WOFFORD 8-7, MANHATTAN 6-6
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Brandon Waring drove in eight runs and Michael Gilmartin earned a pair of saves as Wofford swept Manhattan in a baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Waring hit a pair of home runs and a triple and drove in six runs in the opener. He had a solo homer and an RBI single in the nightcap.
In the opener, the Terriers took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Waring’s three-run homer. The Jaspers cut the lead to 3-2 in the second on three walks, an infield single and an infield error.
The Terriers went up 5-2 in the third on an RBI triple by Waring and a run-scoring single by John Brandt. Manhattan added two runs in the third to pull within one on an RBI double by Ruben Perez and a run-scoring single by Rene Ruiz.
The Jaspers took a 6-5 lead in the top of the fourth when Eric Nieto led off the frame with a solo homer and Marc Giordano singled to score Kevin Nieto.
The Terriers won the game with three runs in the fifth. Gilmartin reached second when Manhattan’s rightfielder dropped a fly ball. Shane Kirkley doubled to score Gilmartin and Waring then drove in Kirkley with a home run to left center.
Lance Player earned the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Gilmartin pitched the last inning and one-third and did not allow a base runner to earn his third save of the year.
In the nightcap, the Terriers overcame an early 2-0 deficit. Manhattan pieced together five hits in the top of the first, scoring one run on a wild pitch and another on a double by Matt Rizzotti. Wofford countered with two in the bottom of the first as Kirkley drove in one run with an infield ground out and Kyle Behrendt knocked in another with a fielder’s choice.
The Terriers added a solo run in the third when Adam Kearney walked and scored on a single by Gilmartin. Waring gave the Terriers to a 4-2 lead with a solo homer in the third and John Brandt drove in another run with an RBI double.
Wofford extended its lead to 7-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Sterling Dye and Gilmartin opened the inning with singles. Kirkley knocked in a run with an infield single and Waring followed with another single.
The Jaspers pulled within 7-4 in the sixth on a two-run homer by Rizzotti. Gilmartin entered the game with a runner on first and nobody out and induced Giordano to hit into a double play before retiring Kevin Nieto on an infield pop out.
The Jaspers made it interesting in the seventh. With Nunzio Franzese on first, Ruiz doubled and Eric Nieto followed with an ground ball in the infield that was ruled an error that drove in Franzese to make the scored 7-5. Mike Garcia followed with a single to score Ruiz and make it a one-run game. But Gilmartin got Rizzotti to ground into a fielder’s choice and Nick Derba took a called third strike to end the game.
Ben Austin became Wofford’s first pitcher to win five games, improving to 5-1. He went five innings and scattered seven hits while striking out six and walking two.
Wofford has now won five straight games and is 14-3 on the season. The Jaspers are 1-7.
DAVIDSON 13, LAFAYETTE 7
DAVIDSON, N.C. --- Senior pitcher/designated hitter Rob Wilson pounded out a career-best five hits and tied his career-best by driving in four runs as the Davidson baseball team collected a season-high 18 hits on its way to a 13-7 non-conference win over Lafayette on Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field in the first game of a three-game home series. Davidson continued its early season success by jumping its record to 10-3 overall, while running its home mark to 9-2. Lafayette fell to an even .500 at 3-3.
Wilson was one of five Wildcat players to collect at least two hits on the afternoon as he was a triple shy of the cycle, while scoring three times. The senior captain's biggest hit of the afternoon came in the bottom of the seventh inning with the scored tied at 7-7.
After Hugh Eden lined a long-ball over the right-center field fence for an 8-7 Davidson lead, the Wildcats placed two of the next three batters on base bringing up Wilson. He then put the game out of reach when he smoked a 1-1 pitch over the 385-mark in center field for a three-run bomb and an 11-7 Wildcat advantage. It was his third homer of the season as he pushed his team-leading batting average up to .421 with his five-hit afternoon.
Wilson also started the game on the mound and fared pretty well, going six innings and allowing five, only four earned, on seven hits. He rang up four of the Leopard batters.
Left fielder Gregory Zage followed Wilson with a three-hit game, while Blake Osborn, Zach Kayne and Eden each finished with two hits apiece. Kayne and Eden each scored twice as well.
The game started out with both teams finding their offense early. Lafayette scored in four of the first five innings on seven hits. Dave Drechsel launched his first home run down the right field line and Chris Luick hit an RBI double to highlight the Leopard's scoring.
Davidson used a three-run second and a two-run fourth for an early 5-3 lead. Catcher J.P Craven hit a two-run double in the second inning and Matt Webb brought in the third run with a bases loaded walk. Webb then added another RBI, one of three for the game, on a sac fly in the fourth and Wilson singled to center field for the second run of the inning.
Davidson added single runs in the fifth and sixth on a Kayne RBI single and a double off the bat of Osborn down the right field line for a 7-5 lead.
The Wildcats' two-run lead was erased when Lafayette touched up winning pitcher Bobby DeMuro for two unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Despite the two runs allowed, DeMuro picked up his third win of the season (3-1) thanks to the Wildcats' big seventh inning and closed out the eighth frame with a 1-2-3 inning.
An RBI triple by Webb and an RBI groundout from first baseman Alden Crissey helped the 'Cats tack on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the final score of 13-7. The 13 runs scored for Davidson was the sixth time this season they have dented the plated 10 or more times. As a team they average 10.8 runs per game, while hitting at a .340 clip.
Three Leopard hitters had two hits each, led by James Conrad's 2-for-4 day with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Jason Morytko (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound after giving up Eden's first homer of the season in the seventh. Starter Ted Gjeldum was charged with seven runs, six earned, in 5.1 innings and gave up 11 of the 18 hits.
ELON 15, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 10
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix put together a seven-run sixth inning and held off a late flurry by the North Carolina A&T Aggies to earn a 15-10 victory in game two of a three-game non-conference baseball series from Latham Park on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix now sits at 10-7 while the Aggies own a 2-11 record.
A&T got on the board first, scoring twice in the first off of Elon starter Zach Booker. Nick Mayo lined the first pitch of the game into right for a single before moving to second on a walk to Jeremy Jones. Charlie Gamble followed with a double to the wall in center, plating Mayo. With one out, Kory Kinnear grounded out to first, but Jones was able to score on the play.
