Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina baseball exploded for 21 runs on 16 hits, including seven for extra bases on Saturday evening, claiming its nonconference series with St. John's with a 21-3 victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts scored runs in seven of the eight innings in which they took swings, including a pair of seven-run frames in winning their fifth-consecutive game and second-straight nonconference series.
 
Junior Justice Bigbie led five Catamounts with multi-hit games, finishing 4-for-6 with a double and a home run and three RBI. Junior Daylan Nanny doubled in a 2-for-4, two walk performance, while junior Will Prater likewise reached four times in a 2-for-4 outing with two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored. Freshman Nate Stocum also doubled in finishing 2-for-4 while Trevor Jones plated three runs, including a two-run single and belted his first career home run in the eighth inning.
 
Senior Luke Robinson belted a first-inning home run in a 1-for-3 outing while also reaching on an HBP and driving in a run on a sacrifice fly. Junior Immanuel Wilder added a two-RBI double down the third-base line in the opening frame, finishing 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Daniel Walsh was 1-for-3 with three walks.
 
Freshman Gavin Mortenson (2-0) struck out a career-high seven against two walks over 6.0 innings to secure the victory on the mound. The Summerfield, N.C., native limited the Red Storm to two runs while scattering five base hits. Three relievers combined for the final three innings with freshman Carson Lowder and sophomore Eric Wallington both recording a strikeout in their inning of work. Fifth-year senior Jack Snyder faced the minimum, working around an HBP by inducing a game-ending double-play.
 
Robinson's solo homer in the first inning opened the first of two seven-run innings for the Catamounts as WCU opened a 9-0 lead through the first three innings. Bigbie added a home run in the second inning as part of the game's strong start. St. John's got back within eight with a solo marker in the top of the fourth before a run-scoring single by Prater and a two-run RBI double by Stocum pushed the Catamounts ahead by 11 through four complete.
 
With the Red Storm having cut the lead to 10, 13-3, in the top of the seventh inning, the Catamounts put the game out of reach with a second seven-run frame after the stretch to pull ahead, 20-3. Jones collected his third RBI on a solo shot to right-center field to cap the scoring and provide the final tally.
 
St. John's starter Ian Murphy (2-1) took the loss, allowing eight runs, six of which were earned, on seven hits over 2.0 innings. The Johnnies used four relievers to finish game two of the series. Third baseman Justin Folz led the Red Storm with two hits, including a double and an RBI. Catcher Colin Wetterau also plated a run on a sixth-inning double.
 
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at Noon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Coverage of Sunday's game includes live stats online at CatamountSports.com.