Atlanta, Ga. – Consecutive two-run innings by Georgia Tech in the sixth and seventh thwarted a gallant effort by Western Carolina as the Yellow Jackets claimed the nonconference series, escaping the upset-minded Catamounts 4-2 on a soggy Saturday at Russ Chandler Stadium.
 
Mason Holton was involved in both of WCU's runs, plating the go-ahead marker on a third-inning run-scoring ground out before coming home himself on a Noah Quarless pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth inning of the two-run defeat. Three Catamount pitchers combined to slow the Yellow Jacket offense, limiting the home squad to just five base hits – three singles and a pair of doubles – on the day with seven strikeouts.
 
But much like the series opener on Friday, Saturday's story was told in missed opportunities as the Catamounts could not capitalize on seven hits, four combined walks, and a pair of HBPs. WCU stranded a dozen on base in game two to run the series total to 25 LOB over the first two games. The visitors left two or more men on base four times, including twice stranding the bases loaded.
 
After bumping the game time up an hour to 3 p.m. in an attempt to avoid the rain, Saturday's first pitch was delayed nearly 20 minutes after its reannounced start time. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Dusty Revis (4-5) again gave the Catamounts a strong effort in the starting role, striking out five against three walks and a hit batter over 6.1 innings. He surrendered three runs, two scoring as inherited runners after he left the mound, while scattering four GT base hits in suffering the loss. Ryan White was charged with a run allowed with a walk and a wild pitch while not giving up a hit.
 
Brandon Langley kept the Catamounts within striking distance, fanning two against a walk in an inning of one-hit, scoreless relief.
 
Offensively, WCU's seven hits were spread between six players as Trent Turner continued his torrid stretch run, singling twice in a 2-for-5 effort. Brayden Corn (1-for-5) collected WCU's lone extra-base hit with a double. Jack Spyke (1-for-3) reached base three times with a single and a pair of walks, extending his lengthy active streaks. The Lawrenceville, Ga., product has reached base safely in a team-best 22 straight games, including hits in a season-long 11 straight.
 
Hayden Friese (1-for-4) reached twice with a single and an HBP as both he and Holton (1-for-5) scored runs for the Catamounts in the loss. Wyatt Stanley (0-for-2) reached twice with a walk and HBP. Cole Jones (0-for-2) collected a sacrifice hit before being lifted late for pinch hitter Noah Quarless (1-for-1), who singled home Holton for WCU's second run.
 
Only four Yellow Jackets posted hits on Saturday, with Caleb Daniel (2-for-4) tallying the lone multi-hit game as the home squad mustered only five base hits. Alex Hernandez (1-for-3) handed Georgia Tech the lead for good with a sixth-inning, 2-run double, and Will Baker (1-for-4) also collected a two-base hit, later scoring on a wild pitch.
 
Kyle Lodise (0-for-2) scored a run, only reaching once on a walk, while also posting a stolen base and an RBI on a seventh-inning sacrifice fly.
 
Two Georgia Tech pitchers combined to strike out 14 in the winning effort, including a career-high nine for starter Brady Jones (5-2), who limited the potent Catamount offense to a run on four hits and two walks over six innings. Mason Patel tallied a three-inning save for his fourth of the year, giving up a late run on three hits with four strikeouts to counter two walks.
 
After stranding three over the first two innings on Saturday, Western Carolina (23-23) broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning. Consecutive singles by Friese and Turner, coupled with the walk to Spyke, loaded the bases with just one out. Holton grounded out to the right side of the infield with his productive out plating Friese for the 1-0 lead.
 
Revis worked around a lead-off walk in the home half of the third to carry the one-run advantage through the opening third.
 
WCU's 1-0 lead lasted until the sixth inning when Hernandez doubled to left center field to score both Lodise and Burress, who both reached on walks, for the 2-1 lead for the home squad. The Jackets tacked on a pair of insurance markers after the stretch on a Lodise sac fly and a wild pitch that allowed Will Baker to score.
 
The last, best chance for the Catamounts came in the eighth inning. Holton reached on a one-out single with Stanley joining him on a five-pitch walk. An errant throw after a strikeout allowed both runners to advance ahead of Quarless, who fought off a pair of 0-2 pitches to deliver the pinch hit RBI single to score Holton. Trey Spees reached on a five-pitch walk to load the bases before a strikeout halted the mini-rally.
 
Jack Spyke reached on a two-out single in the ninth inning to bring the would-be game-tying run to the plate, but a ground out to third base ended game two without much in the way of late-inning theatrics.
 
Western Carolina and Georgia Tech meet Sunday (May 4) at 1 p.m. to conclude the three-game nonconference series, just the third three-game set between the two all-time and the first since 2019. WCU looks to snap the 10-game winless drought in the head-to-head series.
 
Sunday's finale will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra (ACCNX, paid subscription required) and also available through the Watch ESPN app. Live streaming audio from Georgia Tech and links to live stats are available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
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