Story courtesy of Wofford sports information
Wofford 4-7, Youngstown State 3-6
SPARTANBURG, SC ? Brandon Waring’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of the second game gave Wofford College a doubleheader sweep of Youngstown State Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers posted a 4-3 win in the opener and Waring’s homer gave Wofford a 7-6 in the nightcap.
Youngstown State had taken a 6-5 lead in top of the eighth when Erich Diedrich hit a solo homer to right. Shane Kirkley singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth for the Terriers and moved to second on an infield ground out before Waring hit his game-winning homer.
J.D. Melton earned the win in relief for Wofford. Kevin Libeg took the loss for the Penguins.
In the opener, Wofford trailed 3-0 before John Brandt hit a three-run homer in the fourth to tie the game. The Terriers scored in the game-winning run in the sixth when Adam Wood doubled and scored on a single by Stephen Johnson.
Austin Redwine went the distance for the Terriers, scattering six hits and striking out five as he improved to 3-1. Eric Shaffer took the loss for YSU.
Wofford and Youngstown State will conclude their series on Sunday afternoon with a single game at 1 p.m. at King Field.
Story courtesy of College of Charleston sports information
College of Charleston 2-20, Georgia State 1-7
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- Chris Campbell and Jess Easterling hit two homers each as the College of Charleston downed Georgia State, 20-7, in the nightcap to complete a sweep of its college baseball doubleheader before 333 at Patriots Point Field on Saturday. The Cougars won the opener, 2-1, behind a strong pitching performance from Nick Chigges and a solo homer by Ben Lasater.
With the sweep, the Cougars improved to 9-3 on the season, while the Panthers fell to 6-4.
Campbell hit a three-run homer to left in the second and a solo shot to left in the fourth. Easterling belted a two-run shot to left in the first and solo shot to left leading off the third that gave Charleston a 9-2 advantage.
Quinn Monsma (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Cougars blanking the Panthers on three hits with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of work. Matt Handley (0-1) suffered the loss surrendering eight runs in 1 2/3 innings.
In the opener, Lasater's solo homer to right, his first of the season, in the second inning staked the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
After the Panthers tied the game at 1-1 on Aeden McQueary-Ennis' solo homer to left in the third, Oliver Marmol's RBI double in the fifth with two outs scored Larry Cobb for a 2-1 CofC lead.
Chigges (2-2) allowed a run on four hits with six strikeouts. Josh McLaughlin pitched the final 1 2/3 with three strikeouts for his first save of the season.
Romas Hicks (1-2) was the tough-luck loser for GSU allowing two runs on seven hits over eight innings.
The finale of the series is 1:00 on Sunday.
Story courtesy of Davidson sports information
Davidson 14-5, Columbia 1-4
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Davidson’s Gregory Zage went 3-for-5 with a grand-slam and six RBIs to lead the Wildcats to a 14-1 victory over the visiting Columbia Lions in the opener. In the nightcap, Davidson broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh scoring on a wild pitch to defeat Columbia, 5-4 and sweep the Saturday twinbill at Wilson Field. The Wildcats improve to 7-3 overall, while Columbia opens the season 0-2.
The Wildcats came out swinging in game one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first and then multiple runs in every other inning en route to their highest offensive output of the campaign. Senior Jay Heafner started the attack with his 200th career hit scoring Ronnie Shore for the first run of the contest.
Davidson pushed across five more runs in the third stringing together six straight hits to increase its lead to 6-1. The Lions’ lone run of the game was scored in the previous inning on a Michael Roberts’ RBI single.
Following a two-run Wildcat fifth, Zage capped off the attack with a grand-slam to right-center for his team-leading fourth blast and 18th RBI of the season.
Wildcat hurler Brant West (3-0) tossed five inning allowing just three hits, one run, and fanned a career-high eight to remain unbeaten on the year. Bobby DeMuro picked up his first career save working four innings and striking out three.
Heafner, Ronnie Shore, Alex Entrekin and Alden Crissey each finished with multiple hit performances for the Wildcats in game one.
In game two, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Heafner singled up the middle to score Ronnie Shore, who reached on a Columbia fielding error.
The Lions answered with a pair of runs in the fourth thanks to four consecutive hits (two doubles) to grab their first lead of the doubleheader.
After Columbia added another run in the sixth thanks to a Wildcat passed ball, Davidson responded with a three-run inning to grab the lead again. Zage led off with a double, Crissey drew a one-out walk and both scored on Blake Osborn’s second two-bagger of the afternoon. Osborn would later score on a bunt single by Wildcat left fielder Brett Shore.
