Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina tallied a trio of three-run innings and freshman pitcher Lucas Hartman struck out a career-best nine over a five-inning relief effort as the Catamounts powered past Gardner-Webb for its second midweek victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs 11-3 in nonconference action on Tuesday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Sophomore Pascanel Ferreras belted his team-leading seventh home run in the home half of the first inning and senior Daniel Walsh cleared the fence in left-center with a two-run shot that gave the Catamounts the lead for good in the home half of the third inning in Tuesday's victory. WCU took both home games in the three-game midweek seasonal series against Gardner-Webb including a 14-2 win back on April 6. The set concludes on May 17 with a road match-up in Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
Ferreras reached base a team-best five times in a 3-for-3 effort, finishing a single shy of the cycle while adding a walk and an HBP to pace the Catamount offense that pounded out 15 base hits in the win. The Stone Mountain, Ga., product scored four of WCU's 11 runs with an RBI, extending his reached base safely streak to 11-straight. Walsh also collected three hits in a 3-for-5 effort with two singles and the homer.
 
Jordan Starkes plated three runs including a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and a two-run single up the middle in the eighth, while freshman Brandon Butterworth finished 1-for-2 with two RBI including a run-scoring single in the third inning and a sacrifice bunt that drove in a run in the fifth. Will Prater drove home two on a sixth-inning double with James Hinson also legging out a two-base hit to score Starkes to cap the scoring in the eighth inning.
 
Sophomore Nate Stocum added a double before exiting after a hard slide at second base, while Bryson Parks extended his active hitting streak to nine-consecutive with a lead-off single through the right side in the sixth inning, adding a stolen base.
 
While the WCU offense was clicking with seven of its 15 hits going for extra bases, it was Hartman (1-1) who stole the show on a staff night for the Catamount bullpen. The Bradenton, Fla., product scattered a run on two base hits over a career-long five innings, working around two walks with the nine strikeouts that included four straight to end the seventh and the side in the eighth inning.
 
Redshirt senior Tristen Campbell struck out two against a walk and two HBPs in a scheduled one-inning start with Cole Beverlin and Matt Schepel both tallying K's in a relief inning of work. Redshirt senior Jacob Corn struck out two of the three batters he faced in a hitless, scoreless ninth inning to close the midweek victory.
 
All told, Catamount pitching worked around four walks and two hit batters with 15 total strikeouts.
 
Starter Luke Osteen (0-1) suffered the loss for Gardner-Webb, surrendering four runs on four hits with a strikeout against two walks before exiting after two and a third innings. Reliever Michael Portella struck out two in 2.2 relief innings.
 
For the Runnin' Bulldogs, AJ Jones finished 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, plating two runs in the loss. GWU's four remaining hits, all singles, were scattered between four different players.
 
After concluding what amounted to eight-straight home games, Western Carolina (16-20, 1-5 SoCon) hits the road for a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend at The Citadel (19-16, 1-5 SoCon). The series opens Friday at 6 p.m. at Riley Park on the banks of the Ashley River and continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Each game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.