Story courtesy of Davidson sports information
College of Charleston 6-11, Davidson 1-3
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson Wildcats baseball team lost both ends of a doubleheader to 20th-ranked College of Charleston on Sunday afternoon, 6-1 and 11-3, as the Cougars swept the three-game Southern Conference series. Charleston improves to 27-6 on the season and 10-2 in the league, while the Wildcats fall to 12-20 overall and 2-10 in the conference as their losing streak stretched to six.
Charleston pitchers struck out 22 batters in the twinbill, including 11 by sophomore right-hander Danny Meszaros over 7.1 innings in game one. Meszaros (6-0) allowed just one unearned run on four hits and a walk, and the 11 punchouts were one shy of his career high.
Graham Maiden was the offensive star of game one with two singles, a double and his first home run of the season for a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. His two-run double got the Cougars on the board in the second, and his two-run blast to right in the fourth gave Charleston a 4-0 lead against Davidson ace Rob Wilson.
In the fifth, Joey Friddle led off with a double and went to third on a balk by Wilson. Davidson had a chance to get out of the inning, however, when Larry Cobb's line drive to short was caught for the first out, and Phillip Coker following by hitting a high pop into shallow right-center. But with the infield playing in, Wildcat second baseman Ronnie Shore had trouble tracking the pop up and couldn't corral it for an error, allowing the run to score.
Charleston extended its lead to 6-0 in the sixth when Maiden singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out single by Friddle. Davidson's lone run came in the bottom half on a two-out error and an RBI double by senior Jay Heafner.
Wilson (3-4) took the loss, yielding six runs, four earned, on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts in six innings. Heafner had two of Davidson's five hits in the game, including the only RBI.
In the second game, the Cougars took advantage of some defensive lapses in the first to put six runs on the board. Coker's shallow pop to center fell for a single with one out, and Oliver Marmol followed with a bloop single to left. A throwing error allowed the first run to score before Jess Easterling delivered an RBI two-bagger and Maiden followed with a two-run double. Maiden trotted home on Alex Garabedian's single to center, which got past the fielder for a two-base error as well. A wild pitch allowed Garabedian to score the sixth run.
The 'Cats tried to get back in the game with three runs in the third. Freshman Pat Brady was hit by a pitch, went to second on Shore's single and scored on a single by Wilson. After a grounder put runners at second and third, junior Gregory Zage hit the first pitch up the middle for a two-run single, cutting the deficit to three runs.
But that would be all for Davidson on offense. Graham Godfrey settled in and did not another runner past first until the eighth when the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out. But Brendan Stines stifled the rally by getting a called third strike and a comebacker to end the inning.
Godfrey (5-2), like Meszaros in game one, lasted 7.1 innings. All three runs were charged to him as he gave up six hits and three walks while fanning six as well. Stines struck out three over the final 1.2 innings to close out the game. Maiden and Friddle each had three hits, two runs and two RBIs to lead the 15-hit Cougar attack.
Junior Rob Shenk (1-3) was stuck with the loss, surrendering eight runs, but just four earned, over 5.2 innings on 10 hits and a pair of walks while striking out five. Shore, Wilson and Zage each had two hits for Davidson.
Davidson will attempt to end its six-game skid on Wednesday at Duke in a game set to start at 7 p.m. College of Charleston travels to 23rd-ranked Winthrop on Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. contest.
Story courtesy of Georgia Southern sports information
Georgia Southern 7-2, Western Carolina 1-4
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Dustin Evans and A.J. Battisto combined on a 2-hitter as Georgia Southern defeated Western Carolina 7-1 in the opener of their Southern Conference doubleheader on Sunday. That win clinched the series for GS, now 18-17 overall and 6-3 in the SoCon. The Catamounts used a late home run in the finale to win 4-2.
Western (19-13, 7-5) ended an 11-inning scoreless streak versus the Eagles in the top of the third of game one. Jason Haynes drew a leadoff walk against Evans. He stole second then scored on Steven Strausbaugh’s two-out RBI single. However, that would be the last hit in the game for the Catamounts.
The Eagles quickly responded in their half with clutch hitting. Brian Pierce lined a leadoff single then with one out Chris Shehan extended his hitting streak to 13 games poking a single through the right side. Greg Dowling drew a walk to load the bases. Justin Klinger struck out but Jeremiah Parker picked him up lining a 2-run single. Mike Economos hit a triple to right field, bringing home two more runs for a 4-1 GS lead.
Evans worked out of a jam after he hit two batters in the top of the fifth when Barrett Shaft hit into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play. Parker hit his third homer, a solo shot in the fifth that extended the lead to 5-1.
