94 Days 'til Catamount Football Kickoff - Chris Norris

It's now 94 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

There is no one currently assigned to #94, so we will highlight another assistant coach:

Chris Norris

TITLE Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coordinator

Chris Norris joined the Catamount football coaching staff as the special teams coordinator in early March 2022. Norris spent the five previous seasons working as a football analyst focusing primarily on special teams at the University of Oregon.

Over his football career, Norris has been a part of two national championship squads coming as a player at Nebraska in 1994 and 1995 and six conference championship programs as a coach since 1999. He has mentored two, Top 10 NFL Draft picks, worked with six All-America selections who combined to earn accolades over nine seasons, and 19 combined players to earn all-conference plaudits.

During his five seasons on the sidelines at Oregon, Norris was instrumental in Oregon's success on special teams, teaming with special teams coach Bobby Williams over the last three. As an analyst, Oregon landed a special teams player on the first-team All-Pac-12 Conference in a vote of the league's coaches. In 2019, Brady Breeze claimed the all-purpose/special teams honor following Brenden Schooler being named to the position the previous two seasons.

With the Ducks, Norris mentored punters, Tom Snee and Blake Maimone. Snee averaged 43.64 yards per punt in the 2020 season shortened by COVID-19 – second in the Pac-12 and 28th nationally. Maimone completed his collegiate career with a 43.4-yard average on 107 career punts.

Oregon also excelled in the kickoff return game in 2020, leading the Pac-12 in returns of 30-or-more yards with seven. In 2019, Oregon was the only team in the nation to rank in the top 10 in both punt return average and kickoff return average. The Ducks finished eighth in the nation and second in the Pac-12 with a 26.28 kickoff return average. UO was ninth in the country and third in the league with a 14.33 punt return average.

Before making the move to the Pacific Northwest, Norris spent a season at the University of South Florida serving as a recruiting assistant and special teams advisor. He helped the Bulls to an 11-2 record and a spot in the Birmingham Bowl. Punt returner D'Ernest Johnson claimed second-team All-American Athletic Conference following the season.

Norris' coaching experience includes three seasons at Webber International as the special teams coordinator and running backs coach where he mentored five players to all-conference recognition including all-time leading rusher Darius Page who ran for 1,239 yards in 2015.

He also spent eight seasons on the sidelines at Southeast Missouri State from 2006-13, again coaching running backs and serving as the special teams coach. While at SEMO, Norris coached Henry Harris, the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American, who shattered numerous school records. Harris, who finished fifth in the overall voting for the Walter Payton Award, became Southeast's all-time single-season leader in rushing yards, all-purpose yards, points scored, total touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns.

Norris helped a SEMO punter earn All-America honors in four of his first six years on the Redhawks coaching staff. Return men flourished under Norris' leadership. Five of Southeast's top-10 career kick return leaders came under Norris' watch.

His experience includes three seasons at Jacksonville (2003-05) where he coached All-Americans in each of his three seasons with the Dolphins including punter Ryan Long in 2003 and punter/kicker Ryan Feely in 2004. Norris also spent three seasons at Tennessee State as special teams coordinator and running backs coach after beginning his college coaching career as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Northern State in South Dakota.

Norris played fullback at Nebraska (1991-95) helping the Cornhuskers win National Championships in both 1994 and 1995. Nebraska compiled a 47-3 record during his time in Lincoln. During the 1995 season, he suffered a career-ending injury. Despite the injury, he became a student-assistant coach and helped lead the Cornhuskers to a fifth straight Big Eight title and a second consecutive National Championship.

Originally from Papillion, Neb., Norris earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska-Omaha in 1999. He and his wife, Tracee, have one daughter, Breeze.

95 Days 'til Catamount Football Kickoff - Chazmon Scales

It's now 95 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

There is no one currently assigned to #95, so we will highlight another assistant coach:

Chazmon Scales

TITLE Assistant Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Safeties

Chaz Scales joined the Catamount football coaching staff in early July 2021 as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Scales, a former football student-athlete at Arkansas State comes to Cullowhee after serving two seasons on staff at Central Arkansas in the same capacity.

