Charlotte, N.C. – Western Carolina used a strong seven-run fourth inning to build a lead it would never relinquish, and Cameron Murray capped Saturday's game one victory with a two-run double as the Catamounts earned the run-ruled, seven-inning victory over Radford, 10-0, splitting its two games against the Highlanders in neutral field action at Hayes Stadium.
WCU (10-4) continues play on Saturday afternoon, facing the host Charlotte 49ers at 4 p.m. at Hayes Stadium in a game that will be
broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Live stats are also available
online through links at CatamountSports.com.
Cole Jones collected three singles in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, scoring three of WCU's 10 runs in the victory.
Jackson Lyda continued his torrid pace in the Queen City, finishing 2-for-3 with a two-run single in the big fourth inning. Lyda reached base three times in the winning effort, adding a walk, with
Jaylen Jones (2-for-3) plating a pair in a two-hit performance with a double and a stolen base.
Trent Turner (1-for-3) delivered WCU's second grand slam home run in its last three games, capping the seven-run outburst in the fourth with his bases-loaded bomb.
Wyatt Stanley reached base twice with a base hit and an HBP
Radford's Devin Parks, cousin of former Catamount men's basketball standout Deriece Parks, led the Highlanders with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, with Radford's remaining three hits spread between a trio of players.
Jaylen Jones singled home
Cole Jones in the bottom of the second inning to give the Catamounts the early lead, but had a bout of déjà vu as a hard line drive out coming off of the bat of
Mason Holton stranded the bases loaded a day removed from leaving 16 on the paths in a loss to the Highlanders.
The Jones duo struck again in the fourth as Jaylen doubled down the tricky right-field line, allowing Cole to scamper home to double the lead. Lyda then plated two with a single to make it a four-run game ahead of Turner. With the bases loaded, the Catamount captain didn't strand anyone, belting a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall for an 8-0 lead through four complete.
Half an inning after Radford left the bases loaded, putting two aboard with singles and a walk to load them, the Catamounts found the finish line in the seventh.
Yates Sikes drew a pinch-hit walk, and
Cole Jones singled to put two aboard. Cameron Murray then took advantage of a wild pitch that moved two into scoring position with a walk-off, run-rule double to left center as the Catamounts claimed the 10-0 shutout victory.
Western Carolina has secured three shutout victories this season, the squad's most since also blanking three opponents in 2021 – a 5-0, five-inning win over VMI, a 3-0 win at ETSU, and a 21-0 win in seven innings over The Citadel.
Mason Snyder (3-0) struck out seven over four scoreless relief innings to earn the victory out of the bullpen, scattering four singles with one walk.
James Fordham tossed three scoreless innings in the start, working around a trio of walks with three strikeouts.
Radford starter Andrew Steinhaus (1-3) took the loss, tagged for six runs on nine hits, with just one double allowed, over three innings. He struck out and walked two. Breckin Nace, who hit a three-run homer on Friday, tossed the final three innings, striking out four against a walk, while surrendering the game's final four runs.
WCU faces Charlotte on Saturday at 4 p.m. and again on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hayes Stadium in the Queen City. A friendly reminder that time springs forward at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
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