Western Carolina’s baseball team won their home opener, 8-0, over Winthrop University Tuesday, Feb. 18, and look to keep this trend going for the rest of the season.
The Catamounts really hit their stride late in the fifth inning, after getting their first run on a walk with bases loaded.
They wouldn’t look back, scoring seven more runs through the next three innings.
Freshman Bryan Sammons gets the win after coming on in relief during the fourth inning. Sammons had three strikeouts, giving up only one hit after three innings of work.
Winning is something this team strives for and wants to continue. Last season, the Catamounts had the best record in the Southern Conference and made a run in the playoffs.
SoCon Preseason Player of the Year Aaron Attaway at bat against No. 2 Mississippi State Sunday (Photo courtesy of Western Carolina Athletics).
“There is a lot of experience on this team,” senior shortstop Aaron Attaway said. “A lot of upper classmen. Our pitching staff is solid and I think we can go far.”
Their pitching staff truly is solid. Junior pitcher Jeremy Null won the team’s first game of the year against second-ranked Mississippi State on the road after an eight-inning, 12 strikeout performance. He won National Pitcher of the Week after that game.
“I think the team can go far,” senior left fielder Dykota Spiess said. “We all have high expectations about this season, and we have good young talent. There is still some work to do on little things and fixing early mistakes, but our team is solid and will make it far.”
The team will travel across the United States this weekend to take on the Washington State Cougars in a four-game series. The next home series will be Feb. 28 against La Salle, beginning a three-game series.
