Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina claimed a weather-shortened, five-inning victory over VMI in its Southern Conference series opener against the Keydets on Saturday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Catamount starter Zebby Matthews struck out seven over five innings in the shutout victory, 3-0, over the Keydets as heavy fog ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Saturday night's game was initially scheduled as part of a doubleheader on Friday before unfavorable forecasts prompted the move to a twinbill on Saturday. Inclement weather across the southeast then pushed the series opener under the lights. After the rain passed and night set in, heavy fog moved into the area a third of the way through the game before ultimately driving the teams from the field in the home half of the fifth inning. After nearly an hour delay, the umpires returned to the field to call the game complete.
Freshman Pascanel Ferreras singled three times in a perfect 3-for-3 outing, scoring two of WCU's three runs in the win. The Stone Mountain, Ga., native added a stolen base to his strong night in the lead-off position. Junior Daylan Nanny reached twice, plating Ferreras with a first-inning single into left field, and he also reached on a walk. Nanny extended his active hitting streak to 11-straight games while pushing his reached base safely streak to 23-consecutive.
Junior Justice Bigbie doubled to the gap in right-center field to plate WCU's second run of the night in the fifth inning, while senior Luke Robinson, who was put aboard on an HBP, capping the scoring by racing home on a passed ball.
Matthews (5-1) scattered three hits over his five-inning start in blanking the Keydets. Saturday marked the second time this season that Matthews worked a scoreless start as he also shut out UNCW over a seven-inning start back in late February. It was also the third time this year that he posted seven or more strikeouts in a game.
VMI starter Nathan Light (0-7) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs – only two of which were earned – on six hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks, and a hit batter. Reliever Ryan Huffman struck out one in two-thirds of an inning and was on the mound when the fog chased teams from the field.
The Keydets' three hits – all singles – were scattered between three different players as Trey Morgan, Justin Starke, and Zac Morris each reached on base knocks
Western Carolina improved to 16-7 overall, 4-2 in SoCon play while VMI dropped to 6-18, 2-8 SoCon.
The series concludes on Sunday with a doubleheader set to begin at 2 p.m. Both games are slated to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).
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April 11, 2021 at 11:50AM
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Catamounts Claim Weather-Shortened Series-Opener over VMI - catamountsports.com
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