WOFFORD 9-6, FURMAN 6-1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford baseball team swept both games of Sunday’s double header against Furman, notching a 9-6 win in 10 innings in the opener and a 6-1 win in seven innings in the finale, to take the three-game conference series at Russell C. King Field.
Brandon Waring broke a school record for the most home runs in a season with one home run in each game to bring his season total to 21, surpassing the previous totals set by Justin Laughlin in 1993 and Lee Amick in 1991. The junior third baseman drove in five total runs in the twin bill and has homered in each of his last four games.
Waring’s home runs were two of five on the day for Wofford (23-26, 6-15), who have now bashed a school record 84 long balls this season. Four of those homers came in the 10 inning opener against Furman, with Waring, Michael Gilmartin, John Brandt and Eric Sturkie all contributing one round tripper apiece.
Game 1: Wofford 9, Furman 6 (10 innings)
In the opener, Eric Sturkie slammed a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth to lead the Terriers to a 9-6 win over Furman. Sturkie’s homer came with two outs on the board and was his second extra-inning walk-off shot of the season.
Furman (14-34, 9-15 SoCon) took the lead three different times during the game before Brandon Waring put the Terriers up 9-6 with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. The Paladins rebounded to score two in the top of the eighth to send the game into extra innings before Sturkie mashed his third homer of the season in the bottom of the tenth to seal the win for Wofford.
Furman took the first lead of the game on an RBI double from Paul Ortenzo and a sacrifice fly from Connor Lind to go up 2-0 in the top of the second. Paladin right fielder Will Stembridge scored the first run of the inning after reaching base on a fielder’s choice and scoring from second on Ortenzo’s double to right-center field. Paladin starter Jay Jackson, who reached on a fielding error, scored the next run when Lind slapped a sacrifice fly ball to shallow right field.
John Brandt tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth for his 11th home run of the season. Brandt’s blast to right-center field drove in Waring, who led off the inning with a walk.
Furman regained the lead in the top of the fifth on a two-out double by Jackson. With Lind on second after leading off with a single, Jackson roped a line drive to the right-center gap to send in the run. The Paladins then loaded the bases, but Wofford starter Adam Kearney struck out Cole Franklin to escape the inning with minimal damage.
Wofford shortstop Michael Gilmartin tied the game at 3-3 in the next half inning with a solo shot off the scoreboard in right-center field. The homer was the 11th of the season for Gilmartin, who went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI in the opener to bring his team-leading hit total to 67 this season. The switch-hitting shortstop is currently fourth on Wofford’s single season hits list and needs 10 more base knocks to tie the school record of 77 set by Matt Lein in 2002.
Furman took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth after a bases loaded walk sent Ortenzo across the plate. Ortenzo singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a bunt single by center fielder Joey Rodgers. A sacrifice bunt by Lind moved the runners into scoring position, and an ensuing walk to Marcus Rose loaded the bases. Wofford then called on Whit Kennedy to relieve Kearney, and though Kennedy walked Bobby Hubbard to send in a run, the junior southpaw forced a double play ground ball to end the inning.
Waring gave Wofford a 6-4 lead with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning. The blast to left-center field drove in Bradford Eaves and Shane Kirkley, who each got on base with back-to-back base hits. The home run was the 20th of the season for Waring, which tied the school’s single season home run record.
The Paladins tied the game at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the eighth on a two-out two‑run single by Tony Maccani. Kennedy struck out Rodgers to begin the inning, but ran into a jam after two walks and a fielding error loaded the bases. Gilmartin then took the mound for the Terriers, and struck out Jackson at the cleanup spot for the second out of the inning. Furman would not leave the runners stranded, however, as Maccani came to the plate and slapped a base hit through the left side to drive in Lind and Rose which tied the game.
A scoreless ninth inning took the game into extra innings, where Furman threatened to take the lead in the top of the 10th before Gilmartin escaped the inning unharmed. Hubbard led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout before a walk to Maccani put two runners on base. Stembridge then knocked a base hit to right field, but Terrier outfielder Sterling Dye cut the ball off quick enough to hold Hubbard at third. Gilmartin then forced Cole Franklin to pop up and Ortenzo to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning without allowing a run.
