Wofford 18, Lafayette 6
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Shane Kirkley drove in five runs and scored three to lead Wofford to an 18-6 win over Lafayette Wednesday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Kirkley doubled twice and slammed his sixth home run of the season in a 3-for-5 outing at the plate. Wofford (15-3) knocked 17 hits against the Leopards, including home runs from Kirkley, Michael Gilmartin and catcher Keith Munns.
Lafayette (5-5) tagged Wofford starter Jesse Cole for a run in the first inning to take an early lead. In his season debut, Cole gave up a hit to leadoff man James Conrad and walked the next two to load the bases with no outs before finding his groove and escaping the jam with minimal damage. Cole forced a double play ground ball and struck out the next batter to end the threat, but Lafayette managed a run as Conrad scored on the double play.
Charles Vartanian also made his debut on the mound for Wofford and pitched a scoreless second and third, allowing only one hit. The Leopards took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth after Tom Ambrosole scored Kevin Leasure from third with a sacrifice fly. Leasure reached base with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Ambrosole’s fly ball sent him across the plate.
Wofford cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half of the fourth when Emre Caglayan hit a bloop single to right field to score Brandon Waring from second base. Waring walked to lead off the inning and reached second on a groundout by Kyle Behrendt. The run was one of two for Waring, who has crossed the plate in all but two games this season and leads the team with 27 runs scored.
Lafayette threatened to blow the game open in next half inning with the bases loaded and no outs, but stellar defense by the Terriers allowed reliever Chip Hunt to escape unharmed. Conrad led off the inning with an infield single and advanced to second after Tom Hayes was hit by a pitch. Lafayette used a double steal to send the runners to second and third, and loaded the bases when Jeff Butler walked on the next at-bat. Wofford escaped the jam by turning a double play, as Dave Drechsel grounded to Waring who fired to Munns for the force out at home. Munns spun and threw to first base in time to force out Drechsel and complete the double play. Hunt escaped the inning by forcing Leasure to popout to right field in the following at-bat.
Wofford took a three-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a pair of doubles from Bradford Eaves and Behrendt and a sacrifice fly from John Brandt. Gilmartin led off with a single and scored from first when Eaves doubled down the left field line. Kirkley followed by drawing a walk and Waring was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Behrendt answered with a double to score two, and Waring scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Brandt.
Lafayette bounced back in the top of the sixth and narrowed the deficit to one run on back-to-back RBI base hits from Chris Luick and Ryan Roberts. Ambrosole led off with a double and scored on Luick’s single. Roberts followed with a double to score Luick, narrowing Wofford’s lead to 5-4.
The one-run deficit would be the closest that Lafayette would come to taking a lead for the rest of the game, however, as the Wofford bats came alive to put up 13 runs over the next three innings. Kirkley blasted a two-run homer down the left-field line to cap a four-run sixth inning, putting Wofford up by five runs.
Wofford used two homers in the seventh to post three more runs. Munns blasted a solo shot to left, and Gilmartin added another round-tripper two batters later. Gilmartin finished 4-for-5 at the plate, adding three RBIs and three runs.
The Terriers sealed the win with a six-run eighth inning that included four consecutive RBI hits. Gilmartin drove in the first run of the inning with a bases load infield single. Eaves added another infield hit down the third base line to tack on another run. Kirkley and Waring added four more runs with back-to-back doubles, as Kirkley’s shot scored three and Waring’s knock added another.
Hunt (1-1) earned the win for Wofford, his first of the season. Hunt pitched two innings in relief and gave up three hits and one earned run while adding a strikeout. He was one of seven Wofford pitchers used in the contest and faced a total of 10 batters.
Brad Woodfield (0-1) took the loss for Lafayette after allowing four runs and six hits over four innings. Woodfield struck out five batters in his outing and walked two. The Leopards also took advantage of their bullpen, matching Wofford with seven total pitchers used. The Terriers managed at least one run off each pitcher except for Jason Morytko, who pitched the final 1/3 of the eighth.
