Macon, Ga. – Western Carolina capitalized on a two-run, first-inning error and got solo home runs by Hayden Friese and Trent Turner to race out to a 4-0 lead a third of the way into Friday's Southern Conference series opener against Mercer at OrthoGeorgia Park. However, the Bears tied the game with a four-run fourth and pushed across the eventual game-winning markers in the sixth as the Catamounts dropped the series opener 6-5.
 
With the threat of inclement weather on Sunday, Mercer officials have decided to play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Game two of the twin bill – game three of the series – will be played approximately 45 minutes after the first game concludes. Live stats coverage of both games is linked online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Friese (3-for-5) led the Catamounts with three of the team's 10 hits including a home run with three runs scored and an RBI. Turner (2-for-4) collected a pair of extra-base hits with a double and solo home run, while Jack Spyke doubled in a 2-for-3 performance. Cole Jones (1-for-3) reached three times with a single and two walks.
 
Mercer, which won despite being outhit 10-to-5 on Friday, saw all five hits spread between five different players. Bradley Frye (1-for-4) doubled, and Ty Dalley (1-for-3) homered with a walk to lead the Bears.
 
Elijah Smith reached on what was ruled an infield error but allowed two runs to score in the first inning as Friese and Brayden Corn scored to give the Catamounts the early 2-0 lead. WCU stretched its advantage in the third as Friese and Turner went back-to-back with solo home runs for the 4-0 lead through three complete.
 
Frye doubled home a run to put Mercer on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, with a bases-loaded HBP, infield fielder's choice, and a run-scoring single by Parker Lester coming on an 0-2 count pushed across the game-tying run.
 
WCU regained the lead a half-inning later on an RBI groundout by Cole Jones to make it 5-4 in favor of the visitors. However, Dalley belted a first-pitch homer in the sixth to tie the game again. Brent Baughcum (0-for-1) drew a second walk and eventually scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Lester as the Bears led 6-5 after six.
 
Looking for the equalizing run, WCU saw a double play erase a Jones single in the seventh inning. The Catamounts missed a golden opportunity in the eighth as Spyke reached base with a one-out double before Wyatt Stanley drew a pinch-hit HBP. Corn was plunked with two outs to load the bases before Friese grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
 
Jones walked in the ninth, but consecutive strikeouts secured the series-opening win for the Bears.
 
Dusty Revis (1-3) was saddled with the loss, surrendering six runs – five earned – on just five hits with two strikeouts to counter three walks. Owen Austin struck out five against two walks over three hitless, scoreless innings of relief.
 
Andrew Garnett (1-0) scattered four hits and worked around two walks with a trio of strikeouts to score the victory in 2.1 relief innings of starter Colton Cosper who struck out five in five innings, allowing five runs – three earned. Terry Busse – the fifth pitcher used by the Bears – struck out two in an inning of hitless, scoreless relief with one walk issued.
 
The SoCon series now concludes Saturday with an afternoon doubleheader in Macon, Ga.
 
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