CLEMSON, S.C. – Western Carolina got three hits from Kramer Ferrell, saw three pitchers combine to limit Nebraska to just five hits, and turned five double plays in a 4-1 win Saturday, as the Catamounts stayed alive at the NCAA Clemson Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
WCU (31-30), seeded fourth in the regional, will take on either No. 7 national seed Clemson or regional No. 2 seed Oklahoma State in another elimination contest Sunday at noon. Nebraska, seeded third in the regional, sees its season end at 37-22 overall.
After a 64-minute weather delay – the second of more than an hour in the contest – the Catamounts scored twice in the eighth inning to open up what had been a one-run game. The game resumed with Matt Smith on second and no one out, and after a wild pitch moved Smith to third, Ferrell singled up the middle to make it 3-1. Ferrell went to second on Caleb Robinson’s single through the left side, and one out later, pinch-hitter Reece Strong singled through the right side to drive in Ferrell with the Catamounts’ fourth run of the game.
Western Carolina scored what would prove to be the winning run in the top of the sixth, stringing together three straight two-out singles to break a 1-1 tie. Ferrell got the rally going with a single to right, and Robinson followed with a single through the right side. Designated hitter Andrew Bullock then stroked an RBI single to make it 2-1.
Smith gave Western Carolina the early lead, hooking a two-out RBI single down the right-field line in the top of the first to score Garrett Brown, who led off the game with a walk.
The Huskers drew even in the fourth, as Jake Schleppenbach singled to right with two outs to knock in Steven Reveles, who singled to open the frame and went to second on an error.
Brendan Nail relieved starter Taylor Durand to start the fifth and went the next three innings, allowing just three hits and two walks to improve to 5-6 on the year. B.J. Nobles pitched the final two innings and did not allow a hit to earn his fifth save of the season.
Nebraska drew eight walks on the day to complement its five hits and had multiple chances for big innings, but Western Carolina matched a SoCon record by turning five double plays. The Huskers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first but Durand got a strikeout and a popup to end the threat. Nebraska loaded the bases again in the second on three straight one-out walks, but Ryan Boldt lined into a double play to end the inning.
The Huskers also hit into double plays in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings, as the Catamounts never let the designated home squad get a prolonged rally going.
Ferrell was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Brett Pope and Robinson had two hits each.
Reece Eddins (4-3) took the loss for Nebraska, as he was charged with two runs on four hits in two innings of work. Starter Jake Meyers went five innings, allowing one run on six hits and three walks, but did not return after the initial weather delay.
-www.SoConSports.com-