SoCon Baseball Recaps for March 1, 2008
THE CITADEL 1, LOUISVILLE 0 (10 innings)
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Matt Arnold drew a bases loaded, two out walk in the bottom of the 10th inning as The Citadel topped No. 23 Louisville in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at Riley Park, 1-0. The Bulldogs moved to 4-2 on the season in front of 1,693 fans that also witnessed the unveiling of a permanent memorial for the “Charleston 9” on the center field wall prior to the game in the second day of the Charleston Firefighter Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House.
The Citadel (4-2) won their second consecutive 10-inning game behind another strong pitching performance by junior Matt Crim. Crim was not credited with a decision but pitched 8.0 shutout innings and striking out five. Matt Reifsnider (2-0) was credited with the win in a relief appearance for the second straight game, throwing for 1.1 innings and striking out one Cardinal batter.
"Today was a great game,” said Bulldogs head coach Fred Jordan. “They [Louisville] have a tremendous ballclub. It is gratifying to see what Dan McDonnell and Chris Lemonis are doing with their team. We are just an average team trying to get better everyday. We had a great pitching performance today. Matt Crim had tremendous movement and through enough change-ups and breaking balls that he was able to get by with a lot of fastballs at certain times. We brought Matt Reifsnider in and thought he would be the best match-up against their hitters because he is an upper velocity guy and we have a pretty good infield."
Saturday’s win marked at least the third consecutive year that the Bulldogs have upended a ranked opponent in one of The Citadel’s early season tournament. In 2007, The Citadel defeated No. 1 South Carolina, 7-6, and the Bulldogs topped No. 3 Nebraska, 8-5, in 2006.
Louisville (3-2) recorded seven hits off the Bulldogs but failed to score while leaving seven runners stranded throughout the game. UofL’s Justin Marks held the Bulldogs scoreless for 6.0 innings, striking out three and giving up four hits. The Louisville defense forced The Citadel to strand 12 runners throughout the game.
Dean Kiekhefer (0-1) was credited with the loss for Louisville after walking in Matt Simonelli from third in the bottom of the 10th. Simonelli led off the inning with a double to right field. Chris Swauger grounded out to the mound, sending Simonelli to third. Sonny Meade was intentionally walked and then advanced to second based upon the catcher’s indifference as Richard Jones struck out swinging. Kiekhefer intentionally walked Bryan Altman to load the bases for The Citadel and to give the Cardinals the opportunity to get the force out at any base to end the inning. However Keikhefer struggled with finding the strike zone as he walked Matt Arnold on five pitches, sending Simonelli across the plate for the game-winning run.
“It was a great game today,” said Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell. “It was an intense ballgame with tough pressure and both sides handled the pressure well. I have to tip my hat to the pitchers, both of them pitched a great game. Unfortunately we made a couple of bad pitches in the 10th inning and their leadoff double was huge for them.”
Louisville did not get a runner on base until the fifth inning as Crim pitched 4.1 innings of perfect ball. The Cardinals only put runners in scoring position twice the in the game, including a bases loaded situation with two outs in the seventh in which Crim forced Tyler Mickets to pop up to second.
The Cardinals are led by McDonnell, a 1992 graduate of The Citadel. McDonnell played on the 1990 Citadel team that advanced to the College World Series, the only team ever to reach the College World Series from a military school. McDonnell was also an assistant coach under Fred Jordan. McDonnell’s top assistant is Chris Lemonis, a 1993 graduate of The Military College of South Carolina.
“It was a game of a lot of mixed emotions,” said McDonnell. “Chal Port gave me a chance to play here [at The Citadel] and Freddie [Jordan] gave me my first chance to coach here.”
Prior to the game, The Citadel and Louisville joined Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas, The Citadel Athletics Director Les Robinson and Charleston RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols for the unveiling of a permanent memorial on the center field wall for the “Charleston 9,” nine Charleston firefighters who lost their lives on June 18, 2007. The ceremony was poignant for The Citadel as Thomas’ son, Trey, is a junior on the Bulldog baseball team and started at designated hitter.
