COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 15, CLEVELAND STATE 3
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ---Nick Chigges pitched six strong innings with seven strikeouts and Chris Campbell had three hits and four runs batted in to lead the College of Charleston to a 15-3 win over Cleveland State in college baseball action before 310 on Saturday at Patriots Point Field in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
With the win, the Cougars improved to 6-1 on the season while the Vikings fell to 2-3.
Chigges (2-0) allowed just three hits and three runs with four walks.
Charleston started the game with four runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 4-0 lead. The inning was highlighted by a two-run double by Ben Lasater and a two-run single by Michael Harrington.
Cleveland State responded in the top of the second inning by scoring two runs on a single by Vasili Pahoulis, which scored Josh Geric and Jeff Schellhammer.
The Cougars held a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Campbell’s double to left in the inning to score Oliver Marmol and Clay McCord made the score 9-3 in favor of the Cougars and sparked a seven run inning.
Marchant’s single to right center to score McCord in the bottom of the seventh would be the final run scored in the game.
Jeremy Hartman suffered the loss allowing six runs on six hits over 1 2/3 innings. For Charleston, Curtis Dowling replaced Chigges and pitched two shutout innings before Russ Tomlinson closed out the game for the Cougars with two strikeouts in the ninth.
CofC plays host to George Mason in a noon start on Sunday. The Cougars defeated the Patriots, 9-3, on Friday. Cleveland State plays at Charleston Southern at 1:00 on Sunday.
DAVIDSON 16, MT. ST. MARY (MD.) 8
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Senior Blake Osborn went 4-for-5 with four runs and four RBIs to lead a 15-hit Wildcat attack as host Davidson doubled up Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday evening, 16-8. Sophomore Brett Shore pitched in three RBIs as well to help Davidson post its fifth straight victory to start the 2007 season. The Mountaineers, which had defeated Radford on Davidson’s Wilson Field 10-9 in 13 innings just before this game, fell to 2-5.
All but one Wildcat had at least one hit in the game, and five registered at least two. Both seniors Gregory Zage and Rob Wilson had two hits, three runs and an RBI, while Wilson, a product of Charlotte’s Myers Park High School, belted his second homer of the season to dead center in the eighth inning.
Senior Matt Knight (2-0) earned his second win with two innings of relief. He entered the game in the fourth with Mount St. Mary’s holding a 3-2 lead and the bases loaded with one out. On his second pitch, Joe Hayes lofted a routine fly to right, and Osborn caught it and fired to the plate where catcher Doug Grunwald applied the tag on the runner trying to score for an inning-ending double play.
Davidson scored four times in the bottom half to take a lead it would never relinquish. Grunwald drilled a double over the left fielder’s head to drive home Osborn, who had singled. When South Rowan product Shore hit a hard grounder to first, the Mountaineers came to the plate to throw out Chris FitzPatrick trying to score, but the catcher dropped the ball on the tag for an error. Sophomore Zach Kayne brought home Grunwald with a grounder to first, and sophomore Matt Webb laced an RBI single to give the ’Cats a 6-3 lead.
Mountaineer hurler Andrew Germuth (1-2) was knocked out in the fifth due to three more Wildcat runs. Zage and Osborn ripped back-to-back RBI doubles, and Shore stroked an RBI single up the middle.
Knight tired a bit in the sixth as four straight Mountaineers reached base, all of which would score to get the visitors back within two runs at 9-7. But five more Davidson tallies in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a two-run single by Osborn and a two-run triple off the bat of FitzPatrick, all but sewed up the game.
Freshman Thomas Middour tossed the final 3.2 innings, yielding just one run on two hits while walking one and striking out one for his first collegiate save.
Germuth allowed nine runs, six earned, in 4.1 innings of work, walking two and striking out two.
Joe Diserio had three of the seven hits for Mount St. Mary’s, and Ivor Hodgson lined his first homer of the season down the left-field line in the eighth.
Davidson is off to its best start since opening the 2001 season with six straight victories. The Wildcats will attempt to equal that feat tomorrow afternoon at approximately 2 p.m. against Radford (2-4), which rallied from a 9-1 deficit against Ohio in the first of the three games played during the day for a 10-9 victory. Mount St. Mary’s will take on the Bobcats on Wilson Field at 11 a.m.
MIAMI (FLA.) 17, ELON 4
CORAL GABLES, FLA. ? Freshman lefty Eric Erickson won his first career start while fellow freshman Mark Sobolewski continued his hot hitting going 3-for-5 with six RBI and No. 11 Miami (5-5) used a 10-run first inning to even its series with the Elon Phoenix in a 17-4 win at Mark Light Field Saturday night. Erickson struck out a career-high six in five innings while holding Elon (5-3) to one run on four hits.
Roger Tomas, Chris Petralli and Kevin Diego each had two hits for the Hurricanes, who out-hit Elon, 16-6. Teddy Kaufman, David Gutierrez, Michael Rudman and Enrique Garcia limited the Phoenix to only two hits in the final three innings.
Elon starter Will Romanowicz (1-1) lasted 2/3 of an inning surrendering seven earned runs on five hits. He also walked two in that first inning. Chris Dove made his first appearance for Elon. He struck out five in the last four scoreless innings.
Erickson (1-1) cruised to a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first. Jemile Weeks started UM’s 10-run first inning when he walked and moved to second on Tomas’ sacrifice bunt. Yonder Alonso followed with his 13th walk of the season before Dave DiNatale doubled down the left field line putting UM ahead, 2-0. Sobolewski then singled in his first of six runs as he drove a pitch up the middle bringing in DiNatale for a 3-0 UM lead. Richard O’Brien’s single scored Sobolewski, who stole second with two outs, for a 4-0 lead.
Ryan Jackson followed with a double putting runners in scoring position for Blake Tekotte, who hammered a two-run single up the middle to make it, 6-0. After Weeks drew his second walk of the inning, Tomas’ first hit scored Tekotte. Alonso was hit by a pitch to load the bases for DiNatale, who ended up drawing a walk for his third RBI of the inning giving UM the 8-0 lead. Sobolewski hit his first double of the game to left center, which almost cleared the bases, but DiNatale was thrown out at home giving UM the 10-0 lead.
Alonso gave Miami an 11-0 advantage in the bottom of the third when he drove in Tomas. Tomas led off the third with an infield single and advanced on a passed ball. Sobolewski walked, before Diego tripled in the two runs and scored on a throwing error giving Miami a 14-0 lead.
Pat Irvine’s RBI infield single broke up the shutout getting Elon within 14-1 in the top of the fourth, but UM answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Miami loaded the bases for Sobolewski. He hit a three-run double to make it, 17-1.
Elon took advantage of a UM error in the top of the seventh to score three unearned runs. Mike Melillo scored on a balk. With a runner on base, Matt Hill walked. Ryan Adams pinch-hit two-run single pulled Elon to 17-4.
