoon at UNCW's Brooks Field.