Scales helped Central Arkansas to the 2019 Southland Conference Championship and competing in the fall of 2020, to a 5-4 overall in his second season. Scales guided Cameron Godfrey to Fall All-Southland Conference honors after leading the Bears with 51 tackles including 31 solo stops, adding a pair of interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also worked with first-team All-America selection Robert Rochelle, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, and second-team All-Southland honoree Juan Jackson.

While at Central Arkansas, Scales was selected as a participant in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He interned with the New York Giants through mini-camp and team training camp where he assisted with the defensive backs.

Prior to accepting the position at UCA, Scales was an assistant coach at Tusculum for the 2017 and 2018 seasons where coached the cornerbacks and was the pass game coordinator while also serving as the co-special teams coordinator. ScaleS mentored All-South Atlantic Conference and All-Region cornerback Martez Thompson, All-SAC selection Malik Goodman, and two-time All-South Atlantic performer Dee Alford who went on to sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

With Scales on staff, the Pioneer defense led the conference in turnovers with 13 interceptions and a league-best 12 fumbles recovered, while also pacing the SAC in pass defense in limiting opponents to just 170 yards per game through the air.

Scales earned his coaching start in 2014 as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia where he was a part of a 12-3 season that included a semifinal appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Wolves finished tied for third in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) and finished the year ranked sixth in the nation according to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Scales instructed West Georgia safety Carlos Hutton, who led the GSC with 13 passes defended and was second with four interceptions, garnering USA College Football All-America plaudits. In addition to Hutton, cornerback Laronji Vason earned All-GSC honors as Vason notched 72 stops, two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries under Scales.

In 2015, Scales served as a quality control assistant working with the cornerbacks and special teams at Valdosta State helping the Blazers to nine victories and a NCAA Division II playoff berth, finishing the year ranked 14th in the final AFCA poll. Defensive back Kenny Moore thrived under Scales, tallying three interceptions including two returned for touchdowns in earning USA College Football All-America and All-GSC plaudits.

In 2016, he served as running backs coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College.

As a player, Scales was a four-year contributor on defense at Arkansas State where he was a part of two consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship teams as a junior and senior, earning berths in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He helped the Red Wolves win nine-straight games in 2011 and seven-consecutive to end his senior season. Scales was a standout player at Centennial High School where he was selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Class 5A All-State team following a senior season in which he accounted for 2,400 yards and 29 touchdowns as the quarterback for the Cougars.

Originally from Franklin, Tenn., Scales is a 2012 graduate of Arkansas State with a bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies.

96 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #96 Isaac McLellan

It's now 96 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another defensive lineman:

#96 Isaac McLellan

Position Defensive End
Height 6-2
Weight 220
Class Redshirt Freshman
Hometown Rock Hill, S.C.
High School Northwestern HS








Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner for head coach Page Wofford at Northwestern High ... Finished his prep career with 185 career tackles including 117 total hits with 46 solo stops as a senior, earnin all-region and all-state honors ... Recorded 10 sacks in his senior season in collecting top annual defensive lineman honors ... Finalist for the Carolina Bowl ... Was a five-time Player of the Game and a four-time Player of the Week selection in 2021 ... Earned Academic Honors all four years of high school ... Was also a two-time South Carolina state champion in wrestling as a prep.

2022 (Freshman): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt.

Personal: Full name is Malcolm Isaac McLellan ... Is the son of Saron and Matt Silver ... Has a younger sister, Gabby ... Is the first person from his family to play in college.

97 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #97 Caleb Bradford

It's now 97 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another defensive lineman:

#97 Caleb Bradford

Position Defensive Line
Height 6-1
Weight 280
Class Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown Canton, N.C.
High School Pisgah HS

2021 (Freshman): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played offensive guard and defensive tackle as a prep at Pisgah High for head coach and former Catamount Brett Chappell ... Was selected first-team 2AA All-State as a senior while also collecting the Mountain Six Conference Lineman of the Year award.

Personal: Full name is William Caleb Bradford ... Is the son of Vicki and Dean Bradford ... Has an older sister, Taylor Watkins.

