Story courtesy of The Citadel sports information
Citadel 8, No. 3 Nebraska 5
Charleston, S.C. ? Sophomore Chris Swauger and senior Matt Matulia paced The Citadel as the Bulldogs upset No. 3 Nebraska in game four of the Homewood Suites Shootout on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Riley Park. Swauger and Matulia combined for four of the Dog’s runs as they both smacked a solo homer for their first of the season. Swauger was 2-for-3 with three RBI as Matulia went 1-for-2 with one RBI.
The Citadel (2-1) put up two runs in the first as Swauger ripped a sac fly to right to send senior Trent Weathers across the plate. Senior shortstop Matt Matulia then blasted a solo shot over the right field fence to make it 2-0.
Nebraska (2-1) answered back in the second as junior Andrew Brown drilled the first pitch over the right field wall to make it 2-1. The Cornhuskers then tacked on three more in the fourth as junior Nick Jaros smacked a single to plate two and then came around to score as Citadel freshman Graham Couch mishandled a ball in right to give Nebraska a 4-2 advantage.
The Bulldogs rallied for four runs in the fifth as Swauger tallied his third RBI on the day after his double to left sent Weathers home. Jennings came on in relief for Nebraska and intentionally walked Matulia before issuing a balk that scored Arnold. Junior first baseman Zach Brown picked up his first RBI of the year as he singled to plate Swauger. Freshman designated hitter Sonny Meade then grounded to short to send Matulia across the dish and give the Bulldogs a two-run lead.
Nebraska senior Brandon Buckman smacked a homer to right to cut the Bulldog lead to one in the seventh, but that is as close as the Cornhuskers would get as the Dogs scored two more in the late innings to make the final, 8-5.
Swauger dropped a bomb over the left field wall in the seventh and sophomore Conrad Kellahan added an RBI-single in the eighth for insurance.
Citadel closer Link Saunders came on in relief in the ninth. Saunders
fanned the first two Nebraska batters he faced, but allowed the potential tying run to reach the plate after walking two straight. The junior righty caught pinch-hitter Nick Sullivan looking to close out the game and preserve the Bulldog win for his second save in as many days.
Junior reliever Justin Smith (2-0) was credited with the win as he tossed three innings, allowing only one run on four hits and striking out two.
Sophomore preseason All-American Johnny Dorn suffered the loss in his first outing of the season as he went 4.1 frames, giving up six runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout.
Freshman southpaw Matt Crim made his collegiate debut at The Citadel as he relieved Smith in the eighth, allowing two hits and fanning two.
The Dogs will wrap-up the three-day tournament tomorrow as they take on No. 19 N.C. State in game six of the Homewood Suites Shootout presented by Trademark Properties on Sunday, February 19 at 2 p.m. in Riley Park. The Wolfpack is coming off a 12-5 victory over Richmond on Saturday. Game five of the shootout is slated for 11 a.m. as Nebraska and Richmond will face off.
Story courtesy of UNC Greensboro sports information
Georgia 9, UNC Greensboro 8
ATHENS, GA ? Kyle Keen drove in the winning run on the first pitch he saw and Georgia scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to take game two of the three-game series 9-8 Saturday evening at Foley Field.
After UGA (2-0) second baseman Jonathan Wyatt led off the inning with a routine groundout to shortstop, Joey Side ignited the Bulldog rally with a triple to left field. Matt Olson followed with a pinch hit double to centerfield to drive in Side. Friday night’s hero, Bobby Felmy then plated Olson with a double off the left centerfield wall before Jason Jacobs tied the game with a double of his own down the left field line.
Spartan (0-2) freshman pitcher Clinton McKinney collected a much needed punchout of Gordon Beckham with two on and only one out in the ninth, but was unable to retire Keen for the final out to send the game into extra innings.
Jason Leaver (1-0) earned the win for Georgia after allowing one unearned run on four hits in three innings on the hill. Senior Patrick Currin (0-1) took the loss for the Spartans after surrendering two runs on two hits.