The Phoenix answered right back in the bottom of the first. With one out, Adam Weaver grounded a ball through the left side of the infield and moved to second when Robert Rodebaugh was issued a walk. Chris Vasami lined the first pitch he saw from Tim Johnson over the wall in left-center to put Elon on top 3-2.
Elon’s lead grew to 4-2 in the third when Chris Dove stole home on a failed pickoff throw to first base.
The Aggies evened the score at four in the fifth inning. Joe Wade led off with a double down the rightfield line and moved to third on a ground out. C.J. Beatty’s fly ball to right was deep enough to allow Wade to tag and score the third A&T run of the game. After Mayo walked, Jones doubled on a perfectly executed hit-and-run to drive in Mayo.
Elon went back up by one in the bottom of the fifth when Jordy Snyder scored on a double play. The Phoenix erupted in its next at bat, scoring seven runs on five hits and one Aggie error. Chase Austin got things going with a double down the line in left and scored when Ryan Addison followed with a double to the same spot. Snyder’s bunt single put runners on the corners before Chris Dove knocked in Addison while reaching on a fielder’s choice that erased Snyder. After Dove stole second, Weaver lifted a fly ball to left that was dropped by Jones and left runners on second and third. Elon loaded the bases when Rodebaugh drew a walk and Vasami’s single to right allowed Dove to score. Pat Irvine earned an RBI when he drew a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch. Drew Davis then extended his hitting streak to 12 games by clearing the bases with a double down the leftfield line.
The Aggies did not go quietly, however, scoring twice in the top of the seventh to close the deficit to 12-6. Ty Gwyn got things going with a single up the middle. After a wild pitch, Gwyn moved to third on Beatty’s single. With one down, back-to-back walks to Jones and Gamble forced home Gwyn. A ground ball to second for the second out of the inning allowed Beatty to score the second A&T run of the frame.
Again the Phoenix responded to the Aggie threat, scoring its final three runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Addison was hit by a pitch to start the inning, swiped second and advanced to third on a ground out. Dove sent a 1-0 pitch back up the middle to knock in Addison. With two outs, Rodebaugh blasted a shot over the wall in left-center for two RBI.
A four-run eighth inning drew A&T to within five, but the Phoenix was able to hold off any further threat. Nelson Santos led off the inning by sending a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right-center. A walk and fielder’s choice put men on first and second for the Aggies before a ground out advanced both runners. A walk to Mayo loaded the bases and Jones followed with a two-RBI double to right-center. Joe McIntyre’s sac fly delivered the final run of the game before Tom Porter closed the door after coming in with the bases loaded and striking out Santos.
Booker (2-1) earned the win for Elon after hurling 6.1 innings and giving up six runs on seven hits. Porter earned his first save of the season after striking out four in 1.1 innings of work and not allowing a hit or walk.
Johnson (0-2) took the loss. He surrendered 10 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits in 5.1 innings of action.
At the plate, Vasami finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI while Davis ended 1-for-4 with three driven in. Dove tallied three hits in four at bats, scored three times and knocked home two. Weaver, Addison and Snyder also had two hits apiece for the Phoenix.
For A&T, Jones went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. Mayo was the only other Aggie with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
UNC GREENSBORO 10, JACKSONVILLE 7
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. ? Adam Deleo’s bases clearing double in the ninth inning gave the UNC Greensboro baseball team the 10-7 victory over Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon at Alex Brest Field.
Deleo went 1-for-2 with three RBI, while junior Greg Feltes was 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI and Guy Welsh had four hits on the day.
With the game tied 7-7 and bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Deleo smacked a double down the leftfield line to make the score 10-7 in UNCG’s favor. Junior Clay Gibson pitched a scoreless ninth, including striking out the final two batters, to earn his first win of the year.
Feltes gave UNCG (7-6) a 5-0 lead in the second with his first career grand slam. Corey Overholtzer reached base on a fielder’s choice, Tim Carrier singled to left and Matt Gaski walked before Feltes blasted the roundtripper to left field.
Jacksonville (10-11) scored two runs in the bottom of the second on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly from Matt Lopez. After UNCG scored again in the fourth, the Dolphins answered with a one-run homer by Ryan McArdle to make the score 6-3 going into the fifth.
The Dolphins continued to fight back, scoring a run in the fifth and seventh to close the UNCG lead, 6-5. Feltes, however, singled in the eighth to score Gaski, giving the Spartans the two-run lead. A Spartan error in the bottom of the inning allowed JU to score two runs to tie the game at seven going into the ninth.
Gibson (1-0) picked up the win after allowing no runs or hits and striking out two in 1-2/3 innings pitched. Starter Matt Gibbs allowed five runs on seven hits in 6-1/3 innings of work.
Tim Brown (0-1) took the loss for the Dolphins after allowing five hits and three runs in 4-1/3 innings on the mound. JU starter Matt Gardner allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out three in 3-2/3 innings.
THE CITADEL 2, COLUMBIA 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Freshman Chris McGuiness belted his first collegiate home run to lead The Citadel past Columbia, 2-1, in game two of a doubleheader at Riley Park Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs and Lions split the two games with the rubber match of the series set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Citadel (9-5) took their first lead of the series as they put up one in the first. Junior left fielder Chris Swauger was able to reach first on a throwing error by Lion second baseman Kyle Roberts with one man down. Sophomore right fielder Sonny Meade moved Swauger over to third with a base hit that was just fair inside the left field line. Senior first baseman Zach Brown then pushed Swauger home with a sac fly to right to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
Columbia (1-4-1) evened it up in the sixth as the Bulldogs silenced the Lion bats for the first five innings after surrendering 20 hits in game one of the doubleheader. Catcher Dean Forthun registered a single back up the middle to begin the frame and raced to second on a groundout by center fielder Noah Cooper. Shortstop Craig Rodwogin then singled through the right side to plate Forthun.
McGuiness put the Dogs back up with one swing of the bat as he belted his first career round-tipper in the seventh. The freshman jumped on the first offering by Lion starter Henry Perkins and sent it over the right center field wall to make it 2-1.