98 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff

It's now 98 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

No one is currently assigned to #98, so today we will highlight an assistant coach:

Kade Bell

TITLE Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs

Kade Bell was named the offensive coordinator at Western Carolina in the spring of 2021, coming to Cullowhee from Tusculum University, where he served as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the Pioneers. Highly regarded as one of the finest up-and-coming offensive minds in collegiate football, Bell will also coach the Catamount quarterbacks.

Bell helped lead Tusculum to the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Spring Football Championship as his offense averaged 533.4 yards and scored 37.6 points per game in a 4-1 seasonal record. The Pioneers averaged nearly 400 passing yards per game to lead the SAC, scoring 15 touchdowns through the air in 2021. In addition, the unit added 139.2 yards per game on the ground and 12 additional scores.

Graduate transfer quarterback Rogan Wells, who began his playing career with Bell at Valdosta State, led the SAC in pass completions (117), pass attempts (189), passing yards (1,852), passing yards per game (370.4), and touchdown passes (15) in the 2021 spring season.

Originally from Jacksonville, Fla., Bell previously coached at Valdosta State University, where he served three seasons on the coaching staff under his father – and current WCU head coach Kerwin Bell. The younger Bell was on the Blazers' staff from 2016-18, where he was as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He helped guide the Blazers to a perfect 14-0 record and an NCAA Division II national championship in 2018. VSU led the nation in scoring offense that season averaging an outstanding 52 points per game and broke the Division II and Gulf South Conference record for most points scored in a single season (728).

The Blazers also led the country in yards per play (7.9), points per play (.78 - NCAA II record), yards per rush (7.2), and passing touchdowns (50). Valdosta was also fourth in the country in red-zone offense (.901), fourth in total offense (524.0 ypg), and fourth in passing efficiency (167.37).

Under Bell's tutelage at Valdosta State, Wells earned the 2018 Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was twice runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Valdosta State's quarterbacks amassed 4,855 total offensive yards and accounted for 69 total touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions. In addition, the 2018 VSU offense was one of the most balanced in college football producing 262 rushing yards per game along with 261 passing yards per game while scoring 50 passing touchdowns along with 40 rushing scores.

The VSU offense produced five All-GSC performers that season, including Wells, wide receivers Lio'undre Gallimore and Brian Sands, running back Jamar Thompkins, and all-purpose back Seth McGill. Thompkins was also named the 2018 GSC Freshman of the Year.

In 2017, Bell served as the offensive passing game coordinator with the Valdosta State program while also mentoring the Blazers' receiving corps, including All-GSC standout Dallas Baldner. Over the 20 combined games that he was the chief play-caller for Valdosta State, the Blazers posted a stellar 19-1 record.

Also among Bell's coaching experience is a year on the coaching staff at the University of South Florida in 2019, where he was an offensive analyst with the Bulls passing attack.

Bell earned his start as a graduate assistant coach in 2016, where he coached the quarterbacks as Valdosta State went 8-2 during the regular season and advanced to the NCAA II Playoffs. The Blazers averaged 311 passing yards per game, tops in the Gulf South and eighth-best in the country.

Bell played collegiate football at Jacksonville University from 2011-2015, where he was coached by his father. He was a four-year starting quarterback and finished his career with 9,613 total offensive yards and accounted for 93 touchdowns. He earned All-Pioneer Football League honors and led the Dolphins to a 2014 conference championship.

Bell graduated from Jacksonville in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management and later completed his master's degree in public administration from Valdosta State in 2018.

He and his wife Charlotte were married in February 2019. The couple has a daughter, Palmer.

99 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff

It's now 99 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we will highlight a defensive lineman.

Ronald Wilson

Position Defensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 318
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Mocksville, N.C.

College: Gardner-Webb
High School Davie County HS








2021 (Sophomore): Missed the season due to an injury ... Was able to return to limited action during the squad's annual spring drills.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from Gardner-Webb during the summer of 2021; Gardner-Webb: Played in nine games as a freshman in 2019 … Recorded five total tackles including four solo stops … Made his collegiate debut at Charlotte on Aug. 29, 2019 … Had a career-best three total tackles against Hampton on Oc. 12, 2019; High School: Four-year varsity performer for the War Eagles … Finished senior season with 37 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback pressures … Made 28 stops as a junior, along with one sack and a pass deflection … Caused one fumble in 2017 … Played at Davie County (N.C.) High for head coach Tim Devericks … Also played basketball as a prep.

