Xavier University Musketeers

The Catamounts continue their 7 game road trip, traveling to Cincinnati to face the Xavier Musketeers in a three-game weekend series. 

Who:  Xavier University Musketeers
Where: Hayden Field, Cincinnati, OH
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (April 1-3)
Time: Fri - 5:00; Sat - 2:00 pm; Sun - 1:00 pm
Radio: Cougar All Access
TV/Video: Game 1 (no video), Games 2 & 3 on FloSports (pay service)
Live Stats: Xavier live stats
Nickname: Musketeers
Mascot: D'Artagnan the Musketeer
Colors: Navy Blue, White, & Silver
Conference: Big East

The Series: The two teams met in a three-game series in Cullowhee in 2007. The Cats won the series 2-1.

Head Coach: Billy O'Conner was named the seventh head coach of the Xavier baseball program in June of 2017 after a decorated playing career and six years on the staff as an assistant. In his first four seasons, O'Conner led Xavier to an overall record of 80-102 with a 34-26 mark in BIG EAST play.

Xavier's 2022 record: 13-13 overall, 3-0 home, 10-10 away, 0-3 neutral, 0-0 conference
Xavier's 2021 record: 28-26 overall, 13-8 home, 12-16 away, 3-2 neutral, 15-11 conference

The Musketeers were picked third in the Big East following last season's runners-up performance in the BIG EAST Tournament.  Four Musketeers earned a spot on the preseason All-Big East squad. Catcher Jerry Huntzinger, infielders Luke Franzoni and Jack Housinger, and outfielder Andrew Walker each earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team.

Xavier is coming into the game riding a 6 game win streak, most recently sweeping Cincinnati in a four-game series.  The Musketeers have won 8 of their last 9 games, while the Cats are on a 2 game skid, losing 4 of their last 6 games, most recently dominated by the number 1 Tennessee Volunteers.  

Game one will be played at Prasco Park in Mason, OH, with games 2 & 3 at  Hayden Field on the campus of Xavier.  

The Cats

 

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations   

at #1 University of Tennessee

The Cats continue their 7 game road trip with a midweek game at the #1 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.  The Vols moved to the number one spot this week after sweeping Ole Miss. 


Who: University of Tennessee Volunteers
Where: Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, TN
When: Wednesday (March 30)
Time: Wednesday, 5:30 pm
Radio: Tennessee Radio
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: UT live stats
Nickname: Volunteers
Colors: Orange & White
Conference: Southeastern Conference (SEC)

The Series: The Cats and Vols have met 29 times on the baseball diamond and are 6 - 23 in those games.  The Cats are 4-16 in games played in Knoxville, TN. 

Head Coach: Tony Vitello accepted the position of head coach for the Tennessee Volunteers baseball program on June 7, 2017.

UT's 2022 record: 23-1 overall, 18-0 home, 3-0 away, 2-1 neutral, 6-0 conference
UT's 2021 record: 50-18 overall, 29-9 home, 16-5 away, 5-4 neutral, 20-10 conference

After sweeping top-ranked Ole Miss on the road and moving into the #1 ranking nationally, Tennessee had two players earn SEC weekly honors on Monday, as announced by the league office.

Starting pitchers Chase Dollander (SEC Pitcher of the Week) and Chase Burns (SEC Freshman of the Week), were both recognized after stellar outings in Oxford over the weekend.

University of Houston Cougars

The Catamounts take to the road after a humbling loss to UNC Asheville on Tuesday night. In the 7 game road trip, the first stop is in Houston, Texas to face the Houston Cougars, then on to Knoxville, Tenn before the final stop in Mason, OH.  

Who: University Houston Cougars

Where: Schroeder Park, Houston, Texas
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (March 25-27)
Time: Fri - 7:30; Sat - 7:30 pm; Sun -2:00 pm
Radio: Cougar All Access
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: UH live stats
Nickname: Cougars 
Mascot: Shasta
Colors: Red, Red & White
Conference: American Athletic Conference (AAC)

The Series: This will be the first meeting between the two teams on the baseball diamond.

Head Coach:  Todd Whitting rejoined his alma mater as University of Houston Baseball head coach on July 1, 2010. The 2022 season will be his 12th at the helm for the Cougars.

