Johnson City, Tenn. –
Davis Wright matched a career-high with nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings in the starting role on Friday night, but Western Carolina's offense was limited to eight singles for a second-consecutive game as the Catamounts dropped their series-opener at mountain-rival ETSU 9-2 in Southern Conference action at Thomas Stadium.
Wyatt Stanley drove a two-out single to right field in the top of the first inning to allow
Trent Turner to score as the Catamounts jumped in front 1-0 in the opening frame. ETSU took a lead it would never relinquish in the bottom of the third inning as Cody Miller tied the game with a lead-off solo home run with the go-ahead unearned marker scoring on a wild pitch as the Buccaneers led 2-1 through three.
Miller added a second home run on a two-run shot as part of a three-run fourth inning as ETSU led 5-1 before WCU managed to trim the deficit back to three with a marker in the fifth. The Catamounts loaded the bases, but a double play limited the rally to the solo marker. The Buccaneers tacked on two runs in both the seventh and eighth to pull away for the 9-2 victory in Friday's opener.
Turner finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and Stanley collected an RBI on a 2-for-4 effort at the dish to lead the Catamounts. The remaining four hits were spread between four batters with
Jack Spyke (1-for-4),
Mason Holton (1-for-4),
Noah Quarless (1-for-4), and
Trey Spees (1-for-4) each singling, and Spees scoring the second WCU run in the fifth inning on the bases-loaded double-play.
Miller (3-for-4) homered twice with three RBI to lead the Buccaneers with Cooper Torres collecting three singles with two runs scored and an RBI for the home squad. Three other Buccaneers finished with two hits apiece including Blake Jacklin (2-for-5), Grant Gallagher (2-for-4), and Tristan Curless (2-for-2), each doubling in the winning effort.
Wright (3-4) was saddled with the loss despite the strong strikeout performance on the mound. The Ridgeway, S.C., native surrendered five runs – only two of which were earned – on nine hits and countering two walks with the nine strikeouts. Relievers
Griffin Guinther and
Evan Langston both recorded a strikeout with freshman
Bryant Kimbrell making his third career appearance out of the bullpen.
ETSU's Carter Fink (6-1) held the Catamounts to two runs – one earned – while scattering eight hits with eight strikeouts over six innings to earn the victory. Relievers Brady Frederick (4 Ks) and Landon Crumbley (1K) combined for five strikeouts as the Bucs recorded 13 total Ks on the day.
The series continues on Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. first pitch between the Catamounts and Buccaneers at Thomas Stadium. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
Keep track of everything related to WCU Athletics and Catamount baseball, including any game day schedule changes through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
