WOFFORD 19-24, IPFW 1-2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Brandon Waring smashed three of Wofford’s five home runs as the Terrier offense exploded for a 19-1 rout of IPFW in the first game of Saturday’s double header at Russell C. King Field.
Wofford (6-2) outscored the Mastodons 24-2 in the two-game set and combined for 26 total hits.
After Wofford put together a two-run first inning on a home run from Shane Kirkley and an RBI single from Mike Gilmartin, the Terriers blew the game open by scoring 12 runs in the third inning, nearly reaching the team’s single-inning record of 13 set against Gardner-Webb in 1983.
Waring hit two round-trippers in the third, the first a solo shot to open the inning and the second a three-run job to send in his fourth RBI of the inning. Following Waring’s first home run, Wofford scored nine consecutive runs and ended its offensive foray with a three-run shot from catcher Keith Munns. The homer was the third extra-base hit of the game for Munns, who finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, two runs and five RBI.
Wofford added four more runs in the fourth, two on a throwing error on a bases loaded fielder’s choice and two more on a single to right field from freshman Neil Robinette. In three at bats this season, Robinette is 2-for-3 with a home run, a run and three RBI.
Waring capped his 4-for-4 performance in the sixth inning as he mashed a solo shot to the left field power alley, recording his fifth RBI and run of the game. The five runs ties a Wofford record, set most recently in 1994 by Jeff Reichard.
Senior Austin Redwine (3-0) picked up the win for Wofford, his third consecutive victory. Redwine allowed two hits and one earned run over six innings while striking out three.
Wofford took the second game of the double header 5-1 as Ben Austin (2-1) earned his second win after taking a no-hitter through five innings. Austin allowed no earned runs and struck out six before Lance Player came in to close out the final innings and earn his first save of the season.
Wofford fell early after a failed pickoff attempt to third base by catcher Adam Kearney sent Quentin Brown across the plate for a 1-0 IPFW lead. The Terriers responded in the next half-inning, however, as Sterling Dye led off with a solo shot, his first in a Wofford uniform. Wofford then chained together three consecutive extra-base hits as Kirkley tripled, and Waring and John Brandt followed with doubles to give Wofford a 3-1 lead.
The game turned into a pitching duel until the fifth when Kirkley doubled to score Behrendt from first. With the double, Kirkley hit for the cycle in the two-game series and ended the day with four total RBI.
Wofford added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Gilmartin scored from third on a wild pitch after advancing on a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt from Adam Wood.
With the double-header sweep, Wofford improves to 6-2 on the season. The Terriers will face IPFW Sunday (Feb. 18) at noon for the final game of the three-game series.
DAVIDSON 16, GEORGETOWN 15
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Nearly 300 fans braved the cold and a brief snow flurry to witness host Davidson win its fifth straight season opener in a wild 16-15 slugfest over Georgetown at Wilson Field on Saturday afternoon. Shortstop Matt Webb starred for the Wildcats (1-0) with a homer, four RBIs and the save on the mound. Every player in the Hoya (0-1) starting lineup had at least one hit, with Matt Harrigan going 5-for-6 with a homer and three RBIs.
The two teams combined for eight long balls in the game as the howling wind was blowing straight out. Twice Georgetown belted back-to-back jacks as the Hoyas slammed five over the fence, while three Wildcats hit their first collegiate home runs, driving in seven of Davidson’s 16 runs. All but one player that came to the plate in the game had at least one hit as the Hoyas collected 19 safeties and Davidson 17.
Webb was playing in his first collegiate game after missing all of 2006 due to Tommy John surgery. He quickly started making up for lost time, though, by drilling an RBI single during a seven-run second and a three-run bomb over the trees in left in the sixth.
