Kannapolis, N.C. – Trailing by as many as five runs on Tuesday, Western Carolina mounted a rally over the final three frames, threatening with the game-tying run at third base in each of the final three innings but were unable to find the timely base knock in dropping a 6-5 nonconference midweek meeting to the Davidson Wildcats in neutral-field action at the Atrium Health Ballpark, home of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
Free bases on walks and hit batters plagued WCU early on Tuesday evening as Davidson capitalized on 10 total walks and five hit batters. Five of the six Wildcat runs in the win were put aboard via the free pass as four of the runners that walked and one HBP came around to score.
Otherwise, in a statistical anomaly, the Catamounts outhit Davidson 12-to-4 including two of the three extra-base hits recorded.
After a scoreless opening two innings, Davidson (7-9) broke the deadlock with a four-run third inning with just one base hit. The first five Wildcat batters reached with three walks and a pair of HBPs that resulted in the game's first run before a fielder's choice ground out and a two-run single by Jake Wilhoit handed the designated home squad the 4-0 lead.
Davidson tacked on a marker in the fourth on an RBI triple by Jack Cotrone before the Catamounts found the run column in the fifth. Three-consecutive singles by
Jack Spyke,
Kyle Riesselmann, and
Kyle Harbison loaded the bases before
Zach Ketterman bounced into a fielder's choice that allowed Spyke to scamper home. The Wildcats got the run back, however, in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-1 lead through five complete.
Spyke again ignited the Catamount rally in the four-run seventh with a lead-off walk with Harbison singling before both advanced on a wild pitch. With the bases loaded,
Pascanel Ferreras delivered an infield single to third with an error allowing both Spyke and Harbison to score.
Nate Stocum then doubled to center field to bring across two more and make it a one-run game. WCU continued to threaten with the game-tying run as two were left on in the seventh.
The Catamounts loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but were unable to find the equalizing marker, stranding three runners. In the ninth, Butterworth and Spyke reached on two-out singles, but an infield groundout again stranded WCU's potential sixth run just 90 feet away.
Harbison had his best day in a WCU uniform, leading four Catamounts with multiple-hit games by finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored. Stocum doubled with two RBI in a 2-for-5 effort with Butterworth also legging out a two-base hit in a 2-for-5 showing. Spyke successfully reached three times with a 2-for-4 performance, adding a walk and a team-best two runs scored.
Dante Visconti (2-1) took the loss after surrendering four runs in a limited relief role, facing just four batters that all reached on two walks and a pair of HBPs.
Coby Ingle struck out one in two innings of hitless, scoreless work in the starting role. Out of the bullpen,
Adam Quincy Struck out three,
Ryan White one, and
Corey Bright a team-best four in the loss.
Davidson starter Bennett Flynn (1-0) was credited with the win in a predetermined three-inning start, striking out five over three innings of one-hit, scoreless work. Will Banks struck out three, AJ Pabst fanned two, and Nick Shedleski scored his first save of the season with a strikeout while not surrendering a run over an inning and two-thirds of two-hit baseball.
Jack Cotrone tallied two of Davidson's four hits with the triple and two RBI with Jake Wilhoit, who didn't start the game as the designated hitter but delivered pinch-hit single for his two RBI in a 1-for-3 effort. Ryan Wilson reached base four times despite an 0-for-1 showing, drawing a walk and three HBPs, while Michael O'Shaughnessy reached three times with two HBPs and a walk.
Western Carolina (6-11) returns to action this weekend with a three-game nonconference series against Radford at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday (
subject to change). Each game is slated to be broadcast on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required) with live stats online at CatamountSports.com.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics including any weather-related schedule changes through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