The Bulldogs were able to escape a bases loaded jam in the eighth. Freshman side-armer Raymond Copenhaver took to the hill to relieve Bulldog starter Matt Crim. Copenhaver struck out the first batter he faced, but then surrendered back-to-back singles to Ron Williams and Andrew Ward. Copenhaver forced Mike Roberts to fly out for the second out but hit Jake Summerhays with a pitch to fill the bases. The Dogs then called on lefty Jamie Maxwell who caught Jason Banos swinging to preserve the one-run lead.
Senior closer Link Saunders picked up his third save of the year as he was called upon in the ninth. The right-hander struck Roberts out looking before pinch-hitter Dan Neczypor blooped one into shallow center. Saunders sat Mike Malfettone down on strikes and made Rodwogin pop out to short to end the game.
Sophomore left-hander Matt Crim (1-2) earned his first win of the season as he went 7.0 frames, allowing only one run on seven hits while fanning three and not allowing a single walk. Henry Perkins (1-1) suffered the loss for the Lions as he pitched 8.0 innings, scattering five hits and giving up two runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking one.
TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO 8, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 7
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Michael Rockett's RBI single to left in the bottom of the 11th inning scored James Keithley from third base as Texas-San Antonio rallied for an 8-7 win over 30th-ranked College of Charleston in college baseball action before 142 at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Saturday.
With the win the Roadrunners improved to 6-9 on the season. Charleston fell to 12-3.
Keithley opened the bottom of the 11th with a single to left and moved to third on Charleston's second baseman Chris Campbell's throwing error on Tim Palincsar bunt. Rockett followed with a first pitch liner to left for the game-winner.
UTSA scratched for an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Keithley led off with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball, and eventually scored on a single to left by Rockett for a 1-0 UTSA lead.
Charleston tied the game in the top of the third at 1-1. Clay McCord led off with a bunt single down the third base line and raced home on Campbell's two-out double down the right field line.
The Cougars grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth when Michael Harrington led off with a double to left and Ben Lasater followed with a single to center.
UTSA took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Keithley tied the game with a homer to left leading off the inning, Tim Palinscar was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch from Michael Bunton for a 3-2 Roadrunner advantage.
The Cougars answered with three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning. A one-out, bases loaded throwing error at the plate by UTSA third baseman Ryan Saltzgaber allowed Lasater and Graham Maiden to score for a 4-3 CofC lead. Oliver Marmol followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Gabe Marchant for a 5-3 advantage. Harrington's RBI double in the seventh stretched Charleston's lead to 6-3.
Marshal Davis led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and moved to second on Keithley's single to right. Tim Palincsar followed with a three-run homer to right that tied the game at 6-all, his first of the season. Etheredge's double down the left field line scored Michael Rockett for the game-winner.
J.T. Mackey (3-1) picked up the win in relief tossing a scoreless top of the 11th innings. Brian Schlitter (2-1) suffered the loss surrendering an unearned run on four hits over four innings of work.
APPALACHIAN STATE 11-2, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 4-4
HICKORY, N.C. -- Appalachian State University baseball received strong pitching throughout, but couldn’t get the clutch hits in game two en route to a doubleheader split with visiting Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday afternoon at L.P. Frans Stadium. Appalachian won the opener, 11-4, but fell in the nightcap, 4-2.
Freshman Matt Andress allowed just two runs in eight innings to pick up the win in game one, while Jason Rook struck out seven in six innings of work in game two. However, ASU (9-6) backed up Andress with 15 hits, while it managed just six hits off FDU’s John O’Hara in the nightcap.
The Mountaineers opened up a 5-0 lead and never trailed in the opener. The top of the order paced the Apps’ ninth double-digit scoring output in 14 games, as Jason Altenhof, Wes Hobson, David Rubinstein, Andrew Franco and Isaac Harow combined for 11 of the team’s 15 hits and drove in seven of the 11 runs. Harrow hit a two-run homer and collected a game-high three RBI, while Franco went 3-for-3 with two walks before leaving the game with an apparent ankle injury. The catcher did not play in game two.
After scoring 11 runs in game one, Appalachian could not solve O’Hara in the nightcap, scoring only single runs in the fourth and fifth innings of the loss. ASU had opportunities to chip away at FDU (4-2), but suffered from a number of miscues on the bases, including a pickoff, a botched hit-and-run attempt and a runner nabbed at third on a fielders’ choice.
O’Hara, a left-handed junior, threw 135 pitches and struck out six in the complete-game victory to move to 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in two starts this season.
Ninth Inning Rally Sends Eagles Past Bethune-Cookman Jeremy Beckham hits 2-run triple and A.J. Battisto closes door on Wildcats
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 7, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 6
CONWAY, S.C. ? Georgia Southern rallied in the ninth inning, scoring four runs, then held off Bethune-Cookman for a 7-6 win at the Myrtle Beach Hyundai Isuzu Classic Saturday afternoon (March 10). The Eagles (13-7 overall) improved to 2-0 in the Classic.
Down 5-3, Chris Hollis (Loganville/Faith Academy) started the rally thanks to a one-out double. He scored when Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) singled up the middle. Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) dropped a single to right field, putting runners at first and second.
Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) greeted relief pitcher Phil Enright with a triple down the right field line, putting Georgia Southern ahead 6-5. Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist) lifted a sacrifice fly for the eventual game-winning run.
A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) got the first two outs of the bottom of the ninth but Angel Negron hit a home run, his third on the year. Battisto finished off the win getting Chris Henault on a called third strike to end the game.
BCC struck first during the bottom of the second inning. Henault lined a leadoff single, the first time in 11 innings Georgia Southern allowed an opponent on base to start an inning. He took third when Chris Brown lined a one-out double. Drew Clark grounded out to A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) at first base but Henault was able to score for a 1-0 lead.
Negron lined a RBI single with two outs in the third inning, spotting the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Georgia Southern finally got to pitcher Dustin Blackwell in the fourth inning.
Miller drew a leadoff walk, the Eagles’ first base runner of the game, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Beckham hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Luis Gonzalez, who tried going to second base and pick off Miller. However, his throw went into right field and both runners went into scoring position.
Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) lined a 2-run single through the right side to tie the game, and then took second base on the throw home. Benedict went to third on Chris Shehan’s (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) deep fly ball to centerfield and scored on Wirnsberger’s single up the middle.
The Wildcats regained the lead in the fifth. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch. He scored on Henault’s third home run of the season for a 4-3 lead.
In the seventh Hollis drew a one-out walk but was erased on a fielder’s choice. Miller walked to put a pair of runners on. Beckham ran the count full, but hit a line drive at left fielder Brown who had to fight off the sun and make the catch to end the Eagles’ scoring threat.
Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) came on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but promptly gave up a pair of singles. He responded with a flyout and strikeout to keep Bethune-Cookman off the scoreboard.
The Eagles tallied five of their 10 hits in the decisive ninth inning, but were still out-hit by BCC 11-10.
“I was trying to look middle away on a pitch to drive. He (Enright) stayed away from the zone, so all I did was stay back on the pitch and drive it. He threw a fastball away and as soon as I saw it drop down the line I was thinking triple all the way,” said Beckham. “We know that until the last out is made we are still in a ballgame. Anytime you string together a couple of wins before a big game is a huge confidence booster. We are looking forward to tomorrow.”
Battisto (2-0) gave up one run on two hits in 1.1 innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter. Benedict, Shehan and Pierce had two hits apiece. Miller and Beckham accounted for four runs scored.
Starter John Ducey (Augusta/Westside) gave up four runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings.
Blackwell’s stellar performance went for naught, allowing one earned run on four hits in seven season-high nine batters as that loss marked the ninth time in 13 defeats that BCC lost in the latter innings. Felix Machado (2-2) gave up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings.
UAB 5, FURMAN 4 (10 innings)
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Ryan Lovdahl’s RBI single in the 10th inning scored Ryan Keedy from second base and lifted UAB to a 5-4 win over Furman in baseball action Saturday afternoon at Young Memorial Field.
Keedy, who walked to lead off the inning, stole second, and then came around to score the game winner on Lovdahl’s single to left field off Paladin reliever Nick Hollstegge.
Furman had a chance to win the game in the ninth with two outs and the bases empty and holding a 4-3 lead. Hollstegge, however, gave up a two-out single to Danny Sawyer, and Brint Hardy, pinch running for Sawyer, stole second. After pinch hitter Steven Turner was hit by a pitch, the Blazers’ Levi Patmon delivered the game tying single to left centerfield, scoring Hardy.
The Paladins had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth on a Nick Karow two-out, RBI single that scored Bobby Hubbard.
The loss was the fifth straight for Furman (3-9), which has now blown an eighth inning lead and a pair of ninth inning advantages in three of its last four defeats. In Friday’s series opener, Furman led 2-0 before UAB (6-8), belted a pair of eighth inning home runs to secure a 3-2 victory.
Hollstegge (0-2) was charged with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits over the final 1 2/3 innings. He faced two batters in the 10th inning.
Brandon Wallace (1-2) earned the win after retiring the Paladins in order in the top of the 10th.
Furman was paced at the plate by Spence Gibbs, who went 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Joe Daysh added a pair of hits for the Paladins, who collected 10 hits in the contest.
Trailing 1-0, Furman got on the board with a pair of runs in the third inning following an RBI single by Gibbs and sacrifice fly by Bobby Hubbard.
Tony Maccani’s RBI single in the fifth made it 3-1 in support of Paladin starting pitcher Jay Jackson, who pitched into the sixth inning before being pulled after giving up back-to-back home runs by Keedy and Lovdahl that tied the game at 3-3.
Spencer Hale pitched well in relief of Jackson, working 2 1/3 innings of no-hit ball.
XAVIER 17, WESTERN CAROLINA 12
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Xavier used a six-run sixth inning and a five spot in the top half of the seventh to break open a one-run game, out slugging Western Carolina 17-12 Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The two teams combined for 29 runs on 36 hits including nine for extra bases.
Senior John Ingram led the Catamounts with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate including his fifth double and a pair of home runs, his first two this season. Ingram finished with a game-high six RBI and along with junior Blake Murphy, three runs scored. Murphy finished 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI, while classmate Steven Strausbaugh drove in a pair on two hits and was hit by a pitch.
Xavier (2-13) pushed a pair of runs across in the top of the first inning, including a tally on a wild pitch and a RBI single to left by designated hitter Jack Bonnikson, to take a 2-0 lead. The Catamounts cut the deficit in half after junior Barrett Shaft led off with a walk, stole second and scored from third on an RBI single by Strausbaugh. However, the Musketeers scored four times in the top of the second inning to take a 6-1 lead.
Despite loading the bases with back-to-back singles and a walk in the third, WCU (8-6) only managed to plate one run in the frame on an RBI single by Murphy. On the play, shortstop Jason Haynes was thrown out at home, allowing Murphy to scamper to second to put two on with two out. Yet, the rally was thwarted after senior Kenny Smith laced one to the warning track in left field on a ball that did not carry.
The Catamounts manufactured a run in the fourth before trimming the Xavier lead to one in the home half of the fifth on the first of two Ingram long balls. Murphy drew a one out walk and two batters later, Ingram was first-pitch swinging, taking one to the opposite field for a two-run homer.
Things came unraveled for Western in the top of both the sixth and seventh innings. Ten Musketeer hitters took swings in the sixth and 11 stepped in during the seventh as Xavier broke open the close game with a combined 11 runs between the two frames.
In the sixth, WCU was nearly out of trouble after the fourth run scored as relief pitcher Greg Holland struck out XU's Drew Schmidt but the third strike got away from catcher Jonathan Greene, allowing a run to scamper home and the inning to continue. In the seventh, Western pitcher Daniel Ottone surrendered a lead-off walk before inducing consecutive fly-outs to center and right, respectively, to put two away in the frame. Yet, a single and back-to-back walks pushed home the first run with three additional RBI singles chasing Ottone in place of Bryan Corbett who walked one but struck out the final batter to end the inning.