With the score 16-15 in the ninth, Webb was summoned to pitch and preserve the lead. He retired the first batter on a slow roller to second, then fanned Harrigan to retire the Hoya first baseman for the first time in the game. Up to the plate stepped Joseph Graziano, who attended Davidson for the 2002-03 school year. He just missed a home run earlier in the game with a double off the top of the fence in left-center, and this time he gave another pitch a ride. But it was too low for the wind to carry it out of the park, and Wildcat center fielder Brett Shore ran it down near the track to retire the side in order for the first time for Davidson.
Hoya DH Sean Baumann got the scoring started with a two-run shot in the second. The Wildcats stormed back with seven runs in their half, however, taking advantage of three errors. Senior Alden Crissey capped the frame with a two-run, live-drive double over the head of the right fielder.
Georgetown got its first back-to-back homers in the third by Brandon Davis and Harrigan. Graziano’s shot off the fence nearly made it three straight long balls.
All was quiet until the sixth when runs came fast and furious. The Hoyas scored three times to tie the score on a hit batter with the bases loaded and a Harrigan two-run single. Davidson responded with four runs in the bottom half on a solo shot by sophomore Chris FitzPatrick in his first career start and Webb’s three-run job.
The four-run advantage was short-lived thanks to six GU runs in the seventh. Matthew Bouchard provided the biggest blow, a three-run drive, and Matt Ianetta followed with a home run of his own. Speaking of short-lived leads, the ’Cats got five of those runs right back with sophomore Zach Kayne breaking a 13-13 tie with a three-run homer that landed at the base of the scoreboard beyond the right-field fence.
Georgetown managed two more runs in the eighth, but Webb shut the door for his first collegiate save.
Senior Sean Lennox (1-0) was credited with his first collegiate victory despite not retiring a batter. He yielded a two-out RBI single in the seventh, then picked him off first to end the inning. Fellow senior Rob Wilson started for the Wildcats, tossing five innings and allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Suffering the loss was Jack Bender (0-1) who allowed all five runs in the seventh. He did strike out four in his 1.2 innings of work.
Senior Blake Osborn led Davidson with three hits, while Kayne and sophomore Brett Shore each had two hits and scored three times. Kayne also drove in three with his game-winning homer.
Davidson and Georgetown will play the second of three games in the series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.
ELON 11-10, SAINT JOSEPH’S 1-3
ELON, N.C.-- Steven Hensley struck out 11 hitters over 7.0 innings in game one, while Chris Vasami tied a career-high with five RBIs in the nightcap to lead the Elon Phoenix to a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Saint Joseph’s Hawks in Saturday baseball action from Latham Park. The Phoenix took game one by an 11-1 score and then grabbed game two by a 10-3 margin. With the sweep, Elon has won three straight and now owns a 3-2 record on the year. The Hawks now sit at 0-5 this season.
Hensley was the story in the first game, allowing just two hits to improve to 1-1 on the year. The 11 strikeouts were two shy of his career-best effort of 13 established last year at Wofford.
The Phoenix jumped on top in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on a Vasami sacrifice fly. Elon tacked on four more in the second on RBI triples from Brett Arnold and Chris Dove along with an RBI double off the bat of Drew Davis and Jordy Snyder’s RBI groundout.
In the fourth, Elon added another solo run. The Phoenix upped its lead to 10-0 in the sixth, scoring four times, including two RBIs for Ryan Addison. Elon added its final tally in the eighth inning.
The Hawks erased the shutout in the top of the night on a RBI single from Mike Blahusch.
Mark Imbo took the loss in game one, falling to 0-2 on the year. Imbo surrendered six runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings of work.
In game two, Saint Joseph’s took an early 1-0 lead in the first frame when an Elon error allowed Blahusch to score.
The Phoenix answered right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice. The first run scored on a Vasami RBI single. Adam Weaver later stole home with the go-ahead run. The Elon lead was extended by one in the third before the Phoenix put up a four-spot in the fourth. In that four-run inning, Robert Rodebaugh, Chris Vasami, Chase Austin and Pat Irvine all had RBIs.
The Hawks cut into the lead with one in the sixth on a solo homer off the bat of Ben Wendle before adding their final run of the day in the seventh on a Blahusch single.
