Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina scored runs in five of the six innings it took swings on Friday afternoon, riding big innings and a pair of grand slam home runs to a convincing 27-5 series-opening seven-inning victory over visiting Rider in nonconference baseball action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Elijah Smith and
Noah Quarless both belted grand slam home runs as a part of driving in five runs apiece, while
Trent Turner matched with five RBI in the winning effort. Quarless (2-for-4) was one of six Catamounts to collect two-hit games, blasting his first career home run on a sixth-inning grand slam.
Mason Holton (2-for-3) doubled with a pair of walks to reach base four times, while
Hayden Friese (2-for-2) singled twice with a pair of walks to extend his reached base safely streak to 18-straight games dating back to last season.
Cole Jones (2-for-3) doubled in plating three runs, while both
Brayden Corn (2-for-4) and
Wyatt Stanley (2-for-2) both singled twice. Stanley posted a pair of first-inning RBI.
Turner delivered five RBI with a two-run double, adding a sacrifice fly, a bases-loaded HBP, and a run-scoring ground out. Smith hit his second career home run with a third-inning grand slam homer for his lone hit of the day, adding an RBI groundout in the third.
Rider (2-2) was limited to five base hits spread between five different players including three starters and two off the bench. Griffin Puvel hit a grand slam home run in the seventh inning after entering the game in the sixth as a reserve. Catcher Nick Shuhet drove in a run on an RBI double, reaching twice with an HBP.
Catamount starter
Dusty Revis (1-1) struck out five over five innings, scattering three hits and an HBP while allowing an unearned run.
Ryan White struck out three in an inning of work, stranding a pair of walks, with
Maret Drye tossing the seventh.
PJ Craig (0-1) took the loss after allowing eight runs – six earned – on five hits with five walks that each scored over the opening three innings. The Broncs used five pitchers on Friday, four out of the bullpen with Gavin Hawkes striking out one and Frank Papeo fanning two.
Western Carolina (4-5) capitalized on four walks in the first inning to score four runs, before Jones delivered a two-run double in the second inning to make it 6-0 through two complete. The Catamounts then blew the game open with an 11-run third inning as 16 batters came to the plate in the decisive inning that was highlighted by Turner's two-run double and Smith hitting the grand slam.
Rider used a one-out error and a run-scoring double to get on the board in the top of the fourth before holding the Catamounts off the board in the home portion to make it 17-1 after four innings.
WCU tacked on 10 runs between the fifth and sixth with Quarless hitting his grand slam in the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh, Puvel hit a two-out grand slam homer to provide the final tally.
Saturday's schedule features a doubleheader beginning at Noon, with the second game to follow approximately 45 minutes after the end of game one. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com. Sunday's series finale is set for a 1 p.m. start with live audio from the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 12:45 p.m.
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