Winston-Salem, N.C. – Wake Forest scored each of its seven runs in the home half of the third inning on Tuesday evening and then held off Western Carolina's rally attempts including a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth inning to post the 7-5 victory in nonconference action at David F. Couch Ballpark.
 
The Catamounts jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the first two frames with Zach Ketterman walking and scoring on an infield error in the first inning. Seth Graves doubled home Nate Stocum before later scoring from third base on an infield fielder's choice by Cameron Murray for the RBI in the two-run second inning.
 
However, the Demon Deacons walked the bases loaded to open the seven-run home half of the third inning that included a two-RBI single and a three-run home run to take a 7-3 lead through three.
 
WCU managed a solo marker in the fourth as Murray collected the first extra-base hit of his career on a double to left and scored on an infield ground out by Ketterman to make it 7-4 where it would stay over the next four scoreless frames.
 
In the ninth, the Catamounts loaded the bases on a pair of hit batters and a walk. Immanuel Wilder, who already holds the school record for career HBPs, opened the rally and scored on a free pass to Pascanel Ferreras to make it a two-run deficit. But the Catamounts would get no closer as an infield pop-up, strikeout, and fly out to center ended the threat and the game.
 
Stocum doubled in a 2-for-5 performance at the plate with Parks reaching four times on a double, a walk, and two HBPs. Also collecting doubles were Murray and Graves. Ketterman reached three times with two of WCU's six walks drawn and an HBP with Drew Needham also reaching after being plunked.
 
All told, four of WCU's five hits on the day went for extra bases as the Catamounts legged out four doubles in the road loss, the third-straight against the Deacons in the head-to-head series.
 
WCU reliever Lucas Hartman (0-1) suffered the loss out of the bullpen on just a third of an inning of work after Davis Mortland was chased in the third after three walks. Mortland was tagged for three runs – only two of which were earned – with a strikeout, while Hartman surrendered the four remaining runs on three hits with a pair of walks in the elongated third inning.
 
WCU's relievers after Hartman combined to toss a one-hit shutout the remaining five innings with four strikeouts – one apiece for Dawson Elder (2.2 IP), Davis Tyndall (1.2 IP), Dylan Wheeler (0.2 IP), and Cole Beverlin (0.2 IP).
 
Wake Forest reliever Crawford Wade (1-0) earned the victory, striking out two over 2.2 innings of work with allowing a run on two hits. Jacob Grzebinski secured his first save of the season with a strikeout in an inning of work, stranding three Catamounts in the visitor's half of the ninth inning.
 
Outfielder Pierce Bennett collected three of Wake's five base hits on a trio of singles including a two-run base knock in the third. First-baseman Nick Kurtz hit a three-run homer for his only hit in a 1-for-3, three-RBI effort with Adam Cecere doubling home a run in the Deacs' big inning.
 
Western Carolina (8-9) returns home to open a four-game homestand beginning with three against the UT Martin Skyhawks this weekend in the first-ever meetings between the two programs on the baseball diamond. The series opens on Friday at 5 p.m., with Saturday's first pitch at 2 p.m. and culminating on Sunday at 1 p.m. Each game is slated to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online through CatamountSports.com.