Furman 6, No. 22 Indiana 5 (12 inn.)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Blake Chisolm's two-out RBI single in the bottom of 12th inning drove home Jake Jones from third base to give Furman a 6-5 victory over 22nd-ranked Indiana in baseball action Saturday evening at Latham Stadium.
Chisolm, who went 3-for-6 and drove in two runs in the game, in addition to pitching 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief in his collegiate pitching debut, doubled and scored in the 11th to tie the contest at 5-5 before coming to the plate again in the 12th. With two outs and runners at second and third, he grounded a one-ball offering from Hoosier reliever Ryan Halstead up the middle into center field to plate Jones for the game-winning run.
The victory evened Furman's record at 3-3, while Indiana saw its record fall to 3-3. The Paladins play Presbyterian at Fluor Field on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the final game of the weekend First Pitch Invitational.
Chisolm's game-winning RBI was his second in two days. In Friday's 1-0 win over Xavier, he drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning to drive in the game's lone run. The Friendswood, Texas, freshman designated hitter has gone 11-for-22 at the plate in the Paladins' first six games.
Earning the victory was Stephen Fondu (1-0), who struck out Indiana's Casey Rodrique to end the top of the 12th inning and stranded a pair of runners.
Both teams were robbed of potential game-deciding runs with spectacular defensive plays late in the game. With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth and the potential game-winning run at second base with two outs, Furman shortstop Matt Towarnicky sent a fly ball into left-center field that Hoosier center fielder Craig Dedelow collected with a full-extension leap to end the inning.
In the top of the 10th and with a runner at third base, Towarnicky returned the favor with a two-out, leaping grab in short left field on a Rodrique flare that denied the Hoosiers the potential go-ahead run.
Indiana went up 5-4 in the 11th when Dedelow led off with a solo home run to left-center field. Furman answered, however, in the bottom of the frame behind Chisolm, who stroked a leadoff double off the left-center field fence and later scored on Cameron Whitehead's two-out single through the right side off Halstead.
Sky Overton led off the Furman first with a triple and scored on a Chris Ohmstede ground out.
The Paladins used the long ball to tack on three more runs in the third for a 4-0 lead. Towarnicky led off with his first career home run, which cleared the fence in the left field. With one out, Jones lashed a two-ball pitch by Indiana starter Christian Morris over the left-field fence to make it 3-0, and Ohmstede completed the outburst by scoring on a two-out Chisolm double to center field.
The Hoosiers began their comeback in the fifth, scoring three runs off Paladin starting pitcher Will Gaddis. Scott Donley's one-out double drove home Brad Hartong, and Nick Ramos capped the inning with a two-run home run to left-center field.
Indiana tied it at 4-4 in the eighth on an Austin Cangelosi two-run shot to left off Paladin reliever Will Dvorak.
Chisolm's three hits paced Furman's 13-hit attack. Brandon Elmy, Jones, Ohmstede and Towarnicky followed with two-hit performances.
Indiana finished with 11 hits.
The loss was charged to Halstead (0-1), who yielded two runs on four hits and walk over the final 1 2/3 innings.
East Carolina 8, UNCG 3
UNCG 6, No. 24 Liberty 5
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Down to its final out Saturday evening, the UNCG baseball team scored two runs on a wild pitch to cap a furious ninth-inning rally that saw the Spartans down No. 24 Liberty 6-5 in the third game of the Keith LeClair Classic inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. In UNCG’s first game of the day, East Carolina scored five runs in the middle innings Saturday to defeat UNCG 8-3.
Against the Flames, the Blue and Gold scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to secure the comeback victory.
The win was the first over a nationally ranked opponent for UNCG since March 29, 2013, when the Spartans beat No. 22 Georgia Southern 10-6 to clinch a Southern Conference series. The Blue and Gold has now captured four victories over nationally ranked opponents in head coach Link Jarrett’s two-plus season tenure.
In his first collegiate appearance, freshman RHP Andrew Wantz (1-0) picked up the victory after throwing a scoreless top of the ninth. UNCG was bolstered by senior RHP Brennen James, who started the contest and threw a career-high 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two unearned runs and struck out three. Ashton Perritt (0-1) took the loss for the Flames as he was touched up for five runs in just 1 2/3 innings pitched.
