Cullowhee, N.C. – Wofford used a pair of big innings late including an eight-run seventh and a five-run ninth to rally past Western Carolina on Friday evening to claim the Southern Conference baseball series opener, 13-2, at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
The Terriers erased the two-run, 2-0, lead the Catamounts enjoyed through six complete innings with eight runs on six hits in the seventh inning before tacking on five more in the top of the final frame in scoring 13-unanswered runs in the win. Western Carolina drops to 22-18 overall, 10-10 in SoCon play while Wofford improved to 31-17, 18-7 in league action.
 
The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. WCU will honor its 2021 senior class prior to first pitch of game one in a special pregame ceremony. Coverage of both ends of the twinbill will be provided through the Catamount Sports Network with an air time of 1:45 p.m. online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Wofford's rally spoiled a solid starting pitching effort by senior Jack Snyder who tossed a career-long 6.0 innings, factoring in a no-decision. The Chicago, Ill., native struck out three against two walks limiting the Terriers to two runs – only one of which was earned – on just two hits before being lifted after facing two batters in the seventh inning. Reliever Nick Hyde (2-2) was saddled with the loss, surrendering three runs on just one hit with a strikeout as the first of six different relief pitchers used by WCU.
 
Offensively, freshman Pasanel Ferreras paced three Catamounts with multiple-hit games on Friday, reaching base four times by collecting three singles, and was hit by a pitch. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native scored both of WCU's runs, giving WCU the early lead with a marker in the first and fifth inning. Senior Luke Robinson tallied two hits in a 2-for-5 effort with Daniel Walsh singling twice in a 2-for-3 outing.
 
Junior Justice Bigbie drove in a run with his fifth-inning single while classmate Daylan Nanny singled in the bottom of the eighth inning to continue his active reached base safely streak, extending it to 40-straight games – every game played this season.
 
Wofford's Josh Vitus (3-3) earned the victory, scattering 10 hits over 8.0 innings while limiting the Catamounts to two runs – only one of which was earned – with six strikeouts without a walk, working around two hit batters. Dom Marcoccio struck out two in a scoreless, one-hit inning of relief in the ninth for the Terriers.
 
Collin Davis scored three runs in a 3-for-5 effort at the plate to pace the Terriers while Lawson Hill drove in three in a 2-for-4 effort with a double. Jack Renwick also collected a pair of hits including a double with Matty Brown plating two in a 1-for-4 showing.
 
Game two is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday in Cullowhee with the third game slated for 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.