Story courtesy of Appalachian State sports information
North Carolina 6, Appalachian State 4
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Appalachian State University brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the top of the ninth inning but No. 3 North Carolina held on for a 6-4 win over the Mountaineers on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
Freshman David Rubinstein led Appalachian’s valiant effort with a 2-for-4 performance, which included a two-run home run in the second inning that knotted the contest at 2-2.
The first three innings were a back-and-forth affair, as UNC took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, ASU tied it on Rubinstein’s homer in the top of the second and Carolina grabbed another two-run advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.
Appalachian cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth stanza on an RBI single by senior Joey Robinson, who hit safely for the eighth time in 10 games this season, but the Tar Heels answered with two more runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-3.
The Mountaineers tried to rally late in the ballgame by scoring a run in the eighth on an RBI single by senior Kevin Butler and bringing the tying run to the plate following Nick DeRose’s leadoff single in the ninth. However, the Apps left the runner stranded on first base to fall just short of the upset.
ASU reliever Zach Quate allowed two runs on four hits in an inning of work to suffer the loss, while UNC’s Luke Putkonen worked five innings for the win and Jonathan Hovis recorded the final four outs for his second save of the campaign.
Kyle Shelton, Reid Fronk and Jay Cox each had three hits for the third-ranked Tar Heels, who moved to 11-1 on the season. Appalachian suffered its fourth-straight loss ? all to ranked opponents ? to fall to 5-5 on the campaign.
Appalachian returns to action this weekend when it hosts a four-game series versus Canisius. Friday’s single game, slated for 4 p.m., and Saturday’s 1 p.m. doubleheader will be played at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory while Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale is set to take place at M.S. Deal Stadium in Granite Falls.
Story courtesy of The Citadel sports information
NC State 3, The Citadel 2
Raleigh, N.C. ? The Citadel took the early lead over No. 26 N.C. State, but could not hold on as the Wolfpack slipped past the Bulldogs, 3-2, Wednesday afternoon at Doak Field. The Dogs surrendered two runs in the fourth to put the Wolfpack ahead.
Seniors Matt Covington and Matt Matulia were responsible for the two Bulldog runs as center fielder Matt Camp paced the Wolfpack, batting 2-for-4 with one run batted in.
The Citadel (9-5) took an early lead in the first as Covington dropped a single into left-center. Covington stole second, his first swipe of the season, and then came in to score on a single off the bat of Matt Matulia to put the Dogs up, 1-0.
N.C. State (15-3) got on the board in the third as designated hitter Ryan Pond led off with a single up the middle. He moved to second on a sac bunt by shortstop Jonathan Diaz. Center fielder Matt Camp smacked a single to left to plate Diaz and knot the game at one.
The Wolfpack went up 3-1 in the fourth on a pair of RBI-singles. Right fielder Brian Aragon reached on a mishandled ball by Mark Egleton at first and advanced to second on a sac bunt by catcher Jon Still. Aragon moved to third on a base hit by third baseman Matt Mangini before left fielder Bobby Hubbard singled through the right side to bring Aragon home. Diaz then smacked another RBI-single to plate Mangini and give N.C. State a two-run lead.
The Bulldogs capitalized on a throwing error by Mangini in the sixth as Citadel third baseman Tripp Cappelmann raced to second after Mangini threw a ball in the dirt that skipped past Bates at first. Back-to-back groundouts by second baseman Conrad Kellahan and Covington plated Cappelmann to put the Bulldogs within one.
Closer Sam Walls came on in the ninth to preserve the 3-2 victory for N.C. State as he forced Swauger to groundout before surrendering a double to Matulia. Walls then sat down then registered a strike out and fly out to earn his third save of the season.
Junior starter Zach Brown (1-1) suffered the loss as he pitched six frames, allowing three runs (one earned) on nine hits and striking out three. Wolfpack hurler Jason Duncan improved to 4-0, tossing six frames and giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and fanning two.
Next up, The Citadel returns home to host Butler for a three-game series beginning Friday, March 10 at 6 p.m. in Riley Park.
Story courtesy of Wake Forest sports information
Wake Forest 9, Elon 8
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- The No. 24 Wake Forest baseball team rallied from a two-run deficit with three runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth for a 9-8 victory over Elon Wednesday at Hooks Stadium. The Demon Deacons improve to 12-3 on the season with their 10th straight
victory. The 12-3 mark is Wake’s best record after 15 games since starting the 2002 season at 13-2.
Trailing 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Allan Dykstra was hit by Phoenix reliever Justin Bors to open the frame. Sophomore Weldon Woodall then yanked his first career home run over the left field wall tying the score at 6-6. Sophomore Brett Linnenkohl launched the ensuing Bors pitch high over the mullberry bushes in right field giving Wake Forest a 7-6 advantage.