Georgia Southern got another two-out hit with the bases loaded to add insurance runs in the eighth. Shehan bounced a single through the left side, extending the lead to 7-1.
Shehan, Parker and Economos finished with two hits apiece as the Eagles out-hit WCU 13-2.
Evans (1-1), still on a pitch count while recovering from his elbow injury, allowed one run on two hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out two. Battisto picked up his first save, throwing four hitless innings.
Tyler Sexton (5-3) was charged for five runs on 10 hits through seven innings. He walked one and struck out six Eagles.
Strausbaugh broke the hitless streak in the first inning of game two, lining a RBI double to give Western a 1-0 lead. During the fourth Shaft lined a two-out RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
Shehan ripped a single to start the sixth inning rally. Dowling walked, putting runners at first and second. That walk was the 111th of his career, tying him for ninth all-time. Griffin Benedict advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Shehan scored on Brian McCullen’s wild pitch. With two outs Economos skied a shot into shallow centerfield where it dropped between three Catamounts, allowing the tying run to cross.
Jonathan Greene broke the tie game in the eighth hitting his fifth home run of the season, a 2-run shot off David Cogswell (1-4). The Eagles used an error and walk to put the tying run on base in their half but a strikeout ended that threat.
Much like last Sunday at Davidson (a 4-3 win), the Eagles tried to stage a rally in the ninth but this time came up short. Chris Hollis lined a one-out single in the ninth, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Matt Miller drew a two-out walk to bring the winning run to the plate, but Shehan bounced into a force play to end the game.
Josh Lairsey, who threw only five pitches in a 1-2-3 fifth inning, lasted 6.2 innings. He gave up two runs on seven hits, striking out eight ? the second-highest total of his career. Cogswell gave up just two hits in 2.1 innings but was charged for the loss.
Shehan and Economos accounted for four of the Eagles’ five hits.
Brian McCullen (5-1) earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out two. Greg Holland pitched two scoreless innings of relief for his third save.
Western hosts Clemson on Tuesday (April 11). The Eagles host Mercer Tuesday night, first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
Story courtesy of Appalachian State sports information
UNC Greensboro 7, Appalachian State 4
BOONE, N.C. - Two costly errors fueled a ninth-inning UNC Greensboro rally that allowed the Spartans to take a 7-4 victory over Appalachian State University baseball Sunday afternoon at Red Lackey Field.
Appalachian, which dropped 2-of-3 to UNCG, falls to 12-18-1 overall and 2-10 in the SoCon. The Spartans improve to 14- 19 overall and 4-5 in the league. The left side of Appalachian’s infield keyed the offense at the plate as shortstop Joey Robinson and third baseman Nick DeRose combined to go 5-for-9 with a run and three RBI. The Spartans had five\ players with multiple hits in the win led by the first three batters in the order, Jermaine Mitchell, Greg Feltes and Guy Welsh, who went a combined 6-for-13 with four runs and two RBI.
UNCG collected its seven runs on 12 hits and committed two errors in the field. The Mountaineers recorded four runs on three hits and had three defensive miscues.
Patrick Currin pitched the final five innings for UNCG, earning his fifth win of the season. Adam Mills took the loss in relief for ASU, giving up three runs, all unearned, on four hits in two innings. Mills relieved starter Garrett Sherrill who surrendered four runs, three earned, on eight hits in seven innings of work.
Appalachian scored first with a run in the bottom of the third inning on a DeRose single to center field that scored Robinson from second base. UNCG posted runs in the fourth and fifth innings on a throwing error from the catcher and perfectly executed squeeze bunt from Sam Martin, respectively.
The Mountaineers rallied back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Robinson that scored leftfielder David Rubinstein and a sacrifice fly to centerfield from DeRose that brought Wes Borden in from third base to make the score 3-2.
ASU extended its lead by one in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kevin Butler scored on a 6-4-3 double play that Rubinstein hit into. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, the Spartans countered with a two run seventh inning to tie the\ game at 4-4. Both runs scored on Guy Welsh’s single to left field that drove in Jermaine Mitchell and Adam Deleo.
The score remained tied until the top of the ninth when UNCG scored three unearned runs courtesy of ASU’s two errors to win the ballgame. Mitchell led off the inning with an infield single followed by a Feltes bunt single. Mills fanned the next two batters before another bunt single, this one from Roly Gonzalez. A throwing error by the first baseman on the play allowed Mitchell to score on the play. The next batter, David Adams, reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed two more runs to score before ASU could record the third out to end the inning.
