Cullowhee, N.C. – Zach Franklin struck out a career-high eight and Western Carolina pounded out 16 hits on Thursday evening, holding on for a series-opening 11-8 victory over the visiting Samford Bulldogs in Southern Conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
The Catamounts scored in bunches, plating three runs in both the first and second innings before taking an eight-run advantage, 11-3, with a four-run sixth that included a three-run home run by sophomore Pascanel Ferreras. Samford plated five unanswered runs between the seventh and eighth innings to cut the deficit back to three but could get no closer as WCU earned its first league win of the season.
 
In a reversal of roles, Franklin (2-1) moved from the backend of the bullpen as the Catamount closer into the starting role with WCU's usual game one starter Zebby Matthews collecting his first save in tossing the final inning and a third. Franklin struck out a career-high eight over a six-inning effort, limiting the Bulldogs to three runs with just two earned. Tristen Campbell and Matthews both struck out two in just over an inning of work on the day.
 
Five Catamounts posted multiple-hit games with Ferreras finishing 3-for-5 with a pair of singles and the three-run homer, scoring three runs, and driving in four. Classmate Zach Ketterman reached base five times in a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a double and drew a pair of walks, while senior Bryson Parks tripled in a 3-for-4 effort with a walk.
 
Senior Will Prater also collected four RBI for the Catamounts, legging out a two-run double in the first inning and plating two on a single in the second. Freshman catcher Cameron Murray reached four times with his first career multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk and HBP.
 
Samford (15-16, 2-2 SoCon) took advantage of a first-inning error to plate two runs on an RBI single by Will David and a run-scoring ground out by Stephen Klein to take a short-lived 2-0 lead in the top of the opening frame. Prater's two-run double in the home half of the frame plated Ketterman and Ferreras to tie the game before Nate Stocum put WCU ahead for what proved to be for good with an RBI ground out to second.
 
Ferreras drove a run-scoring single to center to start a three-run third with Prater again plating two with a single up the middle to push the Catamount advantage to four, 6-2, through two complete.
 
Samford got one of the runs back on a first-pitch, lead-off home run to left by Kaden Dreier to start the fourth inning before the Catamounts got the run back, scoring Immanuel Wilder from third on a double-play – one of three turned by the Bulldogs in the series opener. Scoring in the decisive sixth started on a run-scoring single to right by Ketterman with Ferreras blasting a full-count pitch over the fence in left field for a three-run home run as WCU carved out an 11-3 lead.
 
The Bulldogs used a double and two HBPs to load the bases in the top of the seventh but were limited to just one run to cut the Catamount advantage to seven, 11-4, stranding two on base. An inning later, Samford again loaded the bases with a single and consecutive one-out hit batters. Following a strikeout, Towns King delivered a grand slam home run to center field to pull the Bulldogs to within three, 11-8. The threat continued with Samford bringing the game-tying run to the plate after two additional HBPs, but Matthews struck out Dreier looking to strand two and preserve the advantage. Matthews added a second strikeout in a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save.
 
Samford starter Jacob Cravey (0-3) took the loss, surrendering six runs on nine hits with two walks over a four-inning start. Mason McCormack allowed five runs on six hits with a pair of HBPs with Jacob Newman countering four walks with a pair of strikeouts.
 
King finished the game 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI on his home run, while Colton Ledbetter was 2-for-5 with a double. Dreier homered for his lone hit for the Bulldogs who finished with nine base hits.
 
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for Friday evening with a 5 p.m. first pitch at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio and live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.