WESTERN CAROLINA 11-4, UNC GREENSBORO 1-9
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? The UNC Greensboro baseball squad split a Southern Conference doubleheader with Western Carolina on Saturday at UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Catamounts took the 11-1 win in game one and the Spartans prevented the series sweep with a 9-4 victory in the late game.
Western Carolina (23-12, 8-4 SoCon) struck first in the visitor half of the fifth in game one and scored six runs when the Catamounts capitalized on four Spartan errors.. After reaching on an outfield error, Steven Strausbaugh was brought home on a double by Brent Greer. Barrett Shaft followed with a two-run double and scored on another Spartan error. WCU closed out the inning with a RBI single and a RBI fielder’s choice.
Shaft gave the Catamounts one more run in the sixth on a RBI double to right, 7-0 Western Carolina. UNCG had a chance in the eighth with the bases loaded and no outs but were unable to convert. A fly out and a throw out at home were followed by a foul out to finish the inning.
WCU added four runs in the ninth beginning with a RBI groundout by Jonathan Greene. A RBI single and a two RBI double gave the Catamounts the 11-0 lead. The Spartans’ Sean Snell prevented the shutout when the junior blasted a one-out home run over the leftfield fence, his fourth of the season. WCU closer Bryan Corbett retired the last two batters to secure the victory for the Catamounts.
Drew Saberhagen (4-1) earned the win after scattering eight hits and not giving up a run in eight innings on the mound.
Junior Matt Gibbs (3-3) took the loss after giving up five runs on four hits in 4-1/3 innings of work. Gibbs struck out a game-high three batters.
Sophomore reliever Kory Judd struck out two in 4-2/3 innings on the hill.
Snell and Tim Carrier each finished 2-for-4 from the plate for UNCG.
Game two saw UNCG (18-18, 6-6 SoCon) score seven runs in the fifth en route to a 9-4 win.
WCU jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the third after Greer doubled to right and was brought home two batters later after a stolen base attempt allowed him to score from third.
The Spartans put together a seven-run inning in the bottom of the fifth to take the six-run advantage. Snell started things off with a single through the left side. After a groundout advanced him to second, Snell reached third on a single from Joel Johnson and Corey Overholtzer brought him home on a double to left-center. Carrier hit a RBI single to left and with bases loaded, Guy Welsh sent a RBI single to center, scoring Overholtzer. A hit by pitch, single, walk and a Catamount error helped bring in the final runs for UNCG.
Western Carolina used a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth cut the lead to five, but UNCG responded and plated two runs in the bottom of the inning. Welsh and Ricky Orton each recorded RBI singles, giving the Spartans the 9-2 lead.
The Catamounts rallied with a pair of runs in the ninth. A RBI double from Kenny Smith and a RBI single from Strausbaugh cut the UNCG lead, 9-4, but it wasn’t enough as the Spartans would go on to prevent the series sweep.
Senior Nick Starnes (2-2) was credited with the win after allowing just two runs on six hits and striking out three in five innings of work. Freshman Alex Shelton pitched three scoreless innings of relief for UNCG and struck out three as well.
Corey Martin (3-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in
4-1/3 innings on the mound. Martin struck out a game-high four batters for WCU.
Orton went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead UNCG behind the plate. Welsh, Overholtzer and Johnson all recorded two hits for the Spartans.
ELON 8-2, FURMAN 3-11
ELON, N.C. ? The Elon Phoenix pounded out 12 hits and scored eight runs to defeat the Furman Paladins by an 8-3 margin in game one of a Southern Conference baseball doubleheader from Latham Park on Saturday afternoon before struggling to push runners across, stranding 12 runners, and committing four errors in game two to fall by an 11-2 score in the finale. With the split, Elon now owns a 22-16 overall record and sits at 11-4 in league play while Furman is now 10-25, 6-9. By winning game one, the Phoenix did win its 11th consecutive Southern Conference series.
The Paladins came out quick in the top of the first inning as Connor Lind walked and Marcus Rose reached on a bunt single. The runners moved to second and third on Bobby Hubbard’s sacrifice bunt. Tony Maccani put Furman on top 3-0 with a three-run homer, his sixth of the year, to left.
