Mason, Ohio – Five Catamounts posted multiple-hit games on Friday afternoon as Western Carolina pounded out 13 base hits in taking its neutral field, nonconference series opener over Akron 7-3 at Prasco Park. With the Zips back within a run through five complete, the Catamounts held off the opposition with four runs between the sixth and eighth innings.
 
Zach Ketterman delivered a solo home run and a double as part of a 3-for-4, three-run effort while classmate Nate Stocum doubled as part of a 3-for-4 outing with an early run-scoring single to pace the Catamount offense. Mason Holton (2-for-4) doubled twice with a run driven in and Hayden Friese (2-for-4) blasted his second career home run to right-center in his two-hit performance.
 
Rounding out WCU's multi-hit efforts was Jack Spyke (2-for-4) with a pair of singles in the clean-up spot.
 
Freshman Austin Lafferty collected two of Akron's five hits in the loss, tallying one of two doubles for the Zips. Max Bowman reached base three times with a walk, an HBP, and the other Akron double.
 
Riesselmann continued to swing a hot bat for the Catamounts as he led off the home half of the first with a double before scoring the game's first run on a RBI single by Stocum down the right-field line as WCU jumped in front early.
 
After stranding two in scoring position in the third inning, WCU extended its one-run advantage in the fourth with a two-spot. Ketterman delivered a one-out single with Holton reaching on an error to put two aboard. Ketterman was squeezed home with a Kyle Harbison sacrifice bunt with Holton scoring on a second Akron miscue of the inning as the Catamounts led 3-0 through four complete.
 
Akron (5-23) climbed back into the game in the top of the fifth inning, though, capitalizing on a one-out walk followed by back-to-back singles as Henry Hayman scored on the Michael Sprockett single up the middle before Lafferty crossed the dish on a fielder's choice on a bunt. The Catamounts thwarted the rally by turning their second double-play of the game to maintain the 3-2 lead through five.
 
WCU found solo markers in both the sixth and seventh innings coming on solo home runs. Ketterman led off the sixth with a shot down the right field line before Friese belted a no-doubter to right-center for the three-run advantage, 5-2.
 
With Akron back within two, 5-3, after the top of the eighth inning, the designated home squad distanced itself from the Zips in the home half with two runs to provide the final tally. Ketterman and Holton posted consecutive doubles with the second plating a run. Riesselmann later lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center that allowed Holton to score providing the final tally.
 
Senior Gavin Mortenson (2-1) was again solid in the starting role for the Catamounts, limiting Akron to two runs while scattering three hits over six innings of work. The Summerfield, N.C., product countered a pair of walks and two hit batters with three strikeouts. Ryan White tossed two innings with a pair of strikeouts, surrendering a run on a hit with Jonathan Todd likewise fanning two in an inning of work in the ninth inning.
 
Akron starter Jared Schaeffer was saddled with the loss, giving up four runs – two of which were earned – on 10 hits with five strikeouts. Two arms out of the bullpen managed two strikeouts apiece as WCU was struck out a combined nine times in the series opener.
 
The three-game series continues Saturday with a 4:05 p.m. start at Prasco Park. Coverage of the game is available with a live video stream through Chatterbox Sports and live stats through CatamountSports.com.
 
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