ELON 4, EAST CAROLINA 2
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Kyle Roller’s two home runs was not enough for No. 29 East Carolina as they fell to in-state foe Elon 4-2 Tuesday night in midweek action inside Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium in the final regular season home game for the Pirates.
Jesse Lewter improved to 4-3 on the year after tossing his first career complete game with a career-high six strikeouts for Elon (28-24). On the night he allowed just six hits and walked one, making two pitching mistakes, both home runs to Roller.
The Pirates (35-18) used seven pitchers on the night with starter Jeff Ostrander suffering the loss and falling to 2-2 on the season. He lasted just 1 1/3 inning where he gave up three runs (all earned) on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Mike Anderson (2 H, 1 R) and Cody Leggett (1/3 IP, 2 BB) bridging the gap to Chris Powell, who worked a season-high 3 2/3 innings allowing just two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Bailey Daniels (2/3 IP, 1 K) made his 20th appearance in the sixth inning getting Snyder to foul out and striking out Vasami leaving runners stranded on first and second. Jason Neitz worked 1 1/3 innings allowing one hit and Shane Mathews closed out the game striking out four and giving up one hit in 1 2/3 innings.
Elon jumped out to an early 4-0 lead behind Ryan Addison’s two-run triple in the first inning. Pat Irvine led off the frame with a walk then went to second on Drew Davis’ single to left field. After a Mike Melillo sac bunt advanced the runners to second and third, Addison second triple cleared the bases. Chase Austin plated the third run of the inning with a single up the middle. Adam Weaver go into the action with a single of his own through the left side advancing Austin to second. Jordy Snyder drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Austin trotted home when Chris Vasami walked to cap the scoring at 4-0.
Kyle Roller cut into the Phoenix lead drawing the Pirates within three, 4-1, when he smacked his eighth home run of the year and third in the last three games to right field.
Roller cranked his second homer of the night on the first pitch of the seventh inning to pull the Pirates within two, 4-2.
Offensively ECU could only muster six hits with Roller leading the way going 2-for-3 for his seventh multi-hit game. Stephen Batts extended his current hitting streak to 19 games, the fourth longest in school history with his single in the fourth. Jamie Ray’s hit streak reached a season-long five games in the second with a single to center.
FURMAN 6, GEORGIA STATE 4
ATLANTA, GA. -- Charlie Bailes drove in a pair of runs and Nicholas Karow earned his third save in as many games as Furman clipped Georgia State, 6-4, in non-conference road baseball action Tuesday night at The Field.
Bailes, a redshirt freshman designated hitter, delivered RBI singles in the second and eighth innings, and Karow, a true freshman, recorded three strikeouts over the final 1 1/3 innings to secure the third straight win for Furman (17-34), which gained the two-game season split with Georgia State (24-49).
Bailes’ two base knocks followed a two-hit performance in last Wednesday’s
6-3 win over 16th-ranked Clemson. Karow’s strong work, meanwhile, came on the heels of impressive saves notched in a 9-7 victory over Charleston Southern last Tuesday and in the triumph over Clemson. In the three aformentioned contests, the Lewis Center, Ohio, right hander has thrown shutout ball and surrendered only two hits and no walks while recording eight strikeouts in four innings of work.
Furman starting pitcher J.P. Goldsberry (3-1) earned his second straight victory after working three innings and giving up four hits and a run before departing with a 3-1 lead.
Georgia State’s Robert Hasenfelt (0-2) took the loss. He worked five innings and surrendered four hits and three runs, only one of which was earned, while walking two and striking out five.
Chase Childers and Eric Suttle had three of Georgia State’s 13 hits, but the Panthers stranded 13 runners. Furman managed only six hits in the contest but took full advantage of a pair of Georgia State errors, scoring three unearned runs.