Elon got on the board in the bottom of the second with three consecutive two-out singles. Mike Melillo got it started with an infield single which was followed by a ground ball through the left side of the infield from Chris Dove. Chase Austin then plated Melillo with a single to left.
The Phoenix cut its deficit to 3-2 when Robert Rodebaugh led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to right, his seventh of the year.
Rodebaugh and Ryan Addison started the Phoenix sixth with back-to-back singles off of Furman reliever Butch Pucetas. After Pucetas was replaced by Spencer Hale, Melillo promptly walked to load the bases. Hale set the next two hitters down before Jordy Snyder drew a walk on a 3-2 count, forcing home Rodebaugh to knot the game at three. Elon would leave the bases loaded as Adam Weaver grounded out to first to end the Phoenix threat.
Elon took its first lead of the afternoon when Chris Vasami lined a shot over the wall in right-center with one out for a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.
Melillo led off the eighth with a double to center that Will Stembridge lost in the sky. Dove’s bunt single let pinch-runner Matt Hill move to third. Austin’s single to right-center drove home Hill to put the Phoenix ahead 5-3. Jordy Snyder’s sac bunt advanced both runners into scoring position and Furman then intentionally walked Weaver. Pat Irvine grounded a potential double play ball to second, but Marcus Rose could not handle it and Dove came in to give Elon a three-run advantage. Vasami plated Austin with a single to right. The fourth run of the inning scored when Weaver came in on Rodebaugh’s ground ball to first.
Jesse Lewter (1-1) earned his first win of the season in game one in relief of Will Romanowicz. Lewter threw 2.2 innings and did not allow a run. Furman got just one hit off of the lefty. Romanowicz went 6.1 innings and surrendered three runs on seven hits.
Spencer Hale (0-2) was charged with the loss in relief. Elon scored five runs (four earned) on five hits in 3.0 innings off of Hale. Starter Jay Jackson went 5.0 innings and left with a 3-2 lead after allowing two runs on five hits.
The nightcap saw Furman score in the top of the first again when Maccani lined a sac fly to left, scoring Lind who had led off the game with a walk. Jay Stembridge lifted a fly ball to left that was dropped by Irvine and allowed Bobby Hubbard to score run number two.
Elon cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second as Austin’s fielder’s choice plated Melillo who led the frame off with a triple to right-center.
The Paladins extended their lead to 5-1 in the third on a three-run homer off the bat of Stembridge. Riding home on the play were Maccani, who had been hit by a pitch, and Jackson who walked.
Dove began the Phoenix fifth with a single to right and stole second. Austin’s single through the left side of the infield plated Dove. On the throw home, Austin took second. After a one-out walk to Weaver, Irvine lifted a fly ball to right-center for out number two, but on the play, Austin advanced to third. Vasami drew a walk to load the bases before Rodebaugh grounded out to second to eliminate the scoring threat.
Rose’s single up the middle in the sixth inning scored Joey Rodgers who had walked early in the frame.
Elon loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth on a single, walk and Furman error. The Phoenix could not push any runs across after Snyder grounded into a double play to end yet another threat.
Furman added an insurance run in the eighth on Rose’s infield single. The Paladins then pushed across four unearned runs in the ninth to go up 11-2.
Zach Booker (3-3) was hit with the loss in game two after giving up five runs (four earned) on three hits in 4.2 innings of work. Four other Phoenix pitchers allowed six runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks over the final 4.1 innings of action.
Mason Smith (2-5) earned the victory for the Paladins in the second game. Smith surrendered two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. Ian Parry threw the final 3.2 scoreless innings to earn his first save of the season.
On the day, Elon was led by Austin’s 5-for-8, one-run, four-RBI day. Vasami finished 2-for-8 with his 23rd career homer which pushed him past William Harden (1986-87) into ninth place on Elon’s all-time chart. His two RBI on the afternoon also saw Vasami move up a spot on Elon’s career list in that category. Vasami now has 123 RBI, surpassing Gary Morris’ (2000-05) 122 for eighth place.
Furman’s offense was paced by Maccani, who ended the day going 2-for-6 with two runs and three RBI, and Lind, who posted a 3-for-8, two-run, two-RBI day. Rose drove in two while Stembridge finished with three RBI for the Paladins.