Jordy Snyder, Adam Weaver, Robert Rodebaugh, Adams, Melillo and Irvine each had a hit for the Phoenix.
Miami and Elon wraps up their series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Junior LHP Manny Miguelez will face Elon RHP Zach Booker.
UNC GREENSBORO 8-11, MARIST 3-6
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Senior Guy Welsh went 4-for-7 with four RBI and junior Tim Carrier added five RBI as the UNC Greensboro baseball squad completed the three-game series sweep of Marist. The Spartans defeated the Red Foxes 8-3 and 11-6 in a doubleheader on Saturday at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans (3-3-0) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second with the help of a couple of Red Fox errors in game one. After reaching second on a Marist error and a sacrifice bunt, Greg Feltes scored UNCG’s first run off another Marist error. Carrier blasted a triple to center field two batters later, scoring Adam Deleo and Corey Overholtzer and giving UNCG the three run advantage. Junior Matt Gaski answered with a RBI single to center to bring in Carrier for the 4-0 lead.
UNCG continued its scoring ways in the next inning, bringing in three more runs. Feltes made his way around the bases again with the help of more errors by the Red Foxes. One batter later, Deleo sent a two-run homerun over the left field to put the Spartans up 7-0 after the third. The roundtripper was the first for Deleo on the year.
Justin Lepore scored Marist’s (0-3-0) first run in the top of the fifth after reaching on a walk. Left fielder Max Most singled to center to bring Lepore around for the unearned run. At the top of seventh, Pat Feeney doubled to center and reached third on a ground out and Most followed with a single to bring Feeney home, making it 7-2 in favor of UNCG.
Marist added another run at the top of the eighth after a Richard Curylo double to center brought Andrew Stanton around for the score. UNCG responded quickly with a run of its own at the bottom of the same inning.
Welsh hit a double to left to bring in Gaski who walked earlier.
Junior Matt Gibbs (1-1) earned his first career win as a Spartan. The Modesto, CA native allowed just two hits and one run in six innings on the mound. He struck out a game-high four batters.
Josh Rickards (0-1) took the loss after surrendering seven runs on five hits in just three innings of work.
The Spartans used a big six-run surge in the eighth inning to pull away with the 11-6 win in game two.
UNCG grabbed the early 2-0 in the first. First baseman Joel Johnson blasted a double to the center field wall to bring in Gaski and Welsh for the two-run advantage.
Marist answered right back with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Travis Musolf reached home on a Feeney sacrifice fly. A batter later, Lepore sent a single to center to bring Matthew Lesyk home and tie the game at two a piece. The Spartans took back the lead right away, however, after Welsh doubled to center as Gaski rounded home.
After the Red Foxes grabbed another run in the fourth, UNCG responded with a pair of homeruns for the 5-3 advantage. With only one out in the bottom of the fifth, Carrier sent his first home run in a Spartan uniform over left field and Gaski answered with his first home run at UNCG over right field.
Marist once again responded with a one run inning in the top of the sixth and then grabbed its first lead of the night in the seventh. Kenny Anderson used a single to bring home Most and a wild pitch from Clinton McKinney allowed Adam Pernasilici to score from third, giving Marist the 6-5 lead.
UNCG, however, got its big surge in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs. After a base hit and a walk to put runners on first and second, Deleo singled to center to bring in Feltes to tie things up at six. Carrier gave the Spartans the lead for good after he hit a single to right with the bases loaded to bring in Snell and Deleo. More runs were added after Welsh’s single drove in two runs. A fielder’s choice gave the Spartans their final run to end the inning with the 11-6 lead.
Welsh led the Spartans at the plate with a 3-for-4 showing and three RBI. Carrier, Gaski and Johnson each went 2-for-4 on the game with Carrier grabbing three RBI.
McKinney (2-0) grabbed his second win of the season in relief after tallying three strikeouts and three hits in 1-1/3 innings pitched.
Robert Ryan (0-1) was credited with the loss after giving up three hits and four runs.
UNCG returns to the diamond on Wednesday when it plays High Point beginning at 2:30 pm. The game will be held at First Horizon Park in Greensboro due to construction on High Point’s stadium.
FLORIDA STATE 10, APPALACHIAN STATE 2
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. ? Florida State registered double-digit hits for the tenth straight ball game and got a terrific performance by starting pitcher Michael Hyde as the Seminoles stayed unbeaten on the season with a 10-2 victory over Appalachian State (4-3) on Saturday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles pushed their record to 12-0 for just the fourth time in the program’s 60-year history, making it FSU’s best start since 1985.
“I was very pleased with the way Michael Hyde pitched and the way we played the game,” said head coach Mike Martin. “We have a lot of respect for that ball club (Appalachian State). It was a club we knew we had to play well to beat. We got a huge break in the first inning when we didn’t exactly get a great swing on a 3-1 pitch, but it fell in and we ended up scoring four runs out of it. That has a way of putting the other club behind the eight ball. They were fighting all afternoon to get back in the game and we just kept on them by scoring more runs.”
Hyde (4-0) pitched a season-high 6.2 innings in game-two of the series as he set down 16 straight Mountaineers at one stretch to earn his fourth victory in as many starts this year. The senior right hander had good command all throughout the game as he struck out seven ASU batters, while not issuing a free pass.
“I felt really good out there today,” said Hyde. “But its easy to go out there and throw and let your defense work with as good as our defense is. There were some balls that were hit well. Normally those balls won’t be caught, but with our defense and the speed we have in the outfield, it made me look good today.”
Caleb Graham threw 1.1 innings of solid relief as he entered the game in the top of the seventh with two on and two outs. He got Nick DeRose to groundout to end the inning.
“Our defense has been solid all year,” said Graham. “As a pitcher, our main goal is to go out there and let them work by making good pitches that will get the batters out. Our defense did a great job today.”
Florida State once again scored early and received some clutch hitting throughout the game as seven of the 10 runs were scored in the first three innings, while nine of the 10 runs crossed the plate with two outs. The Seminoles have now outscored their opponents 68-9 through the first three innings and have registered 64 runs on two-outs in 2007.
The Seminoles put up a four spot in the bottom of the first as D’Vontrey Richardson hit a two-out, bases loaded double to right field that dropped between three Appalachian State fielders. Mountaineer second baseman Wes Hobson fired the ball to home plate in attempt to throw out Jack Rye but the ball sailed over catcher Jerod Faggart and into the Appalachian State dugout. The runners at second and third were both awarded home as a result of the ball going into the dugout giving Florida State an early 4-0 advantage.
Florida State would add to its lead in the bottom of the third as Buster Posey started the inning with a double to right center to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Following a pair of outs and a Jason Stidham walk, designated hitter Tommy Oravetz laced a double to left field scoring Posey and Stidham. He would later score on an RBI single by first baseman Brandon Reichert. The base hit by Reichert would end the day for Mountaineer starting pitcher Jason Rook (1-2), as the right hander lasted 2.2 innings allowing seven runs, five earned, on six hits.