The Catamounts attempted a come back in the seventh and eighth innings, tallying seven runs on seven hits. Greene opened the seventh with a double to left center and was driven home by Murphy with an RBI single to right center. Smith drew a walk to put two aboard for Ingram who delivered a towering three-run homer to left field, clearing the middle section of fence. Strausbaugh completed the scoring by driving in freshman Nick Liles, who extended his team-best hitting streak to seven games with a 1-for-4 showing.
In the seventh, Murphy singled through the left side and moved to second when left fielder Sean Farrell could not come up with the scoop cleanly and bobbled the ball. Murphy scored on an RBI double to the gap in left center by Ingram, completing the Alpharetta, Ga., native’s six-RBI day.
WCU starter Brock Thornburg (1-2) suffered his second defeat of the season after only lasting an inning and two thirds, allowing six runs - four earned - off six hits with three walks and a strikeout. Corey Martin threw three and a third of effective relief, holding Xavier to two earned runs on just three hits. Corbett pitched two and a third innings of scoreless relief, only allowing two hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.
Xavier's Mark Janszen (1-1) earned his first victory of the season after starter Bill Konecny tossed the first four innings and was lifted at the start of the fifth for Brett Greenwell to not factor in on the decision. Konecny scattered seven hits, allowing three earned runs with four walks while Greenwell gave up six earned runs on six hits in two innings of work.
Musketeer second baseman Adam Lipski was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, finishing 4-for-7 with a double, triple and a pair of singles with four RBI and three runs scored. Andy Zellers drove in three with Jordan Wolf and Bonnikson each recording three hits in the win.
SUNDAY
THE CITADEL 6, COLUMBIA 1
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Senior right-hander Justin Smith pitched 5.1 innings of no-hit ball for his second consecutive outing to help lead The Citadel to a 6-1 victory over Columbia Sunday afternoon at Riley Park. The Bulldogs clinched their seventh straight series win with the victory as they defeated the Lions, 2-1, in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Bulldogs improve to 10-5 while Columbia falls to 1-5-1.
Smith notched his fourth win of the season as he tossed 7.0 innings, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out seven. His other no-hit outing was against Kent State as he held the Flashes hitless in 5.1 frames of relief in The Citadel’s 13-9 come-from-behind victory on March 3. Junior John Baumann suffered the loss in his first outing of the year, tossing 4.0 frames and giving up five runs on eight hits while fanning one and walking three.
Freshman shortstop Kyle Jordan led the Dogs at the plate as he batted a perfect 4-for-4 on the afternoon, including a double and two RBI. Senior first baseman Zach Brown was responsible for igniting the three-run rally in the second as he began the inning with his fourth home run of the season. The Bulldogs have tallied 10 or more hits in eight of their first 15 games.
The Bulldog offense gave Smith a 5-0 lead after the first four frames. The Dogs put up three in the second as Brown blasted a 2-1 pitch off the batter’s eye. Freshman second baseman Bryan Altman flied out to left before freshman designated hitter Chris McGuiness earned a free pass. Freshman catcher Richard Jones smacked a single to right center while junior third baseman Matt Arnold plated McGuiness with a base hit that got through the right side. Jordan followed that up with a line drive to left to score Jones. The Lions then forced two outs to get out of the inning without any further damage.
The Citadel came back to tack on a run in both the third and fourth innings. Jones registered an RBI with a sac fly to right to score sophomore right fielder Sonny Meade, who led off the third with a double to the gap in left center. Meade then knocked in a run in the following frame as laced a single through the left side to send junior left fielder Chris Swauger across the dish.
Columbia was able to avoid the shutout with a run in the seventh as first baseman Ron Williams started things off with a double. Williams move over to third on a groundout by right fielder Drew Ward and then sprinted home on a wild pitch. After Smith got designated hitter Dan Neczypor to fly out to center, the Lions managed to load the bases with two outs on two walks and a single. Smith then forced catcher Dean Forthun to groundout to short, ending the Lion threat.
The Dogs added some insurance in the eighth as Jordan belted a two-out, RBI double down the right field line to make the final 6-1.
Senior left-hander Jamie Maxwell and senior closer Link Saunders finished out the eighth and ninth for the Dogs, respectively. Maxwell retired three straight while Saunders recorded two quick outs before surrendering a walk. Saunders then forced a groundout to solidify the victory.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 4, TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO 2
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. - Michael Harrington's two-out, two-run single in the 10th inning lifted 30th-ranked College of Charleston to a 4-2 win over Texas-San Antonio in college baseball action before 132 at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Sunday.
The Cougars improved to 13-3 with the win. The Roadrunners fell to 6-10.
In the 10th inning, the Cougars loaded the bases on three walks with two outs off UTSA righty Zach Calhoon. Harrington followed with his game-winning hit on a 2-0 pitch that scored Oliver Marmol and Stuart Haywood to give Charleston a 4-2 lead.
The Cougars scratched for a run in the top of the seventh. Harrington and Alex Garabedian led off the frame with singles to left and Graham Maiden walked on four pitches to load the bases with no outs.
After Ben Lasater popped out, Michael Kohn's grounder to second scored Harrington for a 1-0 Charleston lead.
Charleston stretched its lead to 2-0 in the eighth. Marmol led off with a walk, and after moving to third on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt by pitcher Blake Brannon, scored on Haywood's single down the left field line.
UTSA tied it in the ninth at 2-all. Trent Lockwood's one-out single to center started the rally. UTSA cut the margin to 2-1 when Ryan Saltzgaber's single to right was misplayed by Jedd Cordisco allowing pinch runner Phillip Allen to score from first with Saltzgaber reaching third.
Mitch Ponza's single to center scored Saltzgaber to tie the game.
Both starters pitched well. Charleston pitcher Jeff Beliveau allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits over 8 1/3 innings of work. He walked four and struck out six. UTSA pitcher Blake Brannon allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Mike Lynn (1-1) blanked UTSA with a strikeout over the final 1 2/3 innings for the win. Calhoon (1-1) suffered the loss allowing two runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
WESTERN CAROLINA 14, XAVIER 7
CULLOWHEE, N.C. ? Behind the combined 9-for-9 hitting performance of junior Barrett Shaft and senior transfer Kenny Smith, Western Carolina used two big run producing innings to take Sunday’s rubber match against the Xavier Musketeers, 14-7, at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Shaft was a perfect 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, a walk and three RBI, while Smith was 4-for-4 with two homers and a game-high tying four runs driven in. The duo represented the only Catamounts with multiple hits on the afternoon. Senior John Ingram blasted his third home run of the series, a two-run shot to right, while junior Blake Murphy drove in two on an RBI double.
Western (9-6) jumped out early on the Musketeers, taking advantage of an infield error and single to put two aboard for Smith. The Asheville, N.C., product hammered his first of two homers, clearing the left centerfield fence for a three-run shot to give the Catamounts the early, 3-0, advantage. Freshman infielder Brent Greer drew a one-out walk and scored from first on an RBI double down the left field line by Shaft to extend the lead to four. After moving to third on a second Musketeer miscue, Shaft scored on a sacrifice fly to right by junior Steven Strausbaugh, giving WCU a 5-0 lead.
Ingram tallied an unearned run in the third, reaching on an error and advancing on a walk and a wild pitch before trotting home on sophomore Mitchell Hatley’s sacrifice fly to center, pushing the advantage to 6-0.
Western Carolina freshman Chris Masters was perfect through the first three innings in his first collegiate weekend start, striking out three. However, the Marietta, Ga., native ran into trouble in the fourth, surrendering a lead-off homer that trimmed the lead to five, 6-1, before being chased in the fifth after allowing six unearned runs. Masters finished with 4.2 innings pitched scattering five hits and allowing seven runs, only two of which were earned, and striking out four but did not factor in on the decision.
Trailing by one, 7-6, after Xavier’s six-run fifth, the Catamounts responded with seven runs in the home half of the frame to reclaim the lead for good. Smith lifted a one-out, solo shot over the right center field fence to knot the game at seven. With Greer aboard with a single, Shaft hit his homer to right to push the lead to a pair, 9-7. A pair of walks to Jason Haynes and Strausbaugh turned into runs on a two-RBI double by Murphy, with the Waynesville native touching home on Ingram’s two-run blast to right.
All told, WCU scored six of the seven innings in the bottom of the fifth inning with two out to lead 13-7.
Western would push a final run across in the eighth as Shaft singled to right and scored on freshman Adam Baker’s RBI double to left center field to provide the final tally, 14-7.
Junior Tyler Johnson (1-2), who came on in relief of Masters in the fifth, threw three and a third of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit, one walk and tallying five strikeouts to earn his first victory of the season. His classmate, Greg Holland, closed out the game by facing four batters, walking one, in the ninth in a non-save situation.
Xavier (2-14) starter Kyle Cowden suffered the loss after pitching 4.2 innings, giving up nine runs ? only six of which were earned ? on seven hits with five walks and a strikeout. Offensively for the Musketeers, Jordan Wolf finished 3-for-4 with an RBI on a solo home run. First baseman Drew Roberts also hit a home run, accounting for four runs on a grand slam in Xavier’s six-run fifth inning.
MANHATTAN 7, WOFFORD 6 (10 innings)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Manhattan right fielder Nunzio Franzese hit a solo homer in the top of the 10th inning to give the Jaspers a 7-6 win over Wofford on Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Franzese’s homer gave Manhattan the lead but it was a stellar defensive play that sealed the win. The Terriers, who had rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, appeared on the verge of completing the three-game sweep. The Terriers had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the tenth, trailing 7-6. Chuck Eller singled to left field and Manhattan’s Eric Nieto fired to home where catcher Nick Derba tagged the sliding Emre Caglayan for the second out of the inning. Derba then threw to third where Ryan Masters tagged pinch-runner Dave Banks to end the game.
Manhattan had gotten off to a 5-0 lead through the first two and one-half innings. The Jaspers scored four runs in the second as Derba led off with a double. Masters plated one run with a sacrifice fly, Franzese drove in a run with a double and Eric Nieto’s infield ground out scored a run. Manhattan also scored a run on a throwing error.
Derba’s solo homer in the third put the Jaspers up 5-0.
Wofford cut the margin to 5-3 with a three-run third. Eller walked and moved to second on a single by Bradford Eaves. Shane Kirkley singled to center and the throw to third base was wide of the mark and went into the Wofford dugout allowing Eaves to score. Kirkley would score on a wild pitch.
Wofford pulled to within a run at 5-4 in the sixth when Kirkley doubled and scored on a single by John Brandt. Kirkley’s solo homer in the seventh tied the game at 5.
Manhattan took a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth when Eric Nieto led off with a double and scored on a double by Mike Garcia.
The Terriers tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when Keith Munns was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Pinch runner Eric Sturkie moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Eller and to third on a single by Mike Gilmartin. Kirkley tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Tom Moran earned the win for Manhattan in relief of Jesse Darcy. Moran allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings of work. Brian Pendergast escaped the 10th inning to earn his first save of the season.
Adam Kearney took the loss for the Terriers. He allowed just two hits and struck out three in two innings of work.
Kirkley was four-for-four on the afternoon with three RBIs. Eaves and Caglayan each had two hits for the Terriers.
Garcia, Derba, Franzese, Dom Lombardi and Rene Ruiz all had two hits for the Jaspers.
Wofford is now 14-4 on the season while Manhattan improved to 2-7.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T 14, ELON 9
ELON, N.C. -- The North Carolina A&T Aggies scored eight runs in the final two innings to come from behind and claim a 14-9 non-conference baseball victory over the Elon Phoenix from Latham Park on Sunday afternoon. The win kept the Aggies (3-11) from being swept by the Phoenix (10-8) in the three-game set.
Trailing 8-6 heading into the eighth inning, the Aggies were able to grab a 9-8 advantage by scoring three unearned runs on a double from Kory Kinnear. A&T then added five more in the ninth inning, including solo homers from Neil Rosser and Nick Mayo. A balk plated one run and Kinnear knocked home two more with another double.
Elon scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Chris Dove led the game off by slicing a 3-2 offering into right-center for a triple. Adam Weaver’s sacrifice bunt allowed Dove to score.