DAVIDSON 22, YALE 10
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Sophomore shortstop Matt Webb went 4-for-6 with three home runs, including a grand slam in the fourth, and seven RBI as the Wildcats used 22 hits for 22 runs to down the Yale Bulldogs, 22-10, and earn a split on Wednesday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Yale (4-4) again opened strong, this time with a seven-run first, but the 'Cats (11-6) outscored the Bulldogs 22-3 the rest of the way for the come-from-behind victory.
Senior first baseman Alden Crissey also went 4-for-6 at the plate with a pair of RBI and runs scored, while sophomore second baseman Zach Kayne was 2-for-3 and matched a Davidson record with five runs, last accomplished by Eli Benefield on May 12, 2005 at East Tennessee State.
Webb, who also took the mound to record the last out, scored four runs and finished the two-day series batting 6-for-12 (.500) with five runs and nine RBIs.
In relief of Wildcat starter Brian Packey, freshman southpaw Thomas Middour came out of the bullpen in the first to get a double-play ball with his first pitch to end the inning. Making his ninth appearance, Middour (2-1) went on to pitch 6.2 strong innings of relief, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out two to earn the win.
Robert Grubar (0-1) was tagged with the loss, after allowing three runs (all earned) on two hits in just one-third of an inning.
Senior left fielder Gregory Zage (2-for-5 with four RBI) knocked a two-RBI single to knot the game in Davidson's seven-run fourth, chasing Grubar in favor of Chris Finneran. A couple of batters later, sophomore third baseman Chris Fitzpatrick (3-for-6 with an RBI) reached safely on a fielder's choice that, when botched by Finneran, allowed senior designated hitter Rob Wilson (3-for-4 with two RBI) to reach second safely as Zage scored what proved to be the winning run for the Wildcats.
Webb, who now has a team-leading seven home runs on the young season, drove in four of the runs in the inning with a grand slam to deep left field.
The Wildcats continued to add to their lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, behind RBI singles from Wilson and Crissey, and put the game away with a six-spot in the seventh. Davidson got eight hits in the inning, just one shy of the all-time record, as the 'Cats batted around for a second time.
Junior center fielder Hugh Eden, who recorded his second home run of the season, was one of three Wildcats to go deep in the game. Joining Eden and Webb, Zage smacked a two-run shot in the fourth, his second in as many games and third on the season.
After the seven-run explosion in the first inning, the Yale offense went silent. The Bulldogs added single runs in the third, seventh and eighth innings, but the Yale pitching couldn't stop the bleeding. Center fielder Josh Cox once again paced the 'Dogs at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs, while shortstop Dan Soltman drove in three runs.
Bulldog starter Chris Walsh lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits, while walking four and striking out three, but ended up with a no-decision.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 7, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 5
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Mark Chagnon collected three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in a four-run ninth inning as Eastern Illinois rallied for a 7-5 win over 30th-ranked College of Charleston before 239 at Patriots Point Field on Tuesday.
The Panthers improved to 4-7 with the win. Charleston, which had won its previous 152 games when leading in the ninth inning dating back to 2003, suffered its first home loss and fell to 13-4.
Jordan Kreke doubled to right center to start the top of the ninth. After Kory Peppenhorst struck out, Ryan Meyer walked on a 3-2 pitch and Adam Varrassi singled to left to load the bases.
Casey Spears' single to left scored Kreke and pinch runner Brett Nommensen to tie the game at 5-all. Chagnon followed with a single to center that plated Varrassi with Spears scoring on the play when Charleston center fielder Stuart Haywood's throw to third base sailed into the dugout.
Charleston had rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the eighth inning. Joey Bergman's pinch-hit two-run single to center tied the game at 3-all. Oliver Marmol added a sacrifice fly and Haywood an RBI single to give CofC a 5-3 edge after eight innings.
