Catamounts Clip Mercer

Friday, May 6

Cullowhee, NC

7 P.M.

Mercer University

35-10, 9-4

Western Carolina University

22-23, 6-7

Mercer

Western Carolina

5/6/2022 11:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Mercer drops opener, 9-2

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Mercer was held to three hits, as Western Carolina posted a 9-2 victory in the Southern Conference series opener Friday night at Hennon Stadium.

Zach Franklin (5-1) held the Bears (35-10, 9-4 SoCon) hitless through the first four innings. He gave up two singles, walked three and struck out nine in 7.0 innings to pick up the win for the Catamounts (22-23, 6-7 SoCon).

Western Carolina plated two runs in the opening frame and then received a three-run homer from Pascanel Ferreras as part of a four-run third to jump out to a 6-0 lead.

The Catamounts tacked on two more in the fourth inning to stretch their advantage to eight runs.

Angelo DiSpigna broke up Franklin's no-hit bid in the fifth with a leadoff single to right field.

Mercer finally broke through on the scoring column in the seventh.

Collin Price drew a one-out walk ahead of DiSpigna's infield single. Two batters later, Treyson Hughes walked to load the bases. Antonio Brown then worked a walk to force Price across the plate for the Bears' first run of the night.

Mercer added its final tally a panel later, as Price's sacrifice fly to left allowed Will Mapes to score. Mapes led off the inning with a single.

Western Carolina scored the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth on Immanuel Wilder's RBI single.

The Catamounts racked up 13 hits in the winning effort. Ferraras was 3 for 3 with two doubles, a three-run homer and four RBIs to lead the way.

DiSpigna finished with two of the Bears' three knocks.

Ryan Lobus (5-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks in 3.0 innings. He also struck out five.

The series will continue Saturday at 4 p.m.