Senior outfielder Tyler Long paced the UNCG offense with three hits in five at bats, including a run scored and an RBI. Freshman infielder Ryne Sigmon came up with his first collegiate hit in the ninth inning and it was a big one – a two-run triple to keep the rally alive. Freshman outfielder Devin Ruiz also delivered a 2-for-4 performance with two runs scored in the designated hitter spot.
The teams zipped through the first four innings, with UNCG notching the only two hits in the frames. The Spartans had a chance to strike first in the bottom of the fourth, but a leadoff bunt single by Long went by the wayside.
Liberty took advantage of a two-out defensive miscue in the top of the fifth, scoring two subsequent unearned runs on a two-run single by Nick Salisbury. UNCG would answer in the bottom of the frame, however, as Ruiz began the rally with a one-out double and moved to third on a sac bunt by freshman infielder Tripp Shelton. Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney then drew a walk and Long followed with an RBI single to cut the Spartan deficit to 2-1.
After senior LHP Blair Betts came on and produced a big strikeout to end the top of the sixth, the Blue and Gold had a chance in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. However, with the bases loaded and one away, Ruiz grounded into a double play to terminate the threat.
The Flames looked to put the game away in the top of the eighth, scoring three runs on three hits to push ahead 5-1. UNCG had other ideas, though. After Wantz’ scoreless top of the ninth, senior infielder Aaron Wright flied out to begin the bottom of the frame. Junior catcher Jake Hall then singled to left before Ruiz poked a single to right. Sigmon came on to pinch hit and smashed a ball to the wall in right for the two-run triple that sliced the Liberty advantage to 5-3. MacAneney followed with an infield single that plated Sigmon and pulled the Spartans within a run. Long kept the inning going with a single and he advanced to second base on a throw to third trying to nab MacAneney. With both runners now in scoring position, senior infielder Hunter King struck out swinging for the second out.
The Flames decided to intentionally walk senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch to load the bases. Junior infielder Collin Woody then stepped aside and watched as Perritt unleashed a wild pitch to the backstop that bounced away from the catcher and allowed the tying and winning runs to score.
In UNCG’s first game of the day, junior RHP Ryan Clark was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Evan Kruczynski picked up the victory for ECU, giving up just one run on five hits over six innings pitched. He struck out seven against just one walk.
Freshman infielder Tripp Shelton notched the first two hits of his collegiate career, including a two-run home run, to lead the UNCG offense. Senior outfielder Zac MacAneney also recorded two base knocks, while senior designated hitter Aaron Wright added an RBI. Additionally, senior infielder Hunter King extended his reached-base safely streak to 35 games dating back to last season. Bryce Harman and Travis Watkins went 3-for-4 to pace the Pirates.
East Carolina put up the first offensive threat in the bottom of the second, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Clark produced two fly outs to escape the inning with no damage. UNCG responded with a rally of its own in the top of the third. Shelton recorded his first collegiate hit with a bunt single before MacAneney flared a single into shallow left field with one away. Long moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but King struck out swinging for the final out.
The Blue and Gold struck first in the top of the fourth. Woody smashed a double to right-center and Wright followed with an RBI single to put the Spartans ahead. ECU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth via an RBI triple and an error at third to take a 2-1 advantage. The Pirates began to pull away in the sixth with a pair of home runs, a solo shot by Luke Lowery and a two-run blast by Travis Watkins, to make the score 5-1.
With two outs and the top of the seventh extended thanks to an East Carolina error, Shelton laced a two-run homer over the fence in right field to cut the Pirate lead to 5-3 at the seventh inning stretch. UNCG attempted to rally again in the top of the eighth, but a strikeout-throw-out double play ended the Spartans’ hopes of pulling any closer. ECU added three runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the eighth to close out the scoring.
UNCG closes out its participation in the Keith LeClair Classic on Sunday, squaring off against St. John’s at 11 a.m.