Erik Huber added two hits for the Panthers including a first-inning two-run homer to left. Chris Campbell and Haywood had three hits each to pace Charleston's 14-hit attack.
Richie Derbak (1-0) picked up the win allowing a run on three hits over 1 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out the side in the ninth. Brian Schlitter (2-2) took the loss in relief surrendering three runs, two earned, on three hits and a walk in one inning of work.
UNC ASHEVILLE 7, WESTERN CAROLINA 6
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - UNC Asheville's David Williams' seventh inning double scored the go-ahead run after Western Carolina had tied the game with senior Kenny Smith's eighth home run of the season in the home half of the sixth as the Bulldogs earned a 7-6 victory over the Catamounts Wednesday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
UNCA's Williams (4-for-5, 1 RBI) and Rob Vernon (3-for-4, 4 RBI) led the Bulldogs offensively and the Bulldog bullpen held the Catamounts to three hits and no runs for the final three innings to secure the win.
Western Carolina (10-7) opened the scoring in the second frame with a lead-off single by Jonathan Greene followed by a Blake Murphy walk. John Ingram drove in Greene from third for the first run of the game. Freshman Nick Liles kept the inning alive and extended his hitting streak to nine games with an RBI single to score Kenny Smith from second. Mitchell Hatley drove in the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Catamounts up 3-0.
UNC Asheville (5-14) answered in the third on a Matt Henson RBI single to plate Steven Burnich. After Catamount starter Brock Thornburg allowed a single and walk which loaded the bases for Rob Vernon who then connected on a grand-slam home run to left-field to put the Bulldogs up 5-3.
UNCA added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice bunt by John Whited which scored Elliot Arrington from third extending the Bulldogs lead to 6-3.
Western responded in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Smith belted a three-run homer to dead center - his eighth of the year - to tie the game 6-6.
UNCA posted the game winning run in the seventh when Williams doubled down the left-field line to score Kevin Mattison from second, giving them a 7-6 lead which proved to be enough for the Bulldog victory.
Western reliever Tyler Johnson (1-3) was the losing pitcher as he gave up three hits and one run in 1 1/3 innings of Dan Weller (1-0) was credited with the win and Ben Buchanan pitched the ninth inning for his second save of the year.
Western was led by Ingram (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and Smith (1-for-4, 3 RBI).
NORTH CAROLINA 6, UNC GREENSBORO 2
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Despite holding an early 2-1 lead, the UNC Greensboro baseball team fell 6-2 to No. 1 North Carolina on Wednesday evening at Boshamer Stadium.
UNCG (7-8) opened up the game with back-to-back singles from Tim Carrier and Matt Gaski. Junior Greg Feltes followed with a RBI single to center and a RBI double from Guy Welsh gave the Spartans the 2-0 lead. The Tar Heels added a run of their own in the first off a Tim Federowicz double down the leftfield line to make it 2-1 UNCG.
North Carolina (17-1) tied the game at 2-2 with the help of two Spartan errors. Benji Johnson gave the Tar Heels the lead for good with a two RBI triple to deep left center. UNC tacked on another run in the fifth for the 5-2 lead.
The Tar Heels added another run in the eighth for the 6-2 lead. After allowing a runner to score, junior Clay Gibson retired three straight batters to close out the inning. North Carolina’s Tyler Trice, however, pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the win.
Matt Danford (1-0) picked up the win after allowing only one hit and no runs in two innings on the mound. Rob Wooten tallied a game-high five strikeouts for North Carolina.
Senior Ryan Falcon (1-3) took the loss after allowing seven hits and five runs in 5-2/3 innings of work. The UNCG starter finished with three strikeouts.
Welsh finished with a RBI and went 3-for-5 to lead the Spartans from the plate.