Welsh put the Spartans out in front 1-0 in the top half of the first as the Tucson, AZ product collected his third RBI of the weekend. Junior Jermaine Mitchell led off the frame with an infield single and then stole second. After Brandon Harvey drew a walk on a 3-2 count, Walsh laced a 2-0 single up the middle to give UNCG an early one run edge.
UNCG’s lead didn’t last long as Georgia plated the equalizer in the bottom half of the inning when designated hitter Matt Robbins drove in Kyle Keen on a groundout to second base. The Spartans regained the lead in the top of the third as Mike Mongiello drove home Welsh on a single to the third baseman to give UNCG a 2-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs struck for the game-tying run in the bottom of the fourth off a balk called on Spartan pitcher Clay Gibson. UNCG responded quickly, however, as the Spartans pushed across three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. Harvey led off the frame with a double to center field and Welsh followed with a single through the left side to drive him in. After McKinney reached on a fielder’s choice, UNCG received some help from the Georgia defense as Adam Deleo’s sacrifice bunt was thrown into right field, scoring Welsh and leaving McKinney at third and Deleo at second. Mongiello’s deep sac fly to right allowed McKinney to score for the inning’s third run.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Georgia inched closer, scoring a run on back-to-back hits with two outs from Bobby Felmy and Jason Jacobs. Junior hurler Nick Starnes prevented any further damage, however, as the Haw River, NC native struck Matthew Dunn out swinging with the bases loaded, leaving the Spartans ahead 5-3 after six.
As UNCG had done all game, the Spartans answered a Bulldog run scoring inning with one of their own, this time plating three runs for the second inning of the game. UNCG received singles from Deleo, Mongiello and McCall, a sac fly from Greg Feltes and a pass ball to account for the trio of seventh inning runs.
Welsh led UNCG with three hits and two RBI while Deleo also collected three hits. Mongiello had two hits and two RBI for the Spartans and Mitchell also added a pair of hits. Georgia second baseman Jonathan Wyatt paced the Bulldogs with a 3-for-5 afternoon at the plate.
The Spartans and Bulldogs put the finishing touches on their three-game series with game three slated to begin Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Story courtesy of Georgia Southern sports information
Georgia Southern 4, Saint Joseph’s 3
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Josh Lairsey and David Cogswell combined to scatter five hits, leading Georgia Southern baseball to a 4-3 win Saturday over Saint Joseph’s. The Eagles (4-4 overall) completed the three-game sweep of Saint Joseph’s at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Mike Gentile’s sacrifice fly plated Matt Godusky in the second inning, giving SJU a 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded in the fourth and two outs, Phillip Porter hit a line drive that second baseman Mike Blahusch made a leaping catch on to end the scoring threat.
Georgia Southern got on the board in the fifth. Chris Hollis led off with a single and took third on Brett Pelfrey’s single that hit third base. Greg Dowling lifted a popup to shallow right field. Blahusch called off the defense and made the catch falling backwards. That allowed Hollis to tag and tie the game.
Later that inning Griffin Benedict kept his hot bat, drilling a 2-run homer with two outs, putting GS ahead 3-1. It was the first collegiate home run for the freshman catcher who ended the series 7-for-11 (.636) with eight RBI.
Adriano Petrutz hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth, cutting the deficit in half. Randy Drew walked to start the sixth but was caught stealing. However, the Eagles drew three more walks and used an error to score one run. Pelfrey drew a bases loaded walk, making it 4-2, which chased relief pitcher Jeff Williams. However, Don Werner got Dowling to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Godusky led off the seventh by hitting a shot off the top of the scoreboard in left field, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 4-3. The Hawks (0-3) loaded the bases with two outs on a walk, hit by pitch and error. But Cogswell got Jeremy Jakubowski to ground back to him, ending the Hawks’ rally.
“I’m proud of our guys being able to find a way to win. That was really our first game that was a one or two run game late. I liked the way we handled the situation,” said head coach Rodney Hennon. “David Cogswell picked us up out of the bullpen. Josh (Lairsey) wasn’t sharp early but he settled down during the middle innings and gave us a good effort. We had a lot of wasted opportunities offensively but we pitched well enough to overcome it. I thought Saint Joseph’s responded after a tough day yesterday. They battled and competed all day long.”
