CULLOWHEE, NC – Western Carolina's explosive start powered them past the Rider baseball team in game one of their four-game series on Friday evening, securing a 27-5 victory.
The Catamounts wasted no time, plating four runs on just two hits in the bottom of the first. Wyatt Stanley's RBI single brought in two runs, setting the tone early.
Rider had a chance to respond in the top of the second with runners on second and third, but WCU escaped the jam with a 4-6 double play.
In the bottom half of the inning, Cole Jones doubled to right-center, driving in two more runs to extend Western Carolina's lead to 6-0.
Jack Ruditzky took over on the mound for
PJ Craig in the third, looking to slow WCU's offense. However, Trent Turner's two-run double to left-center continued the Catamounts' scoring surge.
The biggest moment of the third inning came when Elijah Smith hit a grand slam, capping an 11-run surge on eight hits and stretching WCU's lead to 16-0.
Rider finally got on the board in the fourth, as
Nick Shuhet's RBI double drove in
Anthony Paskell.
Western Carolina added seven more runs in the fifth but the Broncs found a bright spot in the top of the seventh when
Griffin Puvel launched a grand slam, adding four runs to their total to close out the game.
Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs secured five hits in the contest with
Peter Crespo,
Joe Tiroly,
Anthony Paskell,
Nick Shuhet, and
Griffin Puvel.
- Puvel secured a team-high of four RBIs, with Shuhet earning one.
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PJ Craig got the start for the Broncs, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing six earned runs, and giving up five hits.
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Gavin Hawkes pitched 1.1 innings, allowing zero earned runs, two hits, and one strikeout.
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Frank Papeo pitched 1.0 inning, allowing seven earned runs, three hits, and two strikeouts.
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Gavin Alloway pitched 1.0 inning, allowing three earned runs and two hits in the contest.
Up Next
The Broncs return to action tomorrow, Mar. 1, to take on Western Carolina in game two of the four-game series
