Stories courtesy of The Citadel sports information
Game One: The Citadel 8, Davidson 2
Charleston, S.C. - Senior catcher Brady Mashak ripped his first home run of the season while junior reliever Justin Smith registered his first save of the year as The Citadel won game one of a twin bill with Davidson, 8-2, on Friday afternoon at Riley Park. Sophomore third baseman Matt Arnold and senior shortstop Matt Matulia paced the Bulldog offense as they both batted 3-for-5, while Arnold batted in one and Matulia tallied two RBI.
The Dogs clinched their fourth straight SoCon series win of the year as The Citadel improves to 27-24 and 12-11 SoCon. Davidson falls to 17-29 on the year and a 5-18 record in the conference.
Sophomore left fielder Chris Swauger also blasted his ninth triple of the year as he continues to lead the league in three-baggers. The sophomore is also tied for first in the nation in triples. Alden Crissey led the Wildcat offense as he hit 2-for-4 with one RBI.
The Citadel took a 4-0 lead, scoring twice in both the fourth and fifth frames. Arnold smacked an RBI-double down the left field line for the first score. Arnold moved over to third on a single by Mashak and raced home on a throwing error by Wildcat third baseman Alden Crissey to put the Dogs up 2-0 in the fourth.
Swauger blasted a triple inside the right field line with one out in the fifth. Freshman designated hitter Sonny Meade grounded out to short before junior first baseman Zach Brown worked the count for walk. Senior shortstop Matt Matulia then stepped in a ripped a two-bagger down the left field line to plate Swauger and Brown, giving the Dogs a four-run advantage.
Davidson cut The Citadel lead in half as they scored two in the sixth. Alex Entrekin led-off with a single and moved to second as Swauger misplayed the ball in left field. Jay Heafner reached on an infield single and raced to second as Matulia's throw skipped past the bag at first, also allowing Entrekin to score. Crissey then sent Heafner across the dish with a double to right, making it 4-2.
The Bulldogs answered back with three runs in their half of the frame. With one out, Mashak belted a solo shot over the left field wall for his first round-tripper of the season. Sophomore center fielder Chance Smith popped out for the second out before senior right fielder Matt Covington earned a base on balls. Davidson then called Kayne to the mound to replace Meade. Covington swiped his fifth bag of the year before Matulia got a free pass. Back-to-back singles by Meade and Brown pushed two across, allowing the Dogs to regain their four-run lead. Senior Trent Weathers laced an RBI-double to right in the seventh to tack on a run to The Citadel's lead, putting the Dogs up 8-2.
Citadel starter Ryan Owens (4-6) was credited with the win as he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out six. Meade (1-2) suffered the loss for Davidson as he went. 5.2 frames, giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits, while fanning four.
Citadel reliever Justin Smith picked up his first save of the season as he held the Wildcats hitless and scoreless for 3.2 innings and garnered seven strikeouts, two short of his career-high.
The Dogs look to sweep their first three-game set of the season as The Citadel and Davidson square-off in game two of a doubleheader at Riley Park on Friday, May 12 at 5:10 p.m.
Game Two: The Citadel 13, Davidson 3
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel's six runs in the third inning led them to a 13-3 win over Davidson in game two of a doubleheader on Friday night at Riley Park. The Dogs swept the twin bill with an 8-2 victory in game one, while also earning their first series sweep since they took three from Furman in May of 2005. The Citadel improves to 28-24, 13-11 SoCon, while Davidson falls to 17-30, 5-19 SoCon.
The Dogs registered a season-high six doubles in the contest. Senior catcher Brady Mashak and sophomore left fielder Chris Swauger paced The Citadel offense as they were responsible for nine of the Bulldogs' 13 runs. Mashak batted 2-for-4, including two doubles and a career-best four RBI while scoring once. Swauger also went 2-for-4 as he belted his 10th triple of the season to continue to lead both the Southern Conference and the nation. Swauger was one of two Bulldogs to drive in three runs as junior first baseman Zach Brown enjoyed a multi-RBI contest as well.
