SoCon Baseball Recaps for April 1, 2008
APPALACHIAN STATE 23, UNC ASHEVILLE 8
BOONE, N.C. - Andrew Franco (Niceville, Fla./Niceville) belted two home runs, including a first-inning grand slam, and drove in seven runs to lead Appalachian State University baseball to a 23-8 thumping of UNC Asheville on Tuesday evening at Smith Stadium.
Franco finished 5-for-6 with a double and two runs scored to go along with the two homers and seven RBI, the most by a Mountaineer since David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) drove in seven versus Dayton on March 3 of last year.
Franco's grand slam highlighted a nine-run first inning for Appalachian (15-13). ASU sent 13 batters to the plate in the stanza and needed just five hits - Franco's slam, a triple by Jason Rook (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford) and three singles - to score the nine runs, its highest total in a single inning since plating 10 in the fifth frame of a 17-2 win over Coppin State on Feb. 17, 2007.
UNC Asheville (12-18) cut the deficit to 10-7 with a six-run third, but the Mountaineers scored the game's next 13 runs with two in the bottom of the third, three in the fifth, six in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Franco capped the six-run sixth with a two-run homer to left field and also contributed with an RBI double in the fifth and singles in the fourth and eighth.
Rook also turned in a sterling performance, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. He collected three or more hits for the fourth time in the last six games and raised his batting average to a team-best .398. Left fielder David Rubinstein (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) matched the longest hitting streak by a Mountaineer this season at 12 games with a 3-for-3, three-run, three-RBI effort.
In all, 12 different Apps registered hits. In addition to Franco's two bombs, Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) and Jason Wallace (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) also homered for the Mountaineers.
Zach Quate (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) overcame some tough luck in the third to go six strong innings, allowing just four earned runs on eight hits to move to 2-0 on the season. UNCA starter Graham Baughn lasted just one-third of the inning, surrendering five runs on one hit with three walks and a hit batter to fall to 1-1 on the campaign.
Appalachian returns to action on Wednesday when it squares off with No. 5 North Carolina. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 3, NORTH FLORIDA 1
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. ? Georgia Southern pitchers matched a season-low, allowing just one run in a 3-1 win at North Florida Tuesday night (April 1). The Eagles improved to 16-10 overall.
The Eagles took advantage of three early runs and held off the Ospreys. In fact, the single-digit win was just the second time this year GS won a game scoring less than 10 runs. The one run allowed matched a season-low (1-0 loss in 10 innings at Georgia Tech).
A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) hit a one-out double in the second, giving him 12 straight games with a base hit. He advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Brian Pierce’s (Roswell/Roswell) two-out single.
Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) launched a shot over the scoreboard in left field to start the third inning, his sixth round-tripper of the year to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) walked to chase starter John Frawley. Relief pitcher Jonathan Turner tried a pickoff throw over to first but it sailed past Andy Warren allowing Richardson to advance to third. He scored on Griffin Benedict’s (Dunwoody/St. Pius) sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.
Travis Martin hit a two-out home run in the fourth off Michael Hester (Evans/Greenbrier). In the fifth UNF got a leadoff single. Hester struck out Robbie Collier but issued consecutive walks to load the bases. Head coach Rodney Hennon brought in A.J. Gilbert (Marietta/Kell). The sophomore left-hander worked out of the jam by getting a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.
The Ospreys put two more runners on base with one down in the sixth. Gilbert took advantage of another groundball to Pierce at shortstop for an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, the second of three turned by the Eagles defense.
Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) came on with two down in the eighth and used one pitch to get out of the inning, stranding a runner on second. The Ospreys (15-12) put runners on the corners with two outs in the ninth but Nation got a force out to end the game.
“Once the game started I just went out and tried to throw strikes and didn’t feel nervous at all (in first collegiate start). My goal tonight was to go out, throw strikes and try to get ahead of the hitters. Gilbert, Strohecker and Nation did a great job in relief tonight to finish off the win,” said Hester.
Wright and Wirnsberger each finished with two of the team’s seven hits. However, Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) saw his 11-game hitting streak end going 0-for-3. Hester (1-0) earned the win, allowing one run on three hits. Gilbert, Charlie Strohecker (Alpharetta/Milton) and Nation combined to blank UNF from the fifth inning on.
Frawley (0-1) was charged for three runs (two earned) on three hits in two innings. Chad Knight had three hits and Martin added two.
The Eagles return to J.I. Clements Stadium on Wednesday (April 2) for a 4 p.m. first pitch against Kennesaw State.
WESTERN CAROLINA 13, GARDNER-WEBB 6
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Western Carolina scored 10 runs, including a grand slam home run by sophomore Brent Greer, in a decisive first inning as the Catamounts downed Gardner-Webb, 13-6, Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at Varsity Field.
Western (11-15) sent 14 batters to the plate in the opening frame capitalizing on three walks, three hit batsmen and four base hits, including Greer's fifth homer of the year. He finished 2-for-3, adding a double, with four runs scored and a game-high tying four RBI.
