ETSU comes to Cullowhee

The Catamounts open conference play against the ETSU Bucs in Cullowhee. The Bucs are having a very good year coming into the series at 17-9 overall. 

Who: ETSU
When: Friday - Sunday (April 8 - 10)
Time: 5:00 pm; 3:00, 1:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: none
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: WCU live stats
Nickname: Bucs
Colors: Navy Blue and Gold

The Series: The Cats own a 46-29 record against the Bucs and are 36-22 in games played in Cullowhee. The Cats are 1-5 in the last 6 played.

Head Coach: On July 10, 2017, the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that former Stony Brook associate head coach Joe Pennucci has been named the new head coach of the Buccaneers baseball program. Through four seasons at the helm, Pennucci owns a 98-74 record. Last season, the ETSU concluded with a 24-25 record and a 13-16 mark in league play. The Bucs had a 12-3 record in 2020 before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pennucci 's record vs. WCU: 5-8
Moranda's record vs. ETSU: 12-12

ETSU's 2022 record: 17-8 overall, 15-3 home, 2-5 away, 0-0 neutral, 0-0 SoCon
ETSU's 2021 record: 24-25 overall, 15-11 home, 9-14 away, 0-0 neutral, 13-16  SoCon

The Bucs come to Cullowhee sporting a 17-8 record but are just off a 3-game sweep by Baylor University of the Big XII in Waco, Texas. The Bucs were picked just behind WCU in both preseason polls – fourth in the coaches' preseason tabulation and fifth from the voting media with the Catamounts tabbed third and fourth, respectively. ETSU put three players on the preseason All-SoCon team highlighted by SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year in Saturday starter, senior LHP Colby Stuart on the first team. He was joined by classmate Bryce Hodges on the first team with shortstop Ashton King finishing behind WCU's Pascanel Ferreras in the voting.

Projected Starting Pitcher Match-ups:

Friday, April 8 | 5:00 p.m. 
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Zebby Matthews (1-5, 5.74 ERA, 42.1 IP, 54K, 9BB)
ETSU – RHP Zach Kirby (2-0, 2.28 ERA, 27.2 IP, 24K, 11BB)

Saturday, April 9 | 3:00 p.m. 
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – LHP Dylan Wheeler (0-1, 5.19 ERA, 8.2 IP, 6K, 4BB)
ETSU – LHP Colby Stuart (3-0, 5.52 ERA, 31.0 IP, 24K, 15BB)

Sunday, April 10 | 1:00 p.m.
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Gavin Mortenson (2-3, 3.75 ERA, 36.0 IP, 29K, 10BB)
ETSU – RHP Hunter Loyd (3-1, 1.34 ERA, 33.2 IP, 47K, 11BB)