Personal: Name is Ronald Wilson, goes by "RJ" ... Is the son of Myra Wilson and Keith Sherill.

The 100 Day Countdown to WCU Football Kickoff

Welcome to the annual (thirteenth) Catamount Football "100 days to WCU Football Kickoff Countdown"

We hope you have enjoyed the countdown in past years as much as we do bring it to you. During the countdown, we'll highlight the player whose number corresponds to that day in the countdown. Since the official 2023 Catamount Football Roster has not yet been published, we'll use the 2023 Catamount Spring Football Roster for jersey numbers, until the new roster is posted, at which point we'll switch to the official roster for the remainder of the countdown.

-------------------------

It's now 100 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

As is our custom, we'll kick off day #100 with the Catamount Head Football Coach Kerwin Bell.

Kerwin Bell
                                                    

Title: Head Football Coach

Hometown: Mayo, Fla
Alma Mater: University of Florida
Graduated: 1987

An accomplished player who worked his way from walk-on to All-American to the National Football League, and a 12-year veteran head coach who won a combined four conference championships and the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, Kerwin Bell was named the 14th head football coach at Western Carolina University by Director of Athletics Alex Gary on April 27, 2021.

“We talk every day about Catamount Athletics having a winning mentality and the confidence to believe we can bring championships to our university,” said Gary. “Kerwin is a proven winner and has shown the ability to build successful programs. We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Cullowhee.”

Bell comes to Cullowhee having served as the offensive coordinator at the University of South Florida under head coach Charlie Strong in 2019. He most recently walked off the field as a head coach following the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship, leading the Valdosta State Blazers where he coached for three seasons, twice making playoff appearances.

“I am excited and honored to be named the new head football coach at Western Carolina University,” said Bell. “We are coming here to win championships on the field and help mentor the young men who are in our program. I am ready to get started building this into a championship program that the Catamount Nation can be proud of.”

Over a 12-year head coaching career, Bell led the football programs at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15). He did this coming on the heels of a 13-year playing career in professional football that included several stops in the NFL and the Canadian Football League.

Bell served three seasons as the head coach at Valdosta State where he also guided the offense. He led the Blazers to a 27-7 record during his tenure including a school-record 15 straight victories, two Division II playoff appearances, and won both a conference and a national championship in 2018. He was named the 2018 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year and the Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year after leading VSU to a 14-0 record – the first unbeaten season in program history that included a thrilling 49-47 victory over Ferris State in the D-II National Championship game. Picked fifth in their conference in the preseason and the No. 3 seed entering the playoffs, the Blazers finished No. 1 nationally in the final AFCA Division II poll.

Bell’s 2018 offense led the nation in scoring (52.0 ppg), ranked second in first downs (341), and was fourth in total offense (523.9 ypg), red-zone offense (.901), and pass efficiency (167.37). The Blazers scored 728 points on the year, the most in NCAA Division II history, as they posted 7,334 yards (3,676 rushing/3,658 passing) and 7.9 yards per play on the year.

Within Bell’s system, VSU sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells finished as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the Division II Player of the Year, and was named both the Region Two and Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Wells accounted for 50 touchdowns on the year (including one receiving), led the nation in points responsible for (300), was second in passing touchdowns (38) and points responsible for per game (21.4 ppg), 10th in passing yards (3,075), 12th in passing efficiency (160.6) and 25th in total offense (271.9 ypg). He finished second on the team with 732 yards rushing and led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns.

Additionally, senior offensive linemen Jeremy King was the runner-up for the Gene Upshaw Award presented to the most outstanding Division II lineman.

Bell led VSU to runner-up conference finishes in his first two years guiding the program and went 8-3 with a playoff appearance in his first season at the helm in 2016 as the Blazers led the nation with 27 interceptions on defense.