Samford 6, Austin Peay 4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford designated hitter Damon Waller hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to spark a 6-4 comeback victory for the Bulldog baseball team over Austin Peay Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
The win secured the series win for the Bulldogs, as Samford earned an 11-3 win in Friday night’s contest. Samford improved to 3-2 with the win, while Austin Peay fell to 2-2.
For Samford at the plate, Anthony Gonzalez went 3-for-4. Heath Quinn went 2-for-3 with a double, and Jared Watson went 2-for-4 at the plate. Waller drove in four runs in a 1-for-4 performance. Alex Lee and Hunter Swilling drove in a run each for the Bulldogs, as well.
Philip Flach (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Samford, pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief, giving up just one run. Andres Gracia picked up his second save of the season, tossing the final 1 2/3 innings. Jared Brasher and Mark Donham also saw time on the mound for Samford.
For Austin Peay, Logan Gray went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Cayce Bredlau went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI for the Governors. Ridge Smith also drove in a run for Austin Peay. Zach Hall (0-1) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits to take the loss for the Governors.
Austin Peay jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first inning and another in the third. In the first inning, Caleb Mitchell scored on a ground out by Smith for the game’s first run. In the third inning, Patrick Massoni reached base on an error and later scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 Austin Peay lead.
Samford came back to take the lead for good with four runs in the sixth inning. With one out, Watson singled to start the rally. With two outs, Watson stole second and advanced to third base on a passed ball. Lee was then hit by a pitch and Swilling walked to load the bases. Waller then hit a grand slam to left-center field to give Samford a 4-2 lead.
Austin Peay came back with a run in the top of the seventh inning to close to within one run at 4-3. Bredlau doubled to left-center field to drive in Massoni for the Governors’ third run of the game.
Samford added two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 6-3. Lee and Swilling drove in the two runs to give the Bulldogs a three-run lead.
Austin Peay added one final run in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 6-4. With one out, Gray doubled to right field to drive in Bredlau for the game’s final run. Gracia then recorded back-to-back outs to secure the win for Samford.
Samford and Austin Peay will conclude their series with a game Sunday at 1 p.m. CST at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Mercer 8, Bethune-Cookman 3
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Mercer University baseball team used a pair of big innings to pull away from Bethune-Cookman for an 8-3 victory on Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Mercer (3-4) put itself in position for a series sweep on Sunday with its second straight victory, as its 10 hits handed the team its second double-digit performance in as many days.
The Bears had nine players reached base in the contest, including seven individuals with at least one hit. Joe and Matt Meeder paced the Orange and Black with two hits apiece.
Mercer got on the board early, as leadoff man Kyle Lewis scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch. Bethune-Cookman (0-6) answered in the home half of the inning to tie the game, but Joe’s solo shot in the second frame put the Bears back on top, 2-1.
After back-to-back scoreless innings from starting pitcher Connor Herd, the Bears broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning. Devin Bonin kicked off the scoring, which all came with two outs, with an RBI single to center field to plate Danny Edgeworth. Tyler Homer followed that with his second run-scoring double of the year, before Trey Truitt pushed the lead to 6-1 with a two-run double to left field.
The Wildcats took advantage of a two-out error to trim the deficit to three, 6-3, with a pair of runs in the bottom half; however, Mercer would answer once again.
Joe drove in two more runs in the top of the fifth to grow the Bears’ lead to five, 8-3, as he plated Edgeworth and Nate Moorhouse with a double to left field.
That proved to be all the help Mercer’s pitching staff would need, as Herd combined with Mitchell Wade, Morgan Pittman and Ben Lumsden to shut out the Wildcats over their final five innings.
Herd picked up his first collegiate victory after giving up three runs, one earned, in 5 1/3 innings. Wade tossed 1 2/3 perfect frames, while Pittman and Lumsden each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game.
Mercer closes out its series with Bethune-Cookman on Sunday afternoon, as first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Wofford 7, Miami (Ohio) 4
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College baseball team scored five runs in the fourth inning on the way to a 7-4 win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
The game was tied after three innings when Wofford took advantage of fielding mistakes to score what proved to be the winning runs in the fourth inning.
Wofford is 6-0 on the season, while Miami (Ohio) is 1-4 overall. The Terriers have matched a 6-0 start by the 2008 team.
