Story courtesy of College of Charleston sports information
College of Charleston 11, East Carolina 8
Greenville, S.C. -- Phillip Coker's two-run double highlighted CofC's five-run ninth inning en route to a thrilling 11-8 come-from-behind win over East Carolina in the finale of its three-game series at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Sunday.
The Cougars improved to 4-2, while the Pirates fell to 4-2. CofC plays host to Savannah State in a 5:00 start on Wednesday.
Trailing 8-6 entering the ninth, the Cougars loaded the bases with one out on an error, a hit and a walk. Michael Harrington’s two-run single scored pinch runner Matt Kirkpatrick and Chris Campbell to tie the game at 8-8.
After Larry Cobb grounded out to third for the second out, Coker stroked a two-run double down the left field line the plated Jess Easterling and Harrington for a 10-8 CofC lead. Oliver Marmol added an RBI double that scored Coker for the final margin.
The Cougars erased a 4-0 deficit with a six-run fifth inning for a 6-4 lead. Ben Lasater capped the inning with a two-out, three-run double down the left field line that scored Campbell, Joey Friddle and Alex Garabedian.
ECU answered with three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth and another unearned run in the eighth to take an 8-6 lead into the decisive ninth inning.
The Cougars, who pounded out 16 hits in the game, got two hits each from Coker, Marmol, Campbell, Garabedian, Lasater and Harrington.
Josh McLaughlin (1-0) picked up the win in relief working the final 4 1/3 innings allowing only an unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts.
Chris Powell (0-1) suffered the loss surrendering three runs on three hits over 3 2/3 innings of work.
Story courtesy of Wofford sports information
Wofford 8, Dayton 3 (Game 1)
Wofford 8, Dayton 4 (Game 2)
SPARTANBURG, SC ? Wofford swept a baseball doubleheader from Dayton on Sunday, winning 8-3 in the first game and taking the nightcap 8-4.
Wofford improves to 5-4 on the season. Dayton is 0-2.
Austin Redwine went six innings and scattered five hits while striking out seven to lead the Terriers to the first game win. He evened his record at 1-1 on the season.
After Dayton took a 1-0 lead in the second on a double by Bryan Chandler and a sacrifice fly by Joe McSoley, the Terriers erased the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the second. The Terriers pounded out four straight base hits to start the inning with second baseman Eric Sturkie and right fielder Ben Austin driving in runs with singles. Austin scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Chuck Eller.
Wofford scored five times in the third. Zach Pittman drove in two runs with a double and Austin knocked an RBI single. Eller again drove in a run on a fielders choice.
In the nightcap, Wofford trailed 2-0 in the second inning when shortstop Brandon Waring led off with a long drive to center field that became a three-base error. First baseman Adam Wood followed with a home run, his second of the year.
The game remained tied until the sixth when third baseman Shane Kirkley and Waring reached on singles and moved up on a stolen base. After catcher Keith Munns was intentionally walked to load the bases, second baseman Eric Sturkie bounced back to the pitcher and the throw home was misplayed for an error. A ground ball by left fielder Zach Pittman went through the legs of the third baseman to allow two more runs to score.
The Terriers added a trio of runs in the seventh on a two-run double by Waring and a single by Sturkie.
Charles Vartanian improved to 2-0 on the year as he allowed six hits in seven innings of work while walking one and fanning four. Lance Player and J.D. Melton finished up the game with one inning of work each.
Wofford will host Albany in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1:00 p.m.
Story courtesy of Elon sports information
Elon 5, Fordham 2 (Game 1)
Elon 22, Fordham 2 (Game 2)
ELON, N.C. -- Chris Price drove in five runs on the day to help the Elon Phoenix up its record to 4-2 on the year with a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Fordham Rams (0-2) in non-conference baseball action from Latham Park on Sunday. Elon claimed game one 5-2 and pounded out a 22-2 victory in the nightcap.
In the opener, Elon scored its first run on a bases loaded balk in the bottom of the first. Fordham evened the score in the third when John Kahn scored on a Phoenix error.
Elon scored twice in the fifth on a triple from Price who drove in four in game one. His other two RBIs came in the seventh when he doubled home two. The Rams tacked on a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from John Mollicone to provide the final margin.
Matt Chastain (1-0) picked up his first win of the year after throwing 7.1 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked three and struck out three. Chad Tilley pitched the ninth and gave up one hit, but earned his first save of the season. Javier Martinez (0-1) was touched up for three runs on two hits in 4.1 innings. He walked four and fanned four.