Dye started the 10th inning Terrier rally with a double off the left-center field fence, but would eventually be thrown out at the plate by Franklin while trying to score the winning run. Wood singled through the left side to send Dye around third, but Franklin fielded the ball and came up firing to the plate just in time to throw out Dye for the second out of the inning. The momentum was still in Wofford’s favor, however, as a walk to Chuck Eller advanced pinch runner Dave Banks to second to put two runners on for Sturkie. Sturkie then mashed a 1-0 fastball over the left-center field fence to drive in both runners for the 9-6 extra inning win.
Gilmartin (1-3) picked up his first win of the season after holding Furman scoreless over the final 2 2/3 innings. The freshman shortstop/closer allowed only three hits.
Nick Hollstegge (3-5) took the loss for Furman after giving up Sturkie’s extra-inning three-run blast. The homer accounted for all three of Hollstegge’s runs allowed, as the senior right hander pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up three hits and two walks while striking out one.
Game 2: Wofford 6, Furman 1 (7 innings)
In the nightcap, Ben Austin held Furman to one run and four hits over seven innings in the second complete game of his career to lead Wofford to a 6-1 win to clinch the Southern Conference series. The victories marked the first time since 2004 that Wofford took Furman in a three-game series.
Austin (9-3) struck out six and threw 99 pitches in the game, which lasted exactly one and a half hours. The only run that the junior right hander surrendered was on a sacrifice fly ball to right field. With the victory, Austin becomes the second pitcher in the conference to reach the nine-win plateau and is now tied for third on Wofford’s season wins list.
Brandon Waring added his third homer of the series in the game ? also his second on the day ? to set a school record for the most home runs in a single season. The blast was the 21st of the season for Waring who has now set Wofford’s single season records for home runs, runs scored and extra base hits.
Wofford jumped on the board in the first inning on an RBI single by designated hitter Shane Kirkley that scored shortstop Michael Gilmartin. Gilmartin reached base on a bunt single down the first base line and advanced to second on the same play when Furman second baseman Marcus Rose overthrew his first baseman. A groundout to the left side sent Gilmartin to third before Kirkley’s base hit up the middle drove him across the plate. The hit was the first of three for Kirkley, who scored twice in a 3-for-4 outing. The junior designated hitter also added the 39th double of his career to come within one two-bagger of tying Wofford’s all-time doubles record.
Furman tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly ball by left fielder Jay Jackson. Jackson’s RBI fly out drove in Marcus Rose from third after Rose walked and advanced two bases on a single up the middle by Bobby Hubbard.
Waring gave the Terriers the lead for good with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third for his record-setting 21st blast of the season. Waring’s shot to left-center field drove in Kirkley, who legged out an infield single to shortstop in the preceding at bat.
With the lead in hand, Austin retired the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings before the Terriers gave their ace another run in the bottom of the fifth to go up 4-1. Kirkley led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before an intentional walk to Waring put runners at the corners. John Brandt then grounded out to shortstop, but Paladin first baseman Paul Ortenzo fired to second base while trying to pick off Waring, who was rounding the base. Kirkley took off for home on the throw and knocked the ball out of the glove of catcher Tony Maccani while sliding in feet first for the run.
Wofford center fielder Bradford Eaves drove in two runs in the bottom of the sixth to give Austin a 6-1 advantage heading into the final inning. Eaves’ base knock through the left side drove in Emre Caglayan and Keith Munns, who reached base with back-to-back singles through the infield.
Austin retired three of four batters in the seventh to end the game and collect his ninth win of the season. With the win, Austin becomes the first Terrier in five seasons to surpass eight wins in a single season. The junior right hander improved his season strikeout total to 76 while his ERA dropped to a team-low 3.46.
UNC GREENSBORO 8-3, THE CITADEL 7-10
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Ricky Orton’s walk-off home run in the 11th gave UNC Greensboro an 8-7 victory over The Citadel in game one of a Southern Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Bulldogs used a late surge to take a 10-3 win over the Spartans in game two.
With two-outs and nobody on in the bottom of the 11th, Orton knocked his fourth roundtripper of the season over the right-center wall to give UNCG the win. Orton, who was 0-for-5 on the day, extended his hitting streak to 6 games with the blast.
The Citadel (25-21, 9-12 SoCon) got on the board early and took the 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Sonny Meade and Zach Brown recorded back-to-back two-out singles before Richard Jones sent a double to right-center to bring both home.
UNCG (25-23, 11-10 SoCon) responded in the same inning with three runs to take the one-run lead. Tim Carrier extended his hitting streak to 13 games after the junior led off with a single and advanced to second when Guy Welsh drew a walk. Carrier scored on a Bulldog error and Welsh came home on a sacrifice fly from Greg Feltes. Sean Snell sent a RBI single through the left side to give the Spartans the 3-2 advantage.