After giving up single to ASU designated hitter Andrew Franco to lead off the top of the second, Hyde proceeded to strike out the side in the second and then set down the next 16 Mountaineer hitters. The Tallahassee, Fla., native would yield just four hits in the ball game and has not given up more than five hits in each of his four starts this season. Hyde is holding the opposition to a .152 batting average, while accumulating a team-high 21 strikeouts.
“Michael was really cooking today,” stated Coach Martin. “He was hitting with all three pitches. He was keeping hitters off balanced. It was pitching at its best.”
Florida State would plate a run in the fourth thanks to an RBI single by Stidham. With two outs in the inning, Rye walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stidham then singled through the left side as Rye slid just in front of the tag by the Mountaineer catcher. Stidham has now hit in all 12 games for the Seminoles this season.
Appalachian State would crack the scoreboard in the top of the seventh as left fielder David Rubinstein doubled to right center. He would come around to score on an RBI single to left by Faggart. The throw by Guinn was cut off by Stidham and the relay throw was not in time to get the sliding Rubinstein at the plate. Graham would replace Hyde in the top of the seventh and retire the side as he got DeRose to groundout on a bunt back to the pitcher’s mound.
The Seminoles would push another two runs across the board in the eighth to reach double-digit runs for the ninth time in 12 games this season. Tony Thomas, Jr., also extended his hitting streak to 12 games as he sent a base hit to right field. The hit was also the tenth of the ball game giving the Garnet and Gold 10 consecutive games of double-digit hits, the longest active streak for Florida State dating back to 1996.
The Mountaineers would grab one more run in the top of the ninth off Seminole reliever Jimmy Marshall, but that was all Marshall would allow as he got Faggart to strike out looking to end the game.
“The biggest confidence booster right now for this team is our 12-0 record,” said Hyde. “That is the main thing. A win is a win and any way you can get it will always build confidence.”
WOFFORD 5-3, ARMY 2-4
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford baseball team split a double header with Army on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a 5-2 win in game one and a 4-3 loss in game two at Russell C. King Field.
In Saturday’s opener, the pitching duo of Ben Austin and Mike Gilmartin scattered seven hits and held Army to two runs in a 5-2 Wofford win, the eighth straight victory for the Terriers.
Austin (3-1) earned his third consecutive win after allowing only four hits and one run in his 6.2 innings of work. The junior right-hander held the Black Knights scoreless until the seventh inning when Army second baseman Cole White sent a solo shot over the left field fence to put Army on the board.
White’s home run did little damage, however, as the Terrier bats had already supplied Austin with a four-run advantage. Shane Kirkley provided the first run in the opening inning with a solo shot to left, the fourth round-tripper of the season for Wofford’s junior second baseman. Wofford added another score in the second when Adam Wood scored from third on a wild pitch after reaching base on a double down the left field line.
The Terriers added more insurance in the sixth when Brandon Waring scored from second on a single from Gilmartin. The run marked the ninth consecutive contest in which Waring had crossed the plate. Waring also extended his hitting streak to seven consecutive games with multiple hits in each of Saturday’s games.
The Terriers capped their offensive outing in the seventh when Emre Caglayan reached third on a triple and scored on the next at-bat after Sterling Dye hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
With the lead, Wofford went to its bullpen, pulling Gilmartin from shortstop to close out the game. Gilmartin threw the last 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and one run to earn his second save of the season.
In the nightcap, Cole White took the mound in relief and shut down the Terriers in the final three innings while Army scored four runs in the sixth inning en route to a 4-3 comeback win at Russell C. King Field.
After Wofford scored three runs off Army starter Drew Clothier, White came to the mound from second base and limited the Terriers to three hits and no runs over three innings to pick up the win. The junior infielder/pitcher struck out four and went 3-for-3 at the plate. He also contributed a triple and a run in the four-run sixth inning, and with a home run in the first game, White hit for the cycle in the double header.
Wofford managed eight hits off Clothier and runs in the first and fourth innings. Catcher Adam Kearney knocked his first home run as a Terrier in the fourth, a solo shot to left field to give Wofford a 3-0 lead.
Freshman starter Zack Parmer (2-1) held Army scoreless in the first five innings, but showed signs of fatigue in the sixth as Army scored its first run on an RBI-triple from White. The Terriers went to Gilmartin (0-1) after the first Army score, but the Black Knights were able to take advantage two Wofford throwing errors to score three more runs and take the lead.
With the one-run advantage, White cruised for the last two innings, allowing only two hits while striking out three of the last six outs. The Army victory snapped Wofford’s nine-game winning streak, which began on Feb. 10 with a 4-3 last-inning comeback win over Dayton.
Wofford (9-3) will continue its homestand next weekend as the Terriers host Niagara for a three-game series on March 3 and 4. The teams will open with a double header at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.
MINNESOTA 7, THE CITADEL 3
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? The Citadel dropped 6-3 to Minnesota Saturday afternoon in game four of the Homewood Suites Shootout at Riley Park. Gopher second baseman Derek McCallum went a perfect 4-for-4 on the day as Minnesota out hit the Dogs 14-6.
Minnesota (2-0) got on the board early as they put up three in the first. Center fielder Tijl Vanderwege sent the first pitch of the game into the gap in right center for a double. Left fielder Mike Mee popped out to third in foul territory before Lyons singled to right to send Vaderwege home.
Shortstop Dan Lyons swiped second and moved to third on a groundout off the bat of designated hitter Kyle Baran. Third baseman Nate Hanson then stepped in and sent one over the fence in right for a two-run home run, putting the Golden Gophers up 3-0.
Junior left fielder Chris Swauger pulled The Citadel (4-4) within two with one swing of the bat in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, Swauger smacked a solo shot over the right field wall for his second home run of the season to make it 3-1.
The Dogs added another run in the fifth as freshman designated hitter Matt Reifsnider led off the frame with a walk. Junior center fielder Chance Smith broke up the double play, beating the throw at first while Reifsnider was out at second. Chance Smith swiped second and raced to third when Minnesota catcher Kevin Carlson threw the ball into center field trying to catch him at second. Freshman second baseman Bryan Altman knocked Chance Smith in with an infield single to cut the Gopher advantage to one.
Minnesota extended their lead to three in the sixth as senior right-hander Justin Smith took over for Bulldog starter Matt Crim. Baran knocked a lead-off double before Justin Smith forced Hanson to ground out to third.
Pinch-hitter Matt Nohelty then roped a single to right that was mishandled by Sonny Meade, allowing Baran to score and Nohelty to sprint to second. Carlson went down swinging before Justin Smith surrendered a walk to Jost. An RBI-single off of the bat of McCallum sent Nohelty home before Vanderwege walked to load the bases on two outs. Justin Smith then caught Mee swinging to get out of the inning.