In game two, Elon scored three times in the second inning on its way to the rout. Jordy Snyder drove in the first run with a double, one of his three hits in the game. Kevin Pratt then drove in one with a single through the left side of the infield and Price tallied his fifth RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly.
After two more runs in the fourth, the Phoenix erupted for nine fifth inning scores. In the frame, Elon pounded out seven hits. Snyder, Jobe, Paul Bennett, Robert Rodebaugh, Ryan Radford and Adam Weaver each had RBIs in the inning. Five more runs were added to the Elon total in the seventh with RBIs coming from Pat Irvine, Matt Hill, John Walker and Matt Link. The Phoenix scored its final three runs of the night in the eighth with RBIs from Irvine, Walker and Link.
Fordham avoided the shutout by scoring twice in the ninth inning on a double from Brian Keeney to center.
Lance Cole (2-0) earned the win after allowing just three hits in 6.0 innings of work. Cole did not allow a walk and fanned six Rams. He retired the last 14 batters he faced. Cory Riordan, a freshman all-American last year, was roughed up for five runs on six hits in 4.0 innings. He walked three and struck out one.
At the plate on the day, Elon was led by Price who went 2-for-3 with one run scored and five RBIs and Snyder who finished the day 5-for-9 with five runs scored and two runs driven in. For Fordham, Keeney posted a 3-for-8 day with two RBIs.
The two teams will play game three of the series on Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. from Latham Park.
Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
Butler 5, Western Carolina 3 (Game 1 10 inn.)
Western Carolina 4, Butler 2 (Game 2)
Cullowhee, N.C. -- Western Carolina split a Sunday doubleheader with Butler in the teams? 2006 season opener at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Bulldogs scored two in the 10th to win game one, 5-3, while the Catamounts scored two in the bottom of the sixth to win the seven-inning game two.
The reigning Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Steven Strausbaugh, was 2-for-6 in the two games, hitting two home runs, driving in three and scoring three times. Senior Tim Hallam was 3-for-8 and sophomore Barrett Shaft was 3-of-9. For the Bulldogs, Jeff Brown was 3-for-7, scoring four of Butler?s seven runs in the twin bill.
In game one, Western looked to take early control. While scoring once for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Catamounts were caught stealing, picked off and left the bases loaded. Strausbaugh, who was hit by a pitch, would score after an infield single by Jonathan Greene and a Butler error. A walk loaded the bases for WCU, but Bulldog pitcher Jon Dages escaped further damage with a strikeout. Dages would not factor in the decision, but allowed four hits, one run and three walks with four strikeouts in four innings.
In the top of the third, Butler took Stephen Gill delivered a double and later scored on a two-out single to right by Brown. After a walk to Joe Pauley moved Brown to second, Alex Rinearson plated Brown with an RBI single to center.
In the top of the eighth, Brown gave his Bulldogs a 3-1 cushion with a one-out home run over the center field fence. However, in the home half and after a leadoff Shaft single, Strausbaugh knotted the game at 3-3 with a two-run blast to left-center.
The Bulldogs took advantage of three walks and a Catamount error to take a 5-3 advantage in the top of the 10th. After a leadoff single by Gill, Brown and Pauley each walked to load the bases with one out. Rinearson grounded to third, but an error allowed Gill to score and keep the bases loaded. Then, with two outs, Rick Betsch walked to provide the final margin.
Relief pitcher Brian Deter picked up the win, pitching the final two innings and scattering three hits and one walk. Western?s Greg Holland suffered the loss. He allowed one hit and two unearned runs in two innings with four walks and one strikeout. Also for the Cats on the mound, Brian McCullen and Bryan Tupper would combine to strikeout eight in seven innings with just one walk.
In game two, Strausbaugh got WCU on the board first with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Trey McDaniel followed with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Greene single.
Butler cut its deficit in half in the top of the third. With WCU starter Tyler Sexton working on a perfect game, number nine hitter Ricky Chomicz reached on an error with two outs. Dustin Bucalo made WCU pay for the miscue with an RBI double to left.
In the sixth, the Bulldogs knotted the game at 2-2 on a Catamount error. Brown, who was on second after a one-out double, scored on a WCU throwing error on Clayton Deeb’s ground ball. In the home half, Western was then the beneficiary of a double and a Butler error to score the winning runs. Jason Haynes reached on a two-out, bunt single. Hallam followed with an RBI double, then scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by Butler.