“Today was a tremendous tribute to the ?Charleston 9,’” said Jordan. “Over 300,000 walk through the gates of Riley Park every season between our games and the RiverDogs and that memorial in center field and it makes me very proud to know that all 300,000 will see that memorial.”
The Citadel closes out the tournament for which Saturday’s tribute was named after as the Bulldogs host NC State in the final game of the 2008 Charleston Firefighter Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House on Sunday at 2 p.m. Game five of the tournament will see No. 23 Louisville face North Carolina A&T at 11 a.m.
WOFFORD 5, ALBANY 3
WOFFORD 8, ALBANY 7
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team defeated Albany 5-3 and 8-7 in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. In the first game, Wofford won 5-3 as Scott Summers went six innings with three strikeouts. Adam Kearney hit three home runs in the second game to lead the Terriers.
To open the first game, the Great Danes scored first when Ryan Gugel was driven in by Mike Konstanty. The Terriers responded as Shane Kirkley singled to score Sterling Dye and a walk to Keith Munns scored Michael Gilmartin for a 2-1 score after one inning.
In the fourth inning, Jake Williams hit a long ball over the fence in right center, scoring Josh McKinney. Then, Shane Kirkley hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Sterling Dye to give the Terriers a 5-1 lead.
David West doubled in the top of the sixth for the Great Danes, scoring Brendan Rowland. In the top of the seventh, Gary Pitcheralle led off with a double for Albany and Zac Halloran singled to bring him home. Michael Gilmartin came into the game as the closer for Wofford and picked up three outs to end the game 5-3.
In game two, the Terriers scored first in the bottom of the second with a solo shot by Adam Kearney. In Kearney’s next at-bat in the third inning, he hit a two-run homer to give Wofford a 3-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Wofford added another run when Mo Seay drove in Michael Gilmartin on a single to go up 4-0.
The Great Danes got on the board in the sixth inning with a solo shot by David West. Brendan Rowland then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Ryan Gugel. In the seventh inning, Albany took advantage of walks, errors and a hit by pitch to score four runs and take a 6-4 lead.
Wofford was able to respond in their half of the seventh inning as Adam Kearney led things off with a solo home run. After several errors by the Great Danes, Sterling Dye walked to score Emre Caglayan. Shane Kirkley then hit a single to drive in two more runs and give the Terriers a 8-6 lead.
Neither team scored in the eighth inning. Michael Gilmartin came in to pitch for Wofford at the top of the ninth. After striking out the first batter, he gave up singles to Sean Donovan and Brendan Rowland. Another strikeout and the Great Danes were down to one out. Zac Halloran came through with a single to score Donovan, but Rowland was thrown out at the plate and the Terriers won 8-7.
The Terriers will wrap up the Albany series with a single game on Sunday at 1:00 pm. Wofford will visit Clemson on Wednesday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 11, JACKSONVILLE STATE 5
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 17, JACKSONVILLE STATE 7
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. ? College of Charleston bats exploded for 31 hits and four Cougars homered in Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville State, 11-5 and 17-7, at Patriots Point Stadium.
With the pair of wins, the Cougars improve to 6-1, while the Gamecocks fell to 1-6.
In the opener, Stuart Haywood and Michael Kohn both drove in 3 runs each to lead the Cougars. In the third inning, Haywood ripped a two-run single to tie the game at two. Two batters later, Kohn came up and singled in the go-ahead run. The Cougars led the rest of the way.
Mike Hentz and Austin Morgan both added two hits and three runs each to contribute to the Cougar victory.
Austin Garrett struck out eight, while allowing only four hits, in six innings of work to pick up his second win of the season. JSU’s Mitch Miller was tagged with the loss to drop to 0-1 on the year.