UH's 2022 record: 14-7overall, 9-2 home, 5-2 away, 0-3 neutral, 0-0 conference
UH's 2021 record:  19-34 overall,  11-13 home,  8-19 away,  0-2 neutral,  7-21 conference

The Cougars are batting .272 collectively as a team on the season with 52 extra-base hits including 31 doubles, seven triples, and 14 home runs. Anthony Tulimero paces three players batting above .300 with a .378 average, while Brandon Uhse has a team-best 11 doubles and 22 RBI with both he and Alex Lopez with three home runs. With 142 runs scored this season, Houston is averaging 6.8 runs per game. Houston was picked seventh in the eight-team American Athletic Conference with ECU favored to win the conference championship. The Cougars come into the game riding a three-game winning streak.

Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1 – Friday, March 25 – 7:30 p.m. ET 
Western Carolina – RHP Zebby Matthews (0-3, 5.34 ERA – 30.1 IP, 45K, 4BB)
Houston – RHP Jaycob Deese (1-1, 3.42 – 26.1 IP, 27K, 8BB)

Game 2 – Saturday, March – 7:30 p.m. ET 
Western Carolina – LHP Eric Wallington (0-2, 6.23 ERA – 17.1 IP, 20K, 14BB)
Houston – RHP Nathan Medrano (3-0, 4.34 ERA – 29.0 IP, 27K, 7BB)

Game 3 – Sunday, March 27 – 2 p.m. ET
Western Carolina – RHP Gavin Mortenson (1-2, 4.50 ERA – 22.0 IP, 21K, 7BB)
Houston – TBD

UNC Asheville

The Catamounts will finish up a 4 game home stand when they host UNC Asheville in a mid-week game before departing Cullowhee on a 7 game road trip, with stops in Houston, TX, Knoxville, TN, and Mason, OH.  


Who: UNC Asheville
When: Tuesday (March 22)
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: none
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: WCU live stats
Nickname: Bulldogs
Colors: Red, Blue & White
Conference: Big South Conference 

The Series: The Cats own a 52-24 overall record vs. the Bulldogs, but have lost 7 of the last 8 in the series, and are riding a 2 game losing skid vs. UNCA.  

Head Coach: Scott Friedholm will begin his eighth season as the Head Baseball Coach at UNC Asheville in 2022. He was appointed head coach on June 17, 2014.  The 2021 season saw Friedholm lead the Bulldogs to a 15-33 record overall and a 14-26 record vs. Big South foes. Friedholm picked up his 100th career victory leading the Bulldogs on March 21. He is the first Bulldog Head Coach to ever reach this milestone.

Moranda's record vs. UNCA:  9-11

Friedholm's record vs. WCU:  7-1

UNCA's 2022 record: 5-13 overall, 4-2 home, 1-11 away, 0-0 neutral, 1-2 conference
UNCA's 2021 record:  15-33 overall, 11-11 home, 4-22 away, 14-26 conference

The UNC Asheville baseball team was picked to finish ninth in the eleven-team Big South Conference preseason poll. The Bulldogs are coming off a 3-game series against Longwood, having dropped 2 of 3 games. So far this season, the Bulldogs have played Wofford, a 3-game series at Mercer, and ETSU out of the SoCon (all losses).  

Happy St. Patrick's Day

WCU Baseball - UT Martin

The Catamounts return home to Hennon Stadium to host the University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks for a weekend series. This will be the first meeting between the two teams. 


Who: University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin)
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (March 18-20)
Time: Fri - 5:00; Sat - 2:00 pm; Sun -1:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: none
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: WCU live stats 
Nickname: Skyhawks

Mascot: Captian Skyhawk
Colors: Red, Blue & Orange
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)

The Series: This will be the first meeting between the two teams on the baseball diamond.

Head Coach: Ryan Jenkins is in his fifth season as head coach of the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball program in 2022. He was named to the position on April 17, 2018 after serving as interim head coach for the previous four months. Last season, the Skyhawks boasted three Ohio Valley Conference postseason honorees, which are tied for the second-most in program history. Winston Cannon became only the second starting pitcher in school history to be named All-OVC first team, David Hussey became just the second relief pitcher in program history to earn All-OVC second-team status while Wil LaFollette captured OVC All-Freshman honors.

UTM's 2022 record: 6-9 overall, 2-3 home, 4-5 away, 0-1 neutral, 0-0 conference
UTM's 2021 record: 19-29 overall, 5-8 home, 14-21 away, 0-0 neutral, 10-17 conference

The 6-9 Skyhawks come to Cullowhee fresh off a midweek win over Souther Illonise which broke a two-game skid on the road. The only common opponent thus far is Illinois State.  