The RedHawks had a 9-4 advantage in hits in the game but stranded seven runners. Wofford had four hits, two of them by Matt Ramsay.
The RedHawks led off the second inning with a double by Matt Honchel and he scored on a two-out single by Chad Sedio for a 1-0 lead.
In the third, the Terriers had runners on the corners with one out after Kody Ruedisili was hit by a pitch and Alec Paradowski singled. A single through the right side by Matt Ramsay scored Ruedisili to tie the game at 1-1. A double play ended the inning for Wofford with one runner on base.
Mack Nathanson led off the Wofford half of the fourth with a walk. Matt Pelt reached on a fielder’s choice and Carson Waln singled to load the bases. Ruedisili and Derek Hirsch both reached on fielder’s choices that, combined with two errors by Miami, allowed four runs to score for a 5-1 Wofford lead. With two outs, Ramsay drew a walk and Hirsch was on third base. Ramsay attempted to steal second and while in the run-down, Hirsch scored for a 6-1 advantage after four innings.
The Redhawks led off the sixth with a walk and a single. A single by Honchel drove in a run for a 6-2 score. Another single loaded the bases with two outs, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance with three runners stranded.
Wofford’s Hirsch drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ramsay hit a single to right field that scored Hirsch for a 7-2 lead. James Plaisted added a walk, but the Terriers left two runners on base at the end of the seventh.
To start the eighth inning, Scott Slappey singled for Miami. A double gave the RedHawks runners on second and third with one out when a sacrifice fly by Max Andresen made it a 7-3 game. After Nathan Williams struck out all three Wofford batters in the bottom of the eighth inning, the RedHawks led off the top of the ninth with a double by Chad Sedio. With two outs, Steve Sada reached on a fielding error that allowed Sedio to score for a 7-4 margin. A strikeout ended the contest.
Wofford pitcher Luke Leftwich (2-0) went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. He only walked one batter for his second win of the season. Connor Foltyn pitched a clean seventh inning. John Caskey threw the final two innings and allowed two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Jacob Banks (0-2) started for the RedHawks and threw six innings with six runs allowed on three hits. Only four of the runs were earned and he had four strikeouts. Brian Thene worked a third of an inning and allowed one run on a hit. Nathan Williams closed out the final 1 2/3 innings and did not allow a hit with four strikeouts.
Wofford will host UNC Asheville on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Russell C. King Field. On Tuesday, the Terriers will travel to Clemson to face the Tigers at 4 p.m.
College of Charleston 6, The Citadel 4
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston made it two in a row over The Citadel on Saturday, riding a strong start by Eric Bauer to a 6-4 victory at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs (3-3) will look to avoid the sweep when the city rivals meet in the series finale at Patriots Point on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Cougars (3-2) edged ahead of The Citadel 42-41 in the all-time series since Charleston reinstated its baseball program in 1992.
Bauer allowed single runs in the first and second before blanking the Bulldogs over the next four innings. He left with one out in the seventh having given up only four hits and two runs (one earned) and with the Cougars in front by a score of 6-2.
The Citadel staged a rally in the eighth against reliever Hunter Rice. Austin Mapes singled and scored when a ground ball by Connor Walsh took a bad hop over the glove of first baseman Nick Pappas and then bounced away from right fielder Bradley Jones for an RBI triple.
Stephen Windham followed with his second hit of the day, a line-drive double to left that plated Walsh and pulled the Bulldogs within two. A single by Johnathan Stokes put runners on first and third, but Jake McBreairty induced Jacob Watcher, making his collegiate debut, into a 5-4-3 double play to end the uprising.
Chase Henry, who allowed two runs in the ninth Friday to allow The Citadel to force extra innings in an eventual 8-7 Cougar victory, worked a 1-2-3 final frame on Saturday to earn his first save of the year. Austin Livingston took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing four hits and five runs while striking out five in five innings.
Mapes and Shy Phillips had early run-producing singles to stake the Bulldogs to a 2-0 lead, but Bauer was able to strand runners at second and third in the second and two more in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Cougars bunched together three hits and a walk, all with two outs in the third, to take the lead.