After allowing a first-inning JSU run, Charleston rallied behind a two-out, two-run bomb by Jeremie Tice. The junior third baseman batted in two more runs in the fourth, one of four three-run innings by CofC. Stuart Haywood led off the sixth with a solo homerun, and Michael Harrington scored two on a homer to left center in the seventh. Corey Ashner replicated Haywood’s feat in the eighth with a round-tripper in his first at bat of the day.
Junior Clay Caulfield (1-0) earned the win for the Cougars with five strikeouts in three scoreless, hitless innings of relief. Nick Hetland (0-3) took the loss for the Gamecocks.
Outfielder Gabe Marchant led all Cougars at the plate, going five-for-eight and a perfect three-for-three in the nightcap. Tice produced five runs on the day, while Haywood and Michael Kohn batted in four.
The teams will conclude the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Patriots Point Stadium.
FURMAN 9, NEW JERSEY TECH 2
FORMAN 13, NEW JERSEY TECH 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman Paladins opened their 2008 home baseball season by sweeping the New Jersey Tech Highlanders in a Saturday doubleheader, taking game one, 9-2, and coming back with a 13-1 verdict in the seven inning finale.
The two victories improved the Paladins’ to 3-1 on the season while the Highlanders fall to 1-4. The teams play two more on Sunday beginning at 11:00 p.m.
In game one Mason Smith (1-1) allowed a pair of unearned runs in the first inning before settling down to throw six strong innings of three-hit ball in leading Furman to a 9-2 win. The senior right-hander from Columbia, S.C., allowed a leadoff single in the second inning but ended the frame with a double play groundout en route to retiring the final 11 batters he faced to earn his first victory of the year.
J.P. Goldsberry held New Jersey Tech hitless over the final three innings to record the save, the first of his career.
Bobby Hubbard paced Furman’s 11-hit attack in game one with a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance that included a solo home run in the seventh. The Fletcher, N.C., product also scored three runs.
Jay Jackson’s three-run line drive home run in the third off Highlander starting and losing pitcher P.J. Sarporito (0-2) gave Furman a 6-2 lead.
Connor Lind contributed three hits for the Paladins.
In game two Campbell Lewis’ two-run double keyed a five-run Paladin first inning to propel Furman to a 13-1 victory.
Ian Parry (1-1) earned the win after allowing a run while scattering eight hits over five innings. He walked one and recorded six strikeouts.
Ryan Lee went 2-for-3 to headline Furman’s 12-hit attack, and Lewis, Aaron Thompkins, and Justin Holloway each drove in a pair of runs.
Leading 7-1 after five innings, Paladin reserves combined to put the game out of reach with a six-run sixth inning highlighted by Holloway’s two-run home run to left field.
Furman will throw junior right hander Jay Jackson in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader, and Justin Holloway take the mound for the Paladins in game two.
ELON 16, DELAWARE STATE
ELON, N.C. -- Ryan Adams slammed two three-run homers and drove in a career-best seven runs as the Elon Phoenix picked up a 16-6 baseball victory over the visiting Delaware State Hornets in front of 470 fans on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix is now 8-0 and has won eight consecutive games for the first time since the 2006 season. The Hornets are now 0-6 on the year.
Elon jumped on top in the bottom of the third, scoring eight two-out runs and sending 11 hitters to the plate. Adams led things off with a walk before JR McAlister retired the next two Phoenix hitters. Donny Jobe's infield single advanced Adams to second before Pat Irvine drove both runners home with a double to the gap in left-center. Elon got runners on the corners thanks to an infield single from Bennett Davis. After Davis swiped second, Dallas Tarleton drew a 3-2 walk to load the bags. Neal Pritchard's bases loaded walk forced home Elon's third run. Chase Austin then delivered both Davis and Tarleton with a single through the left side of the Hornet infield. Adams finished off the eight-spot with his first three-run bomb of the day, this one clearing the wall in left for his first round-tripper of the season.
The Hornets scored one unearned run in the fourth when Justin Bittner, who reached on an Elon error, scored on a bases loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch to Chris Kidd.
