Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina made a late push on Sunday afternoon with a five-run seventh inning, but a combination of five miscues and 13 freebies were too much to overcome as VMI claimed the Southern Conference series rubber match 11-7 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
WCU committed five errors while issuing eight walks and four hit batters in the loss despite out-hitting the Keydets 13-to-8 in game three.
 
Four Catamounts posted multi-hit games led by Brayden Corn (3-for-4), who reached base four times with a trio of singles and a walk. Elijah Smith (2-for-4) doubled and added a two-run single and an HBP to reach base three times, while Mason Holton (2-for-4) plated two with a run scored with a pair of singles offensively.
 
Jaylen Jones (2-for-3) singled twice before exiting the game with an injury on a stolen base, with his replacement Trey Spees driving home two on a seventh-inning single. Cole Jones drew a pair of walks as the Catamounts collected five free passes in the loss.
 
VMI had two players post multiple hits, with Cole Raile finishing 3-for-5 with a trio of singles, also reaching on a first-inning HBP. Owen Prince (2-for-4) reached base four times with a pair of singles and two walks. Ayden Snarrs scored a game-high four runs without a base hit, reaching on a pair of walks and three HBPs.
 
The two teams stranded a combined 21 runners – 11 by VMI and 10 for Western Carolina.
 
Both teams managed a run in the opening frame but stranded a pair of runners as the first three Catamounts reached on singles, with Holton scoring on the punch through the left side by Corn with the equalizing score.
 
However, VMI took advantage of three walks, a run-scoring single by Raile, and the first of five Catamount errors to plate four runs in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead through two complete. Consecutive hit batters to start the third inning ultimately scored for the Keydets as the visitors pushed their lead to 7-1.
 
WCU plated a run in the fourth inning utilizing a pair of bunts. Jaylen Jones legged out an infield bunt single before moving to third on a double down the right-field line by Smith. Holton then gave himself up on a bunt to the right side, driving Jones home to make it 7-2.
 
VMI had the answer, though, scoring three runs over the subsequent two frames. The Keydets took advantage of an HBP and a walk in the two-run fifth before a two-out walk ultimately scored from third on a close caught-stealing putout as the home plate umpire ruled the run scored before the final out was recorded.
 
Trailing 10-2, Western Carolina mounted a rally after the stretch. Three straight Catamounts reached after a lead-off strikeout to load the bases. The second out was recorded on a pop-up in foul territory taken by first baseman Grayson Fitzwater. Trey Spees then came through with a two-run single to cut the deficit to six, 10-4. Pinch hitter Wyatt Stanley drew a walk to reload the bases before Smith drove in two on a single through the left side before Holton capped the scoring with an RBI single as WCU was within three, 10-7, through seven innings.
 
VMI tacked on an insurance marker in the top of the eighth inning, capitalizing on an infield throwing error to start the frame to take an 11-7 lead.
 
WCU only managed one base runner over the final two innings as Corn singled to open the eighth before the Keydets retired six straight to secure the victory.
 
Catamount starter Cannon Pickell (0-1) took the loss after surrendering four runs – three earned – on just one hit but walked four and hit one batter against a pair of strikeouts looking. Davis Budd was the first of five WCU relievers, tossing an inning with three runs – two earned – allowed.
 
Evan Langston struck out two over his 1.2 relief innings with a pair of unearned runs, with Shane Huntsberger and Owen Austin each tossing an inning. Brandon Langley was WCU's most effective reliever, throwing three innings with an unearned run, scoring on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
Reliever Jaxon Lloyd (3-1) was credited with the win after taking over for starter Roberto Velasquez in the second inning. Lloyd tossed four innings of one-run relief, scattering four hits with a walk allowed. Marcus Van Alstine was touched for four runs with two hits and a pair of walks before Nathan Hawley finished his second game of the weekend, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with just three hits allowed with a strikeout.
 
Western Carolina (11-13, 1-2 SoCon) concludes its eight-game homestand on Tuesday by hosting mountain-rival UNC Asheville at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium with a 4 p.m. start. Tuesday's nonconference midweek game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats online through CatamountSports.com. WCU then hits the road for the first time in league play next weekend by visiting Mercer in Macon, Ga. The Bears dropped 2-of-3 at The Citadel on opening weekend.
 
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