Livingston retired the first eight batters he faced before surrendering a solo homer to Champ Rowland, his second round-tripper of the series. A walk, single and two-run double by Pappas put the Cougars in front 3-2.
Livingston then set down the next seven batters before a Pappas RBI double and a ground out gave Charleston two runs in the sixth and a 5-2 lead.
UNC Asheville 3, ETSU 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior right-hander Jimmy Nesselt recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts, but his performance was overshadowed as Joe Tietjen’s fielder’s choice RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning snapped a tie game and lifted UNC Asheville to a 3-2 win over the Buccaneers on Saturday evening at Harley Park.
Overall, ETSU pitchers struck out 14 Bulldog batters – the most by the Bucs since registering 15 strikeouts against Wofford on April 15, 2005 – as freshman righty Ryan Simpler added four punchouts of his own. Simpler, who struck out the first six hitters he faced (three last week vs. Eastern Kentucky) in his collegiate career, suffered the loss (0-1) despite not allowing a hit. The ETSU rookie was tagged with the unearned run in the eighth and walked two UNCA hitters. Nesselt earned a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits while striking out 10 (zero walks) in six innings of work.
Despite striking out 14 and having the Bulldogs commit five errors, the Blue and Gold couldn’t get over the hump. ETSU had its chances but the Bucs left 10 runners on base (five in the final three innings) and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Kevin Phillips and Trey York combined for four of ETSU’s five hits as they both finished with two-hit games, while Jeremy Taylor and Chris Cook accounted for the RBIs. Taylor drove in the Bucs’ first run with a sacrifice-fly RBI in the fifth and Cook brought home York with an RBI single later in the frame.
ETSU suffered its first loss of the campaign and dipped to 2-1 on the season, while UNCA, who knocked off Miami (Ohio) earlier on Saturday, improved to 2-3.
The Bucs wrap up play at the Upstate Classic on Sunday when ETSU takes on Pittsburgh (12 p.m.) and tournament host USC Upstate (4 p.m.) at Harley Park.
UNCW 6, Western Carolina 4
Wake Forest 10, Western Carolina 2
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Four Catamount errors proved costly on Saturday afternoon as Western Carolina dropped its opening game of the Hughes Bros. Challenge, 6-4, to the host UNCW Seahawks at Brooks Field. Wake Forest pitching limited WCU to just three base hits with 11 combined strikeouts as the Catamounts dropped their second game on Saturday, falling to the Demon Deacons, 8-2.
In game one, Catamount freshman Brett Pope and redshirt junior transfer Austin Atwell led the Catamounts offensively, both finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Captains Bradley Strong and Danny Bermudez drove in two runs apiece to account for WCU's scoring in the loss.
Earning the start in his hometown of Wilmington, N.C., sophomore LHP Bryan Sammons (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound. The southpaw gave up six runs – only three of which were earned – on nine hits with three strikeouts against a walk. Junior Jonathan Waszak faced one batter before giving way to junior Taylor Durand, who tossed the final 2 2/3 of one-hit, scoreless relief. Durand struck out three of the nine batters he faced.
Western Carolina (2-3) loaded the bases with three straight hits including an infield bunt single by J.D. Long in the top of the second inning to grab the game's first lead. The Catamounts climbed on top on a one-out walk by Strong to drive home Pope, who opened the rally by dropping a single into left field. WCU would add two additional runs on a two-RBI chopper single to the right side by Bermudez to make it 3-0 after 1 1/2.
However, WCU was unable to get the shutdown inning it was looking for as UNCW (4-0) responded in the bottom of the frame. The Seahawks capitalized on two hits and a couple of Catamount fielding miscues to knot the game at 3 through two complete.
The Catamounts seemingly reclaimed a two-run cushion in the top half of the fifth inning when Matt Smith was aboard when Bermudez cleared the fence down the left-field line. However, after initially ruling it a two-run homer, the umpiring crew gathered to overturn the call. Bermudez would eventually draw a walk but was left on base as WCU stranded runners at the corners.