Prior to Valdosta, Bell led Jacksonville University for nine seasons, guiding the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program to a 66-35 record and three Pioneer Football League (PFL) championships. Serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as well as head coach, Bell was named the 2008 PFL Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award after leading the Dolphins to a 9-4 seasonal record and conference title.

He also led Jacksonville to a school-best 10-1 record and conference championship in 2010 as the Dolphins led the nation in total (486 ypg) and scoring (42.2 ppg) offense. JU also posted a 9-2 overall mark and won a conference title in 2014.

Before taking over the Jacksonville program, Bell led Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Fla., for six seasons (2001-06), earning a Florida 2B state title in 2005 and runner-up finish in 2006. His coaching career began in earnest at the end of his professional playing career as he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons while still a player for the Toronto Argonauts (2000-01).

Originally from Mayo, Fla., Bell was a quarterback at the University of Florida from 1983-87 where he completed over 57 percent of his 953 pass attempts for 7,585 yards and 56 touchdowns. A former walk-on, Bell concluded his collegiate career as the SEC Player of the Year in 1984 after leading Florida to a 9-1-1 record and a conference championship, and both a first-team All-SEC selection and All-America honorable mention in 1985, a season that saw the Gators earn the programs first-ever No. 1 national ranking in the Associated Press poll. Garnering a second honorable mention All-America honor in 1986, Bell was a 1987 team captain and earned the program’s Fergie Ferguson Award.

Bell was ranked the No. 26 Greatest Gator of all-time from the first 100 years of football at Florida in 2006 by The Gainesville Sun. Bell later served as a graduate assistant for the 1990 season under Steve Spurrier at Florida after earning a degree in psychology in 1987.

He was selected in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, beginning his 13-year professional career that saw stops with the NFL teams in Miami, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis as well as stops in the Canadian Football League, where he passed for 19,538 yards and 101 touchdowns in nine seasons, and the World League of American Football (WLAF).

Married in 1986 while both students at UF, Bell and his wife, Cosette, have three children: Kade, Kolton, and Kenzley.

SoCon Baseball Tournament - vs. UNCG

   

                                                                                                                                              

🆚: UNCG Spartans

📅: Wednesday, May 24, 2023

🕒: 7:00 pm
🏟️: Fluor Field 

: : Catamount Sport Network

📺: ESPN+

📊: Live Stats
📌: Greenville, SC

Head Coach: UNC Greensboro announced in August of 2019 that Billy Godwin has been hired as baseball head coach. Godwin had spent the previous five years with the New York Yankees, overseeing all amateur scouting in North Carolina and South Carolina. Godwin is 105-95 in his three seasons at UNCG.

This season's record: 22-32 overall, 14-15 home, 8-17 away, 0-0 neutral, 9-12 Southern

The Series: The Cats are 37-47 overall since the series began in 1992. Western's conference record with UNCG is 32-41 overall, and the Cats are 2-8 in the last ten games played. The Spartans are riding a two-game win streak over the Cats coming into this game.

In the SoCon preseason polls, the Spartans were picked to finish 3rd by the coaches and 4th by the media. Three UNCG players were picked for preseason honors, Mitchell Smith, Jr. (3d base) and Kennedy Jones (outfield) were 1st team picks, while catcher Dallas Callahan made 2d team honors. The Spartans finished the regular season in the 6th position. 

The Spartans have two players hitting in excess of .300 this season, Kennedy Jones hitting .359, and Dosi Jonas hitting .323, as a team the Spartans have a .273 batting average.

