Wilmington, N.C. – Will Prater delivered a two-RBI pinch-hit single to pull Western Carolina even with UNC Wilmington at six in the top half of the seventh inning on Saturday afternoon. However, a two-out Catamount error in the home half of the seventh proved costly as the Seahawks plated the go-ahead unearned run, evening the three-game nonconference series with an 8-6 victory at Brooks Field.
 
Fifth-year senior Luke Robinson belted his third home run of the season as a part of collecting two of WCU's eight hits in the loss, blasting a two-run homer in the four-run fifth inning as the Catamounts grabbed a 4-1 lead midway through the game. UNCW responded with two in the fifth before taking a 6-4 lead with a three-spot in the home portion of the sixth.
 
Prater's bases-loaded two-out single up the middle in the top of the seventh breathed new life into the Catamount side, knotting the game at six. However, the Seahawks answered with two of their own in the bottom of the frame to reclaim the lead. WCU managed a base runner in both the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to light the scoreboard setting up a Sunday series rubber match.
 
Robinson finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored to lead WCU, while freshman Zach Ketterman doubled down the right-field line to open the scoring in the fifth in a 1-for-4 showing. Daylan Nanny tallied his fourth RBI of the series in a 1-for-4 afternoon. Pinch-hitting in the seventh, Prater sent a shot up the middle to score two runs, posting a 1-for-2 outing with Pascanel Ferreras (1-for-5), Daniel Walsh (1-for-5), and Immanuel Wilder (1-for-2) each singling.
 
Junior outfielder Justice Bigbie stretched his reached base safely streak to 16-consecutive – nine straight to end 2020 and the first seven games of 2021. The Chesapeake, Va., native drew drawing a fifth-inning walk and was hit by a pitch in the eighth. Bigbie was held without a hit or an RBI for just the second time this season.
 
WCU was out-hit 12-to-8 in the loss and stranded a dozen base runners, while UNCW left eight on base.
 
Reliever Zach Franklin (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Catamounts, tossing 2.2 innings out of the bullpen and surrendering three runs, only one of which was earned. The Marion, N.C., native struck out two against a walk in his outing. Freshman Gavin Mortenson struck out three in 4.1 innings in the starting role, allowing three runs on eight hits.
 
UNCW's Adam Smith (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.0 innings and allowing two runs on two hits, countering a pair of walks and two hit batters with three strikeouts. Starter Luke Gesell, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Pitcher of the Week, was chased in the fifth inning after allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
 
Four Seahawks tallied multi-hit games including a 3-for-5 outing by Cole Weiss who tripled while Brooks Baldwin hit a two-run home run in a 2-for-5 performance. Kip Brandenburg finished 2-for-3 with a walk while Noah Liles finished 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.
 
The series finale is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Sunday at Brooks Field. Coverage will be provided through UNCW's Seahawk Digital Network with audio and video links online at CatamountSports.com.