Still the Lions had an answer. Ron Williams started the last with a pinch-hit single, moved to third on a Craig Rodwogin hit, and scored on Dan Neczypor’s base knock.
With the game tied 4-4 entering the home-half of the seventh, Davidson’s Heafner reached first when he was by Matt Berninger’s first pitch. After swiping his sixth base of the year, Heafner advanced to third on an Entrekin single to right-field and scored the game-winner on a Berninger wild pitch to the backstop.
Davidson reliever Rob Shenk (1-0) recorded his first win retiring two of the three Lions he faced in the seventh. Berninger (0-1) suffered the loss in his season debut, working 6 1/3 innings, giving-up nine hits, five runs (one unearned), walked three and retired five Wildcats on strikes.
Osborn, who had a pair of RBIs in the opener, concluded the nightcap with two more as he went 2-for-3 at the dish.
The Wildcats and Lions will wrap-up their four-game series tomorrow with a pair of seven inning affairs at Wilson Field. Game one of the doubleheader will begin with an 11 a.m. first pitch.
Story courtesy of Elon sports information
Elon 4-13, Siena 1-7
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix baseball team entered Saturday’s doubleheader with the Siena Saints with all of one home run on the year. On Saturday, Elon bashed six long balls in the two games, including Chris Vasami’s first career two-homer game in the nightcap, to sweep the double dip from Siena by scores of 4-1 and 13-7. The Phoenix now boasts a 9-4 record on the year while the Saints are still looking for their first win of the season after an 0-5 start.
Elon struck first in the third inning of game one when Paul Bennett’s ground out plated Ryan Addison who led the frame off with a double. Siena evened the score in the eighth inning when Rick Seltzer singled home Matt Gidaly.
The Phoenix struck for three runs in the bottom of the eighth, the first run scoring when Donny Jobe crossed the plate on Chris Price’s single. Price was able to trot home on the next pitch as Grant Rembert sent a line drive over the wall in left-center for his first homer of the year.
Chad Tilley (1-0) earned the win in relief of Lance Cole. Tilley threw 1.0 inning and gave up one hit and struck out three. Cole took a no decision after 7.0 strong innings of work. The senior allowed one run on four hits while fanning three. Tom Porter pitched a perfect ninth to record his second save of the year.
Trevor Reid (0-1) took the loss in relief of Ken Grant. Reid allowed three runs on three hits over 3.0 innings of work. Grant hurled 5.0 innings and gave up one run on three hits.
In game two, Elon scored three times in the second inning, including a two-run home run off the bat of Ryan Addison. The Phoenix extended its lead to 5-0 in the third on back-to-back blasts from Price and Vasami. In the fourth, a solo shot from Bennett to start the inning pushed the advantage to 6-0.
Siena staged a rally in the sixth to get within three runs. Chris Klepps knocked in two on a single to center. The third Saint run would come on a wild pitch.
Elon answered right back in its half of the sixth inning with five runs, pushing the margin to 11-3. Danny Miller’s pinch-hit double drove in Bennett with the first run. Following a walk to Price, Vasami struck for his second blast of the day, a three-run shot over the centerfield wall. Elon’s final run of the inning scored when Jobe singled to center to plate Adam Weaver.
Elon added two more runs in the seventh before Siena tried to get back in the game with four in the eighth. The Saints rally started when Nick Messinger singled to center, advanced to second on a ground out and scored on Seltzer’s single. Seltzer and Klepps would later come around to score on a double from John Wilkes with runs five and six in the game. Wilkes would score Siena’s final run when Michael Ambury singled up the middle.
Ryan Basham (3-0) picked up the victory after 6.0 innings of work. He allowed three runs on four hits while striking out three. Taking the loss was James Pacifico (0-1) who lasted just 2.1 innings after giving up five runs on nine hits.
On the day, Elon’s offense was paced by Price (3-for-6, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI) and Vasami (3-for-4, 3 runs scored, 4 RBI). Siena was led by Vince Gutierrez (3-for-7, run scored) and Seltzer (2-for-6, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI).
The two teams will finish off the three-game series at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon from Latham Park.
Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
Charleston Southern 7, Western Carolina 4
North Charleston, S.C. ? Anthony Hayes had two RBI and Ryan Sowers only allowed two earned runs over seven innings to lead Charleston Southern a 7-4 victory, its second come-from-behind win in as many days over Western Carolina Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field. Game three of the weekend series will be moved off campus to Collins Park with first pitch set for 1 pm.