The Phoenix margin grew to 11-1 in the bottom of the fourth as Elon scored three times without the benefit of a single hit. Chris Dove started things off with a walk and moved to second when Jobe reached on a Delaware State error on a sacrifice bunt. A four-pitch walk to Irvine loaded the bases before a free pass to Davis allowed Dove to trot home. The Hornets then turned the ball over to Mike Ingram who promptly plunked both Tarleton and Pritchard to force in two more Phoenix runs.
An Adams groundout in the sixth allowed Pritchard to score before a Jobe sac fly plated Matt Hill to add two more markers to the Phoenix tally.
Pinch-hitter Alex Carter drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh to earn a RBI on Delaware State's second run of the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Adams struck again. With Neal Pritchard on second and Hill on first, Adams sent a ball to the same spot in left-center for his second three-run shot of the contest.
A four-run ninth for Delaware State provided the final margin. That inning was highlighted by a two-run homer by Jarrett Bibb, his first of the campaign, and a two-RBI single off the bat of James Friel.
Kenneth Ferrer (1-0) earned the first win of his career following a 4.0 inning outing during which he allowed one unearned run on one hit. The freshman also fanned five after being pulled due to a predetermined pitch count.
JR McAllister (0-1) took the loss by surrendering 11 runs, 10 of which were earned, on six hits and seven walks over just 3.0 innings of work.
Jobe's 2-for-2, two-run, one-RBI performance extended his hitting streak to eight games. Irvine also turned in a two-hit day. Despited scoring three times and driving in two, Pritchard saw his hitting streak snapped at seven games for Elon.
Bibb laced two hits in two at bats for the Hornets while Friel also tallied a two-hit day.
The two squads will finish off the three-game set at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon from Latham Park.
DAVIDSON 15, NIAGARA 14
NIAGARA 13, DAVIDSON 1
DAVISON, N.C. - Junior Graham Chapman stole home with one out in the bottom of the ninth as Davidson overcame a five-run deficit in its final at-bat to post a 15-14 victory in game one of a baseball doubleheader against Niagara Saturday at Wilson Field.
The Purple Eagles (1-1) won the nightcap 13-1 behind excellent pitching from starter Daniel Morari.
Chapman, who pinch ran for Danny Weiss after the freshman walked, broke on the first pitch from Mark Sikorski to Hugh Eden and scored on a ball in the dirt. The run capped a six-run inning for the Wildcats (3-4).
Eden led off the frame with a walk, stole second and scored later on a walk to Chase FitzPatrick. Jay Honeycutt reached on an error by the second baseman, who mishandled a high pop-up, which scored a run that made the margin 14-11. After Weiss walked to score another run, freshman Matt Ray delivered a two-run double to right field to tie the score 14-14.
Niagara brought its rightfielder into the infield for defense, but Sikorski walked Brennan Baker to load the bases and set up Chapman's game-winning steal. Davidson trailed 8-1 in the third inning, 11-2 in the fifth and 14-5 after Niagara scored three runs in the top of the sixth.
Sophomore relief pitcher John Edwards came on in the sixth and quieted the Purple Eagle bats, which allowed Davidson to get back in the game. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing one run and four hits.
Davidson began its comeback in the bottom of the sixth when Baker led off with a double and scored later on a groundout to the left side by Brett Shore. The 'Cats added three more in the seventh with a two-out rally. Ray's double plated Honeycutt, who led off the frame with a single, and Eden capped the scoring with a two-run single to make the margin 14-9.
Honeycutt finished with three hits, including his fourth home run of the season, and five RBIs, while Eden collected three hits and two RBIs. Shore, FitzPatrick and Ray each had two hits.
Morari pitched a gem in game two, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing one hit and a walk while striking out nine. He threw 80 pitches, and 51 were strikes.
The Purple Eagles pounced on the Wildcats with five runs in the first inning on the strength of a leadoff double by Jason Cramer, an RBI single by Harrison Harber and a two-run homer by Steve Baldinelli. Niagara went on to score runs in the third, fourth and fifth before putting up five in the sixth to take a 13-0 lead.
