Greenville, S.C. – Hayden Friese blasted a first-inning solo home run that set the stage for an offensive onslaught as fifth-seeded Western Carolina ousted eighth-seeded VMI 15-1 in seven innings in Wednesday's first single-elimination game of the 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases at Fluor Field.
 
The Catamounts scored 15 runs, their most in a tournament game since 2021, coming on 18 hits, including six for extra bases, with three home runs to advance into the double-elimination of the postseason tournament. WCU faces No. 4 seed Mercer at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Fluor Field. VMI sees its season end at 27-26, the first winning record since 2014 and the third consecutive season with 25 or more wins for the Keydets.
 
Western Carolina (29-26) plated runs in five of its six offensive innings, while limiting the Keydets to just five base hits with a double and one run that scored on a wild pitch.
 
All nine Catamounts in the lineup recorded a base hit, with six collecting multi-hit games. Brayden Corn smacked a two-run second-inning home run as part of a 3-for-3, three RBI effort. Elijah Smith (3-for-3) reached base all five times he stepped into the batter's box, legging out a double and two singles to accompany a pair of walks for three runs scored. Mason Holton (3-for-5) bounced a ground-rule double over the fence in the right field corner along with two singles.
 
Noah Quarless (2-for-5) started WCU's two-run second inning with a dinger off the batter's eye in centerfield, while Jack Spyke (2-for-4) and Trey Spees (2-for-3) singled twice with an RBI and a sacrifice bunt.
 
Lead-off, all-conference outfielder Owen Prince led VMI with a 3-for-3 effort at the dish, adding an HBP to reach base four times at the top of the lineup. Boston Torres (1-for-2) reached twice with a walk and a double. Kazuya Jordan walked and scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the fifth inning for the Keydets.
 
Friese got the Catamounts going with his no-doubt 443-foot solo shot to right field in the first inning, with Spyke doubling two batters later and eventually scoring the first of three VMI errors for the 2-0 lead after one. Western Carolina's first big inning came in the second as the first five batters reached with two – Quarless and Corn – both delivering two-run home runs for a 6-0 lead after two.
 
WCU stretched its lead in the third as Corn lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Smith, and Trent Turner singled up the middle to bring Quarless home for an 8-0 advantage after three innings.
 
Mason Holton doubled to open the fourth and scored on a two-base hit by Smith as the Catamounts led by nine after the fourth inning, ahead of the biggest frame of the day.
 
VMI got on the board in the top of the fifth inning as Jordan led off with a walk before scoring from third on a wild pitch. WCU responded by sending 12 batters to the plate in the six-run fifth that did not feature an extra-base hit. The Catamounts used five singles and capitalized on two walks, an HBP, and a couple of errors to cap their scoring. Holton and Spees delivered RBI base hits with Wyatt Stanley plating two on his base knock to right field.
 
Dusty Revis (7-5) worked five innings to earn the victory, striking out four against three walks with just the one run allowed. Reliever Evan Langston tossed a scoreless inning with a two-out hit allowed, and freshman Bryant Kimbrell worked around a lead-off HBP by inducing a double-play and getting the final out on a flyball to cap his scoreless frame.
 
VMI starter Jaxon Lloyd (4-4) took the loss after just recording one inning of work, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits with a pair of walks. Three VMI relievers combined to strike out three over the remaining five innings.
 
Equally as big as WCU's offensive effort was the job turned in by the pitching staff and defense. The Keydets entered the game as the NCAA leader in stolen bases with 209 on the year, but were 0-for-1 as Revis picked off Prince on the lone Keydet attempt.
 
General admission day pass tickets for both of Thursday's games are available online (CLICK HERE). The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network available online for WCU's meeting with VMI at CatamountSports.com.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
 
 2025 Southern Conference Baseball Championship
 
May 21 (Wednesday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 1: #5 Western Carolina 15, #8 VMI 1 (7 inn.)
Game 2: #6 UNCG vs. #7 Wofford, 7 p.m.

May 22 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. #4 Mercer, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs. #3 The Citadel, 7 p.m.

May 23 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. #1 ETSU, 9 a.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. #2 Samford, 12:30 p.m.
Game 7: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 6, 7:30 p.m.

May 24 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 12 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9, 7 p.m.
 
May 25 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 12 p.m.
Game 13: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser^, 40 minutes after Game 12
^ if necessary