Reifsnider belted an RBI-single in the sixth, but that is all the Dogs could get across the dish after loading the bases on two outs. Minnesota tacked on an extra run in the seventh thanks to a run-scoring single by Nohelty to make the final 6-3.
Crim (0-2) suffered the loss for the Dogs as he pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out one. Gopher starter Dustin Brabender (1-0) picked up his first win of the season as he tossed 5.1 frames, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits while fanning two and walking two. Right-hander Josh Oslin earned his second save in as many days as he went 1.1 innings and shut down the Bulldog offense while striking out one.
The Citadel will face UNC Asheville for the final game of the Homewood Suites Shootout on Sunday, Feb. 25 at Riley Park. Game times have been moved up an hour as Minnesota and Va. Tech will face off at 10 a.m. while the Bulldog’s game will start approximately 30 minutes after the first contest. Catch all the live action of every tournament game on Bulldog Insider at CitadelSports.com.
ELON 10, MIAMI (FLA.) 7
CORAL GABLES, FLA. -- Robert Rodebaugh drove in five runs, including three on his first homerun of the season in the first inning, to lead the Elon Phoenix to a 10-7 baseball victory over the 11th-ranked Miami Hurricanes in the first game of a three-game set on Friday night.
The Phoenix (5-2) got things going in its fifth consecutive win in the first inning when 10 Elon hitters strode to the plate. Jordy Snyder led off the game with an infield single and advanced to second on Adam Weaver's bunt single. Rodebaugh then belted his three-run blast over the wall in right to give the Phoenix a 3-0 cushion after just three hitters. With one out, Pat Irvine reached on an infield single and moved to second on a two-out walk to Chase Austin. Drew Davis' single to right drove home Irvine and put runners at the corners for Chris Dove. Dove sent a 1-0 pitch into leftfield to deliver Austin with Elon's fifth run of the frame.
Miami (4-5) answered back with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first inning. With two down and a runner on second, Dave DiNatale singled to right to score Roger Tomas. Dennis Raben followed with a single before Mark Sobolewski singled to center, plating DiNatale with the second Hurricane run. After a walk to load the bases, Phoenix starter Steven Hensley plunked Richard O'Brien to force in the third run. Hensley then fanned Blake Tekotte to end the threat.
The Hurricanes closed the gap to 5-4 in the bottom of the third when Sobolewski doubled home Raben. Miami threatened for more, but left the bases loaded.
Davis and Dove began the Elon fourth with back-to-back singles and the Phoenix loaded the bases when Snyder's attempted sacrifice bunt was mishandled by Miami pitcher Scott Maine. Davis scored the first of three Phoenix markers in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Weaver. Rodebaugh promptly delivered RBIs number four and five of the game with a double to center to put Elon ahead by an 8-4 margin.
Again Miami responded in its next at bat, plating two runs to pull within 8-6. With the bases loaded and just one out, Sobolewski singled to center to drive in both DiNatale and Yonder Alonso. A double play with the next hitter up got Elon out of the fourth.
The Phoenix tacked on its final two runs of the night in the sixth inning. Dove and Snyder. Weaver put down a sacrifice bunt, but the Hurricane third baseman was charged with an error on the play. Dove tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate by the first baseman. Elon would load the bases with two outs before Irvine drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch, forcing in the ninth Phoenix run of the contest. Brett Arnold followed and was hit by a pitch to force in the final Elon run.
Miami added one unearned run in the bottom of the seventh when Tomas singled home Ryan Jackson with two outs.
Elon's J.D. Reichenbach upped his record to 3-0, earning his third consecutive victory out of the bullpen. The freshman went 3.2 innings and surrendered just the one unearned run on four hits. Hensley lasted 3.1 innings and allowed six runs on six hits, but did strike out five. Following 0.1 innings of work by Tom Porter, Jesse Lewter came in to record the final five outs and picked up his first save of the season. Lewter fanned two, walked one and did not allow a hit.
Maine fell to 1-2 on the year after giving up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Rodebaugh finished the game 2-for-5 with a run scored and five RBI. Dove recorded a 3-for-5, one run, one RBI performance. Both Davis and Snyder also had two hits for the Phoenix.
Sobolewski went 4-for-4 with four RBIs to lead Miami, a 2006 College World Series participant, at the plate.
FLORIDA STATE 6, APPALACHIAN STATE 3
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. ? Florida State (11-0) remained undefeated on the season with a 6-3 victory over Appalachian State (4-2) in game one of a three-game set at Dick Howser Stadium Friday evening. Mark Hallberg made a pair of spectacular defensive plays including a running catch toward the left field line in the top of the ninth to keep the Seminoles unbeaten on the season and off to their best since 1999. The junior shortstop also came up huge at the plate recording two runs, an RBI and his third triple of the season.
“That is part of my game,” said Hallberg. “I have to try and play excellent defense and do the little things right to help our team win on a daily basis. The ball that went up between me and Dennis (Guinn), Dennis was playing back taking away the doubles. I went up and said ?I want to catch this ball, if it drops it’s on me.’ I called it early, went back for it and luckily caught it.”
Seminole starting pitcher Bryan Henry (3-0) got his third win of the season working 5.1 innings allowing just one run on eight hits. The senior right hander gave up just one walk while striking out two and has given up a run or less in three of his four starts.
Danny Rosen got the final two outs in the eighth and pitched the ninth for his first save as a Seminole and the first save recorded by Florida State this year.
“I was very pleased with all of our pitchers tonight,” said head coach Mike Martin. “Everybody that went out there, Travis Burge, Brian Chambers, Bryan Henry and certainly Danny Rosen, really did a good job. You have to give ASU a lot of credit for fighting in there and getting back in the ball game. Heck, they had the winning run at the plate in the ninth inning. You have to give Danny Rosen a tip of the hat as well.”
Florida State got on the board first once again as they scored two runs in the bottom of the third. Hallberg started the scoring as he laced a triple, his third of the season, down the right field line scoring Brandon Reichert from first. Reichert started the inning with a base hit to right center, one of two hits on the evening for the senior first baseman. Catcher Buster Posey gave the Seminoles a 2-0 lead driving in Hallberg on a groundout to short. The Seminoles have now outscored their opponents 61-9 in the first three innings this season.
FSU would add to its lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ruairi O’Connor led off the inning with a walk and then stole second for his second stolen base of the season. He would come around to score on a Reichert double off the wall in right center. It was the first double for Reichert on the year and the first extra base hit of the season for the Tallahassee, Fla., native.
The Mountaineers would cut into the lead in top of the sixth on an infield single by ASU designated hitter Isaac Harrow.