Will General drove in Davidson's only run with a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the seventh.
The Wildcats and Purple Eagles will do it again tomorrow in a single game that starts at noon at Wilson Field.
APPALACHIAN STATE 7, CANISIUS 6
CANISIUS 11, APPALACHIAN STATE 5
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Appalachian State University baseball and Canisius each registered come-from-behind victories in a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. Isaac Harrow's (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) walk-off two-run single gave Appalachian a 7-6 victory in game one and Canisius erased a 5-0 ASU lead to take the nightcap, 11-5.
Appalachian trailed by scores of 4-0 and 5-1 in the opener before erupting for four runs in the third inning to knot the contest at 5-5. David Rubinstein's (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) home run to right field, his first of the season, and run-scoring hits by Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) accounted for the four-run stanza.
Canisius scored a single run in the top of the fourth to regain a 6-5 lead, but ASU right- hander Adam Mills (Asheboro, N.C./Southwest Randolph) came out of the bullpen to blank the Golden Griffins the rest of the way.
Despite Mills' performance on the mound, the Mountaineers still trailed 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh and final inning. However, Rubinstein led off the frame with a walk and Jason Rook (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guiford) followed with a pinch-hit single through the right side of the infield on a 1-2 pitch. Rubinstein advanced to third on Rook's base hit and Rook took second on the throw. Harrow then drilled a 1-2 pitch back up the middle to bring home Rubinstein and Rook with the winning runs.
Mills allowed just two hits and struck out two in his 3.2 innings of relief to earn his first victory of the young season. Canisius' Ryan McGorman held the Apps hitless over 3.1 innings of work before allowing the back-to-back hits in the seventh to suffer the loss.
Appalachian needed just one hit to plate five runs in the first inning of game two. ASU drew three walks and had two batters hit by pitches in the stanza but the big blow came on a bases-loaded triple to right center field by Hobson.
After the Mountaineers took the early 5-0 lead, the contest settled into a pitchers' duel between Rook and Canisius reliever Matt Weber. Rook cruised through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth and giving way to the bullpen after allowing two runs. In all, Rook surrendered just five hits and the two fifth-inning runs while striking out a career-high nine.
Unfortunately, the ASU bullpen could not hold the lead, as two relievers combined to allow seven runs on just three hits in the sixth, walking four and hitting two more to turn the 5-2 lead into a 9-5 deficit. The Golden Griffins tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the seventh to account for the final margin.
Weber was spectacular in relief of Canisius starter Josh Sawatsky, who didn't return to the mound after the five-run ASU first inning. Weber allowed just two hits over the game's final six innings and struck out four to earn the win.
ASU's Garrett Sherrill (Kannapolis, N.C./A.L. Brown) was saddled with his first loss of the year after surrendering four runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batter in just two-thirds of an inning.
With the split, Appalachian moved to 4-4 on the season and Canisius went to 6-1.
The Mountaineers will try to salvage a series split when the two teams conclude their four-game weekend set on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium.
UNC GREENSBORO 15, CONNECTICUT 6
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? After a slow start in the beginning, the Spartans erupted in the eighth with an eight-run rally to defeat Connecticut, 15-6. With the win, UNC Greensboro took a 2-0 series lead.
Like they did in game one, UNCG (4-1) was the first to light up the board in the first inning. After walking the first two batters, an error and a wild pitch by Matt McDonald of UCONN (0-5) brought in second baseman Tim Carrier. Shortstop Matt Gaski followed shortly as first baseman Ricky Orton sent a double to left field. Orton came around home off a left center single by Corey Overholtzer.
The Spartans put up one each in the next two innings before the Huskies could get a player in to score. A double to left field by catcher Adam Deleo put him in position to score UNCG’s only run of the second inning. With Deleo on second, third baseman Ray Quinones dropped a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to move him the third, and a sacrifice fly to center field by Carrier brought him in.
