Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina used strong relief pitching and late-inning offense to rally past the visiting Radford Highlanders in claiming Saturday's doubleheader at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts plated four runs in the home half of the ninth inning to rally from an 8-1 deficit to take game one before using a two-run homer in the home half of the eighth to reclaim the lead in holding on for a 4-3 victory in the backend of the twin bill.
 
Zach Ketterman led the Catamount offense with four base hits in the doubleheader sweep, each going for extra bases with two doubles and two home runs in collecting five RBI. Pascanel Ferreras drove in four on a pair of two-run home runs in tallying three hits. Kyle Harbison (3-for-6), Nate Stocum (3-for-8), and Jack Spyke (3-for-9) each joined Ferreras with a trio of base hits in the two-game set.
 
All told WCU finished Saturday with 22 combined base hits with nine going for extra bases – four doubles and five home runs. Radford collected 18 hits with seven for extras, three doubles, and four homers.
 
The series concludes on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
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Game One – Western Carolina 9, Radford 8
Western Carolina rallied from a seven-run deficit that included four runs in the home half of the ninth inning as Cole Jones delivered the walk-off, run-scoring single to right-center field as the Catamounts claimed Saturday's series opener, 9-8.
 
Radford scored eight runs between the fourth and sixth innings, erasing WCU's early 1-0 advantage to take the 8-1 lead heading to the home portion of the sixth inning. The Catamounts then took advantage of the long ball, plating six runs on a trio of two-run homers – one by Zach Ketterman in the bottom of the sixth before Pascanel Ferreras blasted two coming in the home half of both the seventh and to ignite the four-run ninth innings.
 
Ketterman doubled home Jack Spyke with the game-tying run in the final frame before Jones laced a 2-2 pitch to the gap in right-center that allowed Ketterman to scamper home from second with the game-winning run., setting off a wild on-field celebration.
 
WCU's offensive rally was made possible by the work of its bullpen and freshman RHP Ryan White who scored his first collegiate victory in the come-from-behind win. The Randleman, N.C., product tossed three innings of one-hit, shutout relief with a walk and a strikeout. Starter Matt Schepel scattered seven hits over five innings with three strikeouts against a walk with Nick Hyde and Carson Lowder combining for a frame.
 
Ferreras led four Catamounts with multi-hit games with a 3-for-5, four-RBI performance with a pair of two-run home runs. Spyke (3-for-5) also collected three hits and a first-inning RBI single with both Ketterman and Kyle Harbison doubling in two-hit outings with Ketterman adding the homer.
 
Radford reliever Ty Burton (2-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Freshman Dylan Howard was impressive in the start, settling after allowing a run on three hits in the first inning to retire 14-consecutive before allowing two additional runs on a sixth-inning home run.
 
The Highlanders had a trio of solo home runs from Tristan Shoemaker, Tanner Barrs, and Paul Moore in building their seven-run cushion. Barrs finished 2-for-5 with freshman Sully Tibbs posting a 3-for-4 effort including a bunt single in the loss.
 
Game Two – Western Carolina 4, Radford 3
Trailing 2-1 entering the home half of the eighth inning, Zach Ketterman belted his second two-run home run of the doubleheader to propel the Catamounts in front with Brandon Butterworth's base running tacking on a needed insurance run as WCU claimed the twin bill with the 4-3 victory.
 
Nate Stocum belted a line drive home run over the fence in right field to give the Catamounts the early 1-0 lead in the home half of the third inning. However, half an inning later, the Highlanders rallied with an RBI double by Julian Rojas and an infield groundout to plate the go-ahead marker, 2-1.
 
Radford's one-run lead stood until the eighth inning when Ketterman lifted a full-count pitch over the outstretched glove of right fielder Paul Moore to plate two, handing WCU a 3-2 lead. Brandon Butterworth provided a needed insurance marker by doubling, stealing third, and scoring an errant throw to third base to give the home squad a two-run lead heading into the ninth.
 
With two out in the final frame, Radford's Ryan Gilmore homered to provide the final tally as reliever Gavin Mortenson got a line drive out to short for the games final out to secure the save.
 
Stocum, Ketterman, and Landen Morrison each finished with two hits apiece to lead WCU with Stocum reaching three times, adding a walk. Butterworth reached twice with a walk and the ninth-inning double.
 
WCU's bullpen was again strong in relief of starter Kyle Riesselmann, who struck out six over his five-inning start with two runs – only one of which was earned – coming on three hits with a walk. Nick Torres (2-1) struck out three looking over a three-inning relief effort, holding Radford scoreless with just two hits allowed. Mortenson struck out one in tossing the ninth with a run allowed on one hit.
 
Luke Calveric (0-1) took the loss for Radford out of the bullpen, surrendering three runs – two earned – on three hits with a pair of walks in an inning and a third. Highlander pitching combined for six Ks in the losing effort.
 
Rojas collected two of Radford's six hits in game two with a double. Peyton Henry and Paul Moore also doubled for the Highlanders with Gilmore finishing 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, plating a run on the early infield ground out.