The Demon Deacons added what proved to be crucial insurance runs in the bottom of the eight inning. Redshirt sophomore Eric Williams led off the inning with a single. In an almost identical situation as last night against Coastal Carolina, freshman Dustin Hood did not sacrifice bunt.
Rather, the shortstop laced an RBI triple into the right-center field gap extending the Deacon lead to 8-6. The Phoenix looked as though they would get out of the inning trailing by just two runs, but Hood scored when Linnenkohl was ruled safe after Vasami mishandled a routine throw from second basemen Donny Jobe.
Niesen quickly retired the first two Elon batters in the ninth, but consecutive errors from junior All-American Matt Antonelli and Hood kept the inning alive for the Phoenix. With runners on second and third, Ryan Addison smacked a two-run double bringing Elon within a run, 9-8, but Niesen retired Jobe on a ground out to end the game with the tying run at second base.
Niesen (1-0) picked up the victory in relief. He tossed 2.2 innings and did not allow an earned run. Niesen struck out two and walked none. Justin Bors was charged with the loss (0-1). He allowed three runs, all earned, on four hits in 3.0 innings.
Hood went 3-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI. Linnenkohl went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a solo home run. Dykstra went 1-for-1 with a run scored and reached base in all five plate appearances with three walks and a hit by pitch. Woodall and Rosaia also added two-run home runs.
The Phoenix grabbed a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. After Wake Forest starting pitcher Andrew Knox cruised through the first two innings, the redshirt sophomore was unable to get out of the third. Patrick Irvine led off with a seeing-eye single and Ryan Addison followed with a walk. Irvine and Addison moved into scoring position on Jobe’s sacrifice bunt. After Knox walked his second batter of the inning, Chris Price singled in Irvine for the first run of the inning before Knox balked in Addison giving the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. Junior Sean Souders relieved Knox after he struck out Grant Rembert for the second out of the inning.
Souders entered the game with runners on second and third with two outs, but got Robert Rodebaugh to ground out to end the inning. Souders worked 3.1 innings and limited Elon to just a single run on three hits. The southpaw did walk three, but he also fanned a pair. In his first career
start, Knox went 2.2 innings and allowed a pair of earned runs on three hits. He punched out two and walked two. Knox and Souders were each making their first appearances of the 2006 season.
Souders kept the Phoenix off-balance just enough to allow the Deacons to grab a 4-3 lead with a four-run fourth inning. Linnenkohl, who made his first start since Feb. 19 due to an injured hamstring, opened the inning with a single. Linnenkohl advanced into scoring position on Elon
starting pitcher Steven Hensley’s wild pitch. Rosaia then blasted Hensley’s 3-1 offering deep over the wall in right-center field bringing the Deacons within a run, 3-2.
The blast clearly rattled Hensley as the freshman plunked both sophomore Andy Goff and senior Casey Sterk before getting the gate. Bors relieved Hensley and was tagged with a two-run single off the bat of Hood giving Wake Forest a 4-2 lead. Williams executed a perfect sacrifice bunt advancing Goff and Sterk prior to Hood’s single.
The Phoenix regained the lead in their half of the seventh inning. Sophomore Greg Young opened the inning with a hit batter and walk. After both runners moved into scoring position on a ground out, Vasami laced a two-run double into the right-center field gap giving the Phoenix a 5-4
lead. Young then issued another walk before exiting the game in favor of Niesen.
Niesen uncorked a wild pitch setting up second and third with still only one out. Elon pushed its lead to 6-4 when Niesen was called for his second balk of the season, but he battled back and retired the next two Elon batters to evade any further damage.
The Demon Deacons return to action this weekend with ACC opener against No. 4 North Carolina. The three-game series opens on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Hooks Stadium.
Story courtesy of Furman sports information
Charlotte 7, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Kyle Pfirrman tossed five innings of effective ball in his first collegiate start and Charlotte claimed its eighth straight win with a 7-2 victory over Furman in baseball action Wednesday afternoon at Furman Stadium.
Pfirrman (1-0), a freshman lefthander from Hamilton, Ohio, surrendered only three hits and one earned run while striking out four en route to recording his first collegiate victory. Charlotte’s B.J. Hagen, Matt Landphair and Erik Walker combined for four innings of shutout relief to preserve the win.
Aaron Bray went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored to headline a 13-hit attack for Charlotte. Cory Lane, Mike Ambrose, Adam Floyd and Chris Lane also collected two hits each for the 49ers, who improve to 12-2 on the season.
Patrick Arnett (1-2) took the loss for Furman after giving up six runs, including five earned, on six hits in three innings of work. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Paladins, who fall to 6-5 on the campaign.
Charlotte wasted little time in taking the early lead as Cory Lane led off the contest with a single and came around to score on Bray’s double down the left field line. Bray, who advanced to third on a fly out, came home on a ground out off the bat of Chris Taylor to make it 2-0.
Furman answered with a run in the bottom of the first on Spence Gibbs’ one-out solo home run to left.