The Aggies evened the score at one in the second when C.J. Beatty drew a two-out bases loaded walk. A&T then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Mayo doubled home Beatty.
Elon went up 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four times. Weaver scampered home from third on a wild pitch just before Chase Austin launched his second homer of the season, a three-run shot to left-center.
A&T went back on top by a 6-5 score in the sixth after a four-run outburst. Back-to-back singles from Kinnear and Nelson Santos were followed by a sacrifice bunt from Rosser to put runners on second and third. Beatty delivered both runners with a single to left and moved to third on a single from Jeremy Jones. Both runners scored on Charlie Gamble’s double to the gap in right.
Again, the Phoenix answered the challenge, tallying three runs in its half of the sixth. With the help of an Aggie error, Pat Irvine reached second with one out and moved to third on Drew Davis’ infield single. Irvine and Davis crossed the plate when Austin doubled down the leftfield line. Austin would then score on Ryan Addison’s single to left-center.
After a scoreless seventh, the Aggies did their damage to grab the lead for good.
Dove added a solo homer in the ninth to score Elon’s final run. He finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. Dove was a single short of hitting for the cycle.
Tom Porter (1-1) was charged with the loss in relief. He gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in just 1/3 of an inning. Will Romanowicz lasted 5.2 innings as the Phoenix starter. He allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out five.
Jody Calloway (1-0) was awarded the victory out of the bullpen for the Aggies. He threw the final 3.0 innings and gave up one run on two hits and fanned three. John Primus left after 6.0 innings and was charged with eight runs on seven hits.
Austin finished the afternoon with a 2-for-3, two-run, five-RBI outing for Elon. Davis’ infield single ran his hitting streak to 13 games and moved him into a tie for ninth on Elon’s career hits list with 192.
For A&T, Kinnear drove in five runs and scored one during a 3-for-5 day. Jones also recorded three hits and scored three runs while May and Gamble each had two hits and two RBI.
COASTAL CAROLINA 6, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2
CONWAY, S.C. ? Georgia Southern fell behind early and could not catch up to 17th-ranked Coastal Carolina, dropping a 6-2 decision in the finale of the Myrtle Beach Hyundai Isuzu Classic. The host Chanticleers (15-3 overall) swept through the weekend while GS won 2-of-3.
Missed opportunities throughout the game cost the Eagles (13-8 overall). Georgia Southern threatened in the second inning but came away empty. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) beat out an infield single. Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) doubled down the right field line to put a pair of runners into scoring position. Senior John Mariotti struck out Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) then got Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) on a groundout to end the inning.
Coastal used a double of its own to help score two runs. Derek Martin hit a RBI double then eventually scored on a groundout by Tyler Bortnick.
Chris Hollis (Loganville/Faith Academy) lined a double off the left field fence then took third on Jeremy Beckham’s (Griffin/Griffin) single. Mariotti faked to third base then caught Beckham off first base for the first out. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist) walked to load the bases.
Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) drew a four-pitch walk. But Mariotti came through with another big pitch, getting Wirnsberger to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Martin reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs in the fourth. He scored when Bortnick ripped a double to the centerfield wall. That extended the Chanticleers’ lead to 3-1.
Economos lined a leadoff double in the sixth inning. He advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on Shehan’s single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 3-2. That RBI single chased the starter Mariotti.
Tommy Baldridge doubled to start the Chanticleers’ half of the sixth. Matt Rodemacher dropped down a sacrifice bunt and then Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange) walked Dustin Koca to put runners at the corners. Martin dropped down a safety bunt, relief pitcher Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) made a throw home but the umpire ruled that Baldridge slid around Benedict’s tag for a 4-2 lead. An intentional walk loaded the bases.
Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) entered the game and struck out Adam Vrable swinging. After running the count full on David Sappelt, Kamppi enticed a ground ball to end the threat.
Dom Duggan hammered a solo shot to start the seventh, chasing Kamppi. Pinch-hitter Dock Doyle lined a RBI single off Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) for the final margin.
“We had too many missed opportunities early on. When you play a caliber of team like Coastal you have to take advantage of those situations. Credit Coastal, they did a good job of doing just that,” said head coach Rodney Hennon. “We have another big game Wednesday (at Clemson), so we need to regroup and get ready for another tough challenge.”
Shehan accounted for both RBI, increasing his team-lead to 28. Miller had two of the team’s eight hits. Murray (2-3) gave up four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Mariotti improved to 2-0, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out five. Kent Altman scattered two hits in four innings, earning his first save. Baldridge led the Chanticleers with three hits.
NORTH FLORIDA 3, UNC GREENSBORO 2
JACKSONSVILLE, FLA. ? North Florida’s starting pitcher John Atteo allowed one run on five hits in six innings of work as the UNC Greensboro baseball team fell 3-2 to North Florida on Sunday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.
Junior Scott Schneider gave UNCG (7-7) the 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a RBI single. Classmate Greg Feltes reached second on a single and a ground out before Schneider singled down right to bring him in for the run.
In the bottom of the sixth, UNF (8-11) tacked on two runs to take the 2-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Jon Dandridge singled up the middle, allowing Damon Olinto to score. The Ospreys used a sacrifice fly from Mike Smith to add another run for the one-run lead.
North Florida added another run in the seventh on a single to centerfield. The Spartans, however, answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth to cut the home team’s lead back to one. UNF’s Tyler Stohr pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the year and secure the win for the Ospreys.
UNCG freshman Alex Shelton (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing one run on five hits in 5-1/3 innings on the mound. The starter recorded a game-high four strikeouts in the loss. Schneider went 2-for-3 with a RBI, while Feltes was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
UAB 6, FURMAN 2
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- UAB scored in each of the first four innings to post a 6-2 win over Furman Sunday at Young Memorial Field and complete a three-game series sweep of the Paladins.
UAB improves to 7-8 on the season while Furman drops to 3-10 on the season. The Paladins have now lost six straight games -- the program’s longest losing streak since 2004.
For the fourth consecutive game Furman took an early lead as the Paladins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on one-out RBI singles by Joe Daysh and Tony Maccani. The Paladins’ bid for a big inning was cut short, however, when Jay Jackson hit into an inning ending double play with runners at first and third.