The Spartans added a run in the fifth on a wild pitch and followed with a two-run sixth inning to take the 6-2 lead. Adam Deleo and Corey Overholzter recorded back-to-back RBI singles to put UNCG up by four. The Bulldogs, however, plated three runs and pulled within one in the seventh. Jones drove home two runs with his second two-bagger of the day. Matt Arnold laced a single up the middle to score Jones, making it 6-5 in favor of the Spartans.
Jones evened the score with his third RBI double of the day in the ninth.
The Citadel recorded the go-ahead run after Arnold grounded to UNCG shortstop Matt Gaski, who fired it home to catcher Deleo in what appeared to be a tag on Brown. Deleo, however dropped the ball in the attempt to tag, giving the Bulldogs to one-run lead. UNCG third baseman Welsh sent the game into extra innings after he pushed across the tying run with a single to right field in the bottom of the ninth.
Nick Starnes (4-3) was credited the win for the Spartans after pitching a scoreless and hitless 11th. Starter Matt Gibbs pitched 6-2/3 innings on the mound and struck out a game-high four batters.
Link Saunders (5-3) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 2-2/3 innings of relief for The Citadel.
Carrier went 3-for-6 with three runs scored, while Welsh and Brandon Harvey recorded two hits each.
The Citadel prevented the series sweep and took game two, 10-3, to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Spartans struck for a run in the first to take the early one-run advantage. Welsh sent a two-out double down the rightfield line and scored on an Orton two-bagger, which brought Orton’s hitting streak to 17 games. The Spartans picked up another run in the third, extending their lead to 2-0. Overholtzer recorded his second triple of the season before coming home on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the fourth as Chris Swauger opened with a single to right. After Meade earned a walk, Zach Brown loaded the bases with a hit through the left side. Swauger came home on a wild pitch and Meade scored on a sacrifice fly by Jones.
UNCG added a run in the fifth to retake the lead off a Gaski RBI fielder’s choice. The Citadel answered back after Swauger tripled to lead-off the seventh and scored on a Meade groundout.
The Citadel exploded for four runs in the eighth to take its first lead of the game and go up 7-3. Chance Smith scored the go-ahead run on a Meade single. Two batters later and with the bases loaded, Jones drew a walk and was followed by a RBI single from Arnold. Kyle Jordan earned another bases loaded walk to plate in the fourth run of the inning.
Jones gave the Bulldogs the 10-3 advantage after he sent a two-out, three-run homer over the right-center fence. The Citadel catcher drove in five runs in the contest to lead the Bulldogs from behind the plate.
Bulldog freshman starter Matt Reifsnider (3-2) earned the win after allowing just three runs on six hits in seven innings of the work.
Starnes (4-4) suffered the loss after giving up four runs in 2-1/3 innings on the mound. Freshman starter Alex Shelton struck out a game-high three batters in five innings of work.
Carirer extended his hitting streak to 14 games after he finished 2-for-4 on the day. Overholtzer went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
APPALACHIAN STATE 6, WESTERN CAROLINA 3
CULLOWHEE, N.C. ? Appalachian State plated five runs between the fifth and sixth innings while Mountaineer pitching limited Western Carolina to seven base hits for the game to prevent the series sweep, downing the Catamounts, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference baseball action at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
The loss snaps Western’s four-game winning streak and was the first at home in league play this season for the Catamounts. WCU secured the series victory ? its sixth-straight this season ? by virtue of its 13-7 win over the Mountaineers on Saturday evening.
Western (32-15, 15-6 SoCon) was not without its opportunities on Sunday, however, as the Catamounts loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but could only manage to score one run on a Blake Murphy sacrifice fly to right field. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, WCU had the tying run at the plate with runners at second and third with two outs, but Appalachian pitcher Garrett Sherrill ended the threat with a strikeout.
Sophomores Andy John and Mitchell Hatley both posted multiple hit games with John going 2-for-4 with his first career home run and a double, scoring twice, while Hatley finished with a pair of singles and was hit by a pitch to reach each time he came to the plate. Junior Blake Murphy walked three times, driving in one on the sacrifice fly, while senior Kenny Smith extended his current hit streak to a team season-best 14 games with his 18th double of the season.
After pitching around a lead-off single in the top of the first inning, the Catamounts scratched the scoreboard first as Murphy drew a one-out walk and scored from first on the aforementioned RBI double to left center by Smith to give WCU a 1-0 edge.