With Florida State now leading 3-1 and Appalachian State threatening in the top sixth with the bases loaded, Hallberg started a text book 6-4-3 double play to close out the inning. Mountaineer center fielder Tom Prosser chopped a ground ball to Hallberg at short who snared the ball off one bounce and made a running throw to Tony Thomas, Jr. at second base, who then threw on to Reichert at first to complete the double play. Brian Chambers replaced Henry with one out in the sixth and induced the groundout to end the inning.
Travis Burge pitched well out of the bullpen working 1.1 innings allowing one hit and striking out two.
The Seminoles would add some much needed insurance in the bottom of the eighth off ASU reliever Chris Patterson. With one out in the inning, Thomas earned an infield single to extend his hitting streak to 11 straight games. He would advance to second on the very next play as Patterson was credited with a balk and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Hallberg then drew a walk. Posey stepped up to the plate and laid a beautiful bunt single down the third base line scoring Thomas and advancing Hallberg to second. Noticing that no one was covering third, Hallberg raced around for the extra base. In attempt to throw out Hallberg, Mountaineer first baseman David Towarnicky made an errant play throwing the ball over the head of one of the ASU players covering third. The throw brought Hallberg home and advanced Posey to third. Posey would then score on Patterson’s second wild pitch of the inning to give the Seminoles a 6-1 advantage.
Rosen remained in the game in the ninth, after nailing down the final two outs in the eighth, to earn his first collegiate save. He started the inning getting Prosser to strike out swinging. The right handed junior would then get into some trouble as he hit right fielder Jason Rook with a pitch. He then gave up a single to Nick DeRose and a walk to Jason Altenhof to load the bases for second baseman Wes Hobson. Hobson delivered as he singled to right to cut the lead to 6-2. David Rubinstein then reached safely as he hit a dribbler in front of the plate scoring DeRose and making it a three-run Seminole lead. Hallberg then made the play of the game. Catcher Andrew Franco hit a fly ball to left which looked as though it was going to drop in for a base hit. But Hallberg made a spectacular over the shoulder grab on the outfield grass to keep the Mountaineers at bay. Rosen then got Harrow to strike out swinging to end game.
“Marcus Hallberg made the play of the game in the ninth inning going to catch that pop up,” stated Coach Martin. “That is something you just don’t see. That was a great play. I am just very pleased that he is on my team.”
Posey was the only Seminole on Friday night to post multiple RBI’s as he has now registered at least one RBI in nine straight games. Jason Stidham went 2-for-5 in game one to extend his season long hitting streak to 11 straight games. Dennis Guinn also recorded two hits on the night. The Seminoles were perfect from the field on Friday night while going 4-for-4 in the stolen base category. Florida State also registered double-digit hits for the ninth straight game and for the tenth time in 11 games this year.
“That is a very impressive Appalachian State team,” said head coach Mike Martin. “That is the best team that I have seen them have since I have been at Florida State. They are very well coached, a disciplined ball club. You really have to take your hat off to them.”
WESTERN CAROLINA 16, CONNECTICUT 5
CULLOWHEE, N.C. ? Western Carolina scored runs in each of the first four innings, racking up a combined 14 hits including four home runs to power its way past the Connecticut Huskies Friday afternoon, 16-5, at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium. Five Catamounts posted multiple hit games with three belting homers as WCU won its 11th-straight home opener.
Senior transfer Kenny Smith, juniors Jonathan Greene and Blake Murphy and freshman Nick Liles each posted 2-for-3 showings at the plate with Greene and Liles each blasting a home run a piece and Smith finishing with two homers and four total RBI to give him a team-best nine for the season. A total of 17 Catamounts recorded official at bats.
Junior Barrett Shaft had his 22-game hitting streak snapped on Friday after going 0-for-3 at the plate. His run was the best by a Catamount hitter since Ryan Schade reached safely in 21-consecutive games in the 2001 season. Shaft was just five games shy of tying the WCU school-record of 27-straight games set by Scott Lyman from the end of the 1992 season through ’93.
Western (3-1) opened the scoring in the home half of the first inning, plating Jason Haynes on a bases loaded RBI single through the left side by Greene, extending his current team-best hitting streak to 17 games dating back to last season. Yet, a strikeout and double-play up the middle stranded two Catamount base runners and ended the first-inning threat.
Half an inning later, the Huskies got on the board after taking advantage of a pair of walks and a catcher’s interference call. Following a Matt Karl strikeout, third baseman Erik Turgeon roped an 0-1 pitch into left center a two-run double, pushing UConn ahead, 2-1. The lead was short-lived, though, as Western managed to take the lead for good in the home half of the second. Senior transfer, John Ingram, led off with a single and trotted home as Smith hammered one over the left field fence for the 3-2 Catamount advantage.
Western Carolina was able to add to its lead in both the third and fourth innings, again playing long ball with Husky pitching. With three aboard, Liles collected his first collegiate home run with a towering shot to left to give WCU a 6-2 edge. Two batters later, Smith supplied more fireworks with his second homer, a solo shot again to left to cap the four-run frame.
In the fourth, Greene concluded Western’s hit parade with a two-out solo shot to left to open the three-run inning. Back-to-back singles by Murphy and Liles put two more in scoring position with the pair coming around to score on a Connecticut fielding error.
The Catamounts added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, and then survived a bumpy ninth which saw Connecticut score three runs on just two hits with four wild pitches and a WCU error.
Junior right-hander Tyler Sexton earned his second victory of the season, tossing six solid innings allowing just two earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Sophomore Corey Martin threw two scoreless innings, scattering a pair of hits with a pair of strikeouts with junior Andrew Larrimore finishing off the top of the ninth, surrendering three runs ? only one of which was earned ? with two walks and two strikeouts.
For Connecticut, sophomore Dale Brannon was the lone player to record a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4. Starting pitcher Rich Sirois was saddled with the loss, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits with three walks and one strikeout in three innings of work. Relief pitcher Dusty Odenbach also went three, allowing five runs on four hits, with John Folino tossing the final two frames.
VIRGINIA TECH 5, THE CITADEL 4 (11 inn.)
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? The Citadel came from behind to send the game into extra frames, but Virginia Tech came away with a 5-4 victory in 11 innings Friday night in game two of the Homewood Suites Shootout. The Hokies got out of a bases loaded jam five times in the contest, while the Dogs left 21 runners on base for the second time this season.
The Citadel’s (4-3) only lead of the game came in the third thanks to an RBI-double off the bat of sophomore catcher Sid Fallaw. Senior Zach Brown led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt by junior third baseman Matt Arnold. Fallaw then ripped a two-bagger to the gap in left center for his third of the season to plate Brown, putting the Dogs up, 1-0.
Virginia Tech (4-3) evened the score at one in the fourth. Shortstop Warren Schaffer notched a base hit to left with one out and came around to score on a triple off the bat of second baseman Matt Hacker. Bulldog starter Wes Wrenn then forced a flyout and groundout to end the inning.
Hokie center fielder Nate Parks led off the fifth with a single to the hole in left, swiped second and advanced to third on a sac bunt by right fielder Sean Ryan. Third baseman Bryan Thomas then hit a deep fly to right, allowing Parks to tag up at third. First baseman Sean O’Brien tallied a two-out triple and came home on a double by designated hitter Jose Cueto, giving Va. Tech a two-run advantage.
Fallaw belted his second run-scoring double in the bottom half of the frame to pull the Dogs within one. The Hokies answered back in the sixth as Hacker sent a 3-1 offering over the left field fence for his first home run of the season.
Citadel shortstop Kyle Jordan and freshman second baseman Bryan Altman tallied back-to-back singles to chase Fryman from the mound in the sixth. Josh Canova came in and forced Swauger to groundout to third, leaving runners on second and third. Sophomore right fielder Sonny Meade plated Jordan with a sac fly to left to again pull the Dogs within one of the Hokies.
With two outs and one on in the ninth, Jordan smacked a single to right to get the Bulldog rally going. Hokie reliever Randy Buffington then hit Altman with a pitch to load the bases. Buffington hit Swauger with the very first pitch he offered to send pinch-runner Graham Couch across the dish. Rhett Ballard then came on to relieve Buffington and put Meade down on strikes to send the game into extra frames with the score tied at four.
The Dogs and Hokies played a scoreless 10th as The Citadel managed to load the bases but could not get anyone across the plate. Left-hander Jamie Maxwell took to the hill for the Bulldogs in the 11th and gave up a lead-off walk to Hacker. Left fielder Steve Bumbry went down swinging, while Hacker swiped second and third. Catcher Matt Foley laid down a bunt in front of the plate that was mishandled by Maxwell, allowing Hacker to race home for the go-ahead score.
Ballard returned to face the Bulldogs in the 11th. The right-hander struck out Altman before Swauger hit an infield single and raced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Meade then went down on strikes and Ballard made Brown flyout to earn his first victory of the year.
Ballard (1-1) tossed 2.1 innings, holding the Dogs scoreless on two hits while fanning five. Maxwell (0-1) suffered the loss for The Citadel as he had 0.1 innings of work and gave up a run on one hit while striking out and walking one.
Junior Chris Swauger led the Bulldog offense as he batted 4-for-5, including a triple and an RBI. His three-bagger tied him for fifth all-time in career triples with 11. Hacker paced the Hokie offense as he was 2-for-4, including a home run, two RBI and scoring twice.
DAVIDSON 11, OHIO 10
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Senior Gregory Zage drilled a single down the right-field line with two outs in the 10th to score sophomore Matt Webb from second and lift Davidson to a thrilling 11-10 victory over visiting Ohio on Friday afternoon at Wilson Field. The Wildcats are off to their best start in six years at 4-0, while the Bobcats dropped their fourth straight to fall to 0-4 on the young season.
It looked as if Ohio would win the game with a 10-9 lead in the ninth after retiring the first two hitters. But senior Blake Osborn greeted reliever Chris Rigo by drawing a four-pitch walk, and sophomore Chris FitzPatrick was then hit by a pitch. Up to the plate stepped freshman catcher J.P. Craven, who in his first collegiate at-bat dumped a single down the right-field line to tie the score.
In the top of the 10th, junior left-hander Brian Packey (1-0) entered the game with a man on first and nobody out, then promptly uncorked a wild pitch. Packey calmly struck out the next two hitters before Craven gunned down the runner trying to steal third to end the inning.
In the Wildcat half of the 10th, sophomore Zach Kayne started the rally off of Daniel Utts (0-2) with a solid single through the left side, his fourth hit of the game. Webb’s bunt was a bit too strong, forcing Kayne at second, and right-hander Andrew Shisila replaced the southpaw Utts on the mound. He struck out the first batter he faced, but after a four-pitch walk to senior Rob Wilson, Zage followed with his heroics on a 2-1 pitch, squeezing it between the first baseman and the foul line. The game took 3:33 to play, the longest game for the Wildcats in nearly two years.
Ohio jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after two innings. Matt Stiffler doubled home two runs in the first, and Bryant Witt led off the second with a solo home run to left, his first of the season.
In the third, the Wildcats got on the board with a pair of runs.?Kayne grounded an RBI double down the third-base line with two outs, and Webb followed with an RBI?single to get Davidson within a run.
Two-out lightning struck again in the fourth for the Wildcats as they tallied four runs to take a 6-3 lead. With runners at first and second, senior Doug Grunwald found a hole between first and second, and the throw home got away, allowing two runs to score. Junior Hugh Eden came through with an RBI?single to right, stole second and came home on a single by Kayne.
The Bobcats got two of those runs back in the fifth. Jeremie Rehak singled, then scurried to third on an errant pick-off throw. After a walk to Dusty Hammond, a wild pitch allowed Rehak to score and Hammond to move all the way to third. Stiffler got the run home with a simple grounder to first.
Davidson loaded the bases to start the fifth, and Osborn lofted a fly to left to score a run. Another came plateward on a single by FitzPatrick, and Grunwald gave the Wildcats a 9-5 lead with a fielder’s choice to first.
Ohio roared back with five runs in the sixth to take the lead. Hayden Johnston drilled a his first homer of the season to right-center with one out, and the next six Bobcats reached base on a double, a triple, three singles and a walk. Then with two outs, the go-ahead run trotted home on a bases-loaded walk.
Kayne was 4-for-6 with a double (Davidson’s only extra-base hit in the game) and two RBIs to lead the 16-hit Wildcat attack. Wilson and Osborn each had a pair of hits, and Grunwald also drove in two runs.
Witt and Rehak each collected three hits for the Ohio offense that collected 14 hits, while Stiffler collected three RBIs.
The trio of Davidson relievers ? Chris Kennedy, Bobby DeMuro and Packey ? tossed 4.2 innings of relief without surrendering a run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
WOFFORD 6, ARMY 3
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Eric Sturkie blasted a game-winning three-run shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Wofford to a 6-3 win over Army Friday evening at Russell C. King Field.
The home run was the first hit of the game for the designated hitter and came with a 3-2 count and two outs on the board. The blast capped a late-inning comeback in which the Terriers scored five runs in the final four innings to overcome a 3-1 deficit. The win was the seventh straight for Wofford (8-2) and marked the fourth consecutive time this season that Wofford has won a series opener.
The Terriers took an early lead in the game, tagging Army’s All-American southpaw Nick Hill for a run in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, catcher Keith Munns grounded to Army third baseman J.P. Polchinski, who opted for the force out at second in hopes of starting a double play. Brandon Waring scored from third on the throw, the eighth straight game in which the junior has crossed the plate. Army got the force out at second, but second baseman Barnes Connell could not get the throw to first in time to end the inning. First baseman Bo Cipra made a heads up play to end the inning, firing to home plate just in time to tag out John Brandt, who was trying to score from second on the play.