The Catamount Club will host a special Catamount Central at Mac's Speed Shop (930 S. Main Street; Greenville, S.C., 29601) ahead of each game WCU plays in the SoCon tournament. The pregame social is scheduled for two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch of each game, beginning at 5 p.m., on Wednesday before the WCU-UNCG match-up.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Weekend Series - at #10 Oregon State

Who: #10 Oregon State

When: Thursday, Friday, Saturday - May 18, 19, 20
Time: 8:35 pm (ET), 8:35 pm (ET), 1:05 pm (ET)
Where: Goss Stadium At Coleman Field, Corvallis, Oregon
Radio: Oregon State AllAccess.
TV/video: PAC 12 Network  (Live video of the game is available, via a live stream produced by Oregon  State, by visiting osubeavers.com. It can also be found on the Pac-12 Now app.)
Live Stats: OS Live Stats
Nickname: Beavers
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Colors: Orange & Black
Students: 35,000+

Conference: PAC12
Message Board: Benny's House

This year's Beaver record: 36-16 overall, 20-6 home, 12-9 away, 4-1 neutral, 18-12  PAC12

Head Coach: Mitch Canham was named the 21st head coach in Oregon State baseball’s history on June 13, 2019. Canham guided Oregon State to a 48-18 record and a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2022, his second full season as the program’s head coach.
   4th Year At Oregon State: 124-66
   4th Year Overall: 124-66

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

 
The Beavers were selected to finish third in the Pac-12 Conference per the league's coaches. The Pac-12 also released its first-ever preseason All-Conference team, with infielders Travis Bazzana and Garret Forrester and right-handed pitcher Ben Ferrer being recognized.
 
Currently ranked at #10 nationally, the Beavers have 5 players hitting .300 or better this season, with Travis Bazzana leading the way with a .368 average. The team is currently batting at a .281 average. The Beavers are currently sitting at third place in the PAC12 standings, but the Beavers were upset on Tuesday night in their final midweek nonconference game against Portland, falling 14-8 at home where they are 20-6 on the season.

Projected Pitching Match-ups:
Thursday, May 18
WCU – RHP Jonathan Todd (2-3, 8.454 ERA; 14 app., 7 GS, 38.1 IP, 36K, 24BB)
OSU – RHP Ben Ferrer (1-1, 3.03 ERA; 17 app, 1 GS; 32.1 IP, 37K, 6BB)

Friday, May 19
WCU – LHP Kyle Riesselmann (1-3, 7.96 ERA; 12 app., 11 GS, 46.1 IP, 35K, 12 BB)
OSU – RHP Jacob Kmatz (4-4, 4.39 ERA; 13 app., 13 GS, 67.2 IP, 60K, 22BB)

Saturday, May 20
WCU – TBD
OSU – Trent Sellers (6-5, 5.28 ERA; 13 app., 13 GS, 61.1 IP, 93K, 30BB

                  

Mid-week Baseball: Georgia Bulldogs

 Who: Georgia Bulldogs
 When: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
 Time: 6:00 pm
 Where: Foley Field, Athens, GA
 TV/Video: SECN+
 Radio: UGA Audio

 Live Stats: UGA Live Stats

 Conference: SEC
Location: Athens, GA
Nickname: Bulldogs
Colors: Red and Black
Mascot: UGA XI (English Bulldog)
Students: 40,118

This season's record: 28-24 overall, 19-11 home, 7-12 away, 1-1 neutral, 10-17 SEC

Head Coach: Scott Stricklin is in his tenth year with the program and 19th overall as a head coach.
Stricklin's record: 620-397-1 (Overall); 270-209-1 (UGA)

The Series: The Cats are 18-36 overall vs. the Bulldogs and are 14-32 in games played in Athens. Western is 4-6 in the last ten games played and comes into this game losing the last two games played between these two teams.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish 5th in the Eastern Division of the SEC in preseason voting and outfielder Connor Tate was named to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference baseball team. The Bulldogs currently hold down the 6th position in the SEC's Eastern Division. The Dogs are coming off a three-game sweep at Missouri, after taking 2 of 3 from Tennessee and beating USC Upstate in a mid-week game.

Georgia has two players hitting over the .300 mark, led by Charlie Condon hitting .415 and Tate Connor hitting .390 for the season.  UGA is batting .289 as a team and has 508 hits on the season and 94 home runs. The Bulldogs averaged 7.3 runs per game. 

Charlie Condon is batting a team-best .415 with 35 extra-base hits including 24 home runs with both his average and home run numbers ranking second in the SEC. Condon leads three Bulldogs with double-digit home runs.

