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CULLOWHEE, N.C. – In a game that featured 30 runs and 34 hits, the La Salle baseball team found itself on the losing end of a 20-10 slugfest to Western Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. Eight Explorers recorded hits, three of whom had a multi-hit day.

WCU (7-2) hung a five-spot on the board in the first inning, chasing La Salle starter Alex Faust (L, 0-2) off the hill before making it through the opening frame. He retired just two batters while giving up five earned runs on five hits and a walk.

The Explorers (1-9) got two of those back in the second on one mighty hack from Mark Williams (2-4, 3 RBI, 3 R). Kevin Conroy (3-4, 2 R) singled through the left side to lead off the inning and Williams followed with a two-run dinger over the wall in left center.

Following a four-run third inning from the Catamounts, La Salle responded with six of their own in the fourth to cut the lead to 10-8. A Joey Ravert (0-3, R, BB) walk preceded a six-hit inning that witnessed the Explorers bat around. By the time Ravert recorded the final out of the inning on a fielder's choice, WCU starter T.J. Fussell had exited the game with eight earned runs charged to his line. He did not factor in the decision.

La Salle's monster fourth inning just added fuel to the fire, as the home team rattled off 10 of the game's remaining 12 runs en route to the victory. A two-run double by George Smith Jr (2-4, 3 RBI, R) in the fifth concluded the Explorers' scoring for the day.

In all, head coach Mike Lake called on seven different pitchers on Sunday while WCU employed four different options on the bump. Nate Williams earned the victory for the Catamounts, tossing 3.2 innings in middle relief.

La Salle will get Monday off before clashing with the University of Tennessee on Tuesday at 6:00 PM in the first of a two-game midweek set.

NOTES: Kevin Baron went 1-for-5 on Sunday, extending his team-best hitting streak to eight games. He has reached base in all 10 games this season…Justin Korenblatt went 1-for-4 and extending his hitting streak to five games…Greg Krug struck out a career-high four batters in 2.0 innings of work…La Salle recorded 13 hits on Sunday and 15 on Saturday, its first back-to-back double digit hit efforts since 4/27/13 – 4/28/13 vs. VCU…The Explorers totaled 34 hits in the three-game series at WCU, its series high dating back to 4/19/13 – 4/21/13 vs. UMass when they combined for 37