Three separate batters tallied two hits and an RBI in the contest for Davidson. Alden Crissey, Rob Wilson, and Blake Osborn each enjoyed a multi-hit evening as Crissey notched his sixth home run of the year. The Wildcats' nine hits were the most they had in a single game during the entire series.
The Citadel exploded for six runs in the third as junior first baseman Zach Brown laced a double to the gap in right center to send two across the dish with one out. Senior shortstop Matt Matulia went down on strikes for the second out before Wildcat starter Brant West loaded the bases with a hit batsman and walked another. Davidson then called Rob Shenk to the rubber. Senior catcher Brady Mashak stepped in and roped a bases-clearing double to left center, giving the Dogs a six-run advantage.
Davidson came back in the fourth and sixth to cut the Bulldog lead in half. Back-to-back doubles by Gregory Zage and Rob Wilson scored two in the fourth. Alden Crissey ripped his sixth home run of the season as he knocked a solo shot to left to make it 6-3 in the sixth.
The Dogs tacked on two more in the sixth on a bases loaded walk and an RBI-groundout. With one out and the bases full, Shenk surrendered a free pass to freshman designated hitter Sonny Meade to plate the first run. Michael Kaufman then came on in relief and forced Brown into a fielder's choice while the second score of the inning crossed the plate.
Five runs for The Citadel over the seventh and eighth innings put the game out of Davidson's reach. Senior second baseman Tripp Cappelmann raced home as Wildcat catcher Alex Entrekin threw a ball that skipped into center field attempting to catch Weathers stealing second. Swauger blasted his second triple of the day to bring in two more in the seventh. Sophomore Conrad Kellahan pinch-hit for an RBI-single while Mashak notched his fourth RBI of the contest with a double to left center to make the final 13-3.
Citadel freshman starter Matt Crim (5-1) was credited with the win as he went 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out two. Brant West (4-7) suffered the loss as he lasted 2.2 frames, allowing six runs on four hits while fanning one.
Junior reliever Justin Smith picked up his second save in as many games after registering his first career save in game one. Smith tossed 3.0 innings in game two, holding the Wildcats scoreless on two hits while fanning five. The right-hander tossed 6.2 frames over both games allowing only two hits while striking out 12, holding opponents to a .091 batting average.
The Dogs out slugged the Wildcats 44-23 over the three-game set, while pushing 34 runs across the plate compared to Davidson's nine. Matulia posted a .500 (7-for-14) average in the series, including four doubles and six RBI. Mashak also enjoyed a .500 average while five other Bulldogs batted .400 or better.
The Citadel will travel across the bridge to face cross-town rival College of Charleston at Patriots Point Field for their final SoCon series of the regular season May 18-20 before the SoCon Tournament gets underway on May 23.
Story courtesy of Western Carolina sports information
Western Carolina 6, Kennesaw State 3
Cullowhee, N.C. -- Western Carolina used a solo home run from Trey McDaniel and a three-run double by Steven Strausbaugh to claim a 6-3 victory over Kennesaw State Friday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts (28-22) also had its three pitchers combine for 12 strikeouts with just one walk in the win.
Western Carolina got on the board first as McDaniel hit solo a home run over the center field fence for his 10th blast of the season.
The Catamounts extended their advantage to 4-0 in the third. Mitchell Hatley and Tim Hallam had singles. Then, with two outs, Barrett Shaft loaded the bases after he was hit by a pitch. Strausbaugh brought the three home with a three- run double down the left field line.
The Owls (22-27) responded to score three runs in the fourth for a 4-3 game. After being held without a hit over the first three innings, KSU had back-to- back leadoff doubles by Jay Morrow and Scott Hendrix to make the score 4-1. Andy Hudson followed with an RBI single up the middle. Kennesaw State would load the bases with one out. A fielders choice would retire Hudson at the plate before Jacob Robbins plated the final run of the inning.
In the sixth, Western took a 5-3 lead. Shaft had a leadoff double and moved to third on McDaniel’s single to left. Jonathan Greene drove in Shaft with a single to right-center. Western would load the bases before Owl starter Dan Dale got a strikeout and a fly out to limit the damage.
