Cullowhee, N.C. – Hayden Friese sparked a five-run seventh inning for Western Carolina on Friday afternoon with a two-run home run and Trent Turner drove in four including a first-inning three-run blast as the Catamounts twice rallied back to take the series opener from Big Ten foe Maryland, 8-7, at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Turner belted his first round-tripper of the season on a go-ahead three-run dinger in the home half of the first inning to claw the Catamounts to the lead after surrendering a two-spot in the top of the frame. Later, tied at three in the top of the seventh inning, Maryland's red-hot hitting catcher Alex Calarco hit his second grand slam home run of the season as the Terps pulled back in front just before stretch time, capping five-straight Maryland markers for the 7-3 advantage.
 
In what proved to be the decisive home portion of the seventh, Friese tallied his second knock of the day with a 401-foot homer to right field with Mason Holton aboard to slice the deficit in half, 7-5. The next four Catamount batters each reached successfully including walks by Brayden Corn and Trey Spees sandwiched around a Cole Jones double and a run-scoring single by Turner that made it a one-run affair.
 
WCU tied the game with a bases-loaded RBI fielder's choice by Jack Spyke before freshman Wyatt Stanley delivered what proved to be the game-winning RBI on a ground-rule double to left-center to plate Turner and put the Catamounts up, 8-7.
 
Maryland (2-2) looked to have the lead-off man aboard in the seventh before Jordan Crosland was thrown out at second by Cole Jones as he was trying to stretch a single into a double. With Brayden Martin on after coaxing a walk, WCU turned its second double-play of the day as Holton flipped to Josh Ossiander – in for the injured Jaylen Jones – and finished with Stanley at first to end the threat.
 
The Terps again threatened in the ninth, though, as Chris Hacopian opened with a single through the left side to put the tying run on base. Catamount closer Griffin Guinther induced consecutive flyouts, though, including one by the dangerous Calarco – the only time WCU successfully retired the Terrapin backstop – to have one on with two gone. An HBP to Aden Hill kept things interesting before Guinther got Jacob Orr to pop up to deep short where Turner snared the final out for the win.
 
Western Carolina (2-3) pounded out 12 hits in the series opener with five Catamounts collecting two-hit performances. Turner (2-for-5) homered with four RBI with Stanley (2-for-4) doubling home one. Friese (2-for-5) collected his two RBI on his seventh-inning four-bagger.
 
Brayden Corn (2-for-4) led three Catamounts to reach base three times with a pair of infield singles and a walk. Freshman Trey Spees (2-for-3) singled twice with a free pass while Cole Jones likewise reached thrice with a double and a pair of walks. Spyke doubled off the top of the tallest portion of the left-field wall for his first extra-base hit of the season that included an RBI.
 
Alex Calarco led all hitters with a 4-for-5 afternoon with a double and a homer, collecting five RBI including four on one swing with his seventh-inning grand slam. Transfer Hollis Porter (2-for-5) doubled for Maryland's only other extra-base hit.
 
Catamount reliever Owen Austin (1-0) benefited from the bottom of the seventh-inning rally to score the win out of the bullpen, settling things after the grand slam with three-consecutive ground outs for an inning of work. Freshman Carter Burnette worked around a single and a walk by inducing the double-play ball to get to the ninth where sophomore Griffin Guinther earned his first save in a Catamount uniform with a one-hit, scoreless ninth.
 
WCU starter Dusty Revis tossed a season-long 4.2 innings, scattering five hits while allowing three runs, only two of which were earned. The Marion, N.C., product struck out three against one walk and a hit batter.
 
Maryland's Ryan Van Buren (0-1) was saddled with the loss after surrendering the final two runs in WCU's five-run seventh. Southpaw starter Kyle McCoy tossed six innings and limited the Catamounts to just three runs – all coming in the first inning – on seven hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.
 
Both teams stranded nine runners apiece on Friday as the squads combined for 15 runs on 22 hits with six total errors – four by the Terrapins and two by WCU.
 
The nonconference series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and concludes on Sunday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
 
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