Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina baseball continues its four-game homestand this week as the Catamounts play their first Southern Conference series inside the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, hosting the VMI Keydets for a three-game series beginning Thursday.
 
The series schedule was altered on Wednesday based on unfavorable weather forecasts throughout the week. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday, April 6 beginning at Noon with game two scheduled to follow about 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Tentative plans are for the third game to be played on Friday at a time to be announced with the three-day window for the series open through Saturday if weather prohibits play on Friday.
 
Each game is currently slated to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available through a link online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Western Carolina (12-16, 3-3 SoCon) has split its first two SoCon series, dropping 2-of-3 at UNCG to open league play before taking two of the three series meetings in Macon, Ga., against Mercer last weekend. After dropping the series opener to the Bears 2-1, the Catamounts earned a 9-4 victory to even the series before claiming the rubber match with an improbable eight-run rally with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, homering three times including a three-run shot by Cole Jones, a grand slam by Pascanel Ferreras, and the game-winning run on a solo homer by James Hinson.
 
With an 8-6 home record to date this season, the Catamounts are coming off a tough 9-8 loss in the midweek to USC Upstate, falling in 13 innings Tuesday night in Cullowhee. For a second-consecutive game, the Catamounts rallied with two-out in the ninth inning with Ferreras again belting a grand slam that tied the game.
 
Ferreras has homered in three-straight games with a trio of grand slams in collecting 14 RBI to bolster his team lead with 35 RBI on the year – a mark that also paces the SoCon. Also leading the Catamounts, sophomore infielder Brandon Butterworth has reached base safely in 16 straight games, while he also ranks tied for second in the SoCon with three triples. Hinson enters the week boasting a SoCon-leading .791 slugging percentage including a team-best eight home runs, three doubles, and a triple.
 
About the VMI Keydets:
Much like Western Carolina, VMI (16-14, 3-3 SoCon) is under the direction of a first-year head coach and a program alum Sam Roberts. An assistant since 2017, Roberts was elevated to head coach entering the 2023 season after seven years as an assistant. He remains VMI's all-time hits leader, ranks in the program's top three in nine career categories, and leads in hits, walks, at-bats, runs scored, and games played, while also pitching.
 
The Keydets come to Cullowhee having dropped back-to-back games after claiming the first two in winning the SoCon series at UNCG as the Spartans salvaged game three, 14-8. VMI fell to fellow Commonwealth-foe VCU on Tuesday, 6-4, nearly rallying from a five-run deficit in the road loss. VMI is 3-3 in SoCon play after falling to preseason league favorite Wofford in its first conference series, claiming the opener 9-6 in 11 innings before falling 20-6 and 12-6 in Spartanburg.
 
VMI has been the early surprise in conference play as the Keydets were picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll and eighth by the voting media. With 16 wins to date, the squad has already matched its win total from the 2022 season and is on pace for the most victories in a season since 2018.
 
The Keydets enter the week leading the SoCon in batting average (.330) and slugging percentage (.526), and are the league's top-scoring team with 255 runs, averaging 8.5 per game on an average of 10.9 hits per game. On the mound, VMI ranks last in team ERA at 7.67 while allowing opponents to bat .316 collectively on the season.
 
VMI boasts three of the top 10 batting averages in the SoCon with Justin Starke (3rd, .397), Cole Garrett (5th, .385), and Trey Morgan (8th, .370) among the league leaders. Ty Swaim has scored the second-most runs in the league this season with 36, just ahead of Starke in third with 33. Stark also ranks second with 46 total base hits, second to WCU's Ferreras with 34 RBI, and is tied for second with eight home runs. VMI's Morgan and Cole Jenkins have both collected 11 doubles.
 
Western Carolina vs. VMI – All-time Series History:
The two programs have met 93 times previously on the baseball diamond dating back to 1971 with Western Carolina leading the series, 70-23, including victories in six of the last seven series meetings. The Catamounts took three of the four series meetings a year ago, winning the series in Lexington, Va., 2-to-1 before defeating VMI in the SoCon Tournament, 4-1. WCU swept the series meeting the last time the two played in Cullowhee in 2021. VMI won five of six meetings in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
 
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;
• Alcohol is available for purchase through Catamount Dining concessions at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. 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 (12-16, 3-3) vs. VMI (16-14, 3-3)
Game 1: Thursday, April 6 | Noon | Tickets | Coverage:  ESPN+  |  LiveStats
Projected Pitching Match-up:
VMI – Fr. RHP Andrew Jones (0-0, 3.60 ERA; 5.0 IP, 3 app., 0 GS, 5K, 3BB)
WCU – Graduate RHP Nick Torres (3-2, 2.00 ERA; 27.0 IP, 11 app., 1 GS, 21K, 9BB)

Game 2: Thursday, April 6 | Approx. 3:30 pm | Tickets | Coverage:  ESPN+  |  LiveStats
Projected Pitching Match-up:
VMI – R-Sr. LHP Nathan Light (1-1, 4.71 ERA; 9 app., 1 GS, 21.0 IP, 22K, 13BB)
WCU – Soph. RHP Matt Schepel  (2-1, 4.66 ERA; 6 app., 6 GS, 29.0 IP, 27K, 4BB)
  
Game 3: Friday, April 7| TBA | Tickets | Coverage:  ESPN+  |  LiveStats
Projected Pitching Match-up:
VMI – TBA
WCU – TBA