THE CITADEL 8, APPALACHIAN STATE 5
BOONE, N.C. ― The Citadel scored eight runs in the final four innings to hand Appalachian State University baseball an 8-5 defeat in the finale of a three-game Southern Conference series on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. With the setback, Appalachian dropped the weekend series two games to one.
Thanks to sacrifice flies from Andrew Franco (Niceville, Fla./Niceville) and Chris Baker (Clarkton, N.C./East Columbus) and an RBI double by David Rubinstein (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg), Appalachian (21-16, 8-7 SoCon) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after five innings.
However, The Citadel (22-13, 6-6 SoCon) exploded for eight runs over the next three stanzas, highlighted by a four-run seventh, to take an 8-3 advantage. Franco brought ASU back within three with his team-leading seventh home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth, a mammoth shot to straightaway center field, but the Mountaineers went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to fall for the fifth time in seven games.
Starting pitcher Aubrey Edens (Greenville, N.C./D.H. Conley) gave the Apps six strong innings on the mound, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four, but the ASU bullpen surrendered six runs in just three combined innings of work. In contrast, Bulldog starter Chris McGuiness struggled through the first five innings, but The Citadel relief corps of Matt Reifsnider and Link Saunders gave up just two runs on three hits over the final four frames.
Rubinstein led Appalachian’s 10-hit attack with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, while Franco’s homer was his third in four games and gave him a hit in 11 of the past 12 games. Zach Brown came up just a homer short of the cycle for The Citadel, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 10, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 7
STATESBORO, GA. ? Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) hit two home runs and drove in a career-high five RBI as Georgia Southern defeated College of Charleston 10-7, Saturday afternoon (April 14) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles (20-19 overall, 3-8 Southern Conference) evened the series at a game apiece.
Georgia Southern loaded the bases in the second inning off Jeff Beliveau. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) recorded his 10th hit by pitch. Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) singled up the middle. Both runners advanced on Mike Economos’ (Atlanta/Marist) sacrifice bunt.
Beckham drew a two-out walk. However, Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) tried to check his swing but made contact. The ball stayed just inside the foul line down first base, and Michael Kohn was able to field it and step on base for the final out.
Oliver Marmol gave the Cougars (26-9, 9-2) an early 1-0 lead during the third inning. He hit a fly ball that kept drifting back to left field, eventually just clearing an outstretched Justin Klinger (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) for his fifth home run this season.
Beckham’s first blast put the Eagles ahead in the fourth. Benedict walked to start the inning. Economos singled with one out to put runners at first and second. Two batters later Beckham lined a 3-run shot over the left field fence, his third career home run.
The Eagles capitalized on a Charleston error to score again in the fifth. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) was hit by a pitch, for the team-leading 14th time, then went to second on Klinger’s infield hit. Benedict lined a shot under third baseman Ben Lasater’s glove, allowing Wirnsberger to score for a 4-1 lead.
Charleston’s first two batters reached in the sixth and Chris Campbell tied the game hitting his sixth home run this season. The Cougars used two singles and a walk to load the bases on Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County), still with no one out. Relief pitcher Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) struck Kohn out on a called third strike. Alex Garabedian lined a 2-run single just under a diving Beckham at second base, giving Charleston a 6-4 lead.
The Eagles came right back in their half of the inning. Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) lined a double down the left field line. Beckham recorded his first career multi-home run game ? the first by an Eagle this season ? sending a shot over the left centerfield fence. Entering the game with just two career home runs, Beckham matched that total in one game. That blast chased Beliveau. Reliever Mitch Besselievre walked Miller on four pitches, then Mike Lynn came on in relief.
Pinch-hitting Brett Maxwell (Douglasville/Alexander) singled through the right side with two outs. Benedict lined a 2-2 pitch over the head of Gabe Marchant in right field resulting in a 2-run double which put the Eagles ahead for good 8-6.
GS loaded the bases again in the seventh. Pierce singled with one out then Beckham tied his career-high recording his third hit of the game. Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Wirnsberger fell behind 0-2 in the count, before battling back and drawing a RBI walk, making it 9-6 Eagles.
Lasater led off the eighth with his ninth home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 9-7. Kamppi got the first two outs of the eighth then A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) came on in relief. Alex Garabedian lined a 2-1 pitch to deep centerfield. Miller made a leaping catch at the fence and his highlight reel catch robbed Garabedian of a home run and ended the inning.
