Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina scored 10 runs in a decisive third inning, and pinch-hitter Jackson Godfrey ended the game in the seventh as he belted his first career home run, as the Catamounts run-ruled longtime rival Appalachian State, 14-4, in midweek nonconference action on Tuesday at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Western Carolina (24-14) completed the two-game series sweep of the Mountaineers, both coming in 10-run decisions. The Catamounts downed the Apps 13-3 in Boone back on March 10.
 
Mason Holton doubled twice and smacked a two-run home run, driving in a game-high five runs in a 3-for-4 effort to pace the Catamounts, who seized control with a three-spot in the home half of the first inning. Holton hit one of the four homers for WCU in the winning effort, three coming in the 10-run third. Two of his three hits came in the third inning on Tuesday.
 
Cole Jones (2-for-3) carried the centerfield batter's eye for a three-run homer in the third, followed directly by Trey Spees (1-for-3), who lined a solo shot over the fence in right, completing back-to-back homers. Trent Turner (1-for-3) scored twice, reaching on a walk and an RBI single, and Walker Fox (1-for-2) was hit by a pitch and doubled, adding an RBI on a sacrifice fly
 
Appalachian State (19-16) was held to just five base hits, spread between four players, with Jake Mummau (2-for-4) driving in two with a single and a double. Kameron Miller (1-for-2) reached base three times with a second-inning double and a pair of walks. A defensive substitution behind the plate, Brooks Wright drove home a run on a fifth-inning, bases-loaded walk. Riley Luft was plunked twice, scoring once.
 

Holton delivered his first of two RBI doubles to start the scoring in the first inning before Jaylen Jones (1-for-4) drove home two on a single to right-center as the Catamounts opened the game with a 3-0 lead. App State responded a half inning later, though, cashing in a walk and a fielder's choice on a run-scoring double by Mummau and a sacrifice fly by Charlie Evans for a 3-2 game through two.
 
The Catamounts capitalized on a pair of Mountaineer miscues that ignited the 10-run third inning, with Holton starting the scoring with a two-run double. With two aboard, Cole Jones smashed a three-run homer, chasing App's first reliever. Spees then greeted the new Mountaineer hurler with a line-drive solo home run to right field for a six-run start.
 
Consecutive walks to Caden Haywood and Jackson Lyda put two on before a run-scoring single by Turner and a sacrifice fly from Fox. With two out, Holton capped scoring with a two-run home run for his fourth RBI of the frame.
 
App State loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings but left them loaded with just one run scoring in each frame to make it 13-4 through five complete. Mummau singled home a lead-off walk before Charlie Evans extended his hitting streak to 19-straight with a bunt, loading the bases on an infield error. Reliever Davis Budd got out of the jam with a fly-ball out.
 
In the fifth, an HBP and two walks loaded the bases with just one out. The Apps pushed across a run on a walk before Shane Huntsberger squelched the rally with a pair of strikeouts to maintain the nine-run, 13-4, advantage.
 
The second pinch-hitter sent to the plate by head coach Alan Beck, Jackson Godfrey coaxed a full-count before hammering his first home run over the wall in right, pushing the Catamounts ahead by 10 and triggering the run-rule that ended the game with one out in the seventh.
 
Owen Austin (2-0) tossed a team-long 3.0 innings in the start, allowing just two runs on three hits with a walk. It was just his fifth start through 35 appearances in a Catamount uniform over the past two seasons. Budd gave up a run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout, with Huntsberger fanning two for his two-thirds of an inning.
 
WCU also received an inning of hitless, scoreless relief apiece from Griffin Guinther and Jacob Arnberger, both striking out one.
 
Appalachian State starter Conner Barozzino (0-3) was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs on two hits in the first inning with a pair of strikeouts against a walk. Jake Beaty recorded an inning of work despite pitching into the third, tagged for five runs – three earned – on four hits with a strikeout. Logan Tibbett was also saddled with five runs – two earned – on three hits. JJ Garcia was the most effective pitcher, tossing three innings of scoreless, one-hit relief before Mason Middleton gave up the homer to Godfrey after getting the first out of the seventh.
 
Western Carolina plays four straight away from Cullowhee beginning this weekend with a three-game Southern Conference set at VMI (25-11, 2-7 SoCon) in Lexington, Va. The Keydets dropped all three in league play at Samford last weekend but halted the three-game slide with an 8-4 win at Norfolk State on Tuesday.
 
The Catamounts split the four meetings with VMI a season ago, dropping 2-of-3 in Cullowhee before a seven-inning, 15-1, win over the Keydets in the 2025 SoCon Baseball tournament.
 
The series starts on Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m., and continues at 2 p.m. on Saturday. First pitch of the finale is 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats linked online at CatamountSports.com.
 
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