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CULLOWHEE, N.C. – An eight-run third inning for the Catamounts made the difference as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell to Western Carolina, 11-4, Friday night in the Colonels’ season opener at Hennon Stadium.

With one out and the game tied 1-1 in the bottom half of the third, WCU (5-0) collected eight consecutive hits and rallied for eight runs. Despite holding the Catamounts to just two runs over the remaining six innings, EKU (0-1) was never able to recover.

Senior Anthony Ottrando produced a big opening day for the Colonels, as he blasted two solo home runs to pace EKU’s offense. Junior Jayson Langfels shook off a rough day in the field to go 2-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run.

Sophomore right-hander Matt Harris (0-1) started on the hill for EKU and received the loss, going three innings and allowing eight earned runs on nine hits.

Freshman right-hander Cody Alvey came on in relief and delivered 3.1 innings of two run, two hit baseball. Freshman right-hander Austin Rexroat pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game and shutout the Catamounts while striking out three batters.

Dylan de Graaf, Austin Schultz and Tyler Kirkpatrick all collected two hits for WCU on the day while Ollie Goulder drove in a team-best two runs.

Jason Sullivan (2-0) got the win for the Catamounts, working six innings and allowing four runs on five hits.

After WCU scored one in the bottom of the first, Ottrando blasted a ball over the wall in left center for a home run in his first at bat of the season.

After the Catamounts exploded for eight in the third, The Colonels tried to rally as Langfels and Ottrando hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth to make it 9-4.

EKU returns to action tomorrow as they face Western Carolina in the second game of this weekend’s three game series. First pitch is has been rescheduled for 1:00 p.m.