Then in the bottom half of the eighth, the Eagles loaded the bases with two outs. In stepped Miller who delivered a RBI infield single, scoring one run for the final margin.
“This was a huge win for us, momentum wise, beatiin the country. Our team kept battling (all game long),” said Beckham. “When I hit the first one, I was thinking double and pick up the third base coach but it kept on carrying. Whenever you get big hits in those situations it’s a team booster, guys rally around those types of plays. It makes the next guy want to do that much better. Tomorrow we’ll come out, stay relaxed, give 100 percent and get mentally ready (to go for the series win).”
Kamppi (2-2) was charged for one run on four hits in 2.2 innings. The sophomore right-hander did not walk a batter and fanned two. Battisto did not allow a hit over the final 1.1 innings to earn his fifth save. Eubanks allowed six runs (five earned) off eight hits in five innings of work. He walked two and struck out two.
Beckham finished 3-for-3 and reached base in all five plate appearances ? two home runs, two walks and a single. He set personal-highs in hits (tied), RBI and home runs. Pierce also matched his career-high of three hits and scored two runs.
Economos, Pierce and Beckham (the 7-8-9 hitters) combined to go 8-for-12 with six runs and five RBI. Miller added two hits as well as the Eagles held a 14-12 edge in that category.
Besselievre (1-2) faced just the one batter but was charged for the loss. Beliveau allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits in five innings. Campbell went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
WOFFORD 5, DAVIDSON 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Ben Austin struck out a career high nine batters while holding Davidson to two runs over eight innings to lead Wofford to a 5-2 Southern Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
Austin (8-3), a junior, walked only two batters and scattered seven hits on the way to his conference-leading eighth win of the season. He added a strike out in every inning, including two in the eighth, while claiming a new season high among all Wofford pitchers with nine total punchouts. His eight innings of work is also the longest of his career, and matches teammate Austin Redwine for the longest outing of the season.
Terriers Keith Munns and John Brandt provided the offensive support for Austin as the two combined for four of Wofford’s five runs. Munns drove in two runs with an RBI double in the second and crossed the plate later in the same inning. Brandt blasted a towering solo shot in the third inning for his third home run in the last five games and his sixth homer overall.
Third baseman Brandon Waring also supplied a run in the first inning to give Wofford (19-17, 3-8) a quick 1-0 lead. Waring drove in Bradford Eaves with a sacrifice fly after Eaves reached base with a single and moved to third on a base hit from Shane Kirkley and a passed ball.
Wofford took a 4-0 lead in the second inning after Munns nailed a two-run double and scored on a wild pitch that resulted in a throwing error. Kyle Behrendt reached first base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Sterling Dye followed with a base hit up the middle on a hit-and-run. Munns came to the plate with the runners on first and third, and sent the first pitch he saw to the left-center field gap to drive in both Terriers. A wild pitch would then send Munns to third, and a throwing error by catcher Tommy Piacenza on the same play allowed Munns to score.
Brandt lifted the Terriers to a 5-0 lead in the third with a two-out solo blast to left field. The senior utility man mashed a 3-1 fastball well over the left field fence to extend his hitting streak to five games. During that span, Brandt is batting .526 with three homers, two doubles, nine RBIs and six runs scored.
Davidson (15-21, 4-10) finally got on the board in the fourth with an RBI double by pitcher/designated hitter Rob Wilson. Wilson roped a line drive to the right-center field gap to drive in Alden Crissey from first base after the senior infielder led off the inning with a single. The hit was one of two in the game for Wilson.
Piacenza made up for his previous error and brought Davidson within three runs with a solo blast to right field to lead off the fifth inning. The run would be the last of the game for the Wildcats, however, as Austin allowed only one more hit over his final four innings.
After the home run, Austin retired 10 straight batters before surrendering a base hit in the eighth. The single by Matt Webb and a fielder’s choice put men on first and second with one out, but Austin shut down Davidson by striking out the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters to escape the threat unharmed.
With a 5-2 lead, Wofford went to freshman shortstop/pitcher Michael Gilmartin in the ninth inning to complete the win. Gilmartin retired the side in order to clinch the second straight victory for Wofford while recording his sixth save of the season in the process.
Wilson (1-5) took the loss for Davidson after allowing five runs ? two earned ? over eight innings. Wilson struck out seven batters while giving up five hits and a walk.