CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Towson University baseball team played for the first time in 345 days and saw Billy Godrick homer in his first at-bat as a Tiger, but fell to Western Carolina 23-1 in the season opener.
 
Key Stats:

• Godrick finished 2-for-3 from the five-spot of the order, including his second inning solo home run and a diving catch in the bottom of the first.  Brandon Austin went 1-for-2 while Burke Camper was 1-for-3.  The loss went to starter Josh Seils (0-1), who went three innings with 12 runs, eight earned, and a strikeout.  Matt Watters threw two innings of relief, allowing one run and striking out three.
• For Western Carolina, Justice Bigbie went 4-for-5 with a home run, four runs and RBI while Luke Robinson finished 3-for-3, getting a home run, driving in four runs, scoring four runs and walking twice.  Starter Zebby Matthews (1-0) won the game, going seven innings with a run and four strikeouts.

How It Happened:

• After Western Carolina scored six runs in the opening inning, Billy Godrick took a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall to bring Towson within five at 6-1.
• Brandon Austin increased his bases reached streak in the top of the 3^rd off an infield single, but Western Carolina added multiple runs in the next couple of frames.  Towson threatened in the top of the fourth after back-to-back singles from Burke Camper and Godrick, but a double play ended the inning.
• With WCU up 13-1, Towson again threatened as Javon Fields got hit by a pitch and Nolan Young put a single up the middle, but the Tigers did not get runs.
• WCU added 10 runs from the sixth to the eighth innings to seal the win.

Inside the Numbers:

• Dating back to last season, Brandon Austin has reached base in his last 13 games. Burke Camper has reached base his last seven games and has a four-game hitting streak.

Next Game:
Towson comes back to Hennon Stadium tomorrow for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –