Cullowhee, N.C. – Sophomore right-hander Gavin Mortenson struck out a career-high nine over a six-inning start and junior Zebby Matthews secured his fourth save of the season as Western Carolina scored runs in six of the eight innings it took swings on Saturday afternoon, powering past the Mercer Bears for a 15-5 victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium to win its third-straight Southern Conference series.
 
WCU (23-23, 7-7 SoCon) looks for its first conference series sweep of the season on Sunday as the Catamounts and Bears meet in game three at 1 p.m. in a game that is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Mortenson (4-7) held the Bears to just four runs while scattering seven hits with a walk and a hit batter over his six-inning start to earn the victory. The Summerfield, N.C., native was aided by two of WCU's three double-plays turned on the infield. Matthews earned the three-inning save, holding the Bears to one unearned run on four hits and a hit batter with five strikeouts.
 
Sophomore Pascanel Ferreras (3-for-5) and senior Immanuel Wilder (3-for-4) both finished with three hits apiece to lead five Catamounts with multiple-hit games with Wilder doubling twice and driving in a run while Ferreras legged out a two-base hit and accounted for three runs driven in. Sophomore Cody Rech (2-for-3) reached base four times with a single, two walks, and a solo home run to account for three runs, while Nate Stocum (2-for-3) and Bryson Parks (2-for-5) both doubled as a part of two-hit efforts.
 
Sophomore Zach Ketterman reached base three times with two RBI including a solo home run in a 1-for-4, three-run outing in the win. The Catamounts finished with 17 base hits in the win including eight going for extra bases with six doubles and two home runs.
 
After both sides were retired in order in the first inning, Parks chopped a two-run single down the first-base line in the home half of the second inning to give the Catamounts a lead they would never relinquish as both Stocum and Wilder scored on the play.
 
The two teams traded solo home runs in the third inning as Jozsef Rohrbacher hit one to right to cut the Catamount edge to one, 2-1 before Ketterman belted a solo shot also to right to push the lead back to two, 3-1. WCU later stretched the lead to four in the frame as Stocum flew out to left to advance runners from first and second with an error on the relay to the infield allowing Ferreras to score. Wilder was plated on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter James Hinson to hand the Catamounts a 5-1 lead through three.
 
In the fourth inning, Ferreras delivered a bases-loaded single through the left side to score two with Stocum collecting an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field for an 8-1 advantage.
 
Mercer (35-11, 9-5 SoCon) cut the Catamount lead in half with a three-spot in the top of the fifth inning on a run-scoring single by Bill Knight and a two-run double off the fence in left by catcher Collin Price. However, WCU answered with two runs in the home half on a fielder's choice by Ketterman and a third RBI for Ferreras on a double to left-center for a 10-4 lead. The home squad tacked on additional markers in the sixth inning before Rech led off the four-run seventh with a solo homer to left-center. Wilder doubled home a run with pinch-hitter Seth Graves delivering a run-scoring single and Parks doubling home a run down the right-field line.
 
Knight capped the scoring by reaching on an infield throwing error allowing Rohrbacher to score to provide the final tally, 15-5.
 
WCU handed Mercer starter Josh Farmer (5-1) his first defeat of the season, chasing the right-hander after three and a third innings after allowing eight runs – seven earned – on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The Bears used four relievers, three recording strikeouts including two by Avery Stephens in a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth inning.
 
Rohrbacher finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored to lead Mercer, finishing a triple shy of the cycle in the road loss. Price doubled in a 2-for-3 effort, also drawing a walk and driving in a pair of runs. The Bears finished with 11 hits including four for extra bases.
 
Game three is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.