Bears Travel To Cullowhee For Conference Series

Friday, April 10

Cullowhee, N.C.

5 p.m.

Mercer University

Western Carolina

Bears Travel To Cullowhee For Conference Series

4/9/2026 2:47:00 PM | Baseball

By: Rylee Bamberger, Rylee.m.bamberger@live.mercer.edu

MACON – The Mercer Bears (25-8, 4-2 SoCon) loaded the bus and embarked on a journey to Hennon Stadium for a weekend series with Southern Conference rival Western Carolina (20-14, 3-3 SoCon) in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Mercer at Western Carolina | Friday, April 10 – Sunday, April 12 | 5/3/1:00 PM EST

Hennon Stadium | Cullowhee, N.C.

Last Meeting: May 22, 2025 | 10-3, L

All-Time Series: 18-20 Overall | 8-8 on the road | Streak: L2

Expected Pitchers:
Friday: RHP Garrett Lambert (2-0, 4.29 ERA) vs. RHP Carter Burnette (2-4, 4.76 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Miguel Hugas (6-1, 5.31 ERA) vs. LHP Davis Wright (2-1, 7.71 ERA)
Sunday: TBA

Notables:

The Mercer Bears enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak that includes a series win over UNC Greensboro and a midweek run-rule win over West Georgia. The Bears outscored their opponents 36-12 across that stretch with nine home runs, 14 doubles and 32 total hits.
Five members of Mercer's pitching staff combined for seven innings of one-run ball and walked one batter. Caleb Hughes threw three strong innings with three strikeouts and picked up his first collegiate win in just his second career start.
The Bears' offense currently sits at the top of multiple team categories:

Statistic	Value	National Rank	Conference Rank
Home Runs	66	6	1
Batting Average	0.325	8	1
On-Base Percentage	.454	6	1
Slugging Percentage	.577	5	1
Runs	314	9	1
Base on Balls	205	10	1

Taking a look at the Catamounts:

Western Carolina enters the weekend with a 4-6 record in its last ten contests. After dropping their first two games against The Citadel, the Catamounts ended the series with a 16-3 run-rule win. Western Carolina fell in its last two midweeks to Presbyterian and USC Upstate but took its last series against Winthrop.
The Catamounts lead the SoCon with the most double plays turned and the lowest walks allowed per nine innings ratio. Western Carolina is second in the conference in hits, home runs and shutouts.
Mason Snyder headlines the Catamounts' pitching staff with a 1.13 ERA in 32.0 innings across 14 appearances. The junior right-handed pitcher bolsters a perfect 3-0 record 31 strikeouts and only four earned runs allowed on the year.
Walker Fox has been a force in Western Carolina's lineup all season. The sophomore outfielder has a .315 batting average with a 1.003 OPS across 111 at-bats. Fox leads his team seven home runs, 33 RBI and 65 total bases.