Cullowhee, N.C. – Akron pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning and then withstood a Catamount rally in the home half to claim a 3-2 victory on Sunday afternoon as Western Carolina split its season-opening, four-game nonconference series with the Zips at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Akron capitalized on a two-out error to break the seven-inning scoreless deadlock in the top of the eighth inning only to see Pascanel Ferreras knot the game with a run-scoring single that plated Cole Jones who reached on a walk at the bottom of the Catamount lineup to send the game to the final frame even at one apiece.
 
The Zips used a lead-off single by Ian Pennington followed by consecutive wild pitches to move the go-ahead run 90 feet away. Caleb Jenkins then deadened a perfect bunt on a squeeze play to allow Pennington to score from third with Jenkins tallying the eventual game-winning run on a third wild pitch of the frame to give Akron a 3-1 lead with three outs remaining.
 
Brandon Butterworth laced a one-out double to right-center before scoring on an RBI single by Drew Needham to cut the deficit to one. However, consecutive strikeouts provided the final two outs providing an even split of the series.
 
Ferreras (2-for-4) collected two of WCU's five hits with a double and a game-tying single in the eighth inning with Needham finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI. Butterworth's double was part of a 1-for-3 effort, also reaching on a walk with Jordan Starkes reaching base twice with a walk and a fifth-inning single.
 
Kyle Riesselmann struck out seven in the starting role for the Catamounts, scattering three hits over a five-inning effort. Gavin Mortenson tossed 2.2 relief innings, striking out three while allowing an unearned run.
 
Nick Hyde (0-1) was saddled with the loss, surrendering two runs with the game-winning marker scoring after he had exited the game as an inherited runner. Hyde along with Nick Torres, Paddy McGonigal, and Carson Lowder each recorded a third of an inning in relief.
 
Akron reliever Brett Dietrich (1-0) scored the victory out of the bullpen, striking out two in 1.2 innings, and allowing a run on three hits. Freshman starter Joe Roth struck out six over a five-inning appearance, holding the Catamounts scoreless while only surrendering two hits.
 
Pennington collected a pair of singles in a 2-for-4 outing to lead the Zips with Jenkins also tallying a pair of singles and an RBI. Catcher Michael Sprockett walked three times as WCU issued just four combined walks in the loss.
 
Western Carolina (2-2) hits the road for the first time this season on Wednesday for a midweek nonconference matchup at Presbyterian in Clinton, S.C., with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. The Catamounts are at home next weekend for a three-game nonconference series against Xavier
 
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