Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina used a six-run second inning to erase an early deficit and take a lead it would never relinquish in claiming Sunday's series finale over UT Martin, 14-9, clinching the nonconference series victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
UT Martin (7-11) pulled to within two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Catamounts matched the four-run frame in the home half to reclaim momentum and its six-run advantage before holding on for the victory.
 
Senior outfielder Seth Graves paced four Catamounts with multi-hit games, singling three times in a 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored and a pair of runs driven in. Classmate Will Prater (2-for-5) collected three RBI with two hits including a run-scoring triple while Bryson Parks (2-for-4) doubled and scored twice. Sophomore Nate Stocum (2-for-2) singled twice before exiting the game with a lower-body injury.
 
After UT Martin used consecutive two-out doubles down the left-field line to plate the game's first run in the top of the first inning, the Catamounts pulled even on a run-scoring infield single by Graves that plated Stocum to knot the game at one and ignite a six-run frame. Parks drew a bases-loaded walk with Ferreras reaching on an infield error to plate the third run with Zach Ketterman scampering home on a wild pitch. Prater capped scoring in the frame on a two-run single to right to give the home squad a 6-1 lead.
 
In the fourth, Prater legged out a triple to left-center to score Parks for a six-run lead at 7-1. However, the Skyhawks would not go away, closing to within two with a four-run fifth inning that included a three-run double by Ethan Whitley.
 
WCU had the answer in the home half of the fifth inning as with two aboard, Tom Brosnahan blasted the first pitch of his at-bat off the scoreboard in right-center field for a three-run home run to push the lead back to five. Ferreras plated Ketterman to extend the margin back to six, 11-5, through five complete innings.
 
Drew Needham belted a two-run home run in the eighth inning with Graves driving in his second run on a single into right-center for insurance as the Catamounts carried a nine-run edge into the final inning. UT Martin scored four runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning including a run-scoring double by pinch hitter Cameron Brady and a three-run homer by Hunter McLean to provide the final tally.
 
WCU out-hit UTM, 13-to-10, on Sunday, both finishing with five extra-base hits. The Skyhawks tallied four doubles and the McLean homer with WCU homering twice with Needham and Brosnahan leaving the yard. Parks doubled twice with Prater's triple adding to WCU's tally.
 
Reliever Dawson Elder (1-0) earned the victory after WCU starter Gavin Mortenson was chased just shy of completing the fifth inning. Mortenson worked around a walk with a strikeout and surrendered six runs – only one of which was earned – in 4.2 innings of work. Elder struck out three in an inning and a third of one-hit, scoreless relief. Dylan Wheeler tossed a perfect inning with Nick Hyde striking out two in an inning and a third to finish the game on the mound.

Only one of the runs scored by the Skyhawks was earned in Sunday's finale.
 
UTM starter Jacob Smith (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs, two earned, on four hits over an inning, and two-thirds. J. Henry Hobson, the fourth Skyhawks pitcher used on Sunday, struck out four over three innings of relief.
 
Western Carolina (10-10) concludes a four-game homestand on Tuesday evening as it plays host to mountain-rival UNC Asheville (5-13) at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium with a 5 p.m. first pitch. Tuesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.