Elon scored its final three runs in the seventh.
Will Romanowicz picked up his first victory in an Elon uniform and now sits at 1-0 on the year after a 5.1-inning, four-hit performance. Romanowicz allowed two runs (one earned).
Falling to 0-1 on the year was Randall Mower. Mower lasted 3.0 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits.
On the day, Elon was led offensively by Vasami’s 5-for-7, two-run, six-RBI day. Irvine ended the afternoon going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three driven in while Chris Dove had a 6-for-9 day, scoring four times and knocking in four.
For the Hawks, Blahusch finished 4-for-8 with one run scored and two RBI. Wendle went a combined 3-for-9 with two runs scored and a RBI.
The two teams will finish off the three-game set at 1:00 p.m. from Latham Park on Sunday.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 14, TOWSON 8
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- Gabe Marchant blasted a two-run homer while teammates Michael Kohn, Michael Harrington and Ben Lasater added solo shots leading the College of Charleston to a 14-8 win over Towson in college baseball action at Patriots Point Field on Saturday.
Charleston, which erased a 6-2 fifth inning deficit, improved to 3-0 on the season. The Tigers fell to 0-2. The finale of the three-game series is Sunday at 1:00.
The Cougars had nine stolen bases, one shy of the school record set on two occasions. Clay McCord had four stolen bases while Oliver Marmol had three. The Cougars had 10 in a 10-5 win over UNC Asheville on Feb. 19, 2000. The Cougars also swiped 10 in a 20-10 win over Detroit on March 6, 2001.
Harrington and Kohn hit back-to-back homers in the second inning that cut Towson's lead to 3-2.
Lasater's homer to left with two outs in the sixth gave Charleston an 8-6 lead. Marchant capped the 6-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to left center, his first of the season.
Towson's Hans Falkenhan had three RBI including a two-run double that gave the Tigers a 6-2 fourth inning lead.
Chris Campbell paced Charleston's 17-hit attack with three hits in five at bats. Marchant collected two hits with four RBI and three runs scored.
Jake Goldberg (1-0) picked up the win in the relief working 3 1/3 innings. Austin Hurd (0-1) suff
ered the loss.
Kamppi, Eagles Close Door on Highlanders Jeremy Beckham steals career-high three bases in 5-4 win.
APPALACHIAN STATE 17-23, COPPIN STATE 2-0
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Appalachian State University baseball scored 40 runs in just 10 team at-bats and three pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter in the nightcap of a 17-2, 23-0 doubleheader sweep over Coppin State on Saturday afternoon at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium.
In the opener, Appalachian (2-1) got five strong innings on the mound from Kannapolis native Garrett Sherrill and rode an offensive outburst in the middle innings, including a 10-run, to the win.
Sherrill allowed just one run on two hits and struck out a career-high nine to coast to his first win of the season. The right-handed sophomore needed just three innings to top his previous career high of five strikeouts.
Despite Sherrill’s performance on the hill, it took the Mountaineer offense a while to hit its stride. Leading just 2-1 after three-and-a-half innings, ASU scored 15 runs over the next three stanzas, highlighted by the 10-run fifth, in which it sent 15 batters to the plate. Left fielder David Rubinstein led the offensive effort in game one by going 4-for-6 with two doubles, three runs scored and three driven in.
In game two, the Apps clicked on all cylinders from the get-go. Pitchers Matt Andress, Calvin Teague and Chris Patterson did not allow a hit in five innings of work and the Mountaineers scored 23 runs in just four at-bats before the game - scheduled for seven innings - was halted after four-and-a-half.
Andress was especially impressive, as he retired all nine batters he faced, never allowing a ball to leave the infield and striking out three for his first collegiate win.
Offensively, Appalachian needed just two innings to match its 17-run output from game one, scoring eight in the first and nine in the second. All nine second-inning runs came with two outs.
