Towns King hit a two-run, game-tying home run to left-center field and Max Pinto ended the game with a two-run, walk-off homer to right-center as the Bulldogs claimed the 2021 title and the berth in the NCAA baseball postseason. WCU closed the season with a 28-21 overall record.
Samford's ninth-inning heroics spoiled the pitching performance of redshirt junior RHP Tristen Campbell who tossed a career-long 8.1 innings on Sunday, exiting the game following the first of the two Bulldog home runs. The Cheraw, S.C., native struck out six against a pair of walks and three HBPs and was aided by his defense turning four double-plays behind him on the infield.
Jack Snyder (2-1), who was making his third appearance of the tournament, was saddled with the loss after surrendering the homer to Pinto.
Western Carolina (28-21) grabbed the early lead as Justice Bigbie belted the second of back-to-back doubles, changing places with Pascanel Ferreras at second base in the fourth inning to give the Catamounts the early 1-0 lead. In the fifth, Samford scratched out an unearned run to knot the game at one through five complete.
Seth Graves led-off the sixth inning with a single punched through the right side and was sacrificed into position by Will Prater. After a wild pitch moved Graves to within 90-feet of home, Ferreras lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Graves and give WCU the 2-1 lead. Bigbie reached on a single ahead of Luke Robinson who pushed the advantage to three, 4-1, with a two-run home run to right-center field.
WCU stretched its lead to 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning as Daniel Walsh reached on the first of his two singles and scored on a sacrifice bunt and Bulldog throwing error to make it 5-1 at stretch time.
Samford had its biggest inning until the ninth with a three-run seventh with King driving in a run on a single through the right side and Taylor Garris plating two on a single to left-center. However, Campbell and WCU were able to strand the tying run at third with his fifth strikeout of the game.
Walsh again scored in the top of the ninth as an insurance marker on a Zach Ketterman double down the left-field line to make it 6-4 headed to the bottom of the frame before the Bulldogs walked-off with a pair of homers to win the game and tournament.
Bigbie led four Catamounts with multi-hit games with a 3-for-4 effort including a double and two singles, while Robinson homered in a 2-for-4, two RBI showing. Walsh singled twice with Graves doubling in a 2-for-4 effort in the loss. Ketterman, who was the odd-man out after the lineup rotation due to injury early in the tournament, tallied his lone hit on the run-scoring double in the ninth.
For Samford, reliever Carson Cupo (9-0) scored the victory in relief, allowing a run on two hits with a strikeout in an inning of work in the top of the ninth. Starter Hamp Skinner struck out seven without issuing a walk in 5.1 innings for Samford, factoring in the no decision after limiting WCU to two runs on five hits.
Outfielder Ryan Crockett reached base four times with three singles and a walk in a 3-for-3 effort while King also collected three hits, two singles and a homer in a three RBI effort. Pinto's only hit of the championship game was the ninth-inning homer.
May 27 (Thursday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 1: No. 4 Western Carolina 16, No. 1 Wofford 5
Game 2: No. 2 Samford 10, No. 3 Mercer 8
May 28 (Friday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 3: No. 1 Wofford 8, No. 3 Mercer 7
Game 4: No. 4 Western Carolina vs. No. 2 Samford, suspended
May 29 (Saturday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 4: No. 2 Samford 19, No. 4 Western Carolina 7 (7 innings)
Game 5: No. 4 Western Carolina 11, No. 1 Wofford 6
May 30 (Sunday)
SoCon Championship presented by Holston Gases (ESPN+)
(Fluor Field; Greenville, S.C.)
Game 6: No. 2 Samford 8, No. 4 Western Carolina 6
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