Wofford’s lead was short-lived, however, as the Army bats came alive in the fourth to give the Black Knights a 3-1 lead. Cipra singled and advanced to third on two consecutive hit batters, and Caleb Love cleared the bases with a three-run double to right-center field.
After allowing Wofford a run in the second, Hill settled down and was nearly un-hittable. The senior hurler allowed just three hits in the next four innings and finished with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work. Army (1-3) pulled Hill before the seventh inning, however, and the Terriers took advantage of the opportunity and scored runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at 3-3. John Brandt capped the comeback with an eighth-inning solo shot to left field, his third round-tripper of the season.
Wofford also went to the bullpen in the seventh as senior reliever Lance Player (1-0) came in and pitched arguably the best performance of his career. Player earned his first win of the season after allowing one hit over four innings, his longest outing of the season. Player has not allowed a run in his last six innings on the mound, which includes three different relief appearances.
In the extra inning, Player shut down Army with a three-up three-down inning. The Terrier bats followed with four hits, two of which were consecutive singles from Emre Caglayan and Munns to put men on first and second for Sturkie’s game-winning straight-away shot. Austin Grimes (0-1) gave up the bomb and took his first loss of the season.
Wofford and Army will complete their three-game series Saturday, Feb. 24, with a 1 p.m. double header. Ben Austin (2-1) will toe the rubber in the first game for Wofford while Zack Parmer (2-0) is expected to start the second.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 9, GEORGE MASON 3
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- Jeff Beliveau pitched seven strong innings with eight strikeouts and Alex Garabedian drove in the go-ahead run with a third inning double leading the College of Charleston to a 9-3 win over George Mason in college baseball action before 211 at Patriots Point Field on Friday.
With the win, the Cougars improved to 5-1 on the season while the Patriots fell to 1-3.
Beliveau (1-0) allowed just six hits and two runs with two walks. He surrendered only a second inning two-run homer to right field by Jason Bour that gave GMU a 2-0 lead.
Charleston scored six times in the third to take the lead for good at 6-2. Garabedian rifled a double down the left field line that scored Chris Campbell from third base for a 3-2 lead. Michael Harrington's two-run double to center gave the Cougars a 5-2 lead and Michael Kohn scored on a wild pitch to cap the inning.
The Cougars used George Mason's second error of the night to score twice in the fifth inning when Kohn and Campbell raced home on a two-out throwing error. Kohn's RBI double to right in the seventh scored Garabedian for a 9-2 Cougar advantage. Chris Fournier, who doubled leading off the eighth for GMU, eventually scored on a throwing error for the final margin.
Mike Modica (1-1) suffered the loss allowing eight runs, only two earned, on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. Charleston Mitch Besselievre allowed an unearned run over the final two innings.
The Cougars play host to Cleveland State in a 1:00 start on Saturday. George Mason plays at Charleston Southern at 1:00.
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 7, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 1
DOTHAN, ALA. ? Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) hit his team-leading fourth home run, but that was all the offense Georgia Southern could manage in its first game at the Wiregrass Classic. Ryan Belanger and Southern Miss shut down the Eagles in a 7-1 decision at Northcutt Field in Dothan, Alabama, Friday afternoon.
Belanger gave up one run on four hits through eight innings. The senior right-hander, who threw 112 pitches, struck out seven and walked one batter. Shehan put the Eagles (8-4 overall) on the board in the fourth inning, a two-out solo shot which cut the deficit to 3-1.
Southern Miss (6-0) plated three runs in the first inning off Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange). James Ewing hit a RBI double, then two batters later Luke Adkins followed with another run-scoring double. Jody Blount added a sacrifice fly for the third run.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the fifth when Trey Sutton doubled and Ewing hit a single to put runners at the corners and no outs. Murray struck out Michael Ewing for the first out. Adkins lined a shot to first baseman A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant), who made the catch and stepped on first for the unassisted double play.
Bailey Hartel hit a one-out double in the sixth off Burt Barto (Columbus/Columbus). He scored on Eddie Burger’s two-out RBI single for a 4-1 lead. Michael Ewing lined a RBI single in the seventh, extending the Golden Eagles’ lead to 5-1.
USM added a single run in the eighth on a wild pitch from A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove). The Golden Eagles scored an unearned run in the ninth for the final margin.
Head coach Rodney Hennon said that starting pitching was the key.
“He’s (Ryan Belanger) the difference in the ball game. He was outstanding today. We had an idea how he would pitch... He really had command of his breaking ball. Our hitters were working in a lot of 2-strike counts and their hitters were ahead in the count early on. Good hitters will hurt you and Southern Miss did that. We need to put this one behind us because tomorrow we’ll face another good team in Troy.”
For just the second time this year the Eagles were out-hit, 13-4 by the Golden Eagles. Chris Hollis (Loganville/Faith Academy), Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin), Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) and Shehan accounted for the base hits.
Murray (1-2) allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five.
James Ewing was one of four USM players with at least two hits, pacing the attack with three.
Georgia Southern takes on host Troy on Saturday night (Feb. 24) at 7 p.m. Eastern in day two action of the Wiregrass Classic. The Eagles wrap up against Indiana on Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
TROY 16, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 10
INDIANA 5, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 1
DOTHAN, ALA. ?Troy exploded late in the game while Indiana got a complete game effort from its starting pitcher as Georgia Southern baseball dropped games Saturday night and early Sunday morning at the Wiregrass Classic. The Eagles, having lost their fourth straight game overall, fell to 8-6 this season.
Due to possible inclement weather on Sunday, Georgia Southern’s scheduled game against Indiana was moved to Saturday night following the Eagles’ contest against Troy (7-3). After a 16-10 loss to the Trojans, Georgia Southern began its game against Indiana (1-2) at 11:15 p.m., eventually losing 5-1.
Georgia Southern held a 9-6 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Troy would score 10 unanswered runs over the next three innings to seal the victory.
The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first frame, thanks in part to A.J. Wirnsberger’s (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) 2-run single with two outs, but Troy responded with two runs of its own. After the Trojans took a 5-3 lead, the Eagles tied it up when Brian Pierce
(Roswell/Roswell) and Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) hit RBI singles in the fourth.
GS took the lead in the fifth when Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) and Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) brought home two runs. Troy scored three runs in the sixth inning, three runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth inning.
Shehan added a RBI single in the ninth for the final margin. Miller, Benedict, Shehan and Wirnsberger finished with two RBI each.
Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) dropped to 0-1, allowing two runs on four hits in relief. Starter Brian Wilkerson (Bonaire/Houston County) went 3.1 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. The freshman right-hander walked two and struck out three.
Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist), Wirnsberger, Miller and Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) had two hits apiece. Troy out-hit the Eagles 21-12.