Western added an insurance run in the eighth to provide the final 6-3 margin. McDaniel drew a leadoff walk and scored two batters later on Blake Murphy’s fourth triple of the season.
Catamount closer Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth to record his eighth save of the season. He also extended his streak to seven games and 10.2 innings of scoreless baseball. WCU starter Tyler Sexton picked up the win to improve to 7-5. He scattered seven hits over six innings with three runs, no walks and eight strikeouts. He now has 78 strikeouts with just 10 walks in 83.0 innings this season. Brian McCullen bridged the gap between Sexton and Holland, allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings.
Like Sexton, Owl starter Dale allowed seven hits through six, but allowed five runs and one walk with six strikeouts to take the loss and fall to 7-5. Robbins, Morrow and Matt Nelson each had two hits for KSU.
The teams will play the second of the three-game weekend set on Saturday with first pitch set for 4 pm.
Story courtesy of Georgia Southern sports information
Georgia Southern 4, Appalachian State 1
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Everett Teaford struck out 12 Appalachian State batters, equaling his season-high, as Georgia Southern defeated the Mountaineers 4-1 Friday night at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles improved to 13-9 in Southern Conference play, 27-23 overall.
The junior left-hander (9-3) struck out seven of the first 10 batters he faced. He surpassed 100 Ks this season, now at 108, eclipsing that milestone for the third straight year.
Georgia Southern jumped on App State starter Jason Hook right away. Chris Hollis was hit by a pitch with one down in the opening frame. He stole second (one of two stolen bases in the game) then scored on Greg Dowling’s RBI single up the middle.
Jeremiah Parker hammered an opposite field shot in the bottom of the second, his sixth homer of the year making it 2-0. The Eagles were robbed of what would have been consecutive extra-base hits following the home run. Centerfielder Chris Baker made a running catch on Brian Pierce’s shot into the right field gap. Then rightfielder Rand Smith made a leaping catch on the run, snaring one away from Matt Miller to end the frame.
Dowling lined another RBI single in the third, extending the lead to 3-0. The senior first baseman doubled off relief pitcher Josh Fish to start the seventh. He scored on Mike Economos’ single to center making it 4-0.
Tom Prosser ended the shutout bid when he hit his first home run of the year to start the eighth. Otherwise no App State runner got past second base.
While winning his sixth straight outing, Teaford’s 12 Ks match his second-highest single game total (The Citadel back in March) two shy of his career-high. He scattered seven hits and walked one.
Dowling finished 3-for-3, moving past Alan Balcomb into third place in career hits now at 304. The Eagles turned two double plays but stranded nine runners on base.
Seven different Mountaineers (20-26-1, 6-16) accounted for their seven hits. Rook (4-5) allowed three runs on four hits in six innings. He struck out four but walked six Eagles.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start on Saturday afternoon (May 13).
Story courtesy of Furman sports information
College of Charleston 3, Furman 2
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Joey Friddle's two-run double in the seventh inning lifted nationally 21st-ranked College of Charleston to a 3-2 win over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Friday night at Furman Stadium.
With the score tied 1-1, Friddle, a senior outfielder from nearby Travelers Rest, S.C., lined a one-out offering by Paladin starting pitcher Matt Klinker into the right centerfield gap to score Alex Garabedian and Clay McCord. College of Charleston (37-11, 18-4 SoCon) then weathered a shaky eighth inning before retiring the Paladins in order in the ninth to post its seventh straight victory in Greenville.
The loss marked the sixth straight league setback for Furman (29-18, 13-9 SoCon).
College of Charleston starting pitcher Graham Godfrey (7-2) picked up the victory after working seven innings and surrendering six hits, two earned runs, and two walks while matching his career high with nine strikeouts.
Cougar closer Josh McLaughlin came on in the eighth and pitched out of a bases loaded, no-out situation by allowing only one hit while striking out three over the final two innings to record his 14th save of the season. CofC pitching combined to fan 12 Paladin hitters.