CLEMSON 3, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 0
CLEMSON, S.C. ? Four Clemson pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as Georgia Southern dropped a 3-0 decision Wednesday night (March 14) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Eagles fell to 13-9 overall while the sixth-ranked Tigers are now 11-4.
That marked the first time the Eagles were shutout since March 2006, a 6-0 loss at Davidson.
The Tigers hit Brian Wilkerson’s (Bonaire/Houston County) first two pitches for a double and single, putting runners at the corners. The freshman right-hander got a flyout from Taylor Harbin and struck clean-up hitter Andy D’Alessio out on a called third strike. Catcher Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) nailed Wilson Boyd down at second base trying to steal, ending the inning.
In the second, Clemson again got a leadoff single then Doug Hogan lined a one-out double. Wilkerson got an infield popup on his first pitch to Addison Johnson for the second out. However, he could not handle David Bunnell’s grounder back to the mound and an unearned run came home.
Wilkerson recorded his fifth strikeout of the game when he got D’Alessio swinging to start the sixth inning. Marquez Smith singled up the middle, and then was going on the pitch when Ben Paulsen doubled down the left field line. Smith scored to make it 2-0 Clemson. Head coach Rodney Hennon brought in Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine).
The sophomore right-hander walked the first batter he faced. Kamppi then got Johnson to ground into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.
In the ninth, D’Alessio lined a one-out single. Paulsen singled to put runners at the corners and then Hogan delivered another insurance run thanks to a RBI single. Johnson hit an infield single to load the bases. A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) got out of the eighth when he picked Paulsen off third base.
Trying to start a rally, Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) drew a one-out walk off closer Daniel Moskos. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) ripped a shot into the hole at shortstop; Harbin made a diving grab and started a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
“We had a tough time getting things going offensively. Clemson’s pitching had a lot to do with that. I thought Brian (Wilkerson), Kyle (Kamppi) and A.J. (Battisto) competed and did a nice job of keeping us in the ballgame,” said Hennon. “We’ve gone through a stretch the last
4-5 games where we have struggled offensively. Every team goes through a stretch like that during a season. We’ll work on getting out of it and get prepared for Friday night.”
Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist), Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) and pinch-hitting Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) all had singles. The Eagles stranded six runners, including three that were in scoring position.
Wilkerson (4-2) allowed one earned run on six hits through 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked three. Kamppi pitched 1.2 hitless innings. Battisto allowed one run on four hits, striking out one.
David Kopp (2-1) earned the win, scattering two hits while striking out two in five innings. Moskos earned his third save. Smith, Paulsen and Hogan had two hits apiece.
SOUTH CAROLINA 4, APPALACHIAN STATE 1
COLUMBIA, S.C. ? In a pitchers’ duel which saw just 10 combined hits, No. 3 South Carolina scored a run in the sixth inning and two in the seventh to defeat Appalachian State University baseball, 4-1, in front of 4,335 fans at Sarge Frye Field on Wednesday evening.
Appalachian’s pitching quintet of Brandon Graves, Chris Patterson, Jason Rook, Garrett Sherrill and David Rubinstein held South Carolina to just five hits, one night after USC (15-2) torched ASU (10-8) for 13 runs on 20 hits. However, the Mountaineers didn’t fare any better against four Gamecock hurlers, as the Apps managed just five hits of their own, with only one coming after the fourth inning.
ASU scored its only run of the ballgame on Chris Baker’s RBI groundout in the fourth inning, which knotted the game at 1-1.
The score remained deadlocked until the sixth inning, when South Carolina’s Harley Lail blasted his first home run of the season off Patterson. A stanza later, USC put two more runs on the board with an RBI double from Trent Kline and a bases-loaded hit batter drawn on an 0-2 count by Reese Havens.
Patterson suffered the tough-luck loss to fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Gamecocks’ Jeff Jeffords moved to 1-0 with two innings of hitless relief.
Baker was the only Mountaineer to manage multiple hits, going 2-for-4 on the evening.