Cullowhee, N.C. – Consecutive ninth-inning doubles by Wyatt Stanley and Trent Turner propelled Western Carolina to a 5-4, walk-off victory over visiting Presbyterian on Wednesday night in midweek nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Stanley smacked the second pitch of his at-bat into the gap in left center field, where it alluded the left fielder and left the redshirt freshman standing at second base. With pinch-runner Brody Raleigh subbed in, Turner ambushed the first pitch of his plate appearance, driving the game-winning double to right center as Raleigh plunged head-first into home plate with the game-winning run.
 
With the win, WCU swept the three-game, midweek nonconference series with the Blue Hose, winning twice in Cullowhee and taking the lone series meeting in Clinton, S.C. Snapping a three-game slide, WCU also improved to 17-7 at home this season.
 
Stymied much of the game by Presbyterian's pitching rotation, the Catamounts finished with just six base hits in the winning effort. Turner (2-for-4) doubled twice for the top doubles lineup in the  SoCon, with Brayden Corn (1-for-3) reaching base twice with WCU's first base hit of the day on a fifth-inning double. The Hendersonville, N.C., product also delivered one of three sacrifice flies for the Catamounts.
 
Stanley (1-for-4) had one of the four WCU doubles in the win, and Trey Spees (1-for-2) reached base three times with an RBI single, a walk, and an HBP. Mason Holton and Cole Jones both walked twice as the Catamounts benefited from eight free passes on walks. Elijah Smith was credited with a single and a walk to hit the base paths twice.
 
Catamount closer Brandon Langley (2-0) earned the victory in relief, tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning and benefiting from Turner's walk-off double. Randleman, N.C., product Ryan White struck out three in his first start of the season, scattering five hits with three runs allowed, including two earned, over four innings. Kaden Fuller struck out two in an inning of relief, with Bryant Kimbrell facing the minimum in the sixth inning. Davis Budd and Evan Langston both hit the mound for an inning with a strikeout apiece.
 
Presbyterian (17-29), which out-hit the Catamounts 8-to-6, has two players combine for half of the team's hits. Left-side infielder Trey Fenderson (2-for-4) collected a pair of RBI on a single and a sacrifice fly, and his counterpart Brody Linker (2-for-4) had a double and a single. Jackson Hugus (1-for-3) doubled and was hit by a pitch to reach twice, with Jake Randolph adding a double for the Blue Hose.
 
Facing just two batters, Jacob Fields (2-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing a run on the two doubles in the ninth inning. Fields was the seventh arm used by PC, with the first six each recording a strikeout. Making his first collegiate start, Jeremiah Hampton tossed two scoreless, hitless innings with a walk and a strikeout, while both Sean Hollister and Luke Gibson did not allow a base hit, though Gibson did load the bases with a trio of two-out walks.
 
Presbyterian plated solo markers in the first, second, and fourth innings to grab a 3-0 lead, which it carried into the fifth inning. The Catamounts found consecutive two-run innings in the fifth and sixth, breaking up the combined no-hit bid in the home half of the fifth inning.
 
Trailing 4-3, Fenderson plated pinch-hitter Cam Mallo in the seventh inning to knot the game at four, where it stood until the ninth. The Blue Hose stranded two in the eighth with the opportunity to retake the lead, then stranded one WCU runner in the bottom of the inning to send the game to the final frame, setting up the Stanley and Turner two-baggers for the win.
 
Western Carolina (24-24, 6-9 SoCon) remains at home for its final three-game home series of the regular season, hosting longtime conference foe The Citadel in a critical SoCon matchup at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Friday and Saturday have 5 p.m. first pitches, with Sunday's Senior Day finale slated for a 1 p.m. start. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats linked online at CatamountSports.com.
 
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