Western got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the top of the second. Jonathan Greene had a leadoff double and moved to third on Andy John’s single off the first baseman’s glove. When John stole second, Greene scored on a throwing error. John would later score on an infield single by Jason Haynes. Haynes moved to second on a passed ball, third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.
Sandwiched between Western’s three runs, Catamount starter Tyler Sexton escaped two jams unscathed. In the first, he avoided a bases loaded jam and, in the second, the leadoff batter reached third with no outs but was left stranded.
However, Charleston Southern would score in the third, making the score 3-1. After a leadoff double by Wes Brundridge, he moved to third on a ground out and scored on a RBI single by Hayes.
The Bucs took advantage of some WCU fielding miscues to take a 4-3 lead in the fourth, scoring three runs in the home half. John Mark Cleaveland, Craig Krogmeier and Helio Burgos had consecutive singles to start the frame and load the bases. Pinch hitter Mark Perry hit a ground ball to short, but a bobble let a run score and only one out was recorded.. Sean Doherty then reached on an error by the WCU second baseman, allowing two runs to score on the play.
Western tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth. Barrett Shaft had a leadoff single, stole second and scored on an error by the CSU shortstop. However, the Bucs regained the one-run cushion in the bottom of the fifth. David Perkins delivered a one-out double and moved to third bloop single by Cleaveland that fell between the shortstop and left fielder. Krogmeier followed with a sacrifice fly to right, driving in Perkins.
Charleston Southern extended its lead with two runs (7-4) in the sixth. Mark Perry had a leadoff single and Cleaveland followed with a bunt single. After a sac bunt moved the runners up, Justin Fyle had an RBI infield single, scoring Perry and moving Cleaveland to third. Hayes then plated Cleaveland with a sac fly to right field.
Six Catamounts each had one hit. Sexton, who struck out five with no walks, was the tough-luck loser, falling to 2-1. While he did allow 11 hits and seven runs, only six were earned and three others came from defensive miscues that were not scored as errors. Tyler Johnson pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit and fanning three.
For the Bucs, Brundridge, Krogmeier and Burgos each had two hits. Sowers improved to 1-2, allowing six hits and four runs (two earned) with five walks and three strikeouts. Mike Mead came on with two on and one out in the ninth and got a double play to end the game and pick up his first save.
Story courtesy of Georgia Southern sports information
Georgia Southern 4, Michigan 3 (10 inn.)
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Brett Pelfrey lined the first pitch he saw down the left field line scoring David Richardson as Georgia Southern defeated Michigan 4-3 in 10 innings Saturday afternoon. That was game three of the GSU Invitational, held at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Richardson drew a one-out walk off Adam Abraham. Pelfrey ripped an inside fastball down the left field line for his team-leading sixth double. The Eagles (9-6 overall) lost a lead in the ninth inning for the second straight day, which eventually sent the game into extra innings.
“I wasn’t looking for any specific pitch. I just looked to put the ball in play and advance the runner,” said Pelfrey. “We were a little disappointed when they tied the game but you cannot let it get to you. It’s great to get a win after being in a couple of clutch games.”
Michigan, like LeMoyne the previous night, used a two out ninth inning rally against the Eagles. A.J. Battisto retired the first two batters before issuing a walk. Pinch-runner Mike Schmidt stole second. On that play, Griffin Benedict’s throw down to second went into centerfield, then David Richardson bobbled the ball which allowed Schmidt to tie the game.
Chris Hollis got a hit to start the first inning, his second hit in his last 31 plate appearances. Benedict laid down a sacrifice bunt then Greg Dowling drew his team-leading 17th walk. Justin Klinger ripped a double into the left field gap for an early 2-0 lead.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the third but Paul Hammond got a ground ball 5-2-3 double play and strikeout to keep Southern from scoring.
Everett Teaford had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning but Abraham lined a leadoff single through the left side. Teaford battled back and kept Michigan off the board.
Benedict hit his second home run, a solo shot in the fifth which extended the lead to 3-0. A RBI double with two outs in the eighth by Leif Mahler ended Teaford’s shutout bid. That hit also chased the junior left-hander in favor of Battisto. Doug Pickens hit a run-scoring double, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, Battisto struck out Nate Recknagel to end that threat.
