Story courtesy of College of Charleston sports information
College of Charleston 13, Hofstra 3
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - Oliver Marmol, Alex Garabedian and Jess Easterling tallied three hits each and three Cougars pitchers combined on 10 strikeouts as the College of Charleston defeated Hofstra, 13-3, in opening day action in the 2006 Charleston Challenge at Patriots Point Field on Friday.
Charleston improved to 6-2 overall, while the Pride fell to 0-9. The Cougars play host George Mason in a 2:00 start on Saturday, while Virginia battles Gardner-Webb at 10:00 a.m. at Patriots Point. Hofstra plays at Charleston Southern at noon.
Easterling two-run double in the third gave the Cougars a 6-3 after the Pride had cut the deficit to a run with a three-run top of the third. Marmol added a two-run double and Joey Friddle and RBI single in the seventh for the final margin.
Phillip Coker and Marmol scored three runs each for the Cougars. Garabedian had three RBI.
Graham Godrey (2-1) struck out seven over six innings of work. He allowed three runs on five hits. Quinn Monsma blanked the Pride on a hit over two innings with four strikeouts. David Huth (0-2) suffered the loss surrendering eight runs over four innings.
Ricky Caputo led the Pride with three hits and an RBI, while teammate Nick Panzarella added a two-run single.
Story courtesy of Davidson sports information
Davidson 7, Army 5
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Junior Gregory Zage blasted a three-run homer in the first and senior Jay Heafner added a two-run shot in the second as Davidson defeated visiting Army on Friday afternoon at Wilson Field, 7-5. The Wildcats improved to 3-1 on the young season while the Black Knights lost their fourth straight to start the year.
The game was a mismatch on the mound in favor of Army as it sent southpaw ace Nick Hill to pitch against the potent Davidson offense. Hill, a 6-1, 185-pound junior, went 10-2 with a miniscule 1.21 ERA last year and entered the game with a career record of 20-6.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, countered with 5-10, 155-pound Zach Kayne, a freshman right-hander making his collegiate debut on the mound, not to mention his first pitching assignment since he was 12 years old. After he retired the side in order in the first, Davidson quickly gave him a three-run cushion when senior Ronnie Shore double over the center fielder’s head, Heafner walked and Zage launched a mammoth home run over the trees beyond the right-field fence on a 1-0 fastball.
Kayne ran into trouble in the second, allowing two singles and two doubles. But thanks to a double-play grounder sandwiched between the four safeties, he escaped with just one run scoring when he got the final out on a called third strike.
Davidson heaped it on Hill in the second, beginning with a one-out error to put sophomore Hugh Eden on second base. Eden moved up to third on a wild pitch before Shore drew a walk, putting runners on the corners. Hill attempted a quick pickoff at first, but his throw was wild, allowing Eden to score. Junior Rob Wilson followed with an RBI single, then Heafner got the 3-0 green light and deposited the offering over the fence for a two-run homer, his second in four games this year.
Hill (0-2) settled in after that, pitching to just one over the minimum for the next 3.2 innings. In his five innings of work, he allowed eight hits, seven runs, six earned, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Kayne (1-0) completed the third inning, allowing just a two-out single, before his day came to an end as predetermined by head coach Dick Cooke, making him the pitcher of record. Four Wildcat relievers combined to allow three earned runs over the final six innings, striking out 10 Black Knights. Junior Rob Shenk pitched two scoreless frames with three strikeouts, setting up Heafner to close out the ninth who earned his third save in as many appearances this year. Heafner is just the second Wildcat to amass 20 saves in a career and needs just three more to become Davidson’s all-time saves leader.
Shore was the only player for Davidson with two hits in the lineup, going 2-for-3 with a walk and scoring twice. Heafner, a preseason All-American, was 1-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs.
Freshman J.P. Polchinski collected three of Army’s 11 hits, driving in one run. Cole White hit a solo home run in the fourth, his first of the year, and Chris Simmons was 2-for-5 with a double and a run.
Davidson plays again on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Niagara at 2 p.m. Army will do battle with Appalachian State at Davidson’s Wilson Field at 11 a.m.
Story courtesy of The Citadel sports information
The Citadel 8, Le Moyne 5
Charleston, S.C. ? Freshman designated hitter Sonny Meade paced The Citadel in an 8-5 victory over Le Moyne Friday night in game two of the Sandlapper Real Estate Shootout presented by The Charleston Crab House. Meade went 3-for-5 including two RBI and scoring two as junior closer Link Saunders shut down the Dolphin offense to earn his fourth save of the season.
The Citadel (5-2) took an early 2-0 lead in the second as Meade singled down the left field line before sophomore third baseman Matt Arnold stepped in to rip a two-run home run. Arnold sent a 3-2 offering over the right field fence for his first collegiate dinger.
Le Moyne (0-1) answered back in the third as senior first baseman Keith Connors smacked a two-run homer of his own to right to tie it up, 2-2. Connors pushed sophomore right fielder Jamie Rose across the plate after Rose led off the inning with a single up the middle.
