The Citadel earns 6-5 win over Western Carolina

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Citadel right hander Gant Starling allowed just one hit over the final four innings to shut the door on Western Carolina and even the series with a 6-5 victory Saturday afternoon at Hennon Stadium.

Game Information

Score: The Citadel 6, Western Carolina 5

Records: The Citadel (22-24, 7-10), Western Carolina (20-29, 7-12)

Location: Hennon Stadium (Cullowhee, North Carolina)

Series: Series tied 1-1

How it Happened

The Catamounts got on the board in the first inning as Brandon Butterworth led off the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Pascanel Ferreras.
The Bulldogs got the run back in the fourth inning as Sawyer Reeves doubled and scored on a double down the third-base line by Thomas Rollauer.
The Citadel took the lead in the fifth as Reeves delivered a three-run homer to left center.
WCU tied the game in the home-half of the inning on a three-run homer from Butterworth.
The Bulldogs answered back with two outs in the sixth as Noah Mitchell doubled into the left-field corner, and Travis Elliott followed with a RBI double to same spot.
The Citadel added a run in the seventh after Anthony Badala started the inning with a base hit up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt from Matthew Lively, pinch runner Clay Wilson scored from second on a Reeves single to left field.
The Catamounts got one run back in the eighth on a RBI single from Jack Spyke.

Inside the Box Score

Right hander Gant Starling (3) entered the game with a runner on and one out in the sixth and was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run by getting a strikeout to end the inning.
He got the strikeout with a 96mph fastball after touching 97mph on the previous pitch.
Starling would finish the game by allowing just one run on one hit and seven strikeouts over 4.0 innings.
Sam Swygert (5-2) picked up the win after allowing four runs over four hits and three innings over five innings.
Sawyer Reeves provided the offense as he went 3-for-4 with a homer, double and four RBIs. He also scored two runs.
Thomas Rollauer and Travis Elliott each drove in runs with base hits.
Dylan Costa helped seal the victory with a diving catch up the middle to end the game.

On Deck

The teams close out the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.