WINSTON-SALEM (Interstat) — Wake Forest completed a three-game sweep of Western Carolina with a 9-5 victory Sunday at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park, overcoming an early four-run deficit with a six-run fourth inning.

The Catamounts seized a 5-1 lead through two and a half innings, powered by a solo home run from Lyda in the first and a two-run shot by Spees in the second. Jones added a two-run double in the third to extend the advantage. But Wake Forest’s offense erupted in the bottom of the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate. After a single and a walk, Costello reached on a fielder’s choice, and Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pinch hitter Torres drew a walk to force in a run, Schaaf walked to bring home another, and Stein delivered a two-run single up the middle. Will capped the inning with a two-run double to deep right field, giving the Demon Deacons a 7-5 lead.

Wake Forest added a run in the fifth on Torres’ RBI single and another in the seventh when Torres doubled to left center to score Conte, making it 9-5. The Demon Deacons’ bullpen shut down Western Carolina the rest of the way. Rhys Bowie earned the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing no hits. He entered in the sixth with two on and one out, then retired the next seven batters he faced, fanning three. Marcelo Harsch tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and Will Ray closed with a scoreless ninth. Torres finished 2 for 2 with a walk and three RBIs.

Western Carolina starter Evan Myers took the loss, allowing four runs in 3 1/3 innings. Davis Budd worked 2 2/3 innings, striking out three but surrendering an earned run. The Catamounts managed only five hits total, with Spees and Jones driving in two runs each. Javar Williams went 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Wake Forest, while Costello homered in the first and scored three times.

The victory improved Wake Forest to 35-17 overall, while Western Carolina fell to 32-20. The Demon Deacons had taken the first two games of the series by scores of 14-2 on Saturday and 6-1 on Friday. Wake Forest now travels to Liberty on Tuesday before opening a three-game series at Duke on Thursday. Western Carolina visits Presbyterian on Tuesday and then hosts UNC Greensboro for a three-game set beginning Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Western Carolina 8, Wake Forest 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Wake Forest with a 79.10 percent probability to win.