Freshman Wes Hobson and sophomore Jason Rook led the onslaught in game two. Hobson has three doubles in three at-bats and finished with four RBI and four runs scored, while Rook went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, five RBI and two runs.
In addition to racking up 15 hits in the nightcap, ASU benefited from seven Coppin State (0-2) errors.
Appalachian will look to complete the three-game sweep when it squares off with CSU again on Sunday. First pitch at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 5, NEW JERSEY TECH 4
STATESBORO, GA. ? Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) hit a key 2-run homer and Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) closed out the game as Georgia Southern defeated New Jersey Tech 5-4 Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles (7-2 overall) won their sixth straight while NJIT fell to 0-2.
Coming off a 34-1 rout the previous night, and out-hitting the Highlanders 27-8, Georgia Southern was out-hit for the first time this season. NJIT held a 13-10 edge in hits but could not capitalize in the late innings.
Down 5-3, NJIT cut the deficit in half during the eighth. A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) retired the first batter he faced but the Highlanders followed with consecutive singles. That prompted head coach Rodney Hennon to bring in Kamppi.
He struck out Mike Turner for the second out. Kamppi unloaded a wild pitch to advance both runners, then walked Kwesi Mitchell on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Another wild pitch during Chris Cardone’s at-bat brought home a run. But Cardone hit a comebacker to Kamppi, ending the inning.
NJIT started the ninth when Elliot Hagburg lined a single up the middle.
Miguel Lugo faked a bunt attempt and swung away. He hit a chopper to first baseman A.J. Wilkerson (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant), who got the lead runner out at second but the Eagles just missed turning the double play. Kamppi stuck out Craig Binkiewicz and Matt Schlitter to end the game.
NJIT jumped on the board first in the opening inning. Binkiewicz lined a leadoff single then stole second base. Austin DeRogatis hit a two-out RBI single for an early 1-0 lead. The Highlanders threatened again in the third, putting two aboard with one out on an error and single.
Brian Wilkerson (Bonaire/Houston County) teamed with Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) to pick off the lead runner. That proved crucial as the next batter Schlitter lined a single that would have scored a run. Wilkerson got an inning-ending groundout to end the threat.
Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) hit a double in his third consecutive game, lining a shot down the right field line to start the third. He scored on Pierce’s RBI single.
In the fourth, Mitchell lined his second hit of the game. He eventually scored on Randy Scott’s RBI single. Cardone also tried scoring on the play, but a relay nailed him at the plate.
Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) lined a leadoff double in the fourth inning, the third straight inning GS had done so. Parker followed with a shot into the trees beyond the left field fence, a 3-2 lead.
The Highlanders tied the game in the fifth when Derrick McCain’s RBI single scored Binkiewicz. Wilkerson picked McCain off first base to end the fifth.
Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist) kept the leadoff double streak alive, hitting one into the right field gap to start the fifth. He scored on Wirnsberger’s single, putting the Eagles ahead for good.
Porter reached on an infield single to start the sixth inning. He stole second base and advanced to third on Scott’s throw. He would score on Pierce’s sacrifice fly.
“We did enough to win the game today. Kyle did a nice job out of the bullpen to earn the save. I thought New Jersey Tech played a solid ball game, we were fortunate to find a way to win,” said Hennon. “They took some good swings against Brian (Wilkerson), but he didn’t do a lot to hurt himself. We didn’t let them get the big inning, allowing them the four 1-run innings.
“We cannot expect to continue the current pace of getting 14-16 hits a game. You have to give credit to their pitching staff,” stated Hennon. “It was a good win despite the fact we weren’t as sharp offensively.”
Wilkerson (2-1) allowed three runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work.
The freshman right-handerKamppi allowed the one hit and fanned three to earn his second save.
Economos, Porter and Pierce had two hits apiece. Porter also scored two runs. Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) swiped a career-high three bases, improving to 9-for-9 on the season.