Lairsey (2-1) lasted 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked two, struck out four and picked off two runners. Cogswell pitched 2.1 innings of hitless relief, picking up his first save of the year. He did not walk a batter and struck out two.
Six different Eagles got a base hit as they stranded 11 runners.
Blahusch and Godusky had two hits apiece. Bob Unkel (0-1) gave up three runs on five hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out two. The Hawks pitchers walked 11 batters in all.
The Eagles continue their homestand on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 21), hosting Jacksonville. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Story courtesy of Furman sports information
High Point 9, Furman 8
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Mark Shorey belted a three-run home run to highlight a 9-8 High Point comeback win over Furman in baseball action Saturday afternoon at Furman Stadium.
With High Point trailing 7-3 with two outs and two runners on base in the sixth inning, Shorey drove a Patrick Arnett pitch over the right field fence to pull the Panthers to within a run. Later in the eighth, Shorey singled home Jeff Cowan to tie the game at 7-7, and J Williams followed with an RBI single through the left side to score Chris Norwood for an 8-7 lead.
The Panthers added a run in the ninth on Randy Schwartz’s sacrifice fly for a 9-7 advantage.
In the bottom on the inning, Jay Jackson’s one-out double to right center scored Joe Daysh, but the former Christ Church standout was called out at third base after trying to stretch his hit to a triple. The Panthers’ Bubba O’Donnell then retired Sean McDonnough on a pop out to preserve the win and earn his first save of the year.
Shorey went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs, and Cowan went 4-for-6 and scored twice to spark High Point (4-4) to a 16-hit attack. Furman (0-2), the recipient of 10 walks by Panther pitchers, managed only seven hits in the contest, including two each by Maccani, Jackson, and Daysh.
Chris Marks (2-0) earned the win in relief after surrendering only one hit in two innings of work. Arnett (0-1) took the loss after yielding five runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings of relief work.
After a J Williams single off Paladin starter Matt Klinker put High Point up 1-0 in the first, the Paladins answered by scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame without the benefit of a hit. Six walks by High Point starting pitcher Noland Mulligan accounted for all three runs.
After High Point tied the game with two runs in the second, Furman tallied three times in the third on a Jackson RBI single, a run scoring double by Maccani, and on a wild pitch, which plated Steven Hildreth.
Furman stretched its lead to 7-3 in the fifth on Maccani’s solo home run to left center off Zach Zupan.
With the start of Saturday’s game delayed over two hours due to rain, the two teams will play a double header on Sunday starting at Noon.
Story courtesy of College of Charleston sports information
East Carolina 4, College of Charleston 2
Greenville, N.C. -- Stephen Bates drove in two runs and three East Carolina pitchers scattered 10 hits en route to a 4-2 win over the College of Charleston at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Saturday.
The Pirates improved to 4-1 on the season, while the Cougars fell to 3-2. The finale of the series is Sunday at 1:00.
Bates had a two-out, two-run single in the first that helped ECU to a 3-0 lead. Michael Ray scored to give ECU a 4-2 lead in the eighth with two outs on Charleston’s fourth error of the game.
Larry Cobb had an RBI single for Charleston in the fifth, and Alex Garabedian’s RBI groundout in the sixth cut the ECU margin to 3-2. Cobb was thrown out at the plate to end the seventh inning on a single by Oliver Marmol.
Joey Friddle paced Charleston with three hits, while Marmol added two hits in four at bats.
Dustin Sasser (1-1) picked up the win allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits over five innings. Kevin Rhodes pitched out of a bases loaded, two-out situation in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Nick Chigges (0-1) suffered the loss surrendering three runs, one earned, on seven hits. He walked six and struck out one.
Butler at Western Carolina, ppd.
Buffalo at Appalachian State, ppd.
Georgetown at Davidson, ppd.
Fordham at Elon, ccd.
Dayton at Wofford (DH), ppd.