The 49ers added to their advantage in the second inning, combing three hits and a Furman error for four runs and a 6-1 lead. Ambrose’s two-run double down the left field line highlighted the frame.
Tony Maccani’s sacrifice fly RBI in the fifth inning made it 6-2, but the 49ers came back with Chris Taylor’s run-scoring single in the seventh to regain the five-run lead.
Joe Daysh had three of Furman’s seven hits, including a double.
Furman returns to action on Saturday when it entertains Coppin State in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Story courtesy of UNC Greensboro sports information
Florida 3, UNC Greensboro 1
GAINESVILLE, FL ? The UNC Greensboro baseball team out hit Florida 10-8 but stranded 12 runners as the Spartans fell 3-1 to the Gators Wednesday evening from McKethan Stadium.
Florida tallied two runs in the home half of the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead ignited by back-to-back singles from Stephen Barton and Brian Leclerc. Austin Pride then drew a walk to load the bases and catcher Brian Jeroloman plated two with a single to centerfield.
UNCG squandered a golden opportunity to put runs on the board in the top of the third inning. Sean Snell led off the frame with a single on the infield and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Greg Feltes before Jermaine Mitchell walked to put runners on first and second with only one out. Guy Welsh, the Spartans’ leading hitter and run producer, took the first three pitches for balls, but UF starter J.K. LaCoste battled back and retired Welsh on a foul out to first with the count full. Adam Deleo followed with a harmless fly to rightfield to end the inning.
Gavin Dickey put the Gators out in front 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a towering home run over that sailed over the trees in left centerfield for his fourth roundtripper of the season.
The Spartans scored a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 3-1 on Deleo’s third RBI of the season. Feltes reached base on a throwing error charged to shortstop Adam Davis before Mitchell singled through the right side to put runners on first and second. Welsh moved both runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt to third before Deleo drove home Feltes with a groundout on the infield. David Adams came but inches of plating the second run of the inning, but second baseman Matt Gaski made a diving grab as the sophomore dove into rightfield to snare the blooper and prevent any further damage.
UF starter J.K. LaCoste (2-1) got the win after allowing no runs on six hits in five innings on the hill. UNCG freshman Clinton McKinney (0-2) suffered the loss after yielding two runs on four in three innings of mound duty.
Mitchell led UNCG at the dish, going 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to seven games in the process. Wes McCall and Logan Smith each chipped in with two hits apiece.
UNCG returns to the diamond Friday evening at 6 p.m. when the Spartans host Kent State in the season-opening game at UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans opened the 2006 campaign with the first 14 games of the season away from Greensboro.
Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
UNC Wilmington 5, Western Carolina 4
Wilmington, N.C. ? After hitting a two-run home run to lift UNC Wilmington to a one-run win over Western Carolina Tuesday, Justin Barefoot hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning Wednesday afternoon to give the Seahawks a 5-4 victory against the Catamounts on Wednesday at Brooks Field.
In the eighth, UNCW’s John Raynor reached with one out after being hit by a pitch and stole second. Jonathan Batts moved Raynor to third with an infield single and Barefoot brought home the game winner with his sacrifice fly to center.
As it did on Tuesday, Western Carolina took an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Tim Hallam started the game by being hit by a pitch and scoring two batters later with Barrett Shaft’s first triple of the season. Two batters after that, Trey McDaniel plated Shaft with a single to left.
In the bottom of the third, UNCW knotted the game at 2-2. Mike Mabry had a leadoff single and scored when Chris Hatcher delivered a one-out, two-run home run over the right field wall for his fourth blast of the season.
The Seahawks took the lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on four hits. Kenny Smith had a leadoff single and Matt Poulk followed with a Texas-League single to left. After an out, Batts had an RBI single to right and Barefoot followed with an RBI double to right.
Western answered in the top of the seventh, tying the game with two runs. After two outs on two pitches, Donnie Wilson reached on an infield single and Hallam, who swung and missed at strike three, reached on a wild pitch. Grey Gregory made UNCW pay for the miscue by driving in Wilson with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. With runners on first and third, Shaft hit a single off the shortstop’s glove to tie the game, bringing home Hallam.
For the Catamounts, Gregory, Shaft and McDaniel each had two hits. Caleb McConnell allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in four innings. Corey Martin also allowed two runs over two innings with five hits and a strikeout. Greg Holland suffered the loss (0-2), surrendering his first earned run of the season. He pitched the final two innings, allowing an infield single and getting six strikeouts.
Adam Paul (1-0) was credited with the win for UNCW. Starter Jeff Hatcher had a career game, striking out seven in five innings.
Western Carolina will stay on the road for three games, opening its Southern Conference portion of the schedule with three games at Elon. Friday’s game is set to start at 4 pm, Saturday’s game is scheduled to start at 1 pm and Sunday’s at 1:30 pm.