McCain went 3-for-4 to lead the Highlanders (0-2). PJ Saporito suffered his first loss, allowing five runs on 10 hits in 5.l innings. He walked two and struck out four. The Highlanders’ bullpen pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Georgia Southern goes for the series sweep Sunday afternoon (Feb. 17) at 1:30 p.m.
WESTERN CAROLINA 10, KENNESAW STATE 6
KENNESAW, GA. ? For the second-straight game, Western Carolina exploded for five runs in the top half of an inning en route to victory over Kennesaw State. On Saturday, the Catamounts touched the dish five times in the top of the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie for the 10-6 win over the Owls at Stillwell Field.
Senior transfer Kenny Smith went 3-for-4 with one of three WCU doubles and three RBI on the afternoon, with junior Blake Murphy going 1-for-3 with a walk and the Catamounts’ first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left center in the third to knot the game at three.
Kennesaw State (0-3) jumped on top in the home half of the first with three runs on three hits and a pair of walks, stranding one runner as the inning ended on a pick-off play. Western answered, however, with one in the top of the second to pull to within 3-1 on an RBI single by Smith, scoring transfer counterpart John Ingram from second base after reaching on a fielder’s choice and advancing on a stolen base.
After the Owls plated one run in the bottom of the second, Western tacked on two in the top of the third to knot the game at three. With two outs, Catamount catcher, Jonathan Greene, doubled to left center before Murphy put one over the left field wall for the two-run shot.
WCU (2-0) sent 10 batters to the plate in the visitor half of the fifth inning, breaking open the tie game with five runs, all scored after there were two out in the frame. Barrett Shaft looped a one-out single into center and was moved to second when Greene drew his lone walk of the game. Murphy reached on an error by the Owls’ third baseman to load the bases, scoring Shaft from second. Ingram then doubled to right to score both Murphy and Greene, and would later come home on an RBI single to center by Jason Haynes. Smith rounded out the scoring by plating Ingram with a double to right center field, giving the Catamounts the 8-4 advantage.
Western added insurance runs both the eighth and ninth, with Kennesaw State attempting a ninth-inning rally with a two spot in the final inning. But Tyler Johnson, who replaced WCU starter Brock Thornburg in the bottom of the sixth inning, held on to earn his first save of the year.
Thornburg tossed five solid innings, scattering four earned runs and six hits while striking out a pair to earn his first victory of the season. Johnson recorded four innings of work, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and four strikeouts. Owls starter, Micah Sales (0-1), was unable to finish the fifth, tallying four and two thirds innings of work giving up five runs, three of which were earned, on six hits with one strikeout and three walks.
The two teams will meet for the final game of the series Sunday, February 18 at 1:00 pm at Stillwell Stadium.
LIBERTY 2, THE CITADEL 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? The Citadel fell to Liberty, 2-1, in a pitcher’s dual Saturday afternoon at Riley Park in game four of The Crab House Shootout presented by Trademark Properties. There were only six hits allowed between the two clubs as the Bulldogs were held to under 10 hits for the first time this season.
The Citadel (3-2) struck first as they put one on the board in the second. Freshman second baseman Bryan Altman reached on a fielding error by Liberty third baseman David Giammaresi with one out and advanced to second on a groundout to short by freshman left fielder Chris McGuiness. Freshman catcher Richard Jones then tallied his first collegiate RBI as he pushed Altman home on a single to center.
Lberty (2-3) plated two in the fifth to take the lead. Back-to-back singles by left fielder Tim Nanry and center field Garrett Young got things started for the Flames. Right fielder P.K. Keller popped up to second for the first out before second baseman Tommy Bussey grounded out to second to move the runners up. Catcher Errol Hollinger then came through with a timely hit as he singled to drive in both runs, capping off the scoring for each team.
Sophomore southpaw Matt Crim (0-1) suffered the loss as he pitched a career-high 8.0 frames, giving up two runs on only four hits while striking out three and walking one. Right-hander Dustin Umberger (1-1) earned his first win of the year as he tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits while fanning five and also walking one. Ryan Page picked up his first save of the season as he entered the game and held the Dogs scoreless and hitless through two innings.