With an 0-1 count in the third, Overholtzer let loose a left field double to bring Greg Feltes in from first and put the Spartans up 5-0.
The Huskies put were able to put up single runs in the fourth and the fifth while keeping the Spartans quiet. The score remained 5-2 through the sixth before UCONN’s Elliot Glynn hit a right field double to bring around Pierre LePage.
UNCG answered back in the bottom of the inning with two runs off an Orton single and a sacrifice fly by the left fielder Pedro Leon.
The blue and gold silenced the Huskies to top the eighth and then erupted in the bottom with eight runs to take a 15-3 lead. Four of the eight runs came from one player alone as Corey Overholtzer unleashed a ball over the right field fence for his and the team’s first grand slam of the season.
Two more runs were brought around off a right center triple by Carrier and the Spartans notched one run apiece off a double by Gaski and an error by Connecticut’s John Folino.
UNCG held UCONN to just three runs in the ninth to maintain the lead and take game two, 15-6.
At the plate, the Spartans were led by Overholtzer who went 4-for 5 with five RBI, a grand slam, and three singles. Orton was 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and a double.
Mound starter Clay Gibson pitched through five innings with two strikeouts and just one walk. After coming into the game in the top of the sixth and holding onto the Spartan lead, freshman Greg Smith earned his first collegiate save. Connecticut’s Matt McDonald (0-1) took the loss.
The Spartans will return to UNCG Baseball Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the final game of the Connecticut series. First pitch is set for 1pm.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 14, TOWSON 8
STATESBORO, GA. ? A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) provided some early run support with a first inning grand slam and Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) pitched into the sixth inning as Georgia Southern took game two of the series against Towson 14-8, Saturday afternoon (March 1) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
After needing a three-run rally in the ninth inning last night to win, the Eagles (3-4 overall) gave Eubanks some early breathing room. Eubanks worked out of two-on jam in the first inning without allowing any damage. Then the bats came alive.
Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) reached on a one-out error. Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) singled and Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) walked on four pitches to load the bases. Wirnsberger slammed a 0-1 pitch over the centerfield fence. It was his first home run this year and the sophomore’s first career grand slam.
“It was huge to score some runs right away. That is what we need to do, go out execute and give our pitchers some run support so they can go out and pitch with extra confidence,” said Wirnsberger. “I knew (rounding the bases) it was my first grand slam here, it was exciting. I tried to stay back on the pitch. Coach Tidick and coach Klinger kept telling me to keep my front shoulder closed and stay on the ball. Today was a big win and should be a big confidence builder heading into tomorrow’s finale and next week.”
Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) singled to start the second inning. He stole second then scored on Shehan’s third home run this year. That extended the Eagles’ lead to 6-0. Wirnsberger scored on a wild pitch in the third inning, making it 7-0.
In the fourth, Austin Harclerode hit a single to centerfield and Eric Weller just beat Matt Miller’s (Canton/Woodstock) throw home.
Towson (2-3) plated two runs in the sixth but the Eagles responded in their half. Beckham, the first batter faced by relief pitcher Drew Permison, was hit by a pitch. Miller and Porter drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Blackburn lined a 2-run single then Wirnsberger plated another run on a groundout, his fifth RBI of the game.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the seventh thanks to Harclerode’s RBI single, making it a 10-4 score.
GS loaded the bases again with two outs when Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) singled, Miller walked and Porter was hit by a pitch. Shehan lined a 2-run single to right field for a 12-4 lead.
The Tigers scored two runs in the eighth (one coming off an error) and two more in the ninth on Terry Gallo’s 2-run homer.
In the eighth, Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) scored on Charlie Cononie’s wild pitch and Beckham delivered a RBI single.
Eubanks, who lasted only three innings in his last start, knew that shutting the door on Towson in the first after they threatened then Wirnsberger’s grand slam was an early turning point.
