Preview: Western Carolina Catamounts at UNC Asheville Bulldogs

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (March 24, 2026) (Interstat) — The Western Carolina Catamounts will visit the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in a non-conference matchup Tuesday evening at Greenwood Baseball Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures near 66 degrees.

Western Carolina (17-8) enters on a high note, having won two of three against Samford over the weekend, including a 10-9 victory Sunday. The Catamounts have won seven of their last nine games.

UNC Asheville (12-12) looks to rebound after dropping two of three at Villanova, including an 11-6 loss Sunday.

A key matchup will feature two bullpen arms. Western Carolina’s Bryant Kimbrell has been exceptional lately, allowing no earned runs and just two hits over his last 9 1/3 innings across four appearances. He earned the win Sunday with 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

UNC Asheville will counter with Drew Turner, who has shown dominant stuff mixed with inconsistency. Turner struck out 14 over six innings in a win at Jackson State on Feb. 28 and fired seven scoreless innings against Alabama A&M on March 7. However, he was charged with six earned runs in five innings at Villanova last Sunday despite not allowing a hit, hampered by command issues.

Western Carolina’s offense is powered by infielder Trent Turner, who hit a home run and drove in four runs in Sunday’s win. The Catamounts have scored eight or more runs in eight of their 17 victories.

The Bulldogs’ Patrick Gillen is coming off a three-hit performance Sunday.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Western Carolina 8, UNC Asheville 5.

Following this game, Western Carolina begins a Southern Conference series at The Citadel on Friday. UNC Asheville opens a Big South Conference series at USC Upstate on Friday.