Furman jumped on top with three runs in the second inning. Jay Jackson led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tony Maccani followed with a single to put runners at first and third. After Will Stembridge struck out and Paul Ortenzo fouled out, Bailes delivered a two-out, RBI single to left field to score Jackson. A fielding error by Panther third baseman Bradley Logan on a Joey Rodgers grounder allowed Maccani and Bailes to score to give the Paladins a 3-0 lead.
Eric Suttle’s leadoff home run in the third inning got Georgia State on the board, but Furman answered with a run in the sixth after Stembridge drew a one-out walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error before coming home on a wild pitch.
Furman added a single run in the seventh on a Marcus Rose RBI grounder and tacked on a run in the eight on a Bailes RBI single to right field for a 6-1 lead.
Georgia State narrowed the Furman advantage to 6-4 with a three-run eighth that included a sacrfice fly RBI by Logan and two-run double by J.M. Rochon-Salvas off Paladin reliever Spencer Hale.
Karow helped the Paladins escape further damage by coming on with two outs and striking out Luke Gordon to strand runners at first and third. He worked around a single in the ninth, recording a pair of strikeouts to secure the victory.
THE CITADEL 8, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 2
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Junior left fielder Chris Swauger collected three hits, including a home run, and drove in three to help lead The Citadel to an 8-2 non-conference win over Charleston Southern Tuesday night at Riley Park. Freshman starter Chris McGuiness also had a solid outing as he tossed five frames and registered a career-best five strikeouts.
The Bulldogs (29-23) attacked early as Swauger launched his 11th round-tripper to plate senior center fielder Chance Smith. Swauger is the third Bulldog this season to enter the single-season home run list as his jack ties him with Richard Jones, Garrick Haltiwanger and Alan Hurt for 10th. Senior first baseman Zach Brown is currently tied for eighth with 12 homers this year.
The Citadel then jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third, scoring three with two outs in the frame. Freshman second baseman Bryan Altman smacked a double that scored two and junior third baseman Matt Arnold ripped an RBI-single to right.
An error in the fourth allowed Charleston Southern (19-33) to put two on the board as Chris Krogmeier began the inning with base hit to right center. Anthony Hayes reached safely on a fielding error by freshman shortstop Kyle Jordan, putting Krogmeier on third. Justin Fyle drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Krogmeier raced home on a sac fly off the bat of Stephen Herzog before Mark Perry plated Hayes with a single through the right side to make it 5-2.
The Citadel then scored three unanswered runs to make the final 8-2. Swauger notched an RBI-single for his third RBI of the evening in the fourth. Junior Conrad Kellahan was able to score on a wild pitch in the eighth before senior center fielder Chance Smith tallied a sac fly.
Three Bulldogs collected two hits on the night, as four Dogs doubled in the contest. Altman and Swauger were responsible for five of The Citadel’s eight runs as they combined for five RBI. Arnold and Smith each knocked in one as well. Arnold extended his hitting streak to eight games in the win, a new career-best. Wes Brundridge and Krogmeier paced the Bucs with two hits each.
McGuiness (3-2) was credited with the win as he tossed 5.0 frames, scattering six hits and allowing two unearned runs while striking out five and walking one. Ryan Rowland (3-7) suffered the loss for the Bucs as he pitched 3.0 innings, allowing five runs on six hits while walking one.
Three other Bulldog pitchers combined to hold CSU scoreless for the final four innings, only allowing two hits.
Eagles Close Out Home Schedule with 4-3 Win Matt Miller hits go-ahead home run in the seventh.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 4, MERCER 3
STATESBORO, GA. ? Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and the bullpen closed the door as Georgia Southern defeated Mercer 4-3 Tuesday night (May 15) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles (32-24 overall) finish off their home schedule an impressive 23-8, the second-most home wins over the past 10 seasons.
Mercer (29-23) jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Tyler Brown’s RBI double in the first and Andrew Einert’s leadoff homer in the second.
Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) drew a one-out walk in the second. He advanced to third on Griffin Benedict’s (Dunwoody/St. Pius) single. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) plated a run on a sacrifice fly.
