Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
Western Carolina 20, Wofford 10
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Western Carolina ended its nine-game home stand by winning its ninth straight and handing Wofford a 20-10 victory Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. With the win, the Catamounts (15-9, 4-2 Southern Conference) sweep their weekend league series with the Terriers (15-13, 2-4).
The Catamounts won despite giving up four Terrier home runs on the day, including two by shortstop Shane Kirkley. However, Wofford committed four errors in the sixth inning, while Western had seven hits in the frame, to help propel the Catamounts to the victory.
Western was led offensively by Jonathan Greene, who was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Ryan Wilson and Tim Hallam each added three RBI as well, while Hallam, Wilson, Barrett Shaft, Steven Strausbaugh, Blake Murphy and Jason Haynes each contributed two hits.
Like Saturday, Western’s offensive performances overshadowed an impressive outing by Wofford as Kirkley went 3-for-5 with five RBI. Adam Wood was also 3-for-5 for the Terriers, scoring three times.
Wofford took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. After a leadoff walk by Bradford Eaves, Steven Fusaro and Kirkley put together back-to-back, one-out infield hits to score Eaves. Fusaro would later score on a passed ball and Stephen Johnson plated Kirkley with a single to right-center.
The Terriers pushed their advantage to four in the second. Zach Pittman started the frame with as leadoff home run, his first of the year. In the home half of the second, Western cut its deficit in half, scoring two runs on two hits. After a leadoff walk to Trey McDaniel, Murphy doubled down the left field line to score McDaniel. Murphy would later score when Wilson reached on a Terrier error.
In the third, Wofford got one of those runs back. After a single by John Brandt and a walk to Johnson, the Terriers used a WCU error on an attempted double play to push across their fifth run.
Once again, Western was able to answer. With one out, Strausbaugh hit his 12th home run of the season, making the score 5-3.
Wofford used the long ball again in the fourth. After a leadoff double by Wood, Kirkley delivered a one-out, two-run home run to left field, his sixth of the season. For the third inning in a row, Western was able keep up, scoring two runs. With the bases loaded, Hallam was hit by a pitch to force a run. Shaft followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Catamounts tied the game with two runs in the fifth. McDaniel drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a Murphy single. Grey Gregory plated McDaniel with an RBI ground out and Murphy scored on Greene’s single to right.
Wofford regained the advantage in the sixth, scoring two runs off Kirkley’s second blast of the game. Wood had a one-out walk and scored on Pittman’s homer to center.
In the bottom of the sixth, Western sent 15 men to the plate, scoring nine runs thanks to four Terrier errors to take a 16-9 lead.
Wood made it a 16-10 game with a leadoff home run to start the eighth, his third homer of the season. The Catamount put the game out of reach in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on just two hits, thanks to two walks and two hit by pitches.
Western’s first two pitchers combined to allow seven runs over the first four innings. However, its final three pitchers only allowed three over the final five to secure the win. Brian McCullen, who entered the game in the fifth, picked up the win, improving to 2-1. He allowed three hits and two runs with two strikeouts in his two innings. Over the next two innings, Greg Holland only allowed two hits and one run with a walk and two strikeouts. Bryan Corbett closed the game, allowing one hit with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Chip Hunt (0-3) suffered the loss. He allowed five hits and seven runs (six earned) with two walks in two innings of work.
Western Carolina will now start an eight-game road swing, starting at nationally-ranked Georgia Tech on Tuesday. First pitch in Atlanta is set for 7:00 pm. Wofford will also hit the road to face a nationally-ranked team on Tuesday, playing at South Carolina. First pitch in Columbia is set for 7 pm as well.
Story courtesy of Georgia Southern sports information
The Citadel 10, Georgia Southern 3
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern nearly staged a late inning rally but eventually fell to The Citadel 10-3 in their Southern Conference series finale on Sunday. The Eagles (13-13 overall, 2-1 SoCon) saw their four game winning streak end.
Down 7-2 to start the eighth, Matt Miller hit his first collegiate home run to lead things off, also the first homer allowed by Link Saunders this year. Singles from Chris Shehan, Griffin Benedict and Jeremiah Parker loaded the bases for Brett Pelfrey with one out. The senior second baseman hit a liner to shortstop Matt Matulia, who made a leaping grab and threw to second to double off Benedict and end the inning
Sonny Meade lined a run-scoring single with two outs in the top of the first, giving The Citadel (13-11, 1-2) an early 1-0 lead. Trent Weathers hit a RBI groundout in the second then Meade did the same in the third, making it a 3-0 game.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases during the fourth, chasing starter Mike Chiciak. A sacrifice fly by Zach Brown and another RBI single from Meade increased their advantage to 5-0.
