Winston-Salem, N.C. – Western Carolina scored in each of the first three innings to grab its first lead of the series against ACC foe Wake Forest, jumping out to a 5-1 lead through three complete innings on Sunday afternoon. However, the Demon Deacon bullpen silenced the Catamount offense the rest of the way, and the hosts rode a six-run fourth inning to a 9-5 come-from-behind victory at the David F. Couch Ballpark.
Jackson Lyda smacked a lead-off home run in the first inning, and
Trey Spees belted a two-run blast in the second inning to spur the strong start for the Catamounts.
Cole Jones ultimately capped WCU's scoring with a two-run double down the left-field line in the third inning as visitors grabbed the four-run cushion.
After escaping traffic with a line-drive double-play in the third inning, the Catamounts were unable to overcome four freebies in the fourth. The Deacs drew three walks and an HBP, with three of those runners scoring, including two from bases-loaded walks. JD Stein delivered a two-run single, and Javar Williams dropped a two-run double down the right-field line in the decisive six-run frame.
Wake Forest (35-17) tacked on insurance markers in the fifth and seventh innings, while the Demon Deacon bullpen limited WCU to just three base runners after the third inning, with two leading off the sixth but were both stranded. Wake finished with four 1-2-3 innings over the final six frames.
Lyda (1-for-5) hit his fourth home run of the season, while Spees (1-for-4) hit his fifth for the two round-trippers in the loss.
Cole Jones (1-for-3) reached base twice with a two-run double and a walk, with
Mason Holton (1-for-3) singled and walked.
Cam Murray (1-for-3) reached base twice, plunked in the second inning before delivering a ninth-inning single.
Williams (2-for-4) reached three times for Wake Forest with a double and two RBI, with Boston Torres (2-for-2) coming off the bench to drive home three with a double. Stein (2-for-3) had a pair of singles and two RBI, reaching a third time on a walk in the winning effort. Luke Costello (1-for-5) homered in the home half of the first inning, which tied the game.
Catamount starter
Evan Myers gave the Catamounts a good start, turning in a 1-2-3 second inning and getting out of a third-inning jam with the first of WCU's two double-plays. He was tagged for four runs on four hits with a strikeout against two walks.
Mason Snyder (7-1) suffered his first defeat of the season, surrendering three runs on two hits with a pair of walks without recording an out.
Davis Budd struck out three over 2.2 relief innings, surrendering a run on three hits, while Winston-Salem product
John Lobs tossed an inning with a walk and a strikeout.
Davis Wright worked around a walk with a strikeout in an inning of work, benefiting from a ground ball double-play.
Wake Forest reliever Marcelo Harsch (3-2) was credited with the victory, striking out four against a walk in 2.1 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Starter Cameron Bagwell was touched for three runs on two hits against three strikeouts. Rhys Bowie fanned six in 2.2 innings as the Deacons recorded 17 total punchouts in the victory.
Western Carolina (32-20) concludes the road portion of its 2026 schedule on Tuesday, visiting Presbyterian (11-41) in Clinton, S.C., for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The Catamounts look to avenge the 6-5 home loss to the Blue Hose back on March 31 in Cullowhee.
WCU then wraps up the regular season by hosting in-state Southern Conference foe UNC Greensboro in a Thursday through Saturday (May 14-16) series at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Holding the tiebreaker over the other top four teams in the standings, the Catamounts (12-6) enter the week tied atop the league with Mercer (12-6), whom WCU swept in the regular season.
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