The Eagles tied the score in the third. Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist) lined a one-out single. He advanced to second when catcher Josh Thompson’s attempted pickoff throw sailed into right field. Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) lined a two-out RBI single just over an outstretched Billy Shaughnessy at shortstop.
GS threatened again in the fourth. Shehan lined a leadoff single up the middle. He advanced to third on Wirnsberger’s one-out single. Brooks Webster got a strikeout for the second out. Second baseman Michael Langley made a diving stop on Jeremy Beckham’s (Griffin/Griffin) grounder to not only save a run but end the inning.
Eric Renfroe drew a one-out walk off David Cogswell (Toccoa/Stephens County) in the fifth. He stole second and scored on Mike Armstrong’s two-out single for a 3-2 lead.
Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) struck out Matt Crawford with a runner on third to end the sixth inning. However, Renfroe lined a leadoff double off Kamppi in the seventh. Thompson sent a deep fly ball to left field. Shehan made the catch and nailed Renfroe trying to tag up and go to third base. That was the second double play Georgia Southern turned in the game.
Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) helped the Eagles regain the lead for good during the seventh. Economos lined a one-out single off relief pitcher Josh Lowey. Miller ripped a 1-0 pitch over the left centerfield fence. His third homer of the year put the Eagles ahead 4-3.
Kamppi worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning before giving way to A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) in the ninth. Crawford lined a one-out double and the Bears put the tying run 90 feet away after a Battisto balk. But the senior right-hander struck out Renfroe on a called third strike and retired Thompson on an infield popup to end the game.
“It’s always good to come back and get a win especially after they beat us up at their place (12-5 loss last month). We didn’t come out with a confidence during that (losing streak) spell, but now after the 10-game win streak and winning 12 of our last 14 I think tonight’s win is a really good boost especially going into the last series and the Southern Conference Tournament,” said Miller. “I saw the same pitch during an earlier at-bat and I flew out to left. I made an adjustment and was able to drive the ball (for a home run).”
Economos, Miller and Shehan banged out two hits apiece. One of seven seniors making their final appearance at home, Economos scored two runs.
Kamppi improved to 4-2, allowing just one hit in 2.1 innings. He walked one and struck out two. Battisto picked up his ninth save of the season. He now moved into a tie for fifth place among the GS season ?Top 10’ leaders. Burt Barto (Columbus/Columbus), making his first start of the season, allowed two runs on six hits in four innings.
Josh Lowey (5-3) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in two innings. Four Mercer pitchers went two innings apiece. Armstrong and Crawford accounted for half of the Bears’ 10 hits, three and two, respectively.
APPALACHIAN STATE 15, RADFORD 3
BOONE, N.C. ― Appalachian State University baseball secured its first 30-win season in 21 years with a 15-3 victory over visiting Radford on Tuesday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
The 30-win season is ASU’s first since 1986, when it went 40-13-1 and made its last NCAA Regional appearance. With win No. 30, Appalachian (30-23) also clinched its first winning season since 1996.
The Mountaineers scored six runs in the fifth inning and six more in the eighth to turn a tied ballgame into a rout. Two-run doubles from first baseman Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) and center fielder Chris Baker (Clarkton, N.C./East Columbus) highlighted the six-run fifth, while freshman second baseman Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) capped the scoring in the eighth with his first-career homer, a three-run blast.
Hobson led Appalachian’s 18th double-digit scoring output of the season by going a career-best 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. Harrow also drove in four runs and designated hitter Andrew Franco (Niceville, Fla./Niceville) added a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance.
Making his 39th-career start on Senior Day at Smith Stadium, fifth-year senior Jonathan Reeder (Matthews, N.C./Weddington) allowed just two earned runs on five hits in six innings of work to up his record to 4-1 on the season. The team captain didn’t walk a batter in the final home game of his career.
Also playing their final home games, Baker finished 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI and left fielder Tom Prosser (Etowah, Tenn./McMinn Central) went 2-for-4 and scored three runs.