Matt Crim pitched a shutout until the seventh inning. Parker lined a one-out double then two batters later Mike Economos ripped a 2-run homer, the first round-tripper allowed by Crim this season. David Richardson drew a two-out walk that chased the Bulldog starter. Closer Saunders retired Jeremy Beckham on a popup to end the inning.
Citadel loaded the bases in the eighth with two outs and Brown lined a 2-run single, extending their lead to 7-2. The Bulldogs scored three insurance runs in the ninth, two coming on Chris Swauger’s third double of the game.
Parker led the offense with three hits while Economos added two. They accounted for half of the Eagles’ 10 hits.
Chiciak (1-1) allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out two. Aaron Eubanks gave up just two hits in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Crim (3-0) allowed two runs on five hits in 6.2 innings. Saunders picked up his eighth save. Matt Covington, Swauger and Arnold had three hits apiece.
The Citadel hosts Winthrop on Wednesday. Georgia Southern hosts Coastal Carolina, also on Wednesday (March 29) with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
Story courtesy of UNC Greensboro sports information
College of Charleston 3, UNC Greensboro 0
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro was shutout for the second straight day as College of Charleston claimed a 3-0 win Sunday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium to take a three-game series with the Spartans two games to one.
Jeff Beliveau (2-0), who started the game in place of injured scheduled starter Wes Braden, allowed just three hits while striking out four batters in six innings of work. Josh McLaughlin, the loser in Friday night’s game after allowing a walk-off home run to Brandon Harvey, worked the final three innings to pick up his fifth save of the season. He allowed just two hits and struck out four.
Junior left-hander Ryan Falcon (0-1) took the loss despite hurling one of his better performances of the season. The Rougemont, NC native allowed just two runs on six hits in six plus innings on the hill. Jonathan Nichols saw two innings of action on the hill and senior Patrick Currin extended his scoreless inning streak to 8-1/3 innings after working an inning on the hill.
UNCG (9-16, 1-2 SoCon) squandered a golden chance to get a run and take a fifth inning lead, but some crafty pitching from Beliveau prevented the Spartans from doing so. David Adams reached base with a one-out bunt single and then advanced to second and third on balks by Beliveau. Beliveau, however, then retired Adam Deleo on a groundout to third and then induced Mike Mongiello into a groundout to second to leave Adams stranded on third.
College of Charleston (20-5, 5-1 SoCon) took the lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from rightfielder Phillip Coker. Oliver Marmol reached with a one-out bunt single and then stole second before Coker smacked a two-bagger just inside the third base line to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage.
Jess Easterling led off the seventh inning with an opposite field home run on the first pitch he saw to chase Falcon and give the Cougars a 2-0 lead in the process. Joey Friddle added a two-out RBI single to score Larry Cobb to account for the final run of the game.
The Spartans loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with two out, but McLaughlin struck Adam Deleo out looking to end the game. Guy Welsh extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-out single up the middle and Wes McCall and Adams followed with walks to load the bases. McLaughlin then retired Deleo on three straight curveballs to lock up the win for the visiting Cougars.
Welsh led the Spartans at the plate with a 2-for-4 afternoon while Jermaine Mitchell, Adams and Sean Snell each had one of UNCG’s five hits. Easterling led the Cougars with a perfect 3-for-3 day with an RBI while Marmol chipped in with a pair of hits.
UNCG returns to the diamond Wednesday evening when the Spartans take on in-city rival North Carolina A&T at 6 p.m. from First Horizon Park in downtown Greensboro.
Story courtesy of Furman sports information
Furman 16, Davidson 4
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Ryan Hodinka won his sixth consecutive start and Furman continued its offensive onslaught with 18 hits en route to a 16-4 Southern Conference victory over Davidson in baseball action Sunday afternoon at Furman Stadium.
The win completed the three-game series sweep for Furman (14-8, 3-0 SoCon) and represented the Paladins’ sixth consecutive triumph over Davidson (10-13, 1-5 SoCon). It also marked the Paladins’ 10 straight victory over SoCon opponents dating back to last year.
Furman’s 16 runs and 18 hits on Sunday gave the Paladins 41 runs on 48 hits in the three-game weekend series. Davidson, which came to Greenville sporting a .316 batting average, hit just .245 and scored only six runs in the three games.
Hodinka improved to 6-0 on the year by working six innings and allowing only four hits, one run, and three walks. The Paladin senior lefthander tied a career high with seven strikeouts.
Tony Maccani, Will Stembridge, and Marcus Rose paced Furman at the plate with three hits each, and freshman Jay Jackson, a product of Greenville’s Christ Church Episcopal School, belted his fifth home run of the season ? and second in as many games ? with a three-run blast in a six-run Paladin second inning.
Furman registered its offensive damage over the first six innings, scoring in each frame to build a 16-1 lead.
After Davidson took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Rob Wilson solo home run, Furman took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame, combining only one hit with three walks, a hit batsman, and a wild pitch by Wildcat starting pitcher Rob Shenk (1-1) to take a 2-1 lead.