The Bulldogs rallied on two outs in their half of the inning to take back the lead. Sophomore left fielder Chris Swauger ripped a single to center and moved over to second after senior shortstop Matt Matulia walked. An error by Dolphin second baseman Andy Parrino kept the inning alive for The Citadel as Brown reached first to load the bases. Meade then singled up the middle to score Swauger and Matulia to give the Dogs a 4-2 advantage.
Three more errors by Parrino allowed the Dogs to tack on another run in the fifth. Junior Zach Brown led off with a walk before he advanced to second on a botched double play by Parrino that also allowed Meade to reach first. Parrino then threw the ball away again after getting Meade out going to second, allowing Arnold to reach first as Brown rounded third and scored. Le Moyne reliever Ryan Toth then hit senior catcher Brady Mashak with a pitch to put runners on first and second with only one out. Toth got out of the inning without any more Bulldog runs as he forced senior second baseman Tripp Cappelmann to ground into a double play to keep it 5-2.
The Dolphins evened it up in the seventh as Rose hit a blooper into right and stretched it into a double. Parrino stepped in and blasted a two-run shot over the left field wall to cut the Bulldog lead to one. Citadel reliever Justin Smith then issued a free pass to Connors, who advanced to third on a single off the bat of shortstop Michael Affronti. Catcher Brian Hansen tallied a sacrifice groundout to send Connors home and knot it up, 5-5.
The Dogs pulled away with a three-run lead in the seventh. Senior Mark Egleton blasted a double off the center field wall to plate two. Cappelmann then lined a base hit up the middle to drive in Arnold from third and put The Citadel ahead, 8-5.
Saunders came on in the late innings to shutdown the Dolphin offense. Saunders struck out three straight in the eighth and fanned two more in the ninth to earn his fourth save in five appearances. Saunders has tallied 14 Ks in eight innings pitched.
Citadel reliever Smith (3-0) was credited with the win as he tossed one inning, allowing three runs on three hits and fanning one. Senior lefty A.J. Lindsey suffered the loss for Le Moyne as he went one frame, giving up one run on two hits and striking out one.
The Bulldogs will be back in action tomorrow for game four of the Sandlapper Real Estate Shootout presented by The Charleston Crab House. The Citadel will face Ball State immediately after the Le Moyne vs. Towson game at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Riley Park.
Story courtesy of Elon sports information
Elon 10, Auburn 2
AUBURN, Ala. -- Elon's Lance Cole pitched seven solid innings, surrendering just two runs on four hits to move his record to 3-0 as the Phoenix defeated Auburn, 10-2, on Friday at Plainsman Park.
Auburn (6-4) did not get onto the board until the bottom of the seventh when Russell Dixon blasted a two-run homer over the wall in right, his first of the season to bring the score to 7-2.
Ten different Elon batters recorded hits on the afternoon, including Robert Rodenbaugh, Chris Vasami and Adam Weaver, who had two each.
Elon (6-3) took the lead in the first inning after Grant Rembert doubled and eventually scored on Jordy Synder's groundout to shortstop. Elon padded its lead in the fourth when Vasami laced a double to left, scoring two runs. The Phoenix plated four more runs in the sixth to make it 7-0.
Tyler Johnstone led Auburn offensively, going 2-for-4 with a double. With the two hits, Johnstone has now hit safely in all 10 games this year and has a 16 game hitting streak dating back to last season.
Chris Dennis (1-1) took the loss for the Tigers, giving up five runs in five-plus innings of work.
The two teams return to action Saturday with the first pitch set for 5:00 p.m. EST. Brett Butts (1-1, 4.97 ERA) will take the mound for the Tigers while Matt Chastain (1-0, 2.08 ERA) will throw for Elon.
Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
South Florida 4, Western Carolina 3 (13 inn.)
DeLand, Fla. ? Western Carolina senior pitcher Brian McCullen struck out a career-high nine, but it was not enough to overcome the Catamounts leaving 19 base runners on base for a 4-3 setback in 13 innings at the hands of South Florida Friday afternoon in the first game of the Stetson Invitational at Melching Field. While Western dropped to 1-2 on the season, both losses have come in extra innings. South Florida improves to 3-5.
In addition to McCullen’s work on the mound, South Florida starter, Casey Hudspeth, was impressive as well. A two-time Cape Cod Summer League player who had 169 strikeouts with just 70 walks in his first two years with the Bulls, Hudspeth worked the first seven complete, allowing three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
Down 3-0 after seven complete, Western scratched one run across in the top of the eighth, thanks to an RBI single by Blake Murphy, and two in the top of ninth, on RBI singles by Trey McDaniel and Jonathan Greene, to force extra frames.
The Bulls, who dodged bullets as Western left two on base in the 10th, three in the 11th and two in the 12th, started the home half of the 13th with a single by Dexter Butler. After a sacrifice bunt, Butler moved to third on a balk. Joey Angleberger followed with an RBI single to center to end the contest.
Bryan Tupper (0-1) suffered the loss despite walking none and striking out three in 2.1 innings. Jim Cassidy (1-0) got the win, pitching the final 4.0 innings. He allowed four hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
After McCullen allowed the three runs in six innings, Corey Martin, Brandon McDowell, Mike Buda and Greg Holland only allowed two hits and four walks with three strikeouts (all from Holland) over the next five innings combined.