Half an inning later, though, Appalachian State tied the game at one capitalizing on a lead-off double to right center by Jerod Faggart and a wild pitch that moved him to third. Faggart came home when first baseman David Towarnicky bounced out to short.
The Mountaineers (25-22, 10-11 SoCon) took the lead for good in the top of the fifth by scoring three runs on five hits and taking advantage of a pair of Catamount errors. The Apps loaded the bases with one out on a single to center field and a pair of one-baggers along the infield, chasing Catamount starter Corey Martin. Senior reliever Tyler Johnson got the short stop, Jason Altenhof, to foul out down the right field line, driving in a run, but also allowed a single up the middle and a double before striking out Towarnicky to end the frame.
Martin (4-2) suffered the loss after recording four and a third innings pitched, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
The Cats got back one of the runs back on a towering solo homer to right center field by John, but could not seize momentum following a hit batsman, finishing with back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out ending the threat. ASU proceeded to stretch its lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI triple by Altenhof, who later scored on a single up the middle to conclude the Apps scoring.
Johnson pitched an inning and two thirds, surrendering a pair of earned runs on five hits with a strikeout and was later lifted for the left-handed freshman, Chris Maters, who also went 1.2 innings of scoreless relief allowing just one base hit while fanning three. Junior Greg Holland tossed the final inning and a third giving up three hits but no runs while equaling Masters with three strikeouts.
Jason Rook (5-5) earned the victory for Appalachian State, scattering six base hits and three earned runs over six and two thirds innings of work. The right-hander pitched around five walks with six strikeouts in the winning effort. Sherrill pitched the final 2.1 innings scoreless with just one WCU hit with a walk and a strikeout to garner his sixth save of the year. Offensively for the Mountaineers, Faggart led the way with a 4-for-5 performance including three doubles. Altenhof posted three base hits, while third baseman Wes Hobson also finished 3-for-5 on the afternoon.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 19, ELON 7
ELON, N.C. ? Fielding woes continued for the Elon Phoenix who committed a season-high seven errors and allowed seven unearned runs as the 24th-ranked College of Charleston Cougars claimed a 19-7 Southern Conference baseball victory from Latham Park on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars, who received seven RBI from Michael Harrington, won the series two games to one and improved to 36-12 and 17-4 in SoCon play. Elon fell to 27-23, 14-10 after giving up season-highs in runs and hits.
With a 20+ mile an hour wind blowing out, Harrington hit his 10th homer of the season to centerfield, a solo shot, with one out in the top of the first.
Elon evened it up at one in the bottom half of the inning when Pat Irvine went deep for the eighth time on the year with a one-out liner over the wall in left. Chris Vasami followed with a single into right before Drew Davis doubled to left-center. Ryan Addison tapped a ball back to the pitcher, but Cougar starter Michael Bunton could not handle it and Addison reach, Davis moved to third and Vasami scored to put the Phoenix on top. Davis came home from third on Mike Melillo’s ground out.
The Phoenix added another run in the second when Vasami grounded a potential double play ball to short, but the throw to first was short and allowed Jordy Snyder to score from second and let Vasami go to second.
Gabe Marchant and Oliver Marmol started the Charleston third with back-to-back singles before Harrington chopped a ball back up the middle to plate Marchant and move Marmol to third. Chris Campbell’s sacrifice fly to right allowed Marmol to score to cut Elon’s lead to 4-3. After an Elon error put runners on the corners, Alex Garabedian blooped a single into center to knot the game at four as Harrington came home.
In the bottom of the third, Addison drew a walk before relief pitcher Brian Schlitter walked Melillo. Chase Austin sacrificed both runners up a base before Adam Weaver’s ground out allowed Addison to score to put the Phoenix back on top 5-4. Jordy Snyder then lined a single to left, scoring Melillo.
Jedd Cordisco reached on Elon’s second error of the afternoon to lead off the fourth. Marchant followed with a single to right, giving the Cougars runners on first and second. Marmol’s fly out to right allowed Cordisco to tag and go to third. Cordisco came in on Harrington’s sac fly to left.
Two Elon errors in the sixth allowed the Cougars to tie the score at six. Charleston put runners on second and third after Marchant doubled to right with one out. A third Phoenix error of the frame put Charleston ahead 7-6 when Cordisco scored from third. Harrington doubled into the rightfield corner to drive in two more runs. On the play, Harrington moved to third on yet another Phoenix miscue. Campbell’s bouncing single through the left side of the infield plated Harrington with Charleston’s 10th run of the day.
