A Playoff Showdown Looms
Western Carolina’s baseball squad is headed to Greenville, South Carolina, where the 2026 Southern Conference Baseball Championship will crown a champion. The Catamounts, seeded second, earned their spot after a decisive victory over UNC Greensboro, while Samford secured its place by defeating the same opponent in a dramatic finish.
The Catamounts arrive with one of the most impressive records in program history. This year they posted 35 wins, the highest total since 2014, and have strung together back‑to‑back 30‑win seasons. Their dominance is underscored by four shutout victories, a testament to a pitching staff that has consistently kept opponents at bay.
On the mound, Western Carolina will rely on sophomore right‑hander Carter Burnette. Burnette is coming off a career‑best outing in which he fanned 12 batters over a complete game, a performance that has heightened expectations for the championship clash. Opposing him will be Samford’s redshirt junior right‑hander Noah Berry, who brings his own pedigree to the duel.
Historical context adds intrigue: the all‑time series favors Samford, 27‑34, but the Catamounts have won four of the last six meetings, including a recent stretch that suggests the tide may be turning. As the championship approaches, both teams are poised to write the next chapter in a rivalry that has defined much of the conference’s recent narrative.