College of Charleston collected 10 hits in the contest, including three by Friddle, who went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Garabedian, McCord, and Larry Cobb added two hits each for the Cougars.
Joe Daysh and Marcus Rose had two hits each for the Paladins, who finished with seven hits -- all singles.
Paladin starting pitcher Matt Klinker absorbed the loss after yielding nine hits and three runs, including two earned, and two walks over seven innings. He struck out two.
College of Charleston took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an unearned run. McCord reached first and advanced to second on a throwing error by Paladin third baseman Joe Daysh. Friddle followed with a bunt single that moved McCord to third before coming home on Phillip Coker's double play groundout.
Furman answered with a game tying run in the bottom of the frame. After Andrew Greene and Marcus Rose reached on back-to-back bunt singles, both players advanced on a wild pitch. Ben Terry followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Greene. Furman failed, however, to add to the inning as Godfrey struck out Will Stembridge with Rose at third base for the second out, and Case Cassedy was retired on a fly to centerfield to end the frame.
College of Charleston took a 3-1 lead in the seventh. With one out Garabedian singled up the middle. McCord followed with a bloop double that hit the left field line and moved Garabedian to third. Friddle then delivered a line drive, two-run double into the right center field gap to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead. Klinker limited the damage by getting Coker on a liner to centerfield and Marmol on an infield fly.
In the Furman eighth Terry was hit by a Godfrey pitch, and Stembridge reached on an infield single. McLaughlin then came on for Godfrey and gave up an RBI single to Case Cassedy. A.J. Davidiuk's bunt back to the mound was misplayed by McLaughlin, which loaded the bases with no outs. McLaughlin recovered by striking out Jay Jackson, getting Will Stembridge on a force on third baseman Jess Easterling's diving stop and throw home, and retiring Tony Maccani on inning ending groundout.
Saturday's game two is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.
Story courtesy of UNC Greensboro sports information
UNC Greensboro 3, Wofford 2
GREENSBORO, NC ? Jermaine Mitchell’s RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted UNC Greensboro to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Wofford Friday evening at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Mitchell, a junior from Daingerfield, TX, finished the contest with a game-high three hits and has now recorded multi-hit games in his last four outings to raise his average to a blistering .387.
Wofford (19-31, 4-18 SoCon) evened the game at two runs apiece in the top of the eighth inning before Mitchell provided the clutch two-bagger a half inning later. Terrier second baseman Shane Kirkley got things started with a one-out double before taking third on a groundout on the infield one batter later. Chuck Eller delivered the game-tying blow next with an RBI single to second base. Greg Feltes made an amazing diving play to keep the ball on the infield, but was unable to throw out the speedy Eller.
UNCG (21-28, 10-12 SoCon) starting pitcher Nick Starnes and Wofford starter Austin Redwine were matched in an old fashioned pitching dual over the first half of the game as neither hurler surrendered a run in the first five innings. The Spartans finally scratched the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as UNCG plated a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Brandon Harvey opened the frame with a single to leftfield and Mitchell followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Guy Welsh then advanced both runners up one base with a sacrifice bunt, before Sean Snell delivered a two-run single to right-centerfield.
The Terriers cut into the lead the next half inning, leaving the Spartans ahead by only a run at 2-1. Bradford Eaves drew a walk to start the innings and catcher Keith Munns then laced a double to rightfield, but was erased in a rundown as he tried to make it into third base.
Senior Patrick Currin (8-3) earned the win in relief after allowing just one hit while collecting three strikeouts in 1-1/3 innings of work. Currin recorded the final out in the eighth and pitched a perfect ninth that included a pair of strikeouts to seal the win for the Spartans.
Starnes picked up a no decision despite an extremely productive outing for the junior right-hander. The Haw River, NC product allowed just one run on four hits while recording four strikeouts in 6-1/3 innings of mound duty.
Redwine (5-6) suffered the loss for the visitors after surrendering three runs on seven hits while striking out five in 7-1/3 innings on the hill.
UNCG wrap up a three-game series Saturday afternoon when the two clubs partake in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. from UNCG Baseball Stadium.