Cullowhee, N.C. – Nate Stocum homered three times to lead five Catamounts with multi-hit games on Saturday afternoon as Western Carolina overcame a three-run first-inning deficit by scoring 16-unanswered runs to claim the season-opening three-game series against Iona with a 16-3 victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. WCU has taken the first two meetings this weekend, winning 8-5 on Friday afternoon.
 
The nonconference series concludes Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Stocum reached base four times in a 3-for-4 effort, adding a walk to his career-best three home run effort. The Raleigh, N.C., product drove in a game-high five runs while scoring all four times he was on the base paths. Transfer infielder Trent Turner matched Stocum with three hits including a double, scoring twice with a pair of RBI.
 
Including Stocum's three round-trippers, WCU homered five times in Saturday's win. James Hinson finished 2-for-4 with a double and a homer with Jack Spyke also leaving the yard with his first long ball of the season. Tafton Hensley earned his first start in a Catamount uniform, legging out a triple on one that also nearly left the park to finish 2-for-4. Third-baseman Mason Holton rounded out the multi-hit games with a 2-for-3 effort with a walk and a strikeout, doubling home three runs.
 
Three of Iona's five hits in the loss went for extra bases as Josiah Ragsdale (1-for-2) and Anthony Febo (2-for-4) both homered with Kyle McSorley (1-for-3) legging out a late double. Febo posted the only multiple-hit performance with Ragsdale driving in a team-best two.
 
For a second-straight day, the Gaels (0-2) jumped in front early as Ragsdale drove a two-run homer over the fence in left field for the early edge with Febo following with a solo shot also in the opening frame. WCU answered in the first with Stocum's first homer of the day – and the first for the Catamounts this season.
 
Down by two entering the second inning, Hinson belted his first homer to cut the deficit to one before Turner singled home Hensley to even the game at three through two complete.
 
WCU's third home run of the game, coming off the bat of Jack Spyke, proved to be the game-winner as the Catamount backstop soared one to left field for the 4-3 edge. Spyke's blast sparked a five-run frame as Holton delivered a bases-loaded double to plate three with Turner punching a single through the left side as the Catamounts grabbed a five-run edge through the opening third.
 
Stocum hit his second home run in the fourth with freshman Landon Mowery collecting his first collegiate RBI on a sharp single up the middle to make it 10-3 through four. In the fifth, Hinson lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Cole Jones with Hensley tripling off the wall in right center to bring Stocum – who reached on a walk – home from first base for the 12-3 lead.
 
Stocum carbon-copied in the bottom of the sixth with a towering home run to right field for his third of the game, driving home three on the blast for a 15-3 advantage. In the eighth, Cameron Murray laced a single into left field to cap the scoring, plating Turner on the run-scoring base knock.
 
All told, the Catamounts scored runs in seven of the eight innings in which they took swings.
 
Transfer starter Spenser Hamblen (1-0) struck out six over his five-inning Catamount debut to earn the win on the mound. Hamblen surrendered a pair of homers in the opening frame, but allowed just four base hits and three runs, only one of which was earned.
 
Three relievers combined for the final four frames, only surrendering one base hit in the scoreless relief. Ryan White struck out one over two innings out of the bullpen with Cole Beverlin fanning two in his inning on the hill. Gavin Mortenson worked around a walk and one hit in posting the final three outs.
 
Iona starter Carl Kuentzel (0-1) took the loss, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits through 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts to counter three walks. Gaels pitching issued seven walks with four strikeouts while also plunking four batters on the day.
 
Again, the 2024 opening weekend series concludes on Sunday afternoon with the first pitch at 1 p.m. from Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
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