CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Samford University baseball team used another strong pitching performance from Michael Ross and three home runs to take the first game of a three-game series, 6-4 at Western Carolina Friday night at Hennon Stadium.
 
With the win, Samford improved its season record to 25-12 overall and 9-1 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina fell to 20-15 overall and 5-5 in league play.
 
Ross (9-0) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up one run on four hits and striking out nine batters to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Carson Lore picked up his fifth save of the season, recording the final two outs of the game.
 
"This was a really good game tonight with both teams making a lot of really good plays," Samford head coach Tony David said. "It's Friday night, so the story was Michael Ross. His consistency, week in and week out is incredible. He was electric again tonight."
 
Samford was led at the plate by Garrett Staton and Aaron Walton, each going 2-for-3 with a home run and one RBI. Lucas Steele also homered in the game, going 1-for-4 with two RBI.
 
"Staton got us started with the lead-off bomb," David said. "And Lucas launched a big two-strike shot to dead center. He is swinging it much better lately and is due for a tear. We picked up a couple of big tack on runs late with Walton's blast and some good base running by Staton."
 
For Western Carolina, Zach Ketterman went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Nate Stocum went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and one RBI. Gavin Mortenson (2-3) tossed 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits to take the loss for the Catamounts.
 
"They have a really good team and can really swing the bats," David said of Western Carolina. "Our guys did a good job on the mound. It's always great to get the first one."
 
Samford jumped out to an early lead when Staton led the game off with a solo home run to left field for a 1-0 Bulldog lead. In the fifth inning, Steele hit a two-run home run to center field for a 3-0 Samford advantage.
 
After Western Carolina plated a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 3-1, Samford's Josh Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly by John Anderson in the seventh inning for a 4-1 Samford lead.
 
In the eighth inning, Walton hit a solo homer to make the score 5-1. In the ninth inning, Staton stole third base and then scored on an error for a 6-1 Samford lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Ketterman hit a three-run home run for WCU to cut the lead to 6-4. Lore, however, came on to get the final two outs to close out the Samford win.
 
The teams will continue their series with a game Saturday. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. (CT) from Hennon Stadium.
 
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