Opening weekend…opening win

The Cats came out on top in the home opening weekend in Cullowhee as the WCU Catamounts defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd in a 2-1 series win.

The series came to a close on Sunday, Feb. 26, in a loss but not before the Cats could get two up on Marshall in Friday and Saturday’s games.

Catcher, Spencer Holcomb in the Marshall game.
Photo by Becca Ross.

In [Saturdays] game the wind was blowing out and it seemed as if any ball hit in the air had a chance of being a home run. We had opportunities but didn’t capitalize them. That is baseball. Sometimes things just don’t go your way,” said junior catcher Spencer Holcomb

Senior pitcher, Bryan Sammons, took home the win in Friday’s matchup helping ease the tension from last week’s loss at Clemson but keeping the historic winning streak against Marshall alive.

Redshirt sophomore, Matthew Koehler, helped break the pitchers duel in the fifth inning with a home run, his second of the season, which seemed to help get the bats moving more offensively.

In Saturday’s cold, windy and long matchup, the Cats came out on top with a 20-15 win against the Thundering Herd.

Junior, Brett Pope scored his first career home run and helped the Cats stay on top for the remainder of the game.

Pitcher, BJ Nobles tallied the win for the Catamounts after Chad Mabini, Corey Sikes and Dillon Bray all came to finish out.

To conclude the series on Sunday the Cats got an early start on the board and Brendan Nail was on the mound who went through six innings with 12 strikeouts.

Pitcher Brendan Nail on the mound through 6 innings.
Photo by Becca Ross.

The Thundering Herd however pulled ahead in the seventh inning with a 5 run rally and stayed ahead for the remainder of the game.

We just need to learn how to finish games off and make big outs when we need them and also make big plays offensively and defensively,” said Koehler. 

WCU returns home on Tuesday as they battle the UNC Asheville Bulldogs for a matchup at 4 p.m.