Houston, Texas – Western Carolina was unable to capitalize on the career-long pitching effort of starter Gavin Mortenson, dropping Sunday afternoon's series finale to the Houston Cougars 6-1 at Schroeder Park. Mortenson (1-3) struck out two and benefited from three double-plays behind him in the field in the series rubber-match loss in the first meetings between the two programs on the diamond.
 
WCU finished with seven hits offensively including three doubles but struck out a combined 10 times in the finale, stranding six runners on base. Immanuel Wilder tallied two of WCU's seven base hits in a 2-for-4 effort to pace the Catamounts with freshman Brandon Butterworth reaching twice with a run-scoring double to left center in the second inning and the squad's lone drawn walk.
 
Houston used a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double to grab a 2-0 lead in the home half of the first inning. However, the Catamounts were able to cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the second inning with back-to-back doubles by Seth Graves and the run-scoring, two-base hit by Butterworth.
 
Continuing to trail by just a run, Western Carolina's best opportunity to find the equalizing marker came in the top of the third inning. Wilder delivered a sharp single to left before stealing second base. Will Prater reached on an infield, check-swing single to short that put runners at the corners. With Bryson Parks at the plate, Prater looked to steal second where he was caught in a run-down, looking to allow Wilder to scamper home. But a throw home and the tag erased Wilder at the dish, keeping it a 2-1 game.
 
Houston (16-8) got a two-out solo home run by Ryan Hernandez in the sixth inning to extend the lead and tacked on three insurance markers including one on a wild pitch and two on an dribbling infield base hit to provide the final tally, 6-1.
 
Behind Mortenson's seven-inning effort, relievers Tristen Campbell and Dylan Wheeler combined to toss the eighth with Campbell saddled with three runs after surrendering a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.
 
Cougar starter Kyle Lacalameto (2-0) picked up the victory, limiting the Catamounts to a run on six hits with seven strikeouts against the only walk issued by Houston's two arms. Ben Sears collected his fifth save of the season, tossing the game's final three innings in relief for the Cougars in one-hit, scoreless relief with three strikeouts.
 
Hernandez and Malachi Lott both finished 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Cougars who finished with 11 hits, four going for extra bases.
 
Western Carolina (11-13) continues its current seven-game road swing on Wednesday (March 30) as it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the nationally-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Coverage of Wednesday's game will be available through the SEC Network Extra and the WatchESPN app (paid subscription required). Updated game time for Wednesday's game is 5:30 p.m.