The Paladins blew the game open with a six-run second, highlighted by Jackson’s three-run home run to left field.
Furman made it 10-1 in the third on Spence Gibbs’ two-run single and tacked on a run in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three in the sixth to make it 16-1.
Davidson accounted for the game’s final three runs over the final three innings, including a two-run home run by Ronnie Shore in the ninth.
Furman returns to action next weekend when it entertains Wofford in a three-game SoCon series beginning Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
Story courtesy of Elon sports information
Elon 5-9, Appalachian State 2-8
ELON, N.C. ? The Elon Phoenix used a first inning grand slam from Robert Rodebaugh to claim a 5-2 victory over the visiting Appalachian State Mountaineers in game one of a Sunday doubleheader from Latham Park and rallied for eight ninth inning runs in the nightcap to earn a 9-8 win and sweep the three-game conference series. Elon now owns a 20-8 overall record and sits at 5-1 in Southern Conference play. Appalachian State is now 9-13, 0-6 and has lost eight consecutive games.
Rodebaugh’s grand slam in game one came with one in the bottom of the first inning and delivered Donny Jobe, Adam Weaver and Chris Price for a 4-0 Elon lead. Elon added its fifth run in the third when Rodebaugh’s sacrifice fly plated Price.
Appalachian State scored its two runs in the seventh inning, snapping a 30-inning scoreless streak, when Nick DeRose singled home Rand Smith and Adam Beasley.
The Mountaineers out-hit the Phoenix 14-6 in game one, but stranded 11 runners.
Elon’s Matt Chastain (6-0) earned the win in game one, hurling 6.1 innings and allowing two runs on 11 hits. He also struck out six and did not allow a walk. Chad Tilley picked up his third save of the year by throwing the final 2.0 innings. Tilley allowed two hits and fanned one. Jason Rook (1-3) suffered the defeat for Appalachian State. Rook went 6.1 innings, surrendering five runs on six hits and five walks. He struck out seven.
In game two, Appalachian State plated three first inning runs to grab the early lead. Tom Prosser was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and advanced to second on DeRose’s single. A one-out walk to Ben Billingsley loaded the bases before Bryan Ford singled down the line in right, knocking home both Prosser and DeRose. A sac fly from Beasley plated Billingsley with the third run.
The Phoenix got one run back on a homer from Weaver in the bottom of the inning.
Appalachian State pushed its advantage to 5-1 in the third using a solo homer off the bat of Kevin Butler and an RBI double from Beasley to score. The Mountaineer lead swelled to 8-1 in the eighth as Butler smacked a two-out double with the bases loaded that plated three.
The Elon ninth began harmlessly as Rodebaugh lined out to right. After Grant Rembert walked, Pat Irvine doubled to center to score Rembert. After Paul Bennett was retired on a fly out, the Mountaineers looked as if they were going to claim their first league win of the year, but Elon had other ideas. Ryan Addison singled up the middle on a 1-2 pitch to drive in Irvine to cut the deficit to 8-3. Jobe took a 2-1 pitch and singled down the line in right to put runners on the corners for Adam Weaver. Reliever Adam Mills promptly gave up a RBI single to Weaver. Following another pitching change, Price drew a walk to load the bases. Appalachian State then turned to its fourth pitcher of the inning to face pinch-hitter Ryan Radford. Radford took a 2-2 pitch and doubled down the leftfield line, scoring both Jobe and Weaver. A walk to Rodebaugh loaded the bases and Rembert was hit by a pitch to force in pinch-runner Austin Boehme to make the score 8-7. Irvine then drew a walk to plate pinch-runner Matt Link and even the score at eight. On a 1-0 count, Bennett layed a bunt down towards third that he beat out for the game-winning single as pinch-runner Jordy Snyder scored the ninth run of the game for the Phoenix. The hit was the only one of the game for Bennett.
Kory Radford (1-1) earned the win in relief, throwing the final 1.0 inning, walking one and striking out one. Steven Hensley had perhaps his best outing of his collegiate career in relief. Hensley went 5.1 innings and gave up three runs on three hits and four walks, but fanned six to keep the Phoenix in the game.
Taking the loss for the Mountaineers was Aubrey Edens. Edens did not record an out, but allowed two runs on two hits and two walks.
For the day, Elon’s offense was led by Rodebaugh who went a combined 3-for-7 with one run scored and five RBI. Ryan Addison finished the day 3-for-6 with a run and a RBI while Weaver went 4-for-8 with three runs scored and two driven in for the Phoenix.
Appalachian State was paced by Butler’s 5-for-10 day. He also scored once and knocked in four. Ford posted a 4-for-9 day, scoring once and driving in two.
Elon will host Brown on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. while Appalachian State will host Gardner-Webb that same day beginning at 2:00 p.m.