Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina capitalized on its opportunities in a nine-run fourth inning to grab a 10-run advantage on Saturday afternoon before holding on for a 12-11 series-clinching victory over the Samford Bulldogs in Southern Conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
With two out and a runner aboard in the top of the ninth inning, Samford was seemingly down to its final strike before embarking on a big rally to push the Catamounts to the brink. A WCU throwing error, two hit batters and a pair of walks including one plating a run set the stage as the Bulldogs scored seven runs to close within a run, 12-11. With the go-ahead run 90-feet away, reliever Nick Hyde got a game-ending fly ball to straight away centerfield that was tracked by Seth Graves to seal both the game and series victory.
 
Justice Bigbie doubled as a part of a 2-for-4, two RBI effort at the plate to lead the Catamounts with Luke Robinson also legging out a two-base hit in a 1-for-4 effort. Pascanel Ferreras reached base three times with a two-RBI single and a pair of walks with Seth Graves finishing 1-for-2 with three runs driven in with one coming on one of his two walks.
 
Daylan Nanny opened the game's scoring, stretching his reached base safely streak to 29-consecutive and his hitting streak to 17-straight with a two-run home run to right field as a part of a three-run first inning to give WCU a lead it would never relinquish. Nanny finished 1-for-4 with three RBI, adding a sacrifice fly in the big nine-run fourth inning.
 
Even with the 12 runs scored on the day, the Catamounts were limited to just seven base hits collectively as a team, three going for extra bases.
 
Making just his second start of the season – and the first on the weekend – redshirt junior Tristen Campbell (2-0) limited Samford to four runs while scattering seven hits over 5.0 innings to earn the victory on the mound for the Catamounts. Christian Sidoti recorded three-consecutive groundball outs in his inning of work while Jack Snyder allowed one hit in an inning of action. Davis Tyndall struck out three against a pair of walks in 1.2 relief innings with Nick Hyde getting the game's final out on a long fly ball tracked by Graves in centerfield.
 
Nanny's homer made it 2-0 with a third run scoring on an infield error to give the Catamounts a 3-0 lead after one complete in Saturday's finale. Samford clawed back within a run in the top of the fourth on a Ryan Crockett two-run home run to left to make it 3-2 entering the bottom of the fourth.
 
In what proved to be the decisive frame, the Catamounts scored nine runs on just four hits with one Bulldog error. WCU capitalized on six walks and a hit batter with Graves drawing a bases-loaded walk to go ahead 4-2. Ferreras drove a two-run single through the left side ahead of Robinson who walked to again load the bases. Bigbie doubled to the right-field corner to plate a pair with Nanny's run-scoring sacrifice fly registering the first out of the inning with the Catamounts taking a 9-2 lead.
 
With two outs, an infield error allowed another run to score and the inning to continue with Graves delivering his second and third RBI of the inning on a single through the right side to ultimately cap scoring and ending the frame with a 12-2 lead.
 
The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead with a two-spot in the top of the sixth inning after back-to-back base hits to open the frame were plated on a pair of infield groundouts, setting-up the wild top of the ninth inning.
 
Samford starter Zach Hester (1-3) took the loss, giving up three runs – only two of which were earned – on two hits with four strikeouts against three walks. Freshman Blake Bortak was the Bulldogs' most effective reliever, striking out two against two walks in 3.1 hitless, scoreless innings.
 
Towns King tripled twice in a 3-for-5, three RBI effort at the plate to lead the Bulldogs while Tyler McManus matched with three runs driven in a 2-for-5 performance with a double. Crockett's homer was his lone hit in a 1-for-4, two RBI showing.
 
WCU's series win over the SoCon's Blue Division leader Samford on Saturday coupled with VMI's three-game weekend sweep of Mercer (8-4) moved the Catamounts into first-place in the league's Red Division, percentage points ahead of the Bears.
 
Western Carolina (20-9) steps out of conference on Tuesday (April 20) to host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons out of the ACC to cap an eight-game homestand ahead of a seven-game road swing that opens next weekend at mountain-rival ETSU. Tuesday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. in a game that is slated to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).