Kennesaw, Ga. – Kennesaw State used a four-run home half of the seventh inning on Wednesday evening to rally past and upend Western Carolina 8-5 in nonconference action at Stillwell Stadium. The loss halted WCU's season-long, five-game winning streak.
Western Carolina erased a 2-0 deficit after the third inning with a single marker in the fourth inning as
Zach Ketterman scored on a single to left-center by
Nate Stocum. The Catamounts then used a bases-loaded, pinch-hit double by
Drew Needham in the top of the sixth inning to grab a 4-2 lead headed to the home half of the frame. The Owls cut the deficit in half with a run in the sixth before scoring four after stretch time in the seventh including a three-run home run to pull ahead, 7-4.
Trailing by four, 8-4, entering the ninth inning, the Catamounts used a
Pascanel Ferreras double and a run-scoring single by
Nate Stocum to provide the final tally with the game-tying run standing in the on-deck circle.
Stocum (2-for-4) and Ferreras (2-for-5) accounted for four of WCU's seven hits in the loss with Stocum driving in two and Ferreras doubling and adding a stolen base.
Immanuel Wilder reached twice with an HBP and a walk. Needham, pinch-hitting for catcher
Cody Rech who finished 1-for-2 on the day, recorded his third double in his last four plate appearances for the Catamounts, driving in three of the squad's five runs.
The seventh of eight Catamount pitchers used in the loss, sophomore
Carson Lowder (1-2) took the loss for the Catamounts, surrendering three runs on two hits with a walk.
Lucas Hartman struck out one against a hit and a walk in two scoreless innings of work in the starting role with
Tristen Campbell striking out two in an inning and two-thirds of work.
Reliever Smith Pinson (5-3) earned the victory in relief, tossing an inning and a third of hitless, scoreless relief with a strikeout. Starter Makenzie Stills allowed a run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout over four innings for KSU.
Three Owls posted multi-hit games with Donovan Cash finishing 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI and Josh Hatcher collecting three hits in a 3-for-5 effort with a double and two runs scored. Cash Young hit the three-run homer in a 1-for-5 showing at the plate.
Western Carolina (24-24, 8-7 SoCon) travels to Spartanburg, S.C., for a three-game Southern Conference series at league-leading Wofford (36-13, 12-3 SoCon) this weekend beginning with a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday and continuing at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Each game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required).