Transfer Tyler Sexton picked up the win in his Catamount debut. He pitched the first six innings, allowing four hits, twoo unearned runs and one walk with seven strikeouts. Fellow transfer Brock Thornburg pitched the final inning, striking out one, to earn the save. Craig Costello suffered the loss, allowing two hits, two runs and two walks in two innings.
Western Carolina will hit the road three games at the Stetson Tournament (Feb. 24-26), facing South Florida, Stetson and Illinois. The Catamounts’ next home game will be Feb. 28, hosting region rival UNC Asheville at 3:00 pm.
Story courtesy of Davidson sports information
Davidson 10, Georgetown 5 (Game 1)
Georgetown 7, Davidson 4 (Game 2)
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? The Davidson College baseball squad opened its 2006 season with a doubleheader split against the visiting Georgetown Hoyas on a sunny but bitter Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field. The Wildcats (1-1) blasted three homers and junior Rob Wilson tossed six shutout innings for a 10-5 victory in the first game. In the nightcap, Georgetown (1-2) got three no-hit innings of relief from freshman Darren Sizemore as the Hoyas held off Davidson, 7-4.
Davidson jumped on Hoya starter Michael Gaggioli (0-2), scoring runs in each of the first four innings. In the bottom of the first, Gregory Zage grounded a two-out single to plate senior Ronnie Shore from third. Senior Taylor Shoop blasted a solo homer down the line in right to lead off the second, putting the ’Cats up 2-0.
Two infield hits and a walk in the third loaded the bases with nobody out for Davidson. Shoop got home one run on a slow grounder to first, and junior Alden Crissey brought home another with a sacrifice fly. The following frame, Wilson aided his own cause by depositing the first pitch of his at-bat over the center-field fence for a two-run bomb and a 6-0 lead.
Gaggioli struck out the side in the fifth before giving way to a reliever, but not before yielding six runs, five earned, on seven hits and three walks during his five innings.
The Wildcats tallied three more in the sixth on RBI single by Shore and Wilson, and a two-out RBI double off the bat of senior Alex Entrekin for a 9-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, Wilson (1-0) was shutting down the Hoya bats. Georgetown managed just four singles and three walks off the 6-4 right-hander from Charlotte as he struck out seven.
The Hoyas tried to get back in the game against the Davidson bullpen, scoring three in the seventh and solitary runs in the eighth and ninth. Catcher Brandon Davis provided a big blow with a two-run homer to left in the seventh. Shore, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and a pair of RBIs in the game, responded with a solo shot of his own in the eighth for his fifth career homer, three coming against Georgetown. But Wildcat stopper Jay Heafner came in from short with a five-run lead, the bases loaded and two out in the ninth and retired the final hitter on a weak comebacker for his first save of the year.
In the nightcap, Davidson battled back twice from two-run deficits. In the second, Mark McLaughlin laced a two-out, two-run triple down the line in right for a 2-0 Hoya lead. The Wildcats came right back with two of their own in the bottom half on a Shoop two-run long ball off the scoreboard in right field.
Another Georgetown two-run triple in the third, this time off the bat of Matthew Bouchard, gave the Hoyas a two-run lead again. But Davidson got a run in the third when a wild pitch allowed Wilson to score from third, then another in the fourth on freshman Pat Brady’s sacrifice fly, tying the game at four.
In the fifth, GU took the lead for good on a lead-off double by Ryan Craft and an RBI single by Drew Dargen off reliever Blake Osborn (0-1). Matt Harrigan drove in a second run with a grounder to second, then Craft, a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs in the game, homered to center in the seventh for an insurance run.
Stephen Burns (1-0) got the win for pitching four of the seven innings, yielding four runs on five hits and two walks with a strikeout. Sizemore earned the save with his three stellar innings, fanning three.
The two teams finish their three-game series on Monday afternoon at Wilson Field at 3 p.m.
Story courtesy of Furman sports information
High Point 9, Furman 4 (Game 1)
Furman 12, High Point 5 (Game 2)
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Joe Daysh belted a three-run home run and drove in five runs to lift Furman to a 12-5 win over High Point in game two of a Sunday doubleheader, giving the Paladins a split following a 9-4 loss in game one.
Daysh, a junior third baseman from Sarasota, Fla., helped Furman erase a 4-1 deficit with an RBI single in a five-run Furman fifth and followed with a three-run blast over the left field fence as part of a six-run sixth to give the Paladins a 12-4 advantage.
