Western Carolina Catamount Baseball A journey to a championship
Western Carolina entered the Southern Conference Championships as the No. 2 seed - aided by taking two of three from UNCG in the final SoCon weekend for the Catamounts.
The Catamounts got the Southern Conference Tournament started by knocking off Wofford 10-9 scoring the winning run when JD Long drew a bases loaded walk to earn the win. WCU battled back to tie and score the go ahead run over the Terriers plating four runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Western Carolina earned a rest day on Friday by dominating No. 6 seeded Samford 14-4 to roll into Saturday's match-up with top-seeded Mercer.
Western Carolina lost a hard-fought battle to top-seeded Mercer on semi-final Saturday falling 9-8 to the Bears and dropping into the loser's bracket for the first time in the SoCon tournament.
Playing its second game of the day, Western Carolina battled back and earned a 7-4 win over Samford - beating the Bulldogs for the second time in the SoCon Tournament. The victory earned WCU a re-match with No. 1 seeded Mercer on Sunday.
Western Carolina took advantage of its re-match with top-seeded Mercer defeating the Bears 4-2 on SoCon Championship Sunday to force a winner take all second game.
Western Carolina weathered a late surge by Mercer, as the Bears tied the game 2-2 on a solo homerun by Charlie Madden in the top of the ninth. The Catamounts proved it was their day and would not be denied. With bases loaded, and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, WCU's Nobu Suzuki was hit by a pitch to send in the winning run. The Catamounts won the game 3-2 and took the SoCon Tournament title crown.
Western Carolina baseball had a lot of fun on selection Monday learning they were headed to the Clemson NCAA Regional to take on the Tigers.
Catamount baseball will face Clemson for the third time this season at the Clemson NCAA Regional on Friday. In the previous home and home series this season both games were decided by two runs or less. The Tigers took the game in Cullowhee 10-8 and earned a 10-inning nail biter 7-6 at Clemson.