Bears Drop Finale to Catamounts

Sunday, May 8

Cullowhee, NC

1 P.M.

Mercer University

35-12, 9-6

Western Carolina University

24-23, 8-7

Mercer

Western Carolina

5/8/2022 5:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Western Carolina takes 10-9 victory in extras

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Zach Ketterman hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11^th inning to lift Western Carolina to a 10-9 victory over Mercer Sunday at Hennon Stadium.

Ketterman bounced a single through the right side of the infield that allowed Daniel Walsh to score the winning run that secured the Southern Conference series sweep for the Catamounts (24-23, 8-7 SoCon).

Mercer (35-12, 9-6 SoCon) had a 9-4 advantage after Collin Price hit a pair of home runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

However, Western Carolina scored three runs in the sixth to trim the lead to two runs and then pulled even with a pair of runs in the seventh.

The Catamounts were close to pulling off the walk-off win in the 10^th, as Immanuel Wilder hit a double off the wall in left field. Treyson Hughes played the ball off the wall and then hit Will Mapes with a throw in from the outfield. Mapes quickly turned and fired it to Price, who put the tag on Ketterman as he slid toward the plate.

Hughes started the 11^th with a single for the Bears, and moved to third after Jozsef Rohrbacher grounded a single through the right side. With one out, David Burke put the bunt down, but Hughes was tagged out at home as he tried to score on the safety squeeze.

Drew Needham led off the bottom of the final frame with a double that hit off the base of the wall in left field. He was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before Walsh came in to pinch run.

Luke Sutko was able to get Will Prater to hit a ground ball directly to Antonio Brown at second base, who looked Walsh back and then threw to first for the second out.

Ketterman then headed to the plate and ran the count to 2-2 before singling in the winning run.

Sutko (2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing one run on three hits in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.

Zebby Matthews (3-6) picked up the win, as the righty fanned seven and allowed only two hits in 5.0 innings of relief.

Hughes was 4 for 6 to pace the Bears at the plate. Price had five RBIs after hitting his 13^th and 14^th home runs of the spring.

Mercer will head to Atlanta Tuesday to wrap up an eight-game road trip with a tilt against Georgia State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.