The Paladins pounded out 17 hits in the contest to make a winner of starting pitcher Ryan Hodinka (1-0), who went six innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out two.
Freshman Jay Jackson had two hits in the contest, including a double, and pitched the final three innings to earn the save in his first collegiate appearance. Ben Terry, Andrew Greene, Case Cassedy, and A.J. Davidiuk also collected two hits apiece for the Paladins.
High Point starting pitcher Tom Boleska (0-3) took the loss after yielding six runs on nine hits and four walks over 4 1/3 innings.
Trailing 4-1, Furman got off the deck with five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Andrew Greene’s two-run double down the left field line and Daysh’s RBI single, to take a 6-5 lead. In the sixth the Paladins collected five hits and pushed across three runs before Daysh broke open the game with his two-out, three-run clout off High Point reliever Brandon Moore.
In game one of Sunday’s doubleheader High Point erupted for 15 hits and Eammon Portice (1-1) surrendered only one earned run and five hits over 6 1/3 innings of work en route to the 9-4 victory.
The Panthers struck for four runs on six hits in the second inning off Paladin starter Mason Smith. Chris Marks’ one-out RBI double got High Point on the board, and Dustin Holtzman, Jeff Cowan, and Chris Norwood followed with run scoring singles for a 4-0 lead.
Furman took advantage of a pair of High Point errors and a run scoring double by Campbell Lewis to slice the advantage to 4-3 in the third, but the Panthers answered with a three-run fourth to make it 7-3. Norwood’s two-out single to left field plated Holtzman, and a fielding error by Furman first baseman Will Stembridge allowed Norwood and Cowan to score.
After Furman made it 7-4 with a run in the fourth, High Point stretched wrapped up its scoring with a two-run sixth, highlighted by Cowan’s RBI double to right field.
Nolan Mulligan, who came on with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh, pitched out of the jam by striking out Andrew Greene and getting A.J. Davidiuk on a groundout. The junior righthander worked the final 2 2/3 innings for his first save of the season.
Smith absorbed the loss, surrendering seven runs, including five earned, on 10 hits while striking out two and walking two over four innings.
Randy Schwartz and Holtzman paced High Point’s attack with three hits each.
The Paladins open a three-game series against Miami (Ohio), the preseason No. 1 pick of the Mid-American Conference, on Friday, Feb. 25 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Furman Stadium.
Story courtesy of UNC Greensboro sports information
Georgia 7, UNC Greensboro 3
ATHENS, GA ? Georgia starting pitcher Nathan Moreau allowed just one run on three hits and collected four strikeouts in five innings on the mound as UNC Greensboro dropped game three of a three-game series with the Bulldogs 7-3 Sunday afternoon at Foley Field.
Spartan (0-3) junior starter Josh Baas got the loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings of mound duty.
Georgia (3-0) put a run on the board in the first inning for the third straight game when Joey Side gave UGA a 1-0 lead on an infield single up the middle. Second baseman Jonathan Wyatt laced a double to right field and then stole third before Side drove him in.
The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in their half of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Ryan Peisel and Gordon Beckham led off the frame with back-to-back singles before designated hitter Matt Robbins doubled down the left field line to score both runners. Matthew Dunn then reached on a bunt single, but a throwing error by Spartan third baseman Brandon Harvey allowed Robbins to score the inning’s third run.
Guy Welsh produced the Spartans’ first run of the afternoon with an RBI groundout in the top half of the third inning. The Tucson, AZ native plated Greg Feltes, who singled to left to start the inning, with his fifth RBI of the weekend.
UGA pushed across three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 7-1 lead. Peisel led off with a walk and later scored on a throwing error on the Spartan infield. UNCG committed another error on the next play to allow another Georgia runner to score easily. Wyatt capped the scoring with a single to center field to plate Robbins from second.
UNCG scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh due largely in part to a Bulldog fielding miscue. Feltes smacked a double to left field and Jermaine Mitchell followed with a single to right, advancing Feltes to third. Mitchell then stole second base and UGA catcher Jason Jacobs’ throw trickled off Mitchell and into left field, scoring Feltes and leaving Mitchell at third. Brandon Harvey collected his first RBI of the season when he drove home Mitchell on a groundout on the infield.
Feltes and Mitchell led UNCG with two hits apiece while Wyatt paced the Bulldogs with a 3-for-5 afternoon.
