Corvallis, Ore. – Western Carolina rallied from a four-run deficit with a four-spot in the top half of the sixth inning on Saturday to tie its regular-season finale at 10th-ranked Oregon State at four apiece. However, the Beavers scored the game's final four runs including three in the home half of the sixth to complete the three-game nonconference series sweep at Goss Stadium with an 8-4 victory.
Pasanel Ferreras doubled home
Brandon Butterworth to put the Catamounts on the scoreboard in the sixth with
Landen Morrison collecting his second of two doubles in plating two as WCU clawed back to within a run.
James Hinson advanced Morrison to third where he scored on the RBI single by
Jack Spyke to knot the game at four.
Oregon State answered in the bottom of the inning, however, capitalizing on a lead-off double and Catamount error to put the go-ahead run at third, pushing what proved to be the game-winning marker run across on an infield bunt single. The Beavers added a two-run, two-out double down the left field line to reclaim a three-run advantage in the sixth before plating the game's final run on an RBI groundout in the eighth to provide the final tally.
Morrison capped a strong weekend out west, collecting two of WCU's six hits in the loss on a pair of doubles in a 2-for-4, two-RBI effort. Ferreras doubled for WCU's only other extra-base hit, with
Jordan Starkes reaching base three times in a 1-for-2 performance with a pair of walks.
WCU starter
Gavin Mortenson (0-5) took the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits including five doubles and a home run over 5.2 innings. The Summerfield, N.C., product struck out four against two walks. Relievers
Nick Hyde and
Landon Henley both struck out one apiece over two combined innings with
Eric Wallington posting the final out of the regular season on a ground out on the only batter he faced.
Oregon State's 10 base hits were scattered between eight batters with Garret Forrester leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance with a trio of extra-base hits including two doubles and a solo home run in the third inning for one of his two RBI.
OSU reliever Aiden Jimenez (4-2) picked up the win out of the bullpen after starter Trent Sellers was chased after 5.1 innings. Jimenez struck out one with just one hit allowed over an inning and a third. Ryan Brown earned his 10th save of the season, tossing the final two innings and striking out five including three looking in the top of the ninth inning.
Western Carolina (21-32) turns its attention to the 2023 Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases beginning May 24.at Fluor Field at the West End. Seeded seventh, the Catamounts play in the second of two single-elimination games on the tournament's opening day, facing sixth-seeded UNCG which dropped its regular-season finale at ETSU on Saturday 13-3 in eight innings.
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