 
As a pitching staff, Georgia has a 6.41 team ERA with 477 strikeouts, averaging 9.2 K's per game with a .271 batting average against collectively.

                                                                              

Happy Mothers Day

 

Weekend Series - The Citadel

The Cats host The Citadel Bulldogs for the final conference series for Western, as well as the last three home games in Cullowhee this season, as the Cats go on the road for the final four out-of-conference games prior to the SoCon Championship to be held at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC.

  Who: The Citadel Bulldogs

  When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday -May 12, 13, 14
  Time: 5 pm, 2 pm, 1 pm
  Where: Childress Field, Cullowhee, NC
  TV/video: ESPN+
       -announcer: Daniel Hooker (PxP)

Live Stats: WCU Live Stats

Nickname: Bulldogs
Location: Charleston, SC
Colors: Blue & White
Students: 3,693
Message Board: The Citadel Independent Sports

This year's Bulldog record: 21-23 overall, 18-13 home, 3-10 away, 0-0 neutral, 6-9 SoCon

Head Coach: Tony Skole, enters his fifth season as the Bulldogs’ head coach.
     Record at The Citadel: 79-153 (5th Season)
     Overall Record: 645-748-1 (26)

The Series: Stretching back to 1971, the Cats own a 96-69 record with the Bulldogs, and are 85-57 in Southern Conference play. The Cats hold a 52-25 record for games between the two teams played in Cullowhee. Western is also 8-2 in the last 10 games played between the two teams and was ridding an 8-game win streak against the Bulldogs until they lost the final game of last season's series in Charleston.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish 8th in the coach's preseason poll and 7th by the media, with no players selected for preseason honors. At this point in the season, the Bulldogs are tied for 6th place with ETSU going into this weekend's game. The Bulldogs are batting an overall .286 at this point in the season and have 5 players hitting over .300 as of this date. Led by Travis Lott at .349, followed by Noah Mitchell at .325; Thomas Rollauer at .323; Crosby Jones at .310; and Sawyer Reeves at .302.

It's important to note that the Bulldogs have only won three games away from Charleston.

Projected Pitching Match-up:

Game 1 – Friday, May 12 | 5:00 pm 
CIT – RHP Cameron Reeves (7-4, 3.31 ERA; 11 app., 11 GS, 68.0 IP, 58K, 27BB)
WCU – RHP Gavin Mortenson (0-4, 7.7.12 ERA; 20 app., 2 GS, 36.2 IP, 28K, 15BB)

Game 2 – Saturday, May 13 | 2:00 pm 
CIT – RHP Sam Swygert (4-2, 3.62 ERA; 14 app., 9 GS, 54.2 IP, 52K, 20BB)
WCU – LHP Kyle Riesselmann (1-3, 8.14 ERA; 11 app., 10 GS, 42.0 IP, 33K, 11BB)

Game 3 – Sunday, May 14 | 1:00 pm
CIT – TBD
WCU – TBD

Weekend Series - Samford Bulldogs

Who: Samford Bulldogs
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday - May 5-7, 2023
Times: 5 pm, 3 pm, 2 pm (ET)
Where: Joe Lee Griffin Field, Homewood, AL

TV/video: ESPN+
Live Stats: SU Live Stats

Nickname: Bulldogs
Location: Homewood, AL
Colors: Blue and Red
Students: 5,729
Message Board: The Dog Pound

This year's record: 25-20 overall, 17-3 home, 8-17 away, 0-0 neutral, 10-5 SoCon

Head Coach: Tony David, a long-time associate head coach at Samford, enters his second season as the program's head coach. -Overall Record: 52-49 (2nd season)
-Record at Samford: same

The Series: The Cats own a 21-28 overall record vs. the Bulldogs, and are 5-13 in games played at their home field. Western is 3-7 in the last 10 games played and comes into the contest this weekend on a 3-game skid, having lost 5 of the last 6 games played. The Cats have not won in Homewood since 2017.

In preseason polling, the Bulldogs were picked to finish 4th by the coaches and 3rd by the media, and had 5 players named to preseason honors. RHP Michael Ross was selected for the first team, and Jacob Cravey, Alex Goff, Stephen Klien, and Garrett Staton were selected second team. Cravey was most recently named to the watchlist for the 2023 College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Award on April 24.

