Spartanburg, S.C. – Inclement weather and long delays marred Sunday's Southern Conference series finale between Western Carolina and league-leading Wofford before the contest was ultimately declared a 2-2 tie during the 11 o'clock hour as the two teams split the three-game series with a win, loss, and tie apiece.
 
WCU carried a one-run lead into the bottom of the sixth inning where Wofford scored the equalizing marker on a run-scoring double and neither team was able to break the stalemate in the seventh before additional foul weather hit in the top of the eighth inning.
 
Sunday's tie was the third for WCU under head coach Bobby Moranda – but the first since the 2011 season. WCU rallied to tie the game at eight in the home half of the ninth against Gardner-Webb (3/23/11) before inclement weather hit in the home half of the 10th inning forcing the game to be called, reverting to the last completed frame.
 
On Sunday, just moments shy of throwing the first pitch of the SoCon series rubber match, lightning in the Upstate chased both teams from the field and started the first of the two weather delays that marred the series finale. Nearly six hours after its advertised start time, what proved to be a highly-competitive game three got underway before teams were again chased from the field in the top of the eighth inning by heavy rain and lightning.
 
After another hour-plus long delay, officials declared the game a tie, reverting to the last completed inning which was the seventh with the teams deadlocked at two apiece.
 
Western Carolina (25-25-1, 9-8-1 SoCon) was limited to just two base hits on the day, grabbing the early lead on a first-inning solo home run by Zach Ketterman (1-for-3). Will Prater (1-for-1) reached twice on the day including a lead-off walk in the opening frame and a one-out single in the top of the sixth inning. He also plated WCU's second run on a sacrifice fly that represented the extent of WCU's offense.
 
Ketterman gave the Catamounts the early lead with a solo home run down the right-field line coming just one pitch removed from Prater being caught stealing by the pitcher at third base that would have resulted in a two-run homer. In the bottom of the second, a lead-off walk by Ryan Galanie and a subsequent balk call resulted in the game-tying run on a double by Jack Renwick down the left-field line, chasing WCU starter Nick Hyde. Reliever Zebby Matthews then struck out the next two to end the threat.
 
Catamount catcher Tom Brosnahan led off with a walk to start the third inning, matriculating around the base paths on a Seth Graves deep flyball out, a wild pitch and scored on Prater's flyout to center to again put WCU in front, 2-1. The lead would hold until the bottom of the sixth inning when Lawson Hill walked and was plated on a run-scoring double by John Dempsey.
 
WCU missed an opportunity in the sixth inning as Prater singled before advancing to third on a stolen base and subsequent throwing error that skipped into center field. However, he was stranded 90-feet away with what could have proven to be an all-important insurance marker.
 
Wofford likewise had several golden opportunities but was held off the scoreboard, leaving seven runners on base in five of the seven innings. In the second after securing the run-scoring double, Renwick stole third but was stranded there after consecutive Matthews strikeouts. A two-out single was left at first in the home half of the third with a leadoff single left on second base in the fourth. In the fifth inning, Nolen Hester drove a two-out double to right-center but was cut down trying to stretch it into a triple.
 
WCU left a pair of Terrier runners aboard in both the sixth and seventh innings including two in scoring position at second and third in the sixth and two aboard in the seventh.
 
Matthews was again impressive, striking out eight batters over five and two-thirds relief innings, surrendering a run while scattering six hits. Hyde allowed a run on a hit with a walk and a balk in the starting role.
 
Wofford starter Dom Marcoccio surrendered both runs over three innings with two walks and a strikeout before Luke Stephens struck out five over two and two-thirds innings of work out of the bullpen. Dalton Rhadans tossed an inning and a third of hitless, scoreless relief with a strikeout and was on the mound with the game was halted.
 
Western Carolina concludes its current five-game road swing on Tuesday (May 17) as it travels to Boiling Springs, N.C., to face Gardner-Webb (20-32) in the final meeting of a three-game midweek nonconference series. The first pitch of WCU's final nonconference match-up of the regular season is scheduled for an updated time of 4 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). The Catamounts won the first two meetings between the two squads, 14-2 on April 6 and 11-3 on April 19.
 
WCU returns home to close the regular season by hosting in-state rival UNCG (25-26, 9-9 SoCon) for a three-game set running Thursday, May 19 through Saturday, May 21 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.