The Spartans return to the diamond Tuesday when UNCG travels to in-state rival High Point for a 2:30 p.m. game with the Panthers.
Story courtesy of The Citadel sports information
North Carolina State 6, The Citadel 2
Charleston, S.C. ? N.C. State senior Brian Aragon paced the Wolfpack in a 6-2 victory over The Citadel as they faced their second nationally ranked opponent in as many days Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Homewood Suites Shootout hosted at Riley Park. Aragon went 3-for-5 on the day, including a two-run homer that gave N.C. State the lead for good.
Junior Zach Brown tallied his first dinger of the season while sophomore Chris Swauger extended his hitting streak to four games. Swauger has accumulated seven RBI over The Citadel’s first four games, including two doubles, a triple and a home run for a .600 average.
N.C. State (7-1) took an early lead as shortstop Jonathan Diaz worked the count for a lead off walk in the first. Diaz moved over to second on a sac bunt off the bat of Matt Camp as Aaron Bates lined a double over the head of center fielder Trent Weathers to bring Diaz home. Second baseman Ramon Corona scored on a sac fly by Caleb Magnum in the second to go up 2-0.
Citadel (2-2) junior Zach Brown blasted one over the right field fence in the bottom of the inning to cut the Wolfpack lead in half. Brown’s solo shot was his first round tripper of the season.
Aragon added two more runs in the third for the Wolfpack as he blasted a 1-1 offering to right for his third dinger of the year. In The Citadel’s half of the inning, Swauger ripped an RBI-single up the middle to send Trent Cappelmann home and make it 4-2.
The Wolfpack extended their lead to three in the fifth as Camp laced a base hit up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Freshman reliever Matt Crim issued a free pass to Bates before designated hitter Jon Still grounded into a double play that allowed Camp to race home. An insurance run in the eighth put N.C. State up 6-2 after Diaz laid down a sac bunt to score Corona.
N.C. State relievers Eric Surkamp and Sam Walls combined to keep the
Bulldogs off the bases as the The Citadel went down on six straight outs in the eighth and ninth innings, making the final 6-2.
Wolfpack starter Gib Hobson (3-0) was credited with the win as he tossed five frames, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Citadel hurler Ken Egleton (0-1) suffered the loss in his first outing of the season as he pitched four innings, allowing four runs on six hits and fanning five.
Freshman righty Sonny Meade made his collegiate debut on the mound for the Dogs as he threw 2.1 innings in relief, giving up a run on one hit and earning one strikeout.
Next up, the Bulldogs will host Hofstra in a two-game mid-week series
starting Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. in Riley Park.
Appalachian State 12, Buffalo 6 (Game 1)
Buffalo 4, Appalachian State 2 (Game 2)
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. Freshman Rand Smith had five hits, including a pair of triples and a home run, in his first seven collegiate at-bats as Appalachian State University baseball opened the 2006 season by splitting a doubleheader with Buffalo on Sunday afternoon at Kannapolis? Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. Appalachian took the season opener, 12-6, but dropped a 4-2 decision in the nightcap.
Batting in the nine-hole, Smith legged out triples in each of his first two at-bats to help stake Appalachian to an 8-0 lead just three innings into the opener. In the fifth, the Bolivia, N.C. native did himself one better by driving a line drive over the left field wall to give the Mountaineers a 9-2 advantage. With an RBI single through the left side in ASU?s three-run seventh, Smith finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBI. To cap the sterling performance, he also threw a runner out at the plate from his right-field position.
Kannapolis-native Garrett Sherrill was equally impressive in his own collegiate debut, as he didn?t allow an earned run in five innings of work to claim the win. The right-handed freshman gave up just four hits and struck out four in front of a throng of family members and other supporters in his hometown.
Eight of the nine batters in Appalachian?s starting lineup recorded at least one hit in the opener, led by Smith?s four hits and a 3-for-5 effort from fellow freshman Wes Borden.
In the nightcap, Appalachian battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to knot the game at 2-2, but Buffalo tallied runs in the eighth and ninth innings to come away with the split. Freshman designated hitter Jason Rook had two of the Mountaineers? six hits and yet another rookie, David Rubinstein, drove in the Apps? only run in the contest.
First baseman James Kingsley led the Bulls with three hits while the pitching trio of Dan Francis, Sean McWilliams and Steve Geltz held the Mountaineers scoreless over the final four innings en route to the victory.
Appalachian returns to action on Tuesday when it squares off with in-state rival Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.