Johnson City, Tenn. – East Tennessee State used a five-run third inning to break open a one-run game on Sunday afternoon before ultimately hitting a two-out, three-run home run in the home half of the seventh inning to complete the three-game Southern Conference sweep of Western Carolina with an 11-0 victory in seven innings in the finale at Thomas Stadium.
The Buccaneers (25-9, 6-3 SoCon) capitalized on a sacrifice fly, a pair of run-scoring doubles that plated three, and an RBI single in the five-run third inning after WCU had retired the side in order in the second inning. The Catamounts limited ETSU to just one run scoring from third on a pick-off play at second base in the opening frame that gave the hosts the 1-0 lead.
Leading 6-0, the Bucs threatened in the fifth inning before a wild pitch allowed the host's seventh run to score for the solo marker. In the sixth, a two-out fielding error pushed home an additional insurance run for the 8-0 lead after six complete. A pair of walks put two aboard before ETSU's Blake Jacklin capped his career day with the run-rule, walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for the 11-0 final.
Jacklin finished 5-for-5 at the plate with four singles and the round-tripper, scoring a trio of runs and collecting three stolen bases. He was the only ETSU player with multiple hits as the remaining five base knocks were spread between five players with Joey Little (1-for-4), Tristan Curless (1-for-4, 2 RBI), and JD Yakubinis (1-for-3) each recording doubles.
Western Carolina's three hits were spread between three players with
Trent Turner (1-for-3) collecting the squad's lone extra-base hit with a first-inning double.
Wyatt Stanley (1-for-2) reached base twice with a single and a walk, with
Cole Jones (1-for-3) posting the only other hit for the Catamounts.
Despite being retired in order just twice, WCU left just six men on base in the loss. The best opportunity for the Catamounts came in the fourth inning when Stanley opened with a single through the right side. He was quickly erased by a double play, though, before Jones singled up the middle for the only multi-hit frame for the visitors.
Left-handed reliever-turned-starter
Owen Austin (3-1) was dealt his first loss of the season, tagged for six runs on four hits, countering five walks with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
Brandon Langley found himself in an unfamiliar role, tossing 2.1 innings as the first reliever out of the bullpen in the third inning. The Canadian-born hurler struck out two against a walk with one run on four hits allowed.
Ryan White continued his resurgence on the hill, fanning three with one unearned run allowed on a hit in an inning of work before
Cannon Pickell finished the game on the bump, striking out one against two walks in two-thirds of an inning with three runs coming on one hit.
ETSU's Michael Harpster (4-3) tossed five innings of three-hit, shutout baseball in the starting role, striking out three against three walks. Derek McCarley threw the final two frames, striking out two against a walk.
Western Carolina (16-19, 2-7 SoCon) remains on the road in nonconference action on Tuesday, April 15, as the Catamounts visit Presbyterian in Clinton, S.C., for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The game is slated to be
broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio available online at CatamountSports.com beginning at 5:45 p.m.
Live stats will also be available online.
WCU then makes a three-game pitstop at home next week, hosting Wofford in SoCon play in a special Thursday through Saturday series on Easter Weekend. Games are scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, a special 4:30 p.m. start on Friday before a regional television audience on TheCW62, and a 2 p.m. start on Saturday.
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