Picked ninth in the nine-team preseason Ohio Valley Conference baseball poll, expectations remain high inside the UTM baseball team. The Skyhawks return 27 letter winners from last year's squad, headlined by sophomore infielder Will Smith who was the lone UTM player on the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason baseball team. Martin has five players that had started 35-or-more career games entering the season. Friday's starter for UTM, 

Rhett Fetner was dubbed the OVC Pitcher of the Week on March 14 after tossing the program's first complete-game shutout since 2016 in blanking Central Arkansas, scattering four hits over the nine-inning outing with four strikeouts to counter a pair of walks.

Friday, March 18 | 5:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Zebby Matthews (0-2, 4.94 ERA, 23.2 IP, 33K, 2BB)
UT Martin – RHP Rhett Fetner (3-1, 3.46 ERA, 26.0 IP, 21K, 11BB)

Saturday, March 19 | 2:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+ 
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – LHP Eric Wallington (0-2, 4.91 ERA, 14.2 IP, 18K, 9BB)
UT Martin – RHP Matt Dickey (1-2, 8.53 ERA, 12.2 IP, 16K, 9BB)

Sunday, March 20 | 1:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+ 
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Gavin Mortenson (1-2, 5.19 ERA, 17.1 IP, 20K, 6BB)
UT Martin – TBA

 

Mid-week Baseball: at Wake Forest

The Catamounts will remain on the road for mid-week action, traveling to Winston-Salem to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacon of the ACC.


Who: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
When: Tuesday, March 15
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: David F. Couch Ballpark, Winston-Salem, NC
Radio: Deacon All Access
TV/Video: ACC NETWORK EXTRA
Live Stats: WF live stats
Nickname: Demon Deacons
Colors: Black and Gold
Conference: ACC

Fan Message Board:  Old Gold & Black Boards

The Series: The Cats are 5-7 overall vs. Wake Forest, and come into this game on a two-game skid against the Demon Deacons.

Head coach: Tom Walter enters his 13th season in 2022 as the head coach of Wake Forest baseball. With 325 wins at Wake Forest, he enters 2022 as the second-winningest coach in program history, trailing only George Greer (608 wins in 16 years). Additionally, Walter is one of just two active head coaches in the country to lead three different programs to the NCAA Division I Tournament,.

2022 Record: 13-3 overall,  13-2 home, 0-1 away, 0-0 neutral, 1-2 ACC

In Coach Walter’s 13th season at the helm of the Wake Forest baseball program, the Deacs will rely on 20 returners from last year’s team. Additionally, the Deacs welcome a highly-regarded class of newcomers consisting of 13 first-year players as well as six transfers. The class was ranked in the top 13 by both D1 Baseball and Baseball America.

The Deacs are off to one of the best starts in program history with a 13-3 record, the first time since 1964 Wake Forest won their first eleven games.   

2022 First Pitch Invitational (Cincinnati Bearcats)

The Cats remain at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC for the 2022 First Pitch Invitational, and return to action on Sunday afternoon against Cincinnati. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be streamed through Greenville Drive's YouTube page with live stats available.

Who: Cincinnati
When: Sunday, March 13
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: Flour Fluor Field, Greenville, SC
Radio:   none
TV/Video: YouTube
Live Stats: Live Stats
Nickname:  Bearcats
Colors:  Red & Black
Conference:  American Athletic Conference (AAC)

The Series: The two teams have met three times, with the Cats holding a 1-2 record against the Bearcats.  They last met in Cincinnati in 2017. 

Head coach: Scott Googins was named the 28th head baseball coach at the University of Cincinnati on June 6, 2017, and will enter his fifth season in the spring of 2022. 

2022 Record:  6-6 overall, 4-1 home, 2-4 away, 0-1 neutral  

Googins guided the Bearcats to their first winning season since 2011 in 2021. UC finished 29-26 and had five players named to the All-AAC First or Second Team. Left-handed pitcher. Besides the talented pitching, the Bearcats had one of the best offenses in the conference in 2021, ranking in the top-3 in just about every offensive category.  Cincinnati was picked third in the 2022 American Athletic Conference preseason poll led by AAC Preseason Player of the Year, outfielder Paul Komistek as three Bearcat outfielders were named all-conference. The Catamounts are 1-2 all-time against Cincy on the diamond, upending the Bearcats back in 2013 at the same tournament at Fluor Field with a pair of road losses in 2016 and 2017.

