Greenville, S.C. – Four Catamounts combined to hit five home runs including two by Drew Needham as Western Carolina muscled its way past Western Michigan 18-6 in seven innings on Sunday afternoon in both squad's finale at the First Pitch Invitational hosted by Michigan State at Fluor Field at the West End.
 
The Catamounts scored a season-high 18 runs on a season-high 19 base hits including six for extra bases – five homers and a double.
 
Trent Turner belted a grand slam home run as part of a six RBI day, Zach Ketterman hit a three-run homer, and Nate Stocum blasted a two-run shot for the second-straight day to join Needham with round-trippers. A product of Liberty, N.C., Needham belted a towering solo shot to straightaway centerfield and later ended the game early with a three-run home run over the fence in right to account for his four RBI.
 
Turner and Hayden Friese both collected a team-best four hits in 4-for-5 efforts in the win with Ketterman and Needham posting three base knocks apiece. Stocum finished with a pair of hits including an infield bunt single to accompany his homer with Jack Spyke likewise tallying two hits, pushing across a run on a sacrifice bunt in the early innings.
 
Western Michigan finished with nine base hits collectively with Cade Sullivan and Dylan Neevar finishing with two base knocks apiece with 2-for-4 efforts with Sullivan legging out a double. Five different Broncos finished with an RBI in the loss.
 
The designated visiting team, Western Michigan (7-8) struck first in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on a Catamount fielding error that accompanied a base hit with Luke Kerrins driving home one of the runs before later exiting with an upper-body injury sustained while sliding into second base.
 
WCU seized control with a decisive home half of the third inning as the Catamounts batted around and scored seven runs to grab a lead that would never be challenged. Turner opened the scoring with an RBI double down the third base line to plate Mason Holton who started the inning with a walk. Back-to-back bunts including one for a hit by Stocum and one for an RBI groundout by Spyke tied the game at two apiece.
 
But the rally wasn't done there. James Hinson walked and Friese singled to put two aboard before Ketterman blasted a shot over the right-field wall for a three-run home run. On the very next pitch, Needham went yard to center to cap the scoring barrage.
 
An inning later, Turner again plated a run with a single past the shortstop before trotting home on Stocum's two-run shot in the three-run frame. Turner again came up big in the fifth inning as the first five  Catamounts reached including Kyle Riesselmann pushing across a run with a bases-loaded walk. Turner then hit a grand slam to cap the five-run fifth and stake WCU to the 15-2 lead.
 
Western Michigan took advantage of a pair of walks and three extra-base hits including two doubles and a triple to close to within nine, 15-6 in the top of the seventh inning. But Needham's second long ball of the day with two aboard pushed the game past the run rule and handed the Catamounts their second victory in Greenville this week.
 
Catamount starter Ryan White (1-1) earned the win, working around three walks with four strikeouts, allowing two runs – only one of which was earned – while scattering four base hits. Cole Beverlin tossed an inning of two-hit scoreless relief with Cannon Pickell and Shane Huntsberger combining for the final frame, the latter posting a strikeout.
 
Broncos starter Turner Doran (1-1) was knocked out in the third inning after securing 2.2 innings of work, allowing six runs on eight base hits with a pair of walks against three strikeouts. Jayden Dentler, the third of four bullpen arms used on Sunday, struck out two
 
Western Carolina (6-9) returns home next weekend for a three-game nonconference series against the Harvard Crimson at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
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