Charlotte, N.C. – Charlotte struck for six runs over the first two frames on Friday afternoon to grab a lead it would never relinquish in capturing the nonconference series-opener at Hayes Stadium, 6-2, over Western Carolina.
 
The Catamounts (5-4) managed to out-slug the 49ers, 12-to-11, but stranded 17 runners on base on the afternoon. WCU left the bases loaded twice, stranding two-or-more runners on base in seven of the nine innings. The 49er victory halted WCU's six-game series winning streak that dated back to1993. Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for a 3 p.m., first pitch on Saturday.
 
Senior Luke Robinson reached base four times in leading four Catamounts with multiple-hit games, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a HBP, and two runs scored. Junior Daniel Walsh drove in two in a 2-for-5 showing with a double while freshman Pascanel Ferreras tripled in a 2-for 5 performance while his classmate Drew Needham walked twice in a 2-for-3 showing. Will Prater added a pinch-hit double, finishing 1-for-2.
 
Sophomore starter Zebby Matthews (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, surrendering seven runs -only four of which were earned – on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 4.0 innings of work. Cole Beverlin struck out two in an inning with Eric Wallington recording a strikeout in the three outs he recorded, while Davis Tyndall fanned three in 2.0 relief innings.
 
For the 49ers, four players finished with 2-hit games led by David McCabe with a 2-for-3 outing that included a home run and two RBI. Austin Knight (2-for-4) doubled with Aaron McKeithan homering in a 1-for-3 performance.
 
Charlotte reliever Gus Hughes (1-0) scored the victory out of the bullpen, striking out two in an inning of relief of starter Andrew Lindsey who allowed three runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Christian Lothes scored the save in 1.1 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief with a strikeout.
 
Charlotte (7-1) homered twice in the bottom of the four-run first inning with three of the runs tallied unearned after a two-out error extended the frame. Consecutive run-scoring doubles in the home half of the second stretched the 49er lead. Meanwhile, WCU stranded two runners in both the first and second innings, trailing 6-0 after two complete.
 
WCU broke through in the top of the third as Robinson was plunked and eventually scored on an infield groundout by Walsh. Back-to-back walks with two outs loaded the bases, but the Catamounts were unable to push any additional runs across.
 
Ferreras tripled to center field with one out in the top of the fourth, scoring on a Zach Ketterman ground out to pull the Catamounts back to within four, 6-2. However, Charlotte responded in the bottom of the frame with a single, a balk, and a run-scoring single to retake the five-run advantage.
 
Daylan Nanny plated Walsh who doubled to open the fifth inning as WCU got back to within four, 7-3, with Robinson doubling before scoring on a Walsh single to right in the six to provide the eventual final tally, 7-4.
 
The Catamounts loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and put two on with two out in the top of the eighth, but were unable to claw any closer in suffering the defeat.
 
Game two is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., with coverage through Charlotte online audio and live stats.