Cullowhee, N.C. – Sophomore Zach Ketterman belted a game-tying, line-drive home run over the right-field fence in the fifth inning of Friday evening's Southern Conference opener against ETSU, but the Buccaneers plated a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn the 5-3 victory at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
ETSU's Tommy Barth plated Logen Sutton on a single and Bryce Hodge doubled home Barth to push the Bucs ahead by two in the top of the final frame. Down to its final out, Bryson Parks doubled down the right-field line to bring the tying run to the plate, but the seventh strikeout by reliever Matt Bollenbacher (4-0) ended the game.
 
Senior Immanuel Wilder collected two of WCU's six hits in the loss, extending his active hitting streak to nine-straight with a 2-for-4 effort with a double. Ketterman homered and Parks doubled as three of the squad's hits went for extra bases. Pascanel Ferreras reached twice on an HBP and a walk.
 
Wilder doubled through the left side and eventually scored the game's first run from third on a wild pitch in the home half of the second inning. With Daniel Walsh 90-feet away, Tom Brosnahan grounded out to the right side of the diamond which allowed WCU's second marker to cross for the 2-0 lead through two complete.
 
The Catamount advantage was short-lived, though, as the Buccaneers plated a pair of unearned runs on a two-RBI single to center by Noah Webb to tie the game in the top of the third. ETSU then pulled in front in the visitor's portion of the fourth as David Beam doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored on an infield RBI groundout by Sutton.
 
In the fifth inning, Ketterman lined a shot over the wall in right field to knot the game at three. WCU worked out of a jam in the top of the seventh, stranding a pair of runners to keep the game tied with the Catamounts leaving a runner on in the eighth to set up the ninth-inning finish.
 
WCU closer Zach Franklin (1-1) was saddled with the loss, striking out one in two innings out of the bullpen. Zebby Matthews struck out five over a five-inning start, allowing three runs – only one of which was earned. Tristen Campbell struck out two over two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief.
 
Bollenbacher tallied seven strikeouts over his four-inning relief effort in the win after starter Zach Kirby struck out four against a walk, surrendering three runs while scattering four hits over five innings.
 
The series continues Saturday with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.