Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina used a pair of big middle innings with a four-run fourth and a seven-run fifth to carry a 12-5 lead deep into Friday afternoon's 2023 season-opener. However, Akron spoiled the head coaching debut of Alan Beck, rallying for three runs in the eighth inning and capitalizing on its opportunities in a six-run ninth to upend the Catamounts 14-12 on Opening Day at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Akron's Ian Pennington capped a six-RBI day with a game-tying grand slam home run in the top of the ninth with catcher Michael Sprockett delivering the game-winning run on an RBI double down the right field line as the Zips rallied for the win.
 
Five Catamounts posted multi-hit games with senior Jordan Starkes posting a trio of singles in a 3-for-6 showing with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Junior transfer Kyle Riesselmann collected a team-best three RBI including a two-run home run in a 2-for-4 effort. Middle infielders Pascanel Ferreras and Brandon Butterworth both doubled as a part of two-hit outings with Butterworth recording two RBI.
 
Drew Needham collected a pair of singles for his two-hit day and Zach Ketterman drove home two in a 1-for-3 showing, adding a walk.
 
WCU overcame a pair of two-run deficits, trailing 2-0 and 3-1 before the four-run fourth inning, spurred by the Riesselmann homer, handed the hosts a 2-run, 5-3 lead. Akron knotted the game with a two-run double by Pennington in the top of the fifth before the Catamounts broke things open with seven runs in the home half of the frame.
 
The Catamounts netted three runs in the inning on wild pitches with Riesselman driving a run-scoring single to left, Ketterman lifting a sacrifice fly to deep center, and Butterworth plating a pair on a single through the right side. The rally, however, capped WCU's scoring for the game as Akron held the Catamounts hitless and scoreless over the final four frames.
 
Akron scored three in the eighth on a run-scoring single by Ty Stolarski and a sacrifice fly by Sam Seeker – but the Catamount defense thwarted any further rally as Jack Spyke delivered a strike to Ferreras who gunned out a would-be runner at home with the tag applied by Kyle Harbison.
 
In the ninth, a one-out error and consecutive walks loaded the bases ahead of Pennington who belted a 3-1 pitch into Friday's gusting winds as the ball sailed just beyond the reach of a leaping Starkes at the wall for the game-tying run. Another two-base error allowed the game-winning run to reach second with Sprockett doubling down the right field line with the go-ahead marker before a sharp infield single plating the insurance run and providing the eventual final tally.
 
Catamount starter Jonathan Todd and reliever Nick Torres both recorded four strikeouts against a walk in their WCU debuts – a five-inning appearance for Todd and three innings out of relief for Torrez. True freshman Ryan White tallied his first collegiate punchout of the first batter he faced before a pair of walks and infield errors led to his undoing, surrendering four runs – three earned – in just a third of an inning.
 
Gavin Mortenson (0-1) was the tough-luck loser, saddled with a pair of unearned runs after the game was tied in the ninth in just two-thirds of an inning of relief work with a strikeout.
 
Akron reliever Yassir Kahook (1-0) scored the victory on the mound after tossing a hitless, scoreless inning of relief with Emmett Gillies recording the one-inning save with a strikeout out of the bullpen.
 
Pennington led the Zips, finishing a single shy of the cycle in a 3-for-5 effort with six RBI with Jack Firestone homering in a 3-for-4, four-run performance. Caleb Jenkins also collected two hits with a double for Akron.
 
The two squads are slated for a doubleheader on Saturday with game one – scheduled for a seven-inning affair – to begin at Noon with the second game of the twin bill to follow 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Both games are set to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).