McDaniel and Greene each had two hits for Western, while Strausbaugh scored twice.
The Catamounts will play host team Stetson at 4 pm on Saturday (Feb. 25) before concluding the event with a 1 pm game on Sunday versus reigning Big 10 champion Illinois.
Story courtesy of Wofford sports information
Albany 13, Wofford 2
SPARTANBURG, SC ? The University of Albany pounded out 16 hits and defeated Wofford 13-2 Friday at Russell C. King Field.
The Great Danes counted a pair of doubles and a triple among their 16 hits.
Albany broke the ice with two runs in the second as Tom Hill and Nate Olson singled before Sean Donovan drew a walk to load the bases. Hill scored on a wild pitch and Olson scored on a passed ball.
The Great Danes broke the game open with an eight-run fourth. Rashad Barksdale drove in two runs with a double while West added an RBI triple. Zac Halloran and Hill also added RBI doubles in the inning.
Bradford Eaves drove in both runs for Wofford. He tripled with a runner on in the fourth and then drove in a run with a fielders choice in the sixth, scoring Brandon Waring who had doubled and moved to third on a single by Keith Munns.
Albany added two runs in the seventh when Barksdale singled with one out and moved to third on a single by Dave West. Steve Wyland then doubled into the left field corner to drive in both runs.
Albany’s final run came in the ninth when Al Barbato singled and moved to second when the hit was misplayed in the outfield. He advanced to third on an infield error and scored on a wild pitch.
Albany Starter Mark Suchowiecki held the Terriers to three hits over five innings and struck out seven to earn his first win of the year.
The Great Danes touched Wofford starter Chip Hunt for five runs in three innings of work. His record fell to 0-1.
Albany improved to 2-2 while Wofford fell to 5-5.
The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. at King Field.
Story courtesy of Georgia Southern sports information
Georgia Southern 8, Marshall 1
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern baseball coach Rodney Hennon changed his lineup to try and create a spark both offensively and defensively. Four players ? all freshmen ? were at different positions, helping the Eagles to an 8-1 win over Marshall Friday night (Feb. 24) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Coming off a loss earlier this week, Hennon decided to move Griffin Benedict to designated hitter, Will Southwell to third base and gave centerfielder Matt Miller and shortstop Brian Pierce their first collegiate start. Senior Derrick Smith also got the nod in right, his first start in the field this year. The Eagles out-hit Marshall 9-7 and did not commit an error while coming through with timely hitting.
To start the second inning, Pierce singled in his first collegiate at-bat and advanced to second on third baseman Adam Frederick’s throwing error. He moved to third on Chris Hollis’ groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brett Pelfrey.
The Thundering Herd tied the game on a two-out rally in the fifth. Marshall got a one-out single, and after Everett Teaford struck out the number eight hitter he walked Chris Monaco. Adam Ptacek lined a single up the middle to tie the game and then took second on the throw. Teaford snuffed Marshall’s rally when he struck out Aaron Levinson looking, his sixth strikeout.
Southern (5-5 overall) loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs. Hollis was hit by a pitch, Pelfrey hit a ground rule double (extending his hitting streak to 10 games) and Greg Dowling was intentionally walked. Two batters later Smith grounded to first baseman Roddy Stieger, but his throw to second on a potential double play ball went into left field allowing two runs to score. Jeremiah Parker hit a sacrifice fly which scored Dowling, giving the Eagles a 4-1 lead.
Teaford walked the first two batters of the sixth, and then was pulled for A.J. Battisto. The junior right-hander got consecutive flyouts. Battisto got out of the inning when Pierce (coming off a preseason injury) made a back-handed play in the hole at shortstop then threw to first to end the frame.
With two on and two out in the sixth, Dowling lined a 0-2 pitch into centerfield clearing the bases. That was his 251st career hit, tying him for 10th place (Tyson Whitley) among the GS career ?Top 10’ leaders. Benedict followed with a RBI single making it 7-1.
Another Marshall (1-2) error in the seventh, its fourth, led to an unearned run as the Eagles extended their lead to 8-1.
Stieger lined a leadoff double in the ninth. He advanced to third base on a groundout then tried to score when Brit Vincent lined out to right field replacement David Richardson, but the sophomore came up throwing and nailed him at the plate to end the game. That was the third double play the Eagles turned, equaling their season total heading into the contest.
“I thought we got some good pitching and defensively we played solid. Tonight was a much better job offensively, moving runners and driving in runners in key situations. It was a good win to start the weekend,” said Hennon.
Dowling led the Eagles recording three of the team’s nine hits. Miller finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Teaford (2-1) allowed one run on five hits. He walked three and struck out six. Battisto and Aaron Eubanks each pitched two scoreless innings.
Jimmy Mathias paced the Marshall offense with two hits. Jeremy Slone (0-2) gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings of work. He walked a pair and fanned three.
The same two teams play Saturday (Feb. 25) with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Texas A&M 5, UNC Greensboro 1