Seniors Barrett Shaft and Jason Haynes each posted multiple hit days by finishing 2-for-4, with freshman Ryan Mathews adding WCU's only other extra base hit with a double. Sophomore Nick Liles also finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Sophomore Daniel Ottone earned his first collegiate win after going four innings in a pre-determined starting role. The Cary, N.C., native only allowed two earned runs, scattering five base hits while striking out four before giving way to freshman Brandon Johnson. Senior Tyler Sexton pitched three innings of effective relief, allowing one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts while junior Garrett Ozar finished off the ninth in hitless fashion, striking out one.
Liles opened up the game with a single through the right side with a walk to Greer and Shaft hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs in the first. WCU lit the board first on a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Liles from third. Mathews' double to center plated Greer to leave two aboard before consecutive batters - freshman Matt Johns and Haynes - were hit by pitches with the latter driving in the game's third run.
Sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick drew a free pass to continue the scoring, with sophomore catcher Stephen Notaro walking after a Bulldog pitching change for one of his two runs driven in on the day to make it a five-run frame. Liles reached for a second time in the inning, scoring a sixth run, ahead of Greer's grand slam - Western's second this season.
Western stretched its lead to a game-high 11 with an insurance run in the third as Greer laced a one-out double to center. Two batters later, Greer scored on a fielder's choice by sophomore Dylan de Graaf.
The Runnin' Bulldogs scratched the board in the home half of the fourth for two, utilizing back-to-back base hits including a single and a double to pull back within 10, 11-1. A second double allowed GWU's second run to score as Western led 11-2 after four.
An inning later, Gardner-Webb used a three-run homer to left centerfield off of WCU reliever Johnson to trim the deficit to six, 11-5, but that was as close as the `Dogs would get as Western added single runs in the eighth and ninth, giving one back in the bottom of the eighth, to provide the final tally.
Western Carolina is scheduled to return home to face the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Wednesday evening with a first pitch at 7:00 pm. The Catamounts solidified their second win over the Bulldogs in the annual Parkway Series last Wednesday with a 12-10 win at McCormick Field.
SOUTH CAROLINA 7, THE CITADEL 4
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? The Citadel held four South Carolina batters hitless and held a 4-2 lead late but the sixth-ranked Gamecocks rallied late for a 7-4 win over the Bulldogs in front of 4,895 at Riley Park Tuesday night.
In the sixth and seventh innings, the Bulldogs came back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 4-2 lead before giving up four runs in the eighth and one run in the ninth to the nation’s sixth-ranked team.
The Citadel (16-11) scored four runs ? two in the sixth and two in the seventh ? on nine hits while committing one error. South Carolina (19-8) scored seven runs ? five of them in the final two innings ? on nine hits and committed two errors in the game, both in the ninth inning.
South Carolina was led by James Darnell, who was 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Parker Bangs (2-0) was credited with the win after pitching 2.2 innings in relief and allowing only one hit while walking one and striking out five.
“We played really hard,” said Bulldogs head coach Fred Jordan. “You have got to give Darnell credit. He bounced the ball over our catcher’s head and I think that was the difference in the game. They have a complete line-up and an outstanding ballclub.”
Raymond Copenhaver (1-2) took the loss in his Southern Conference-leading 20th appearance of the season in relief. Copenhaver allowed four runs on two hits in 2.0 innings of work with all four runs coming in the eighth inning, allowing the Gamecocks to regain the lead.
Matt Talley pitched 6.0 effective innings to start, allowing one run on five hits and striking out three. Matt Reifsnider made his 19th appearance of the season, allowing one run in one inning of work. Reifsnider struck out three and walked one as he faced six batters in the ninth.
“I thought Talley was very special for The Citadel,” said South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner. “He pitched great and he had a quality start. He’s going to have a great career with The Citadel. It [tonight’s game] was exactly what I was expecting. I didn’t come down here to have an easy night.”
The Bulldogs tied the game in the sixth after Richard Jones hit a two-out RBI double to left center. The Citadel took the lead in the seventh as Brad Felder hit an RBI single to left field with Matt Arnold on third. Felder then advanced to second on a Chris Swauger walk and scored on a Bryan Altman single to left. Altman led the Bulldog offensively, going 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.
The Bulldogs held Lowcountry natives Reese Havens and Justin Smoak to a combined 0-for-7
ARIZONA STATE 9, WOFFORD 3
TEMPE, ARIZ. ? The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 9-3 by top-ranked Arizona State University on Tuesday night at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark. Wofford scored three runs in the seventh, but the Sun Devil pitching staff combined for ten strikeouts on the night.
Wofford is now 17-10 on the season and 3-3 in the Southern Conference, while Arizona State is 26-1 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-10. The Terriers were led by Michael Gilmartin with two doubles, including one that drove in three runs in the seventh inning.
