Cullowhee, N.C. – Wake Forest blitzed Western Carolina for 14 runs over the first four innings on Tuesday night and then held on for the 14-8 victory over the Catamounts in midweek nonconference baseball action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The Demon Deacons secured 12 of their 13 hits over the opening onslaught with two home runs. Bobby Seymour hit a three-run shot as a part of a five-RBI effort and Brock Wilken hit a grand slam home run in Wake's five-run third inning. WCU managed a pair of three-run frames in both the bottom of the third and eighth innings.
Five Catamounts posted two-hit games in the loss as WCU pushed across its eight runs on 13 base hits, but stranded 11 runners including twice leaving the bases loaded.
Pascanel Ferreras (2-for-4) and
Justice Bigbie (2-for-5) both doubled with two RBI while
Luke Robinson doubled and was hit by a pitch to reach twice with a pair of runs driven in.
Seth Graves reached three times with a walk and two singles, while
Will Prater singled twice in a 2-for-4 showing.
Cody Rech reached base three times with a pair of singles and was hit by a pitch, scoring twice.
Daylan Nanny extended his reached base safely streak to 30-consecutive with a pair of HBPs as the Catamounts were plunked four times in the loss.
Zach Ketterman also doubled for the Catamounts before being lifted for a pinch hitter
Trevor Jones in the ninth who bounced a double off the centerfield fence in plating a run for the Catamounts.
WCU starter
Carson Lowder (0-1) was lifted in the opening frame after the first four Deacons reached base. Reliever
Corey Bright struck out three in three innings out of the bullpen, surrendering two runs on four this.
Alec Woodard saw his first action, tossing a 1-2-3 seventh inning with
Davis Tyndall striking out one in an inning of work in the ninth.
The Catamount bullpen held Wake to just one hit after the fourth inning – and hitless after the top of the fifth on Tuesday.
For Wake Forest, six different batters finished with multi-hit performances paced by Seymour who was 3-for-5 with two doubles and a homer, and five RBI. Wilken matched him with five runs plated in a 2-for-4 performance. Lucas Costello finished 2-for-6 with a double and Michael Turconi was 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-base knock.
Starter Reed Mascolo (3-1) went five innings to score the victory, limiting WCU to three runs while scattering seven base hits. He worked around a walk and three hit batters with a pair of strikeouts and benefited from three of Wake Forest's four double plays turned in the winning effort.
Western Carolina (20-10) opens a seven-game road swing this weekend, traveling to Johnson City, Tenn., to face the ETSU Buccaneers (17-16) at Thomas Stadium. The three-game series is set to open at 5 p.m. on Friday with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
