Cullowhee, N.C. – Sophomore Nate Stocum belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to hand Western Carolina an 11-7 lead in Saturday's second game of the Southern Conference series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. However, East Tennessee State (ETSU) scored six-unanswered runs over the final third of the game including four in the top of the ninth inning to again rally past the Catamounts, winning 13-11.
 
After Jared Paladino singled home Bryce Hodge to pull ETSU to within a run, Jackson Green pushed the Buccaneers ahead for good with a three-run home run two batters after the Catamounts nearly ended the game with a double-play. Green's homer was the sixth hit by ETSU in Saturday's series-clinching victory.
 
ETSU's rally spoiled a strong relief performance by WCU redshirt senior Jacob Corn who struck out a career-high eight over a five-inning effort. Tristen Campbell (3-1) was saddled with the loss after being tagged with three runs on four hits over an inning and a third effort out of the bullpen. Dylan Wheeler tossed two and a third in the starting role, walking two and striking out one.
 
Four Catamounts finished with multi-hit games with Zach Ketterman, Pascanel Ferreras, and Will Prater each posting 3-for-6 efforts. Ketterman legged out his fourth triple of the season with Ferreras and Prater both doubling. Senior Seth Graves doubled in a 2-for-3 effort with a walk, plating a run on a sacrifice fly.
 
Senior Daniel Walsh drove in three runs without a base hit while Stocum's homer accounted for his three RBI.
 
The third pitcher to toe the rubber for ETSU, Andrew Ronne (3-0) earned the victory for the Bucs, striking out four over two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. Nathanial Tate secured his third save of the season, striking out two in an inning of work allowing one hit. Starter Colby Stuart was chased after just an inning and two-thirds, touched for six runs on six hits with a walk.
 
Garett Wallace homered twice for three RBI with Tommy Barth (solo), Noah Webb (two-run), Hodge (two-run), and Green (three-run) each leaving the ballpark on a blustery Saturday afternoon. Hodge (3-for-4, walk), Wallace (3-for-4), and infielder Cam Norgren (3-for-5) all tallied three hits in the winning effort for ETSU.
 
WCU took leads of 3-1 in the bottom of the first and broke the 3-3 tie with a three-spot in the bottom of the second to lead 6-3 after two innings on Saturday. However, ETSU had the answer in the top of the third to tie the game 3-3 through three complete. Both teams plated a run in the fourth inning before the Catamounts scored four runs between the fifth and sixth innings to lead 11-7 two-thirds of the way through the game.
 
Bryce Hodge hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to cut WCU's lead in half, 11-9, setting up the four-run top of the ninth for the Buccaneers. It was the second-straight final frame rally for ETSU which posted two runs in the final inning of Friday's series opener in the 5-3 win.
 
Western Carolina (14-17, 0-2 SoCon) looks to salvage a game in the three-game set against ETSU (19-8, 2-0) in Sunday's series finale. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium with coverage through ESPN+ (paid subscription required) and live stats online at CatamountSports.com.