This season, Stephen Klein and John Anderson both rank in the top 10 in the SoCon in slugging percentage, with Anderson ranking fourth at .701 and Klein sitting 10th at .593. On the mound, Ben Petschke ranks second in the SoCon with 19 relief appearances and seven saves on the season. The junior closer was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watchlist. Junior pitcher Jacob Cravey was named to the watchlist for the 2023 College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Award. Cravey boasts a record of 6-1 in 10 starts for the Bulldogs this season with a 3.47 earned run average. Cravey, is holding opposing hitters to a .216 average on the year and leads the Southern Conference with 80 strikeouts and 35 strikeouts looking.The Bulldogs are batting .280 collectively as a team – eighth overall in the league rankings – but are hitting .317 in SoCon play, the third-best team average.

Samford junior infielder John Anderson was named one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week, and he earned SoCon Player of the Week honors for his performance in Samford's four games last week. For the week, Anderson batted .444 (8-of-18) with five home runs, including two grand slams, two doubles, and 5 RBIs. He hit at least one home run and drove in at least two runs in each of Samford's five games last week. For the season, Anderson leads the Southern Conference in home runs with 16, and he is tied for second in the league in RBI with 49 

Currently, the Bulldogs are tied for first place in the SoCon standings with Wofford and Mercer.

Fri., May 5 | 5 pm ET / 4 pm CT
Projected Pitching Match-up:
WCU – Jr. RHP Jonathan Todd (2-2, 8.33 ERA; 12 app., 5 GS, 33K, 19BB)
SAM – Jr. RHP Jacob Cravey (7-2, 3.69 ERA; 11 app., 11 GS, 86K, 29BB)

Sat., May 6 | 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT
Projected Pitching Match-up:
WCU – Jr. LHP Kyle Riesselmann (1-3, 8.05 ERA; 10 app., 9 GS, 32K, 11BB)
SAM – Jr. RHP Brody Westbrooks (3-2, 5.16 ERA; 12 app., 10 GS, 54K, 19BB)

Sun., May 7 | 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT
Projected Pitching Match-up:
WCU – TBD
SAM – Soph. RHP Will Lynch (3-3, 5.06 ERA; 11 app., 11 GS, 50K, 29BB)

Midweek Baseball: UNC Asheville Bulldogs

Who: UNC Asheville Bulldogs
When: Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: Childress Field, Cullowhee, NC
TV/Video: ESPN+
Radio: none

Live Stats: WCU Live Stats
Conference: Big South
Location: Asheville, NC
Colors: Blue and White
Nickname: Bulldogs
Mascot: Rocky
Students: 3,233

This season's record: 21-19 overall, 16-7 home, 5-12 away, 0-0 neutral, 7-11 Big South.

Head Coach: Scott Friedholm will begin his ninth season as the Head Baseball Coach at UNC Asheville in 2023. He was appointed head coach on June 17, 2014. Friedholm's record: 129-235 overall

The Series: The Cats own a 54-25 overall record vs. the Bulldogs, and are 30-12 in games played in Cullowhee. The Cats beat the Dog 13-4 in early April in Asheville. Asheville has defeated Western Carolina the last five times that these teams have met in Cullowhee.

The Bulldogs come to Cullowhee riding a 4 game slump, having been swept at Winthrop, and dropping a game in Asheville against Wofford. The Bulldogs are currently holding down 7th place in the Big South with a 7-11 record. Collectively, the Bulldogs are hitting .275 as a team in 2023, which is 22 points higher than their final team batting average in 2022 (.253). If the Bulldogs can maintain their current pace, it'll mark the highest batting average for the team since 2013 when that Bulldog team also hit .275.

Projected Pitching Match-up:
UNCA – Sr. RHP Ryan Douglas (6-0, 4.41 ERA; 10 app., 10 GS, 51.0 IP, 55K, 23BB)
WCU – Fr. RHP Brandon Eldridge (0-3, 12.46 ERA; 5 app., 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 8K, 7BB)