Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina baseball plated all the runs it would need in the first two innings on Tuesday afternoon as the Catamounts scratched out four runs including a three-run bottom of the first as WCU claimed the first of three nonconference meetings against Presbyterian 4-2 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Mason Holton (1-2) struck out five over five solid innings in the starting role and four Catamounts combined to drive home the four runs, earning the team's 10th victory.
 
Trent Turner (2-for-3) and Brayden Corn (2-for-3) both singled twice with run-scoring hits in the home half of the first inning, and Hayden Friese (1-for-3) doubled and scored in the first before adding an RBI groundout for a second-inning insurance run to score Holton (1-for-4) who led-off the frame with a double.
 
Cam Murray (1-for-3) singled with a sacrifice fly that scored Cole Jones (1-for-3) with the eventual game-winning run. Wyatt Stanley reached twice with a pair of walks after earning the start at first base.
 
Jake Randolph (3-for-4) doubled as part of collecting three of Presbyterian's seven base hits, legging out a two-base hit in the first inning where he was driven home on a run-scoring double to left center by Amman Dewberry (1-for-4). Dewberry scored PC's second run after reaching on a fielder's choice in the sixth as Nick Smith (1-for-4).
 
Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first inning, Western Carolina (10-11) mounted a one-out rally to plate three runs to pull in front for good. Friese doubled to right-center before scoring on Turner's RBI single through the left side. Cole Jones reached on an infield bunt single to put two aboard ahead of Corn who singled through the left side to plate Turner for the go-ahead marker. After freshman Trey Spees walked to load the bases, Murray lifted a sacrifice fly to right for a 3-1 lead.
 
After Holton struck out two and worked around a one-out single, the Catamounts tacked on an insurance marker in the second inning. Holton helped his own cause with a lead-off double down the third-base line before taking third on a wild pitch. Friese bounced a run-scoring ground out to first base to cap the home squad's scoring.
 
Holton worked two 1-2-3 innings between the third and fourth innings including an infield groundout double play before giving way to Davis Budd for two relief innings. In the sixth inning, PC's Dewberry swapped places with Randolph at first with a fielder's choice before eventually scoring on Smith's two-out double to ultimately cap the scoring.
 
Budd allowed a run on three hits in two innings with Owen Austin striking out two with one single allowed in an inning out of the bullpen. Brandon Langley earned his third save of the season, striking out one in tossing the top of the ninth for an inning of hitless, scoreless relief.
 
Presbyterian starter Mikey Marroquin Jr. (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing all four runs on five hits with a pair of walks in two innings of work. Mason McDaniel threw 4.2 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief, working around a pair of walks with three strikeouts to highlight PC's four relievers.
 
Western Carolina continues its eight-game homestand this weekend as the Catamounts open Southern Conference play with a three-game homestand against the VMI Keydets at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., with Saturday's Fanfest and Little League Day, presented by Todd Baucom Realty, opening with a pregame festival at 1 p.m. before the 2 p.m. start. Sunday's series finale is slated for an earlier Noon first pitch.
 
Friday and Sunday's games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live, streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network available for Saturday's game two through a link at CatamountSports.com.
 
Tickets for the SoCon opening three-game series can be purchased in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
 
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