Appalachian mustered a charge in the bottom half of the inning, getting runners on first and second with one out before two groundouts ended the inning.
Appalachian will stay at home for its next game, a non-conference tilt versus North Carolina A&T on April 11 at 3 p.m. at Red Lackey Field.
Story courtesy of Wofford sports information
Elon 10, Wofford 0
SPARTANBURG, SC ? Steven Hensley tossed a four-hitter and struck out 13 in leading Elon to a 10-0 win over Wofford on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
It marked the second straight shutout by Elon’s pitching staff. The Phoenix won Saturday’s game 8-0.
Elon scored three runs in the first when Chris Price singled, Robert Rodebaugh drew a walk and Chris Vasami belted a three-run homer, his eighth of the year.
The Phoenix scored another run in the fourth when Grant Rembert led off with a walk, moved to second on an infield ground out, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
Elon touched Wofford starter Austin Redwine for three runs in the fifth. Rembert doubled in a run, Ryan Addison hit a sacrifice fly and Rembert scored on a wild pitch.
Hensley needed just 110 pitches as he scattered four hits and did not allow a walk. Chuck Eller got Wofford’s first hit with a single to left in the third. Bradford Eaves added a single in the fifth. The Terriers’ best scoring opportunity came in the sixth when Eller and Adam Wood led off the frame with singles. Shane Kirkley’s fly ball to shallow right fell in between three Elon fielders but Eller was thrown out at second and Kirkley was called out for passing Wood.
Elon added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Reliever Lance Player issued a pair of walks and hit a batter to load the bases. Lefthander Whit Kennedy came on and gave up an RBI single to Addison before inducing a double play.
In the eighth, Donny Jobe led off the frame with a single and would eventually score on a sacrifice fly by Price.
Vasami was the only Phoenix player with two hits as he also drove in three runs. Rembert and Addison each had two RBIs. Eller collected two hits for the Terriers.
Wofford is now 15-21 overall and 2-10 in the Southern Conference. Elon improves to 25-11, 9-3.
Wofford will travel to High Point on Wednesday night while the Phoenix will host Wake Forest on Tuesday night.
Story courtesy of The Citadel sports information
Furman 5, The Citadel 2
Charleston, S.C. ? Furman clinched their third straight Southern Conference series victory as they defeated The Citadel, 5-2, Sunday afternoon in Riley Park. A.J. Davidiuk paced the Paladins as he went 2-for-4 and scored once, while Citadel sophomore Chance Smith recorded his second home run of the season in the contest.
Furman (20-19, 8-1) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first as Citadel starter Matt Crim grazed Ben Terry with a pitch to give him first base. Andrew Greene then bunted for a single to advance Terry to second before Davidiuk laid down a sac bunt to move both runners up. A wild pitch allowed Terry to race home and Greene to reach third. Greene then scored on a sac fly to right off the bat of Jay Jackson.
The Citadel (17-12, 4-5) pushed one across the plate in the second as senior third baseman Mark Egleton smacked a lead-off single through the left side. The Paladins forced back-to-back flyouts before Egleton swiped second for his second stolen base in as many days. Senior shortstop Matt Matulia stepped in and ripped an RBI-double just fair down the left field line to make it 2-1.
The Paladins extended their lead to three in the third. Davidiuk recorded a lead-off double and moved to third on a bunt single by Jackson. Davidiuk sprinted to the plate after the ball squeezed out of the glove of Citadel second baseman Tripp Cappelmann trying to put the tag on Jackson stealing second. Will Stembridge registered an RBI-single to bring in Jackson and put the Paladins up, 4-1.
One swing of the bat by sophomore Chance Smith cut the Furman lead in half in the fifth. Smith jumped on the first offering by Paladin starter Ryan Hodinka and sent it over the left field wall for his second four-bagger of the year.
Furman reclaimed the three-run advantage in the eighth as Tony Maccani hit a 3-2 pitch over the left-center field wall for his sixth homer of the year to make it 5-2.
Paladin closer Nick Holstegge earned his fifth save of the season, recording the final two outs in the ninth to preserve the 5-2 victory. Reliever Will Feemster was credited with the win as he tossed 1.2 innings, keeping the Dogs hitless and scoreless with two strikeouts and walking one. Crim (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he went 2.2 frames, giving up four runs on six hits, while fanning three and walking one.
The Citadel will take a break from conference action and travel to Conway, S.C. to face Coastal Carolina for a mid-week matchup on Wednesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. at Watson Stadium. Furman returns home to host Charleston Southern on April 12 at 5 p.m.