Battisto (1-0) allowed the one unearned run on two hits in 2.1 innings. He walked one and struck out four. Teaford threw 107 pitches in 7.2 innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
Pelfrey’s game-winning double was his third hit. Hollis, Benedict and Dowling added two hits apiece as the Eagles out-hit Michigan 10-6.
Abraham led the Wolverines (2-4) with two hits but suffered his first loss of the year falling to 1-1. He walked two in 1.1 innings of work.
Michael Affronti went 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored, leading LeMoyne (3-4 overall) to a 14-6 win over UNC Asheville in the nightcap. Ben Gaal also tallied four hits, scored twice and drove in two. Bobby Blevins (1-1) allowed four runs on six hits in 6.1 innings to pick up his first win of the season.
Brett Robinson had four of the Bulldogs’ (3-8) 12 hits. Tim Johnson (0-2) suffered the loss.
Sunday’s schedule concludes with LeMoyne versus Michigan at 11 a.m. then UNC Asheville against the Eagles at 3 p.m.
Story courtesy of The Citadel sports information
The Citadel 14-10, Princeton 1-7
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel completed a two-game sweep over Princeton Saturday afternoon, 14-1 and 10-7 in a doubleheader in Riley Park. Senior starter Ryan Owens earned his first win of the season in game one, pitching seven scoreless innings. Left fielder Chris Swauger was 3-for-5 in game two, including an inside-the-park home run.
Owens (1-1) picked up his first win of the season in The Citadel's 14-1 victory over Pinceton in game one. Owens held the Tigers scoreless for seven innings, only allowing one run on three hits and striking out seven. Catcher Zach Wendkos smacked a solo home run in the eighth to ruin the shutout and give the Tigers their lone run of the game.
Senior shortstop Matt Matulia paced the Bulldogs in game one as he was 3-for-4, including two runs batted in and scoring four. Freshmen Graham Couch and Trey Thomas entered the game to combine for four of the Dogs' runs as both hit a perfect 2-for-2.
First baseman Zach Brown got the Bulldog offense going early as he ripped a three-run job over the fence in right to give The Citadel an early 3-0 lead in the first. Brown's three RBI in game one against Princeton set a career-high for the junior. The Dogs then scored four more in the fifth on a two-run double by designated hitter Sonny Meade and a pair of RBI-singles by second baseman Conrad Kellahan and center fielder Chance Smith.
The offensive barrage continued as the Dogs tacked on three more in both the sixth and seventh frames. Matulia ripped his first triple of the season for his 10th career three-bagger. He moves into the number four spot all-time in career triples with Jerry Simmons, Curt Beerman and Vic Correll. Thomas registered his first collegiate hit and RBI, driving in Matulia with a single up the middle. Catcher Brady Mashak singled to plate the third run in the sixth. The three runs in the seventh came on a RBI-triple by Swauger, an error and another RBI-single off the bat of Thomas to make it 13-0.
Wendkos sent a 1-1 offering from Owens over the fence in right center in the eighth for his first dinger of the season. The Citadel added the final run in their half of the inning as Couch drove in Kellahan for the end result, 14-1.
Tiger starter Gavin Fabian suffered the loss in his first outing of the year, pitching four and two thirds innings, giving up seven runs on eight eights and fanning five.
Princeton rallied late in game two, but fell three short as The Citadel took a 10-7 victory. The Tigers, down 7-0 in the beginning of the sixth, came back within one run going into the bottom of the eighth. The Dogs scored two and then called on closer Link Saunders to shut the Tigers down in the ninth. Saunders tossed one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one to preserve the win and earn his seventh save of the year. The junior now has 11 career saves, enough to tie Rich Collins for ninth all-time.
The Dogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as Tiger starter Eric Walz walked in the first run of the game. Meade smacked an RBI-single for the second score. Covington tallied an RBI-single of his own in the second to add another Bulldog run.
The Citadel scored four more in the fifth on another base hit by Meade, an errant throw by Princeton first baseman Stephen Wendell plated two and Mashak tallied a sac fly to make it 7-0.
The Tigers answered with four of their own in the sixth. Right fielder Andrew Salini lined a base hit to center and catcher Sal Iacono doubled for the first two runs. Wendell then ripped a single into center to plate two more.
Swauger raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run in the sixth after the ball got past a diving Derek Beckman in right-center. It was Swauger's second round-tripper of the season.
