Cullowhee, N.C. – Jack Spyke scored from second base on a two-out infield single by Jordan Starkes as Western Carolina rallied from a 5-0 deficit and then outlasted The Citadel 7-6 in 13 innings in the Southern Conference series opener at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Spyke reached on a two-out walk before advancing to second on an HBP that grazed Drew Needham to extend the fourth extra frame. With both runners getting a running start on the two-out, full-count pitch, Starkes dribbled the seventh pitch of his at-bat up the first-base line forcing Bulldog relief pitcher Will Holmes off the bump to make a play. Starkes beat the throw to the bag at first for an infield single.
 
Meanwhile, Spyke never stopped after his extended lead, dotting the bag at third before racing home without a throw for the game-winning run and the series lead.
 
The best-of-three conference series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) and live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Nate Stocum doubled twice in collecting a game-high three hits and three RBI, finishing 3-for-7 to pace the Catamounts. Pascanel Ferreras (2-for-7) and Spyke (2-for-6) both homered with Spyke reaching on the walk in the 13th to reach base for a third time in the winning effort. James Hinson (2-for-5) also reached base three times with a walk and two singles, with Zach Ketterman doubling in extra innings for his lone hit of the game.
 
Junior Nick Hyde (2-1) scored the victory for the Catamounts after working through the top of the 13th, stranding a pair of Bulldog base runners in relief of Coby Ingle. Hyde struck out one of the two batters he faced in picking up the victory. Ingle successfully navigated a team-long 4.1 relief innings, scattering six base hits and limiting the Bulldogs to just one run with a walk and a strikeout.
 
Starter Gavin Mortenson and reliever Adam Quincy both struck out two with Carson Lowder limiting an early Bulldog rally attempt with an inning of relief. Cole Beverlin also tossed a pair of hitless, scoreless innings out of the bullpen as seven Catamounts toed the rubber in the win.
 
The Citadel (21-24, 6-10 SoCon) jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two runs in the second and third innings with the fifth marker crossing in the top of the fourth. WCU jumpstarted its offense on a Pascanel Ferreras solo home run followed two batters later by a two-run blast by Jack Spyke to cut the deficit to two, 5-3, as rain moved over the ballpark and chased the teams from the field.
 
After a nearly two-hour rain delay, the Bulldogs managed to escape the bottom of the sixth inning with just three runs scored and a two-run lead intact.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Western Carolina seized its first lead of the day as Nate Stocum delivered a bases-loaded, two-out double to the gap in left-center that plated three runs and left the Catamounts in front by a run, 6-5, with just three outs remaining. The Bulldogs, however, used consecutive doubles dropped into center field with Travis Lott driving in the game-tying marker to push the game to the bottom of the ninth. WCU had two on in the last frame of regulation but was unable to score.
 
WCU (20-28, 7-11 SoCon) turned in a 1-2-3 top of the 10th with Kenny Leiner – a late-inning defensive sub behind the plate – coaxing an HBP to put the lead-off man aboard but was stranded at first base. In the 11th, the Bulldogs put runners at the corners with two out, but a terrific infield putout that included Brandon Butterworth deflecting a ball to Ferreras for a throw to first for the third out prevented Dylan Costa from touching home and preserved the 6-6 tie. In the home half of the 11th, Ketterman led off with a double but was eventually left at third base.
 
It was The Citadel's turn to put a runner on with a double in the top of the 12th as Wells Sykes collected his second two-base hit coming with one out. However, he was left at second after a pair of fly ball outs ended the frame. Hinson singled to start the home portion of the frame with Leiner sacrificing him into scoring position. Hinson moved to third on an infield groundout but was stranded.
 
The Citadel's best opportunity came in the top of the 13th with two of its first three batters reaching on singles. Hyde came on with one out and ended the threat, striking out Noah Mitchell looking to strand two. With two out in the WCU 13th, Spyke drew a five-pitch walk with Needham plunked with a 1-2 count ahead of the Starkes infield, game-winning single.
 
All told, WCU managed a base runner in each of the four extra frames before finally lighting the scoreboard in the 13th.
 
Will Holmes (2-4) was the tough-luck loser for the Bulldogs, matching starter Cameron Reeves with five strikeouts over five innings out of the bullpen. Reeves was cruising before the two home runs surrendered in the sixth ahead of the weather delay. Reigning SoCon Pitcher of the Week Gant Starling tossed two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout and two walks and was on the hill when the weather broke.
 
Five Bulldogs posted two-hit efforts with Wells Sykes doubling twice in a 2-for-6 effort and Thomas Rollauer hitting a two-run homer, also with a 2-for-6 outing.
 
Saturday's game two features "Whee Love Canton Day" at the ballpark, presented by Ingles and Champion Credit Union. The pregame Fan Fest and concert get underway at 12:30 p.m. ahead of the first pitch at 2 p.m. Fans should anticipate heavy traffic on campus as the game coincides with WCU's commencement exercises.
 
Game day parking on Saturday in the North Baseball garage and the South Baseball lot beyond the outfield fence is FREE. Additional parking is available in Camp Lab Lots 4A and 4B. Lot 73 located behind the Catamount Travel Center off Little Savannah Road is also available and will provide a shuttle service to the Ramsey Center which is within close proximity of Hennon Stadium. Click HERE for an interactive campus parking map
 
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