Josh Dew led the Trojans going 4-for-6 with four runs scored and six RBI. Clint Robinson scored five runs. Starter Clegg Snipes gave up seven runs (two earned) on seven hits in 4.0 innings. He walked two and struck out two. Robert Brown (1-0) earned the victory pitching four innings of relief.
In the second inning of the Indiana game the Eagles threatened. Blackburn and Shehan hit consecutive singles to start the inning. However, Wirnsberger hit into a double play then Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) grounded out to end the inning, one of three double plays Indiana turned in the game.
The Hoosiers used an error from Pierce at shortstop and Economos in right field to start a decisive fifth inning rally. Tyler Cox hit a RBI single then during the next at-bat Evan Crawford lined a 2-run single. Keith Haas fouled out to Wirnsberger, but Crawford was able to score on the play for a 4-0 lead.
After another leadoff single was erased on a double play, the Eagles staged a two-out rally in the sixth. Miller walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch then scored on Jeremy Beckham’s (Griffin/Griffin) single.
Indiana used a one-out error and double to put a pair of runners in scoring position during the seventh inning. Josh Lairsey (Waycross/Ware County) came on in relief of John Ducey (Augusta/Westside). Lairsey got a strikeout and popup to keep the Hoosiers off the board.
Sterling Mack hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to cap the scoring. Tyler Tufts, in his first appearance of the year, went the distance. He allowed one run on six hits, walking one and striking out three.
Ducey (2-1) allowed four unearned runs on four hits in 6.1 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Six different Eagles accounted for a base hit, including one each from the 2-6 hitters.
CONNECTICUT 8, WESTERN CAROLINA 1
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - University of Connecticut starting pitcher, junior Mike Tarsi, allowed just one run and scattered seven hits over eight innings on the rubber as the Huskies recorded 13 hits to down Western Carolina and even the first-ever series between the two at one apiece with an 8-1 win Saturday afternoon at Childress Field. The two teams will complete the three-game set on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm.
UConn (1-1, 0-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Matt Untiet's two-run double down the left field line to score Pat Mahoney and Larry Day. The Huskies added two more runs in the top of the third to expand their lead to 4-0. Second baseman Dale Brannon led off the frame with a single to right field and was driven home by the next batter as a Day lifted a two-run home-run to left center field.
The Huskies connected on another two-run homer in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 6-0. Dennis Donovan opened the inning with a single to center field against Western reliever, Tyler Johnson. The Lynnwood, Wash., senior retired the next two batters before giving up his second hit of the afternoon to Matt Karl marking his first home run of the year.
Western Carolina (3-2) pushed across its only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth when second baseman Kenny Smith led off with a home run to left field. The senior transfer's long ball was his third in two games against UConn, raising his team-leading RBI total to 10. The Catamounts were able to put two on with one out as Jason Haynes laid down a bunt single and was advanced by Barrett Shaft who singled to left. However, a pop-up to second and a force out at third ended WCU's rally chances.
In the ninth, the Huskies added two more insurance runs off WCU reliever Daniel Ottone, providing the final margin, 8-1.
Western Carolina starting pitcher Brock Thornburg (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs on seven hits in three innings of mound duty. Relievers Johnson and Ottone each gave up two runs apiece and combined for five strikeouts with Ottone tallying three.
Western had eight base hits on the day, but bounced into three double-plays while also having two runners picked-off base. Smith finished the day 2-for-4, while Barrett Shaft went 2-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt for the Catamounts. Junior Jonathan Greene went 1-for-4 in the loss to extend his team-best hitting streak to 18 games. The Boone, N.C., native also showed his arm strength early in the game by gunning out a runner at home plate from left field, not his normal starting position.
Western Carolina and Connecticut meet again Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium for the rubber game of the series. Fans can follow all of the online at CatamountSports.com with Live GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine and the West Care Health System.
UNC GREENSBORO 5, MARIST 3
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro starting pitcher Ryan Falcon pitched 5-2/3 strong innings as the Spartans opened the home schedule with a 5-3 win over Marist at UNCG Baseball Stadium Friday night. The win marked the seventh consecutive home-opening win for the Spartans.
Falcon (1-1), who got his first start of the season in the Spartans 4-2 loss at Auburn last weekend, allowed two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work. The Rougemont, NC native walked two and struck out three. Rob Gilliam picked up the win, relieving Falcon in the sixth.
Tim Carrier was the only Spartan to tally more than one hit by going 2-for-3 from the plate. Greg Feltes, Sean Snell and Adam Deleo each finished with one RBI.
Erik Supplee (0-1) suffered the loss for the Red Foxes. He allowed one run on four hits in 5.0 innings played. He walked two and had four strikeouts.
UNCG (1-3) struck first in the bottom of the second inning when junior Snell crushed a home run over the right field wall to give UNCG the early 1-0 advantage. The Spartans started the inning when Ed Jayjack grounded out to first base before Snell recorded his first home run of the season.
The Spartans were able to get two more runners on base with singles from Corey Overholtzer and Tim Carrier but couldn’t get anyone across the plate when Matt Gaski popped up to the shortstop to end the inning.
Marist (0-1) didn’t keep the game scoreless for long and tied the game up in the fourth inning behind a leadoff single from Pat Feeney. Feeney got on base with a bunt and teammate Justin Lepore advanced him to second with a single. Adam Pernasilici drove Feeney home on the next play when he grounded out to third base.
Marist took the lead in the sixth inning when Feeney again rounded the bases. The Red Foxes started the inning with Feeney on base after being walked by Falcon. Marist was able to get advance Feeney and get another runner on base when Pernasilici was hit by a pitch. Max Most had an RBI single which brought Feeney home to give Marist the go-ahead run.
UNCG made a pitching change in the top of the sixth inning and brought in Rob Gilliam to pitch. In 1.0 inning pitched he allowed one run on two hits, while striking out two and walking one.
UNCG had a big sixth inning, tallying two runs and a triple from Deleo. The Spartans started the inning with a single from Guy Welch, who advanced to second when Joe Johnson grounded out to the shortstop. Feltes, who was pinch hitting for Jayjack, hit an RBI single to drive Welsh home and Deleo blasted a triple through right field which drove in Feltes and extended the UNCG lead to 3-2.
Marist added a run in the top of the seventh by taking advantage of two Spartan passed balls to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Spartans opened the inning with a leadoff single by Carrier. Gaski struck out at the next at bat, but Carrier was able to steal second base on the play. Carrier advanced to third on a balk and came home on a wild pitch by the Red Foxes. UNCG added an insurance run when Scott Schneider, who reached on a walk, came home on another Red Fox wild pitch.
Clinton McKinney closed out the game for UNCG, pitching the last 2.1 innings. He held Marist scoreless and hitless and had three strikeouts. McKinney earned his first save of the season.
The Spartans and Red Foxes will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Game 1 is scheduled for 1 pm with Game 2 to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.