After three scoreless frames, the home squad lit the scoreboard for a second three-run inning in what proved to be the decisive sixth. Kennard McDowell lifted a one-out double to center field before moving to third on an infield single by Brian Mims to put runners at the corners. Steven Linkous gave UNCW the lead with an RBI single deep in the hole at short. The Seahawks would load the bases on a single to left by Zach Shields, chasing WCU starter Sammons.
With the bases full, preseason all-conference selection Casey Golden reached on an infield fielding error that allowed two runners to cross the plate resulting in a 6-3 lead for UNCW.
All told, three Seahawks collected two hits apiece including Linkous (2-for-5), Shields and McDowell who were both 2-for-4.
Western Carolina threatened in the ninth as Atwell led off with a single down the left-field line before being erased on an infield fielder's choice by Long. Pinch-hitter Reece Strong put two aboard with a single through the right side before his brother, Bradley, singled to center field to score Long from second base to trim the deficit to two, 6-4. That was as close as WCU would get, however, as a groundout put runners at second and third before a strikeout ended the threat and the game.
For UNCW, freshman RHP Austin Magestro (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory, striking out four with one walk while limiting the potent Catamount offense to one run on three hits. Jordan Ramsey tallied his second save of the young season, entering the game with two Catamounts aboard in a two-run ninth inning, registering a strikeout to end the game.
In Western Carolina’s second game of the day, Wake Forest (4-2) scored all 10 of its runs in a four-inning span between the fifth and eighth innings, holding the Catamounts to just a two-run rally in the home half of the sixth inning.
Neither team could muster a base hit until the fourth inning, when Bermudez singled into right-center field but was left on base – one of eight stranded by the Catamounts in the loss. Then, in the top half of the fifth inning, the Demon Deacons opened the scoring. Wake tallied three runs on three hits with one WCU error to take a lead it would never relinquish.
Trailing 4-2, Western Carolina lit the scoreboard twice in the home half of the sixth to claw back within striking distance. Senior Bradley Strong lifted a leadoff double to right field ahead of freshman Brett Pope, who walked to put two aboard. WCU loaded the bases with nobody out on an infield error, allowing Bermudez to reach. With one out, Atwell tallied an RBI on a run-scoring walk to plate Strong and put the Catamounts on the board. Sophomore Matt Smith then drove home a run on a fielder’s choice, allowing Pope to score.
However, in the following frame, the Demon Deacons broke the game wide open with a four-run frame in the top of the seventh inning. Wake Forest capitalized on four singles, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly to push across the four runs and make it 8-2 for the Black & Gold.
The Deacs also scored twice in the eighth inning to tack on insurance runs to provide the final tally.
Catamount starter Colton Davis (0-1) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs on four hits, including a double, through five innings. He matched his career high with seven strikeouts against a pair of walks with one hit batter. Sophomore B.J. Nobles struck out one in an inning of work, with classmates Nate Williams and Korey Anderson tossing 2/3 of an inning apiece, both recording a strikeout.
Two WCU hurlers – freshmen Corey Sikes and Dylan Biumi – made their collegiate debuts in relief. Sikes struck out one in 2/3 of a frame, allowing a run on three hits, while Biumi allowed a hit and a walk as they faced five batters apiece.
Strong, Bermudez and Smith were the only Catamount hitters to collect base hits.
For Wake Forest, starter Parker Dunshee (2-0) tallied the victory after pitching five innings of two-unearned-run, two-hit baseball, facing three batters in the sixth before being lifted. Dunshee struck out eight with two walks. Relievers John McCarren and Paul Kirkpatrick tossed two innings apiece with McCarren walking and fanning one while Kirkpatrick gave up a single with two Ks.
Offensively, designated hitter Will Craig finished a game-best 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. Jonathan Pryor, Stuart Fairchild and Justin Yurachak each collected two hits and an RBI apiece, while Gavin Sheets drove in two on a pair of sacrifice flies.
Wake Forest finished with six stolen bases in the winning effort.
Western Carolina is slated to wrap up play against George Mason (1-4) on Sunday in Wilmington, N.C., with first pitch at 11 a.m. The Patriots also dropped two on Saturday, falling to Wake Forest, 9-3, in their first game and seeing UNCW rally to score a 12-8 victory in their second contest.