The Phoenix got one back in the bottom of the sixth when Davis doubled to left-center, plating Chris Dove from third.
Joey Bergman hit his first career homer, a two-run shot in the seventh, which also plated Garabedian. A bases loaded double play scored a third run in the inning and gave Charleston a 13-7 advantage.
Charleston added six runs in the top of the ninth to cap their scoring.
The Cougars pounded out 23 hits, including four each from Harrington, Bergman and Marchant. Harrington became the third player in College of Charleston history to drive home seven runs in a single game. Maiden added three hits in six at bats and drove in three.
For Elon, Davis notched the only multi-hit performance, going 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Zach Booker (4-4) took the loss despite allowing just four earned runs. The Cougars scored a total of 10 runs off the Phoenix starter in 5.1 innings.
Schlitter (4-3) picked up the win in relief after allowing two runs on six hits over 7.0 innings of work. He fanned six and walked three. Bunton was pulled after 2.0 innings and surrendered five runs (three earned) on three hits.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2, DAVIDSON 0
STATESBORO, GA. ? Josh Lairsey (Waycross/Ware County) started off the current eight-game homestand picking up a win thanks to a solid pitching performance. It was only fitting the senior left-hander did exactly that again on Senior Day to wrap up the stretch at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Lairsey pitched seven shutout innings as Georgia Southern completed a Southern Conference sweep of Davidson, 2-0 Sunday afternoon (May 6) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
With the victory, the Eagles (30-22 overall, 11-10 SoCon) won their 10th straight. In the eight years that Rodney Hennon has been head coach, the Eagles have now won at least 30 games each season. The shutout was the first by Georgia Southern since a 4-0 win over UNC Greensboro on April 21, 2006.
In the first, leadoff hitter Zach Kayne extended his hitting streak to 12 games when he took Lairsey’s pitch down the left field line for a double. However Lairsey, one of eight seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony, was able to work out of the jam recording two strikeouts and stranding two runners on base. That would be the only extra-base hit Lairsey would allow.
With his pitch count on the rise after two innings, Lairsey was able to work around a bunt single in the third and still managed to throw just seven pitches that frame. During their half, the Eagles gave him a lead thanks to Jeremy Beckham’s (Griffin/Griffin) speed.
The junior second baseman punched a single through the right side to start the inning. He stole second and third base during senior Mike Economos’ (Atlanta/Marist) at-bat, his league-leading 26th and 27th steal. Beckham scored on Economos’ groundout for a 1-0 lead. His 27th stolen base moved him into a tie with Rocky Baker for 10th place among the GS season leaders.
Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius), making his first start in 10 days, hit a towering home run to the right field gap with two outs in the fourth inning. His second homer on the year put the Eagles ahead 2-0.
Davidson (17-29, 6-15) threatened in the sixth when Alden Crissey and Rob Wilson hit consecutive one-out singles to put runners on the corners. Lairsey retired Blake Osborn on a shallow fly ball to shortstop Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) and Pat Brady on a shallow fly to Beckham to end the inning. In the seventh Davidson again used back-to-back singles to put two runners on with two down. But Lairsey retired Matt Webb on a shallow fly ball to Pierce.
Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning then senior A.J. Battisto (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) struck out the side in the ninth to earn his eighth save of the year.
“It wasn’t the best performance I had, but with the defense behind me I was able to make some pitches to get out of a jam. I struggled with my curveball today but had a change up to pick up that part of the game,” said Lairsey. “Given the circumstances today it was a very emotional type of win, giving my fellow seniors and myself a good ending to our last weekend home game. It’s always big to win in this conference. You must be prepared to come out and play every day. The road doesn’t get any easier with The Citadel coming up. We’ll go back to work on Tuesday and continue to keep playing hard.”
Lairsey, who went 27 appearances before finally recording a win against Georgia State on April 24, won his second straight decision. The senior lefty (2-1) gave up one double and scattered six singles as only two Wildcats made it past second base all game. He walked two and struck out five.
Beckham had two of the Eagles’ six hits and scored a run. Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) extended his hitting streak to 13 games thanks to a second inning double. Shehan’s double was his 19th this season, moving him into a share of the team lead. Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) walked to snap his 16-game hit streak.
Chris Kennedy (1-2) allowed just two runs on six hits in 6.2 innings. He walked two and struck out one. Kayne and Chase FitzPatrick had two hits apiece.