Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina returns to the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium to conclude a home-heavy start to the 2023 season, welcoming the Eastern Kentucky Colonels out of the ASUN Conference for a three-game nonconference series.
UPDATED: Friday's game has been postponed and will be made up in game one of a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. (
Additional game times changes based on weather conditions are possible – please check CatamountSports.com or social media for any potential changes). Each game of the series is slated to have coverage through live stats via a link on CatamountSports.com -
please note there will be no ESPN+ coverage of this weekend's series because of the Southern Conference Basketball Championship in Asheville.
Western Carolina (2-7) looks to snap a six-game seasonal slide, most recently dropping a midweek match-up against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs on Wednesday evening. WCU has played seven of its first nine games at home with both seasonal victories coming against Akron on Opening Weekend
The Catamounts are batting .260 collectively as a team with junior
Pascanel Ferreras leading the team with a team-best .424 average that includes a team-high 14 hits. WCU is averaging six runs per game on 8.7 hits per game with 14 doubles and eight home runs.
EKU (4-5) comes to Cullowhee riding a two-game winless drought and has suffered defeat in four of its last five games overall. The squad fell on the road Tuesday at fourth-ranked Louisville, 11-0, and dropped 2-of-3 to UNC Asheville at home last weekend. EKU is batting .239 as a team entering the weekend, averaging 5.3 runs per contest.
Two familiar faces will line up for the Colonels this weekend as former Catamounts in senior infielder Jalen Jones and senior catcher Michael Goehrig are both on EKU's roster. Jones, who is entering his second season in Richmond, Ky., played in 61 games over the 2019 and 2020 seasons with 50 combined starts before transferring to Southwestern Illinois College for the 2021 season. Also in his second year on EKU's roster, Goehrig likewise departed Cullowhee after the abbreviated 2020 campaign for Southwestern Illinois after playing in 39 games between 2019-2020.
EKU is coming off a 38-20 regular season finish that included tying for the best conference record in the league. The Colonels won the ASUN Conference West Division championship. This year, EKU was picked to finish fifth in the 2023 season behind league-favorite Liberty, followed by Kennesaw State, Florida Gulf Coast, and Lipscomb.
Catcher Will King was selected to the 2023 ASUN Baseball Preseason All-Conference team after batting .313 with 19 doubles, 11 homers, and 60 RBI a season ago.
The series-opener represents the 39th series meeting between the two programs dating back to 1983 with WCU holding a 27-11 edge including the most recent match-up at beautiful Prasco Park 9-6 back in May of 2019. The two teams last met in Cullowhee in 2013 and WCU holds a 23-8 series lead in western North Carolina.
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).
Game Day Reminders for Childress Field / Hennon Stadium:
- Fans must purchase a ticket to gain admission into the stadium seating and surrounding areas;
- WCU Athletics continues to adhere to a clear bag policy for all home athletics events. Only standard clear bags, 12-inches by 6-inches by 12-inches in size, small purses approximately 4.5-inches by 5-inches not including the strap, and clear gallon-size storage bags are permitted. Diaper bags (child must be present upon entry) and any medical-related bags will be allowed;
- Fans are reminded that in accordance with stadium policies, no pets, umbrellas, coolers, or outside food and beverages are allowed within the stadium;
- This weekend marks the first games at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium where alcohol will be available for purchase through Catamount Dining concessions. Selections of beer, wine, and hard seltzers will be available for purchase – patrons must be 21 years of age with a legal ID and a limit of one beverage per transaction;
- Free game day parking for games in Cullowhee is available in the baseball parking deck behind the grandstand seating area, or beyond the outfield fence utilizing the access road that skirts the stadium to the left.
2023 Catamount Baseball – Western Carolina (2-7) vs. Eastern Kentucky (4-5)
Game 1: Friday, March 3 | 4:00 pm |
Coverage: ESPN+ |
Live Stats (SidearmStats)
Projected Pitching Match-up:
WCU – So. RHP
Matt Schepel (1-1, 4.50 ERA; 10.0 IP, 9K, 0BB)
EKU – Sr. RHP Michael Schuler (0-0, 6.75; 6.2 IP, 6K, 4BB)
Game 2: Saturday, March 2 | 2:00 pm |
Coverage: Live Stats (SidearmStats)
Projected Pitching Match-up:
WCU – TBD
EKU – Jr. RHP Rese Brown (1-0, 3.00 ERA; 9.0 IP, 15K, 6BB)
Game 3: Sunday, March 3 | 1:00 pm |
Coverage: Live Stats (SidearmStats)
Projected Pitching Match-up:
WCU – TBD
EKU – Jr. RHP Rian Yates (0-0, 6.43 ERA; 7.0 IP, 6K, 6BB)
