Cullowhee, N.C. – Anticipated inclement weather across western North Carolina this weekend, and in particular on Saturday afternoon, has prompted athletics officials at Western Carolina to alter several of the weekend schedules for home events in #CatamountCountry.
 
Track & Field will host the 2026 Catamount Classic, presented by The Everson, on Friday, April 24. Catamount softball has moved its three-game series against Mercer up a day, now playing a doubleheader on Friday and a single game on Saturday morning. Catamount baseball will bookend the weekend with a doubleheader on Friday and will cap the weekend with the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
 
Saturday evening, Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center plays host to the Nashville Songwriters in Concert, beginning at 6:30 p.m., with proceeds going to help support Catamount student-athletes. Country music entertainers and songwriters Kaitlyn Baker, Joe Lasher, Kelley Lovelace, and Neil Thrasher, who have penned and performed some of the top songs on the charts today, will be on stage in Cullowhee for an intimate musical experience.
 
See below for more details on each of the three sports, as well as a schedule for each date. Additional weather-related schedule changes can be found through social media, on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and TwitterX (@Catamounts).
 
Weekend Schedule Changes by Sport:
 
Catamount Track & Field:
As a precursor to hosting the 2026 Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship in early May, the Western Carolina Track & Field teams host the 2026 Catamount Classic, presented by The Everson, at the on-campus Catamount Athletics Complex. The event has been condensed into one day of competition, opening with field events at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24, with on-track events expected to start around 3 p.m. WCU will hold its Senior Day recognitions at approximately 7 p.m.
 
Admission to the 2026 Catamount Classic, presented by The Everson, is free of charge and will have live coverage on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) beginning at 3 p.m.
 
Catamount Softball:
Entering the weekend ranked third in the Southern Conference softball chase, Western Carolina (32-17, 11-4 SoCon) hosts the Mercer Bears (17-26, 5-10 SoCon) for three games on Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex. The teams will now play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, with game two set to follow at approximately 3 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday with an anticipated 11 a.m. start time (subject to change) to attempt to finish before the afternoon rain.
 
Admission to all three games is free, courtesy of First Bank. Live stats coverage is available for all three games, including Friday's doubleheader, with live streaming audio from the Catamount Sports Network scheduled for Saturday morning's series finale.
 
Catamount Baseball:
This weekend's mountain-rivalry matchup has a pair of second-place teams in the Southern Conference squaring off in Cullowhee as Western Carolina (27-15, 8-4 SoCon) hosts East Tennessee State (25-13, 8-4 SoCon) at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The weekend schedule alterations now include a Friday doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m., with the series finale slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Both of Friday's games will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network, with live streaming audio and live stats available online at CatamountSports.com. The series finale on Sunday will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).
 
 
Weekend Schedule Changes by Date / Time:
Friday, April 24
10 am – 2026 Catamount Classic, presented by the Everson (FREE admission)
Catamount Athletics Complex – Live Scoring – ESPN+ beginning at 3 p.m.
Senior Day Recognition – 7 p.m.
 
1 pm – Catamount Softball vs. Mercer (Gm1 of DH – FREE admission)
Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex – (Live Stats)
 
3 pm – Catamount Softball vs. Mercer (Gm2 of DH – FREE admission)
Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex – (Live Stats)
 
3 pm – Catamount Baseball vs. ETSU (Gm1 of DH – Buy Tickets Online)
Childress Field / Hennon Stadium – (Audio on CSN)
 
6:30 pm – Catamount Baseball vs. ETSU (Gm2 of DH – Buy Tickets Online)
Childress Field / Hennon Stadium – (Audio on CSN)
 
Saturday, April 25
11 am – Catamount Softball vs. Mercer (FREE admission)
Betty Peele Field at the Catamount Softball Complex – (Audio on CSN)
Senior Day Recognition – Postgame
 
6:30 pm – Nashville Songwriters in Concert, presented by Ingles
Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center – (Buy tickets in advance)
 
Sunday, April 26
1 pm – Catamount Baseball vs. ETSU (Buy Tickets Online)
Childress Field / Hennon Stadium (ESPN+)
 
* Please note that all event dates and times are subject to change