Cincinnati entered the weekend at 6-5 overall with wins in four of its last six games. The Bearcats faced Michigan State on Friday and Kansas on Saturday before they meet the Catamounts – the fourth all-time series meeting with WCU trailing, 1-2. Cincinnati was picked third in the 2022 American Athletic Conference preseason poll and is led by AAC Preseason Player of the Year, outfielder Paul Komistek as three Bearcat outfielders were named all-conference. 

Sunday, March 13 | 5:00 p.m.
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Gavin Mortenson (1-2, 4.72, 13.1 IP, 14K, 5BB)
Cincinnati – RHP Garrett Harker (0-0, 7.27 ERA, 8.2 IP, 7K, 7 BB)

2022 First Pitch Invitational (Michigan State)

The Cats remain at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC for the 2022 First Pitch Invitational, hosted by Michigan State. This year the participants are Michigan State, Kansas, Cincinnati, and Western.  Western Carolina returns to action on Saturday afternoon against tournament-host Michigan State which rallied to score a walk-off victory over Cincinnati on Friday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed through Greenville Drive's YouTube page with live stats available.


Who: Michigan State
When: Saturday, March 12
Time: 2:00 pm
Where: Flour Fluor Field, Greenville, SC
Radio: 
TV/Video: YouTube

Live Stats:  MSU live stats
Nickname: Spartans
Colors: Green and White
Conference: Big 10  (B1G)

The Series: The two teams have met twice and the current record is 1-1. Both games were played in this Invitational series (2019 & 2020)

Head coach: Jake Boss Jr. was appointed the 16th head coach in Michigan State baseball history on July 1, 2008, and has quickly become one of the most successful coaches in the program’s 130-year history.

2022 Record: 6-6 overall, 0-0 home, 3-4 away, 3-2 neutral

WCU and Michigan State have split a pair of meetings with both coming at Fluor Field. WCU won 6-4 in 10 innings back in 2019 and fell to the Spartans in 2020, 4-3.  Three Spartans were selected to the Big Ten Baseball Preseason Honors List.

Michigan State opened the Invitational with a 4-2 loss to the Clemson Tigers at Fluor Field on Wednesday night and play Cincinnati on Friday before facing WCU on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans have dropped five of their last seven on the season with wins over Kansas and West Virginia at the Minnesota Cambria College Classic in Minneapolis. Michigan State rallied to score a walk-off victory over Cincinnati on Friday afternoon. 

Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – LHP Eric Wallington (0-1, 5.06 ERA, 10.2 IP, 11K, 7BB)
Michigan State – LHP Nick Powers (1-1, 5.56 ERA, 11.1 IP, 10K, 5BB)

   2022 First Pitch Invitational

   Fluor Field | Grenville, S.C. | Tournament Schedule (subject to change): 

Saturday, March 12:	Times:	YouTube:	Other Coverage:
Western Carolina vs. Michigan State	2 p.m.	Watch	Live Stats (MSU)
Cincinnati vs. Kansas	6 p.m.	Watch	Listen (Kansas)

  

 

The 2022 Catamount Football Schedule

 

2022 First Pitch Invitational (Kansas Jayhawks)

The Cats travel to Flour Field in Greenville, SC for the 2022 First Pitch Invitational, hosted by Michigan State. This year participants are Michigan State, Kansas, Cincinnati, and Western.

Who: Kansas Jayhawks
When: Friday
Time: Friday - 6:00 pm
Where: Flour Flour Field, Greenville, SC
Radio: Kansas Radio
TV/Video: YouTube
Nickname: Jayhawks
Colors: Crimson and blue
Conference: Big 12 Conference

The Series: The two teams have met once, Western won 5-3.

Head coach: Ritch “Skip” Price enters his 20th season as head coach at Kansas in 2022. The winningest baseball coach in school history, he has compiled a record of 561-523-3 (.517) at KU since being named the 33rd head baseball coach on July 1, 2002

2022 Record:  6-6 overall, 0-1 home, 3-2 away, 3-3 neutral 

The Jayhawks come into the game riding a three-game win streak. Picked ninth in the nine-team Big 12 baseball preseason poll, the Jayhawks play 22 of their first 23 games on the road and are amidst an eight-day road swing. The Catamounts won the only other series meeting between the two on the baseball diamond, 5-3, back in 2020 at the same event.