“That is how you get momentum shifted in your favor early on. I wanted to keep locating my pitches down in the zone, keep their hitters off balance and let my defense do the work,” said Eubanks. “Wirnsberger has a big day at the plate but he also made some big plays over at third base... You cannot let one outing affect the rest of your season, good or bad. You can’t take a no-hitter into your next outing or you will get shelled. I try to keep an even keel, fix my mistakes from the last outing and go deep into the game.”
Eubanks (1-1) gave up three runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. He walked one and struck out one. Wirnsberger drove in a season-high five runs and scored twice going 2-for-5 at the plate.
Shehan finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Last night the Eagles’ 1-4 hitters scored eight runs, during Saturday’s win the same four batters scored seven times, drove in six runs and recorded five hits.
Benedict added three hits while Parker and Beckham also added two hits apiece.
Charlie Strohecker (Alpharetta/Milton), who missed the final two months of the 2007 season with an injury, made his first appearance of the year. He allowed one unearned run on two hits in 1.1 innings.
Zach Umberger (0-1) was charged for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits in five innings. Brian Conley had three hits to lead the Tigers. In addition, Towson’s 7-9 hitters combined for six hits, four runs and six RBI.
Georgia Southern will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon (March 2), first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
GEORGE MASON 16, WESTERN CAROLINA 12
CONWAY, S.C. --- The Western Carolina baseball team was unable to overcome an early 6-0 lead by George Mason University, falling 16-12 Saturday afternoon in game two of the Baseball at the Beach Tournament. The Catamounts put up four runs in the final two innings to threaten the deficit, but it was too little too late for Western.
The Patriots scored in six of the nine innings, notching a total of 17 hits. WCU connected on 15 hits, but hit into four double plays, two of which ended scoring innings for the Catamounts.
George Mason (1-4) struck first in the game, with a leadoff double by Spencer Wiggins, followed by a two-run homer to deep center field by Chris Henderson, putting the Patriots up, 2-0. But junior lefthander Drew Saberhagen was able to shake off the early deficit and a line drive off his leg to record a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
Junior Corey Martin came in on relief for the injured Saberhagen in the second inning, striking out two and allowing one run in his first inning on the mound. In the third, GMU tacked on three more runs on another homer to center, putting them up 6-0 after two and-a-half innings.
The Catamounts (2-3) got on the board in the bottom of the third on junior J.C. Lyons’ two-out single, which plated senior Barrett Shaft. The next pitch, sophomore shortstop Brent Greer homered over the left centerfield wall to cut the GMU lead to three, 6-3. It was Greer’s second homer of the season, putting him in a tie for first on the team. WCU tacked on another run on a dropped third strike off a Tyler Kirkpatrick strikeout brought home freshman Ryan Mathews, who had followed Greer’s home run with a single.
Leading off the bottom of the fourth, freshman Matt Johns connected on his first hit as a Catamount, a solo home run that carried over the wall left center. Following a single by sophomore Nick Liles and an error by the Patriot left fielder that put on Barrett Shaft, senior catcher Blake Murphy cleared the bases with a line drive shot over the wall in left field for his second home run of the season, knotting the game up at eight. It was Murphy’s 32nd homer in his career at Western, moving him into a tie for 12th place on the all-time list.
The Patriots had an offensive explosion in the top of the seventh inning, putting across seven runs on seven hits in the frame to stretch their lead to 16-8, a margin WCU could not erase.
Freshman Geoff Turner made his first career appearance in the eighth inning, throwing a pair of perfect frames to close out the game. Fellow freshman Brandon Johnson was saddled with the loss, after pitching two innings and giving up five runs on four hits, with two strikeouts. Matt Benedict and Mike Tavernier both threw an inning for the Catamounts, who sent a total of six pitchers to the mound on the day.
The loss drops the Catamounts to 0-2 on the weekend, with two games remaining. They will take the field for a double header Sunday, going against familiar foe Marshall in the first game, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at BB&T Coastal Field. WCU will wrap up the tournament when they take on the hometown Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. First pitch for the finale is set for 1:30 p.m., also at BB&T Coastal Field.