Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina used a pair of three-run innings in the middle third of Tuesday's home-opener to rally back from an early deficit as the Catamounts claimed their first victory of the season with a 10-7 win over USC Upstate in nonconference play at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
WCU overcame an early 3-1 deficit, tying the game with a two-spot in the home half of the third inning before surging to the lead for good with a three-run bottom of the fourth. The Catamounts stretched their advantage to 9-3 with a three-run sixth inning before surviving a four-run seventh by the Spartans.
 
The top third of the Catamount lineup accounted for six of WCU's 13 hits and six RBI, each collecting two hits apiece. Mason Holton homered in a 2-for-4 effort with three RBI, while Hayden Friese singled twice as part of reaching base three times in extending his reached base safely streak to 13 straight dating back to last season, including a five-game hitting streak. Brayden Corn doubled in a 2-for-5 outing with two RBI. Freshman Trey Spees also went 2-for-4 with a double in his home debut.
 
Seven of WCU's 13 hits went for extra bases in the home win over Upstate.
 
But the night belonged to true freshman Jaylen Jones. The Loganville, Ga., product finished a game-best 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple, plating three runs to match his career high with three runs scored in the No. 9 spot in the lineup. He added a stolen base and three fielding assists, including helping turn a double play in the winning effort. Jones has six RBI over his last two games.
 
Infielder Vance Sheahan led USC Upstate (1-2) with a 3-for-4 effort with a double, and Wylie Waters reached three times with a pair of singles and an HBP.
 
Upstate opened the game with three consecutive hits, including a run-scoring double to pull in front at the top of the first inning. WCU managed to squelch the rally with a double play as Jones fed Trent Turner who then connected with Wyatt Stanley at first base to end the inning.
 
Holton then tied the game in the lead-off spot in the home half, belting a solo homer to center.
 
The Spartans used the long ball to reclaim the lead in the top of the second inning as catcher Preston Lucas drew his first of two walks before Scott Newman homered to right center as Upstate led 2-1 through two complete.
 
WCU put its first two batters aboard in the home half of the third as Wyatt Stanley was plunked before scoring from first on the first of two doubles by Jaylen Jones. Two batters later, after swiping third base, Friese singled home Jones to tie the game at three through three.
 
The Catamounts used a pair of doubles by Spees and Jones with Holton singling home the third marker in the three-run fourth. Two innings later in the sixth, Stanley and Jones again connected with a double and triple, respectively, with Corn delivering an RBI single to center to cap the second three-run outburst.
 
USC Upstate would not go away, erasing all but two runs of its six-run deficit by scoring four ahead of the seventh-inning stretch. The Spartans scored on an RBI walk by Johnny Sweeney ahead of Henry Zenor who laced a sacrifice fly to center for the second out of the inning. Jake Armsey then doubled down the right-field line to push a pair of runs across to make it 9-7.
 
Corn provided a much-needed insurance marker in the eighth inning, scoring Friese from first with an RBI double that provided the final tally. Upstate managed a two-out base runner in the final frame but were unable to inch any closer.
 
Catamount starter Josh Ossiander (1-0) was credited with the win, tossing a team-long three innings in a scheduled short start. He struck out four against a walk, allowing three runs while scattering four hits. All eight WCU pitchers recorded at least one strikeout. Freshmen Gavin Maines and John Lobs both struck out one in an inning of two-hit, scoreless relief, while Brandon Langley fanned two in his WCU debut.
 
Relievers Owen Austin, Shane Huntsberger, and Griffin Guinther both recorded a strikeout over two-thirds of an inning of work, while freshman Carter Burnette struck out one over an inning of hitless, scoreless relief in his Cullowhee debut.
 
Landon Sexton (0-1) was tagged with the loss for Upstate, surrendering six runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Alex Sanderson allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits over 1.2 innings, with Juan Reyes tossing two innings, adding a pair of strikeouts.
 
Western Carolina (1-3) continues its four-game homestand this weekend, welcoming Big Ten foe Maryland (2-1) to Cullowhee for a three-game nonconference set. The series opens Friday at 4 p.m., with Saturday's game scheduled for a 2 p.m. start ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale. Each game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with links to live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Tickets for Catamount baseball can be purchased in person through the first-floor Athletics Ticket Office in the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, or online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
 
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