Projected Pitching Match-Ups:

Friday, March 11 | 6:00 p.m.
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Zebby Matthews (0-2, 5.09 ERA, 17.2 IP, 26K, 2BB)
Kansas – RHP Cole Larsen (0-2, 6.06 ERA, 16.1 IP, 7K, 4BB)

2022 First Pitch Invitational

Fluor Field | Grenville, S.C. | Tournament Schedule (subject to change): 

Friday, March 11:	Times:	YouTube:	Other Coverage:
Cincinnati vs. Michigan State	2 p.m.	Watch	Live Stats (MSU)
Western Carolina vs. Kansas	6 p.m.	Watch	Listen (Kansas)
Saturday, March 12:
Western Carolina vs. Michigan State	2 p.m.	Watch	Live Stats (MSU)
Cincinnati vs. Kansas	6 p.m.	Watch	Listen (Kansas)
Sunday, March 13:
Kansas vs. Michigan State	1 p.m.	Watch	Live Stats / Listen
Western Carolina vs. Cincinnati	5 p.m.	Watch

                                                    

Presbyterian Blue Hose

The Cats hit the road to Clinton, SC for the first time since 2017 to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose in a mid-week game. 


Who: Presbyterian College Blue Hose
When: Wednesday (March 9)
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: PC Baseball Complex, Clinton, SC
Radio: none
TV/Video: none
Live Stats: PC live stats  
Nickname: Blue Hose
Colors: Garnet & Blue 
Conference: Big South

The Series: The Cats own a 5-2 overall record with the Blue Hose, and the Cats are 1-1 in games played in Clinton, SC. The two teams last played in Cullowhee in 2017.  

Head Coach:  Elton Pollock, a 1995 graduate of Presbyterian College, completed his 17th season as head coach of the Blue Hose baseball program in the spring of 2021. Pollock follows Tim Corbin and Doug Kovash as the third head coach to lead the program since its reinstatement in 1988.

PC's 2022 record:  7-5 overall, 5-3 home, 2-2 away, 0-0 neutral, 0-0 conference
PC's 2021 record:  22-23 overall, 9-6 home, 10-16 away, 3-1 neutral,  18-16 conference

Coming off of the program's first Big South Championship and first NCAA regional appearance, the Presbyterian College Baseball team was tabbed fourth by the league coaches in the Big South preseason poll.

The Blue Hose are coming off a three-game sweep of Bellarmine in Clinton and are 7-5 in the season.  

Stoney Brook Seawolves

The Cats return home to host the Stoney Brook Seawolves for a three-game weekend series.

Who: Stoney Brook Seawolves
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (March 4-6)
Time: Fri - 4:00;  Sat - 2:00 pm;  Sun -1:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: none
TV/Video: none
Live Stats: WCU live stats   (live stats all 3 games)
Nickname: Sea Wolves
Colors: Red, Blue & Gray
Conference: America East Conference

The Series: This will be the first meeting between the two teams on the baseball diamond.

Fan Message Board:  Seawolf Fans

Head Coach: Matt Senk has built Stony Brook baseball from the ground up since taking over the program in 1991.  Over Senk's 28 years, he has overseen the program's transition to Division I (in 2000), had 23 winning seasons and won 30 or more games 13 times.

Stoney Brook's 2022 record:  1-6 overall, 0-1 home, 1-5 away, 0-0 neutral,  0-0 conference
Stoney Brook's 2021 record:  31-18 overall, 16-12 home, 15-6 away, 0-0 neutral,  25-10 conference

Stony Brook returns an ace on the mound in preseason All-American Nick DeGennaro. The projected Friday night starter earned a Second Team honor after recording eight wins and 92 strikeouts a season ago, which leads all returning league hurlers.t

Stoney Brook comes to Cullowhee riding a 5 game skid.

Middle Tennessee (in Chattanooga, TN)

The Catamounts travel to Chattanooga, TN for a neutral site game vs. Middle Tennessee on Wednesday.

Who: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
When: Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: AT&T Field, Chattanooga, TN
Radio: None
TV/Video: none
Nickname: Blue Raders
Fan Message Board: Go Middle

 
Head Coach: Jim Tomanwas announced as the new head coach of the Blue Raiders on June 20, 2018. Toman became the 22nd head coach since the program began

History: The Cats and Blue Radiers have played one 3 game series back in 1989 in Cullowhee. The Cats won one of the three games. 

Middle Tennessee's Record: 3-5 overall, 0-0 home, 0-3 away, 3-2 neutral