Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina baseball capitalized on its opportunities on Friday evening, taking advantage of seven walks and four VMI errors to claim the Southern Conference opener for both squads 7-3 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Game two is Saturday at 2 p.m. with coverage through live-streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network and live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Ahead of Saturday's Little League Day, presented by Tom Baucom Realty, WCU will have a Fan Fest beginning at 1 p.m. in the grassy area behind the first base side with inflatable yard toys and food trucks selling a variety of cuisines.
 
Jaylen Jones (2-for-4) collected two of WCU's seven hits with a pair of singles and two runs driven in, one coming on an early infield groundout. Brayden Corn (1-for-3) plated two with a sixth-inning, two-run home run while also reaching on a walk, with Jack Spyke (1-for-3) doubling home two runs in the three-run third inning.
 
Hayden Friese (1-for-4) reached twice with a single and a walk with seniors Mason Holton and Trent Turner both walking twice.
 
Grayson Fitzwater (2-for-3) hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to accompany a single, scoring twice for the Keydets. Cole Raile (2-for-4) had a single and a double in a two-hit effort, with the remaining three hits spread between three players with a trio of singles.
 
After both teams worked around a base runner in the first inning, Fitzwater scored the game's first run in the second as the Keydets grabbed the early advantage. It was short-lived, though, as the Catamounts answered in the error-filled home half. Elijah Smith (1-for-4) reached on an infield throwing error before taking second and third on a failed pick-off attempt throwing miscue at first. Jones drove him home on a right-side infield ground out to tie the game at one.
 
As the second inning continued, the Catamounts managed to load the bases with a pair of walks and a Trey Spees single. Friese then applied pressure with a groundball to short, but a fielding miscue allowed Spyke to score with the go-ahead run.
 
In the third, a lead-off walk to Turner and a single by Smith put two aboard. A second failed pick-off attempt – this one at second base – allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. Spyke then doubled to left field to plate both runners to make it 5-1 through three.
 
Fitzwater cut the Catamount lead in half in the sixth inning with a two-run home run, scoring Bradley Garner to make it 5-3. However, WCU responded in the home portion as Friese reached on a one-out single on a hotshot to first base ahead of Corn who belted a two-run home run to left center to reclaim the four-run cushion at 7-3.
 
VMI threatened in the eighth with a pair of two-out walks before reliever Owen Austin ended the threat with a strikeout. Brandon Langley tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the victory.
 
Catamount starter Dusty Revis was lifted during his third-inning warmup tosses after taking a low liner off his lower body in the second inning. The Marion, N.C., product struck out two over the first two innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits. Freshman reliever Jacob Arnberger (1-0) collected his first collegiate victory after tossing a career-long 3.1 innings, surrendering two runs while scattering four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
The trio of Griffin Guinther, Austin, and Langley combined to close the final 3.2 innings. Guinther struck out one against a hit in 1.2 relief innings with Austin fanning one.
 
VMI starter Evan Parmer (2-1) took the loss in his first start of the season – and just the third of his collegiate career. The right-hander allowed five runs – three earned – on four hits with five walks. The Keydets used six relievers to get through the eight innings with Justin Spiegel tossing a team-long three innings out of the bullpen. Spiegel gave up two runs on the homer by Corn with three hits, countering a walk with a strikeout.
 
One of three SoCon series on the weekend, WCU and VMI resume the set at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
 
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