CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Interstat) — Western Carolina defeated UNC Greensboro 7-2 on Saturday afternoon at Hennon Stadium, powered by three home runs and a strong start from pitcher Evan Myers to take a 2-1 lead in the three-game Southern Conference series.

The Catamounts improved to 35-21 overall, while the Spartans fell to 22-31.

Myers allowed two hits and no earned runs over four innings, striking out three and walking none. He retired the first seven batters he faced before a single by UNCG’s Dilley in the fourth. Myers exited after the fourth with the score tied 2-2.

Western Carolina jumped ahead in the first inning when shortstop Jackson Lyda homered to right field, his solo shot cutting the early deficit to one. The Spartans had scored twice in the top of the first after loading the bases on a single, a hit batter and a wild pitch, then plating runs on a groundout and an error — though the play-by-play indicated the runs were already on the board before any pitches were thrown. UNCG’s only other scoring came later.

The Catamounts tied it in the second on a solo homer by left fielder Wyatt Stanley, his blast to right field making it 2-2.

The score remained deadlocked until the fifth inning. Western Carolina loaded the bases on a double by Spees, a walk to Lyda and a single by J. Jones, who drove in Spees with a base hit through the left side. Turner followed with an RBI single through the right side, scoring Lyda and giving the Catamounts a 4-2 lead.

UNCG starter Hunter Shuey took the loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits over six innings with four strikeouts. He surrendered the two early homers and the two-run fifth before being replaced.

The Spartans pulled within 4-3 in the seventh. Brittain led off with a single, Barbour singled and Truitt walked to load the bases. Muller grounded into a double play, but Brittain scored on the play.

Western Carolina broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh. After a hit batter put Turner on base, Quarless doubled to right field to score Turner. Right fielder Cole Jones then crushed a two-run homer to right field, scoring Quarless and giving the Catamounts a 7-3 lead. Jones finished 1-for-4 with the homer and two RBIs.

UNCG added a run in the eighth on an RBI groundout by Jenkins that scored Holland, who had singled and advanced on a wild pitch. But the Spartans could not muster any further offense against a parade of Western Carolina relievers.

Davis Wright threw a scoreless fifth with two strikeouts. Austin Kimbrell worked the sixth and seventh, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four. Ryan White threw a scoreless eighth, and Davis Budd and Scott Templeton combined to close out the ninth with two strikeouts.

The Catamounts collected 12 hits, including a double by Quarless and two hits by J. Jones. The Spartans managed six hits, with Dilley and Brittain each recording two.

Western Carolina’s victory followed a 4-1 win Friday and a 2-1 loss Thursday, setting up a series finale Sunday. The Catamounts have won seven of their last nine games overall, while the Spartans have dropped 10 of their last 12.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UNC Greensboro 7, Western Carolina 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Western Carolina a 57.70 percent probability to win.