Princeton tallied three runs in the seventh and eighth to pull within one. Mashak fielded a sac bunt and threw it away trying to get the force at third to allow third baseman Adrian Turnham to sprint home. Left fielder Aaron Prince hit an RBI-single and designated hitter Andrew Doupe tripled to right to bring in another run and make it 8-7.
Story courtesy of Alabama sports information
Alabama 8, Appalachian State 3
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Alabama got a big inning early in the game and a big game from senior catcher Kody Valverde en route to an 8-3 win over Appalachian State Saturday afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Valverde supplied nearly all the Crimson Tide’s offense by going 2-for-4 with a double and a career-high tying five RBI in the win.
He broke the game open with a three-run double over the head of right fielder Rand Smith to cap UA’s five-run second inning.
“With the bases loaded, I got a good pitch to hit,” Valverde said. “I got a fastball and hit it away to right field. We worked on fastballs away in batting practice today. I just try and put the ball in play when I need to.”
Valverde also put Alabama on the board with an infield ground out to score Emeel Salem from third base in the bottom of the first inning give the Tide a 1-0 lead.
Alabama (11-3) took all the drama out of the game with the five-run second inning, highlighted by Greg Paiml’s two run triple to left-center and Valverde’s three-run double over the head of right fielder Rand Smith for the 6-0 lead.
The five-run inning was more than enough for Alabama starter Bernard Robert and the Alabama bullpen. Robert (2-0) worked seven innings and allowed two runs and six hits, with no walks and four strikeouts.
ASU starter Chad Antley (0-1) was charged with eight runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss.
The Mountaineers (5-2) scored a run in the top of the third inning when a Ben Billingsley ground out scored Nick DeRose.
The Crimson Tide added two more runs in the fourth to take an 8-1 lead. Downs, Bush and Valverde tallied three straight two-out singles, with Bush and Valverde collecting RBI singles.
Kevin Butler led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 8-2. ASU added another run in the eighth when Billingsley reached on a two-out double and scored on Isaac Harrow’s base hit to left to cap the scoring.
ASU out hit Alabama 9-7 in the loss. DeRose and Joey Robinson had two hits each for the Mountaineers.
The two teams close out this three-game series with a 2 p.m. (CT) game Sunday. Alabama will send freshman right-hander Tommy Hunter (2-0, 0.63 ERA), while ASU will counter with freshman right hander Jason Rook (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
Story courtesy of UNC Greensboro sports information
Western Michigan 7, UNC Greensboro 3
JACKSONVILLE, FL ? Western Michigan starting pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth allowed one earned run on five hits as the UNC Greensboro baseball team lost a 7-3 decision to the Broncos Saturday afternoon at the University of North Florida’s Harmon Stadium.
Western Michigan struck for the game’s first run in the bottom of the second as Joe McDonald led of the frame with a single to left and later came around to score on a double play groundout. UNCG took a 2-1 lead after the top half of the third as Wes McCall led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by leftfielder Roly Gonzalez. Second baseman Greg Feltes singled to left, moving McCall to third base who scored one batter later on a throwing error by WMU catcher Mark Abro.
The Broncos quickly regained the lead as WMU plated three runs in the home half of the third to take a 4-2 lead. Matt Bolton led off with a double to rightfield and came around to score on a single from Abro. After a wild pitch moved Abro up 90 feet, Travis May drove him home with a single to rightfield. Neal Miller produced the third run of the inning with an RBI single to right to score McDonald from third.
UNCG cut the deficit to a single run as Feltes scored on a throwing error on the Bronco infield. With two outs already recorded, Feltes drew a walk and reached second base on a single from centerfielder Jermaine Mitchell. Guy Welsh, the Spartans’ leading hitter, reached base on a throwing error on WMU’s third baseman, allowing Feltes to score from second.
After scoring another three runs in the bottom of the sixth, Western Michigan essentially put the game out of reach as the Spartans were unable to produce any real scoring opportunities in the final three innings. During the sixth inning, the Broncos managed to score all three runs without the luxury of a hit, scoring runs on a hit batsman with the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.
Hollingsworth (2-0) picked up the win for the home Broncos after allowing three runs one five hits in seven innings on the hill.
Ryan Clear (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on five hits two innings of work. Greg Martin, Brandon Harvey, Patrick Currin and Greg Matson also saw work in relief for UNCG.
Senior David Adams went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Spartans while five others recorded a hit. UNCG finished the game with seven hits.
UNCG returns to action Sunday afternoon when the Spartans take on Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. from Harmon Stadium. The Spartans will be the designated visiting team for the contest.