Alex Gregory (2-for-3, HR) and Rick Hoogstraten (2-for-4) were the only Radford players with multiple hits. Making his first appearance of the season on the mound, Highlander starter Jonathan Spears allowed six runs in 4.1 innings to suffer the loss. With its 15th setback in 17 games, Radford fell to 10-32 on the season.
WESTERN CAROLINA 4, HIGH POINT 0
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Four Western Carolina pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout, striking out a dozen Panther hitters along the way as the Catamounts extended their current winning streak to six games with a 4-0 non-conference victory over High Point Tuesday night at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Senior right-hander Tyler Johnson (3-3) matched his season-high, tossing five innings of scoreless, three-hit ball while working around one walk with six strikeouts. He was lifted prior to the sixth in favor of freshman left-hander, Chris Masters, who struck out three of the seven batters he faced while allowing just one base hit. Senior Brock Thornburg and junior Greg Holland each pitched an inning of scoreless, hitless relief to wrap up the game, combining for three strikeouts including two by Holland in the top of the ninth inning.
Five different Catamounts posted base hits, with senior John Ingram securing a two bagger in the sixth to represent one of WCU’s two extra base hits in the game as freshman pinch-hitter Adam Baker also laced an opposite field double to the gap in left-center in the eighth. Junior Barrett Shaft finished 0-for-1 on the evening, but plated a pair of WCU’s runs after being hit by a pitch in the fifth and walked in the seventh. Also posting hits and scoring runs were freshman Nick Liles and Brent Greer, who ignited Western’s rally in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Despite having his 19-game hitting streak snapped with a 0-for-2 outing, senior Kenny Smith accounted for two of Western’s runs on the night, driving in one on a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a second run on a bouncing fielder’s choice to the left side in the seventh.
Liles opened the home portion of the fifth inning with a single up the middle, advancing to second on a one-out base hit by Greer to center. Shaft was plunked by a pitch to load the bases, with the next batter, junior Blake Murphy, drawing a walk to drive in the game’s first run. Like Shaft, his classmate, Steven Strausbaugh, was also hit by a pitch to drive in the second run with Smith’s fly ball out to right capping the scoring in the fifth, 3-0 Catamounts.
Western (38-15) would add an insurance run in the seventh as Shaft drew his second walk of the game to stand at first. He was moved to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run by he and Murphy, with Smith bouncing one to the left side of the infield on a fielder’s choice to score the game’s fourth run and provide the final tally, 4-0.
Lost in the shuffle was the strong pitching effort of Panther starter, Tony Flores. The senior from Jupiter, Fla., held Western hitless through the first four innings of play, but offered up seven free passes in the form of four walks and three hit batsmen in five innings of work. Flores (4-2) was saddled with three earned runs and the loss with Matt Christie finishing off the final three innings, allowing one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts.
CLEMSON 19, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 7
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Taylor Harbin had three hits and drove in six runs while teammate Marquez Smith added a homer and three RBI leading 14th-ranked Clemson to a 19-7 win over College of Charleston before 5,108 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday.
The Tigers improved to 35-18 with the win, while the Cougars fell to 37-16. Charleston opens a three-game Southern Conference series with Davidson at Patriots Point Field on Thursday at 6:00. Charleston is tied with Western Carolina for the league's top spot heading into the final week of conference play.
Harbin a sacrifice fly in the first, a two-run single in the third, a run-scoring single in the fourth and a two-run double in the seventh. Smith had an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the fourth and a two-run homer to left in the eighth, his 11th of the season.
The Cougars got two hits each from Jedd Cordisco, Chris Campbell, Graham Maiden and Michael Kohn. Campbell had a solo homer leading off the fourth, and Kohn a pinch-solo homer leading off the sixth.
P.J. Zocchi (4-2) picked up the win allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits over five innings. Michael Bunton (4-1) suffered the loss.