UAB answered Furman’s two-run first with a two runs of its own in the bottom of the frame. Ryne Lovdahl’s two-run single tied the game at 2-2.
The Blazers took the lead for good in the second after Tyler Rollin was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice, and stole third before coming home on Brint Hardy groundout.
J.R. Bond’s two-run triple in the third extended UAB’s advantage to 5-2, and the Blazers added another run in the fourth to make it 6-2.
Ben Styes (1-1) earned the win for UAB after going five innings and allowing seven hits and a pair of runs. He walked two and struck out two.
Furman starting pitcher Mason Smith (0-3) was charged with the loss. He gave up seven hits and six runs, including four earned, and one walk while striking out two.
Furman was paced at the plate by Will Stembridge, Bobby Hubbard, and Joe Daysh with two hits apiece. The Paladins out-hit UAB 10-9.
LAFAYETTE 1-4, DAVIDSON 0-2
DAVIDSON, N.C. ? Davidson and Lafayette hooked up in pair of pitcher's duels in both games of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field, but the Leopard's late-inning heroics carried them past the Wildcats in taking a sweep of the two games by the scores of 1-0 and 4-2. The Wildcats dropped their third game in the past four to fall to 10-5 on the year. With the two wins, Lafayette improved to 5-3 in its 2007 campaign.
Both games were much different than the first contest of the three-game series when Davidson collected a season-high 18 hits and won by the count of 13-7 on Saturday afternoon. Each team's two starters for the day went at least five innings, combining to allow only two runs in 25 innings pitched. Davidson's Mac Read and Matt Knight did not give up a run in their 11.2 innings pitched, while allowing just 10 hits and fanning eight Leopards.
In the first game, a seven-inning affair, Matt Kamine (2-1) of Lafayette and Read matched each other pitch for pitch for the majority of the game. Kamine went the distance for the Leopards, shutting the Wildcats out on just five hits through eight innings. He struck out five batters and walked two. Read was just as good till giving way to the bullpen in the sixth. He threw 5.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing only four hits while walking two and ringing up four Lafayette hitters.
Each team had a terrific chance to score at least once throughout the game, before Lafayette struck for the only run of the contest in the eighth and extra frame.
Davidson's chance came in the bottom of the second with senior Gregory Zage leading off the Wildcats' frame with a walk. After Blake Osborn singled through the left side, Chris FitzPatrick bunted them over to second and third. But Kamine worked out of the jam, getting catcher J.P. Craven to foul out and Hugh Eden to fly out to end the threat.
Lafayette's best opportunity was in the sixth when they twice loaded the bases in the inning. With no one out and the bases loaded, Read buckled down and induced a groundball to Zach Kayne at second, who forced one of the Leopard runners out at home and Craven then completed the double play with a throw to first. But after Read walked the next batter to reload the bases, Thomas Middour was called from the bullpen and ended the threat, getting Tom Ambrosole to ground into a fielder's choice.
The game was to go only seven innings, but neither team dented the plate in the seventh, forcing the extra frame. Lafayette's Jeff Butler started the eighth with a single to center. After being sacrificed over, Mike Raible brought Butler home with an RBI single to left for the game's only score. Middour (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound for Davidson.
Game two started out much the same as the Wildcats' Knight pitched six shutout innings, while the Leopards' Jeremy Atkins matched him until the bottom of the fourth.
Davidson broke through first on a Alden Crissey RBI double to left-center that plated sophomore shortstop Matt Webb after he started the fourth off with a single. Crissey was then sent home when FitzPatrick lined a single to right field for a 2-0 Wildcat lead.
Things were looking good for the Wildcats thanks to the arms of Knight, Bobby DeMuro and Kayne, who held Lafayette scoreless through the eighth. All three pitchers combined to give up only one hit from the fourth through the eighth inning, setting Lafayette down 1-2-3 four of the five innings.
Webb was then called on to shut things down in the ninth and came in 4-for-4 in save opportunities. The inning started out in Webb's favor as he got two of the three batters out on a grounder and fly ball with a walk in between. Then on a 1-1 count, left-handed Chris Luick pulled a fastball over the right-center field fence for his first dinger of the season and tied things up at two.
Lafayette then capped off their comeback with a two-run 10th inning. After Webb got James Conrad to fly out, Tom Hayes and Butler followed with back-to-back singles. Webb came back and struck out Dave Drechsel for the second out, but Mike Raible followed with a double to left-center, bringing in Hayes and Bulter and Davidson fell behind 4-2.
Davidson got a lead-off single from Webb, but John Fugett (1-0), who pitched three innings of shutout ball out of the bullpen, set down the next three Wildcat batters for the final score of 4-2.
Offensively, the Wildcats were led by Webb's combined 4-for-9 showing at the plate in the doubleheader. Crissey added two doubles in the second game to give him five on the season and finished the afternoon with a combined three hits.
APPALACHIAN STATE 9, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 2
March 11, 2007 - HICKORY, N.C. ? David Towarnicky drove in four runs and Garrett Sherrill overcame a rocky start to pitch eight strong innings to lead Appalachian State University baseball to a 9-2 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Appalachian (10-6) faced an early 2-0 deficit but scored nine unanswered runs, including five in the fifth inning, to claim the three-game series victory from visiting FDU (4-3).
Towarnicky tied the game with an RBI single in the third, sparked the five-run fifth with a run-scoring double and capped the scoring with a two-run single in the eighth to lead the Mountaineers’ 12-hit attack. The freshman finished 3-for-5 with a run scored to go along with the game-high four RBI.
Sherrill allowed six hits in the first 2.1 innings of the contest but held the next 18 FDU batters without a hit before surrendering a meaningless single in the eighth. The right-handed sophomore struck out seven in his eight innings of work and moved to 3-1 with a miniscule 2.22 ERA on the season.
In addition to Towarnicky, shortstop Jason Altenhof and Hickory native Isaac Harrow also added 3-for-5 efforts for the Black and Gold.
Designated hitter John Paganotti (2-for-4) was the only Knight to manage multiple hits off Sherrill.
FDU starter John Meadus allowed seven runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings to fall to 1-1 on the campaign.