Cullowhee, N.C. – Wofford used a six-run fourth inning to erase Western Carolina's early 4-1 edge in claiming game one of the Southern Conference series 12-5 Friday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The three-game set continues Saturday with game two scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch. In partnership with Ingles and the Nexstar Media Group, Saturday's game will be broadcast regionally over the air on The CW 62 (Asheville) and simulcast on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required). Additional coverage through live stats is available online through a link at CatamountSports.com.
James Hinson blasted his team-leading ninth home run in the bottom of the first to tie Friday's conference curtain raiser at one through one complete. Then in the second, sophomore
Brandon Butterworth extended his reached base safely streak to 20 in a row with an RBI double to center to ignite a three-run rally. The Catamounts plated two additional runs in the frame on an RBI ground out by
Nate Stocum and a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Jordan Starkes to lead by three through two complete.
However, Wofford sent 11 batters to the plate in the six-run fourth inning that featured four run-scoring base hits including a two-run triple by Dixon Black as the Terriers grabbed a 7-4 lead. WCU's
Cole Jones pulled the home squad back to within two runs with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth, but it was as close as the Catamounts would get. The Terriers tacked on five runs over the final third of the game including a two-run seventh and a three-run ninth to provide the final tally.
Jones collected two of WCU's eight hits with a pair of singles in a 2-for-4 showing. In addition to extending his reached base safely streak, Butterworth ran his consecutive games with an RBI to five straight giving him nine RBI over the last five outings.
Jack Spyke reached three times, walking twice and legging out a double with Hinson homering in the loss.
Gavin Mortenson (0-3) was saddled with the loss after entering the game in the third inning after WCU starter
Nick Torres exited with tightness in his pitching arm after 2.2 innings. Torres struck out four while allowing a run on three hits. Mortenson tossed 1.1 innings out of the bullpen with a walk and a strikeout with six unearned runs allowed.
Coby Ingle,
Ryan White, and
Carson Lowder tossed the final five frames.
Wofford starter Coulson Buchanan (4-2) picked up the win, working around four walks with six strikeouts over five innings. He surrendered five runs on six hits before giving way to Lucas Mahlstedt out of the bullpen. Mahlstedt earned the save after tossing four innings of two-hit, scoreless relief with four strikeouts.
Six Terriers collected multi-hit games as Wofford finished with 16 base hits including 14 singles. Trey Yunger (3-for-5) led the way with three hits including a double and two RBI with Gunnar Johnson plating two in a 2-for-4 effort. Marshall Toole and Dixon Black both finished with three RBI apiece in one-hit efforts with Black tripling. Brice Martinez reached base four times, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk and an HBP.
Friday's game was bumped from its originally-scheduled 5 p.m. time slot to 7 p.m. by rain and unfavorable forecasts. The two teams waited out an additional delay with first pitch tossed just after 8:15 p.m. with parts of the final third of the game contested under drizzle and unseasonably cooler temperatures.
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