Jones and junior third baseman Matt Arnold were responsible for both hits by the Bulldogs. Sophomore right fielder Sonny Meade’s 16-game hitting streak came to an end as he tied the seventh longest hitting streak in Citadel history.
The Citadel will face No. 1 South Carolina in the final game of The Crab House Shootout presented by Trademark Properties on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at Riley Park. The Gamecocks defeated Richmond, 9-2, in Saturday’s first game. Richmond will face Liberty at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Catch all the live action from both games at Bulldog Insider on CitadelSports.com
AUBURN 4, UNC GREENBSORO 2
AUBURN, AL ? Auburn’s Paul Burnside tossed six scoreless innings as the UNC Greensboro baseball squad dropped a 4-2 decision to the Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
Burnside (2-0) allowed only four hits and struck out five in six innings. UNCG’s starter Ryan Falcon (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits while recording a strikeout in 4-2/3 innings on the mound.
After 4-1/2 scoreless innings, Auburn tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth to gain the 3-0 advantage. Dustin Spruill singled to right field to start things and scored three batters later when Josh Donaldson singled to down the left line. Mike Bianucci followed with a single to left to score Luke Greinke and Donaldson.
UNCG got on the board in the seventh when Ricky Orton led off the inning by reaching on an error. Second baseman Tim Carrier ripped a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. Matt Gaski followed with a ground out to plate Orton.
The Tigers grabbed another run in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead back to three. After the Spartans recorded two outs, Spruill sent a double to left field. Eric Skinner followed with another double to left center, driving home Spruill.
With the Tigers up 4-1 heading into the final frame, Jake Linney gave the Spartans some life by blasting a lead off homer to right field to cut the deficit to two. UNCG, however, could not get any closer as Gaski, who represented the tying run, struck out leaving Corey Overholtzer stranded on second.
Junior Tim Carrier finished as the only Spartan to tally more than one hit by going 2-for-5 from the plate. Both Gaski and Linney finished with one RBI.
UNCG and Auburn finished up the three game series on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:30 pm at Plainsman Park.
KENTUCKY THROTTLES FURMAN, 16-3
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Jason Kipnis homered twice in a nine-run sixth inning to highlight a 3-for-5 performance and lift 26th-ranked Kentucky to a 16-3 win over Furman Saturday in the second game of three-game weekend baseball series at Furman Stadium.
With Kentucky leading 6-3, Kipnis, a freshman left fielder from Northbrook, Illinois, led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field off Furman reliever Butch Pucetas. After teammate Billy Grace followed with a three-run roundtripper later in the frame, Kipnis came to bat for the second time in the inning and took advantage of stiff breeze blowing to left field to clear the fence with his second home run ? a two-run shot off Furman reliever Ian Parry that capped the nine-run Wildcat barrage.
Kentucky, which registered three home runs and three triples in the contest, roughed up Furman pitching for 16 hits, including three each by Kipnis and Brian Spear. Wildcat pitchers, meanwhile, kept Furman’s bats a bay for a second straight day, limiting the Paladins to only five hits while recording 13 strikeouts.
Kentucky starter Chris Rusin (1-0) earned the win after surrendering three runs, including just one earned, and three hits while recording seven strikeouts over five innings.
Making his collegiate debut, Furman freshman pitcher Richard Magrath (0-1) took the loss. The Conway, S.C., product gave up five hits and five runs, including four earned, and walked four over 3 1/3 innings.
Furman broke on top in the first inning, using two hits, a couple of Kentucky errors, and a hit batsman to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats, however, immediately began their comeback, getting on the board with a Antone DeJesus sacrifice fly in the second and scoring three runs in the third, highlighted by a pair of RBI doubles by Spear and Anthony Ottrando to take a 4-3 lead. Kentucky tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before taking control of the contest with the nine-run sixth.
Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for noon.