The Sun Devils scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. In the top of the second, the Terriers were able to get runners on base via a walk by Kyle Behrendt and Josh McKinney was hit by a pitch but Wofford did not score a run.
Arizona State added to the lead in the second inning when Jason Kipnis hit a three-run triple to deep centerfield. Kipnis scored on a sacrifice fly by Ike Davis to take a 6-0 lead on the Terriers. For Wofford in the top of the third, Jake Williams and Shane Kirkley reached base on walks and advanced on a passed ball, but the Terriers did not capitalize.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Michael Gilmartin led off the top of the sixth with a double for the Terriers, but was out at home on a fielder’s choice by Mo Seay.
In the bottom of the sixth, the bases were loaded for 2007 Pac-10 Player of the Year Brett Wallace, who hit a double to the right field gap to score three runs. The Sun Devils were up 9-0 after six innings. Wofford had the bases loaded in the seventh with two out, including a single by Jake Williams. A double to right field by Michael Gilmartin scored three runs for the Terriers. Wofford was down 9-3 at the seven-inning stretch.
Wofford’s Keith Munns reached first on an error in the top of the eighth, then Adam Kearney hit a single to right to advance Munns to third. However, the Terriers left both men on base at the end of the inning. In the top of the ninth, Jake Williams walked to lead off, but the Sun Devils struck out the final three batters.
For Wofford, starting pitcher John Cornely went 4.0 innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Reid McElveen struck out three of the first four batters he faced as he went 2.0 innings with two hits allowed. Drew Sheridan pitched an inning with one hit allowed. Arizona native Scott Summers threw the eighth inning and had one strikeout.
Arizona State starter Dustin Brader threw for 3.0 innings and did not allow a hit with three strikeouts and three walks. Seth Blair pitched 4.0 innings with three hits allowed and three strikeouts. Kyle Brule went 0.2 innings with a hit and strikeout. Ike Davis went the final 1.1 innings with three strikeouts and no hits allowed.
Wofford left six men on base, while Arizona State stranded five runners. The Sun Devils stole one base on the Terriers.
The Terriers faced a team that was ranked number one in the nation for the first time in school history. The Sun Devils are ranked first (unanimous) by all five major polls. The trip to Arizona State is the longest ever taken by the Terrier baseball team.
Wofford will complete the two game series against Arizona State on Wednesday at 9:00 pm. The Terriers return home on April 4 for a three-game series against The Citadel.
NORTH CAROLINA 4, UNC GREENSBORO 1
CARY, N.C. ? Fourth-ranked North Carolina took an early-game lead and held on through nine innings of play to defeat the UNC Greensboro Spartans, 4-1, at the USA Baseball Training Complex Stadium in Cary, NC.
UNCG remained on the heels of fourth-ranked North Carolina after falling behind early in the game. The Spartans were able to notch one run on the board in the sixth, but the Tar Heels answered right back with two more of their own in the following inning.
The Spartans had their chance to get back in the game in the final inning, but the UNC battery caught them swinging away. With two outs, bases loaded, and the winning run holding the bat, Carolina threw its 16th strikeout of the evening to take the 4-1 victory.
With the outcome of the game, UNCG drops to 18-8, 4-2 SoCon while UNC improves to 22-5, 8-3 ACC.
The Tar Heels jumped on the board first with a leftfield, solo home run by Chad Flack in the second inning. Two innings later, Kyle Seager doubled to right field to plate Tim Fedroff and give UNC the 2-0 lead.
In inning six, left fielder Pedro Leon ripped his third triple of the season into right field to score fellow outfielder Sean Snell who had reached earlier on a left field double.
UNC extended their lead to 4-1 in the seventh scoring two off of hits through the right side by Fedroff and Seager.
The UNCG and the UNC pitching staffs combined for eight strikeouts between the eighth and the ninth inning. Carolina’s final strikeout of the game stranded three Spartans on the bases and allowed the Tar Heels to walk away with the 4-1 victory.
UNC out-hit the Spartans, 9-5. The five UNCG hits were recorded by five different batters. Ricky Orton, Adam Deleo, and Ray Quinones all singled, while Sean Snell hit a double and Pedro Leon hit a triple.
North Carolina’s top pitcher, Matt Harvey (3-0) tallied the win. In his four innings on the mound, Harvey retired five of 17 batters faced while allowing just one hit. Nate Striz (0-0) earned his second save of the season for the Tar Heels after striking out three of his six batters faced. Wes McCall (0-2) took the loss for the Spartans. In his three innings of work, McCall fanned two and allowed just three hits.
On Wednesday, UNCG will face-off with North Carolina A&T at NewBridge Bank Park, the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers. First pitch is scheduled for 6pm. The Spartans will remain in Greensboro as they take on Southern Conference foes, the Furman Paladins, for a three-day, three-game series at the UNCG Baseball Stadium staring Friday, April 7. The first game of the series is slated to begin at 7pm, with Saturday’s game starting at 2pm and Sunday’s game getting underway at 1pm.