Charleston, S.C. – Western Carolina managed just three base runners on a pair of walks and one single while the College of Charleston capitalized on two of the 10 walks issued by Catamount pitching as the Cougars took Friday's series-opening pitcher's duel 2-0 at Patriot's Point.
Jack Spyke reached twice with a walk and WCU's only base hit of the game with a lead-off single in the fifth inning.
Nate Stocum walked to open the ninth inning to bring the game-tying run to the plate but was stranded at first base in the loss as the Catamounts left just two on base.
After three scoreless innings, Charleston (23-14) took advantage of a one-out walk with Tyler Sorrentino delivering a two-out, run-scoring single up the middle to plate Trotter Harlan for the 1-0 lead through four complete. Spyke opened the next half-inning with a single, but WCU could not find the equalizing run.
In the home half of the fifth, the Cougars used a walk and an infield single to put two aboard before a strikeout left two on base. CofC then stranded a runner at third base in the sixth after a leadoff Harlan double. A one-out walk and double by Cole Mathis resulted in the second Charleston run. The Cougars managed to load the bases in the frame but were unable to stretch the advantage.
Stocum coaxed a five-pitch walk in the top of the ninth inning but William Privette recovered to strike out the side to end the game.
Jonathan Todd (1-2) worked around six walks with five strikeouts over four innings of work in the start, limiting the Cougars to a run on one hit.
Coby Ingle struck out two against a walk over two innings of two-hit, scoreless relief with
Eric Wallington tagged for a run on a hit with three walks over two frames.
WCU stranded 10 Cougar base runners in Friday's loss.
Two Cougar pitchers combined for the one-hit shutout victory. Charleston starter Ty Good (5-2) earned the win, striking out eight over seven scoreless innings and surrendering a walk and the lone single. Privette collected his fifth save by using six strikeouts to record his two-relief innings of work working around the walk in the ninth.
Game two is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Patriot's Point. Coverage is available online through FloBaseball (
paid subscription required) with live stats through a link on CatamountSports.com.
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