Cullowhee, N.C. –
Jackson Lyda drove in four runs, and
Mason Holton plated a pair as the duo collected a team-high three hits apiece as Western Carolina baseball powered past visiting Akron 12-2 in eight innings in nonconference action on Tuesday evening at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
WCU scored four runs in the opening frame, three coming with two out to grab an advantage it would never surrender. The Catamounts tacked on two runs in the third, fourth, and seventh innings, with solo markers in the sixth and eighth, with
Jackson Godfrey drawing a bases-loaded walk to end the game in the run-ruled eighth.
Lyda and Holton led a trio of Catamounts with multi-hit games, both finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two singles. Lyda reached base four times, adding an intentional walk in the seventh inning, and collected a career-high four RBI. Holton found his way aboard five times, adding an HBP and a walk to his three-hit effort.
Jaylen Jones collected a pair of singles in a 2-for-3 performance, finishing with two RBI and reaching base four times, adding a pair of walks.
Noah Quarless added to his team-high tying RBI count with a sacrifice fly before being lifted for freshman
Carlos Diaz, who drove home a career-best two coming on his first collegiate base hit.
Caden Haywood also tallied his career hit with a second-inning single.
Brody Raleigh doubled with a run, while
Trey Spees walked twice, scoring once.
Akron's Kyle McConachie paced two with multiple-hit games, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Henry Hayman was 2-for-3 with a walk. Easton Amundson (1-for-4) legged out a double for a second extra-base hit for the Zips.
Quarless lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center in the first inning to put the Catamounts on the board, before
Jaylen Jones and
Jackson Lyda drove home three on a single and a double as WCU pulled in front 4-0 in the first inning.
In the third, Holton ripped a two-run single into left to stretch the lead to six, with Jones and Lyda striking again in the fourth with run-scoring singles for an 8-0 lead through four complete. Lyda tallied his fourth RBI in the sixth inning, scoring Jones on a hit-and-run single through the right side for a nine-run cushion two-thirds of the way through regulation.
Akron plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases with an HBP, a walk, and a single. Jones ignited a double-play, though, grabbing a ground ball where he stepped on third and then threw a strike to first to help minimize the damage. The second run scored on a single by McConachie with
Colton Starling ending the threat with a strikeout.
The Catamounts got those runs back in the home half, though, capitalizing on consecutive walks by Spees and
Yates Sikes before the two-run single by
Carlos Diaz. Then, four freebies in the eighth, including two walks and a pair of HBPs, allowed the final run to score for the eight-inning, run-ruled victory.
Eight Catamount pitchers saw action on Tuesday, with freshman starter
Tyler Oaks (1-0) credited with the victory after striking out a team-best two over an inning of scoreless work. Three other hurlers recorded strikeouts, with
Jacob Arnberger,
Griffin Guinther, and Starling recording punchouts.
Akron starter Carter Beck (0-1) was saddled with the loss, surrendering four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk over two innings.
Western Carolina (6-2) hits the road to compete in Keith LeClair Classic, named in honor and memory of the former Catamount baseball standout and head coach, as well as former East Carolina head coach. WCU faces Troy (Fri., Feb. 27) and Rutgers (Sat., Feb. 28) in a neutral-field contest beginning at Noon at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Catamounts face the host ECU Pirates at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 in a game that can be seen on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required).
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