SoCon Baseball Recaps for April 8, 2008
ELON 2, NORTH CAROLINA 0
CARY, N.C. ? No. 4 North Carolina held Elon to just four hits, but the Tar Heels managed only six of their own and left 11 runners on base in a 2-0 loss to the Phoenix Tuesday at Cary’s USA Baseball National Training Complex. Carolina (25-7) was shut out for the first time in over a year by three Elon (26-7) pitchers
Phoenix left-hander Cory Harrilchak (3-2) kept the Tar Heels in check with just five hits allowed over seven shutout innings. He struck out three and walked two before righty Jared Kernodle worked a scoreless eighth. Closer Thomas Girdwood set down all three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his eighth save.
UNC freshman right-hander Patrick Johnson (3-1) allowed only two hits and matched career highs with seven strikeouts and three walks over five innings. After allowing his lone run in the second, Johnson held the Phoenix to just one hit over the final three frames and retired the final nine batters he faced.
Carolina pitching continued to pile up the strikeouts, as Johnson and relievers Brian Moran and Rob Wooten combined to fan 11 batters for the Tar Heels’ sixth straight game with double-digit strikeouts.
Tim Federowicz had two hits on the night to lead Carolina, which was shut out for the first time since a 6-0 loss to Wake Forest last April 1. Kyle Seager saw the fourth-longest hitting streak in school history snapped at 27 games, while Chad Flack saw a 14-game streak ended.
The Tar Heels, who have tallied just 12 hits over back-to-back losses, were without leading hitter Tim Fedroff, who missed the game due to illness.
Elon grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when shortstop Neal Pritchard drew a leadoff walk and scored from second on a double to right center from catcher Dallas Tarleton. Pritchard also accounted for the second Phoenix run with a bases-loaded walk off Wooten in the eighth that scored second baseman Donny Jobe, who started the rally with a one-out single off Moran.
UNC threatened in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, putting two runners on in each frame but could not find the scoring column. Carolina got back-to-back singles in the fourth and fifth, and Elon committed consecutive infield errors in the sixth, but the Tar Heels could not come up with a key base hit.
Seth Williams led off the eighth with a double, but the Elon bullpen set down the next six batters to preserve the shutout.
VIRGINIA TECH 5, DAVIDSON 4
BLACKSBURG, VA. ? Virginia Tech pinch runner Travis Willson scored on a suicide squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Hokies to a 5-4 baseball victory over visiting Davidson at English Field Tuesday evening.
Pinch hitter Steve Bumbry laid down the bunt on an 0-1 count with the runners on first and third and one out. Michael Seaborn ignited the rally with a single, and Matt Blow’s single got runners on the corners.
Hugh Eden and Brett Shore each went 2-for-4 to lead Davidson (8-19) as eight Wildcats recorded base hits in the game. Seaborn and Klint Reed each had two hits to lead the Hokies (12-20).
After Zach Kayne singled home Eden to give Davidson a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Virginia Tech answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame and added runs in the second and third to open a 4-1 cushion.
Consecutive singles by Chris FitzPatrick and Shane Hammond put runners on the corners for the ?Cats in the fourth, and Matt Ray’s RBI groundout trimmed the lead to 4-2.
Davidson tied the game with two runs in the fifth. Shore recorded a one-out double and Kayne walked. Chase FitzPatrick drove in Shore with a single, and Danny Weiss plated Kayne with a double.
The ?Cats got runners on in the sixth and ninth inning but could not get the go-ahead run. Ray singled in the sixth and advanced to third with two outs, and Shore reached on a two-out single in the top of the ninth.
Senior Brant West allowed four runs and five hits in 4.2 innings of work. It was the senior’s first start since 2006. Ian Horkley and Matt Sliwiak combined to throw 3.1 innings in relief, allowing just one hit.
Davidson returns to action with a three-game set at SoCon opponent The Citadel this weekend. Friday’s opening game begins at 7 p.m.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 12, JACKSONVILLE 6
STATESBORO, GA. ? Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) tied a Georgia Southern record for walks in a game and Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) matched his career-high RBI and hit totals as the Eagles defeated Jacksonville 12-6 Tuesday night (April 8) at J.I. Clements Stadium. Georgia Southern (17-14 overall) snapped a four-game losing streak.
Shehan, batting third in the line-up, matched a program record of four walks in a game getting on base for the clean-up hitter Benedict, who drove in five runs for the third time this season and recorded four hits for the fourth time in his career. In fact, Georgia Southern scored on six of the 10 walks JU allowed.
Jeremy Gillan hit a two-out, solo home run in the first inning to give the Dolphins an early 1-0 lead. The Eagles came right back during their half.
Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) drew a leadoff walk then two batters later Shehan also walked. Benedict ripped a 2-run double down the left field line. Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) singled and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) lined a two-out single that scored both runners for a 4-1 lead.
Wright walked again, this time to start the second inning. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) reached on an infield single and both runners advanced on Shehan’s flyball. Benedict hit a RBI single to right, and then Porter eventually scored on relief pitcher Brian Gilroy’s balk to extend the lead to 6-1.
Dan Maier hit a 2-run homer in the fourth then the Dolphins scored an unearned run in the sixth to make it a two run game. However, Benedict came through with another clutch hit.
Wright reached base for the third time in the game as the leadoff hitter, a single to start the sixth. Porter nearly beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt then Shehan drew his third walk of the game. The junior catcher ripped another double to the left field gap, scoring two runs for an 8-4 lead.
Jacksonville (18-13) threatened to tie the game in the eighth. A bunt single and two bloop hits loaded the bases, bringing the potential tying run to the plate with no one out. Tony Chisman (Conyers/Salem) battled back to get consecutive strikeouts. Head coach Rodney Hennon brought in Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill). The junior right-hander caught pinch-hitter Brad Simmons looking on a called third strike to end the threat.
The Eagles added four insurance runs in the eighth. Porter walked, Shehan drew his record-tying fourth walk and Benedict dropped down a bunt single to load the bases with no one out. Parker walked to bring home the first run of the frame. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) and Richardson hit consecutive sacrifice flies then Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) lined a RBI single up the middle.
Nation recorded a strikeout of Jamaal Hawkins to start the ninth, but he reached on a passed ball. Nation struck out another Dolphin, but that passed ball would eventually lead to two unearned runs for the final margin.
Shehan said that the early lead and pitching of Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) were two big keys.
“We went out and got an early lead then (Aaron) Eubanks turned in a quality start, even though he was on limited innings. He still threw well and put some zeroes on the scoreboard after we had a rough weekend,” said Shehan. “I tried to keep the same approach as always at the plate tonight, not to chase anything. I think they were being careful with me (batting in the three spot), but we have dangerous hitters batting right behind me. Griffin has shown all season long he can have a big game. Tonight was a big win, especially having lost our last four. We were able to get back on our feet, back in the win column before seeing Appalachian State this weekend.”
Benedict also scored two runs to go along with his career-high tying five RBI and four hits. Wright, Porter and Pierce had two hits apiece as the Eagles held a 13-11 edge. The first five batters in the line-up scored all 12 runs.
Eubanks (4-1) picked up his team-leading fourth win, allowing one run on two hits in three innings. Charlie Strohecker (Alpharetta/Milton) allowed one unearned run on one hit in 2.1 innings. Chisman pitched 1.2 scoreless innings with three Ks and Nation had three strikeouts over the final 1.1 innings to earn his fifth save.
Sean Green (1-3) was charged for six runs on five hits and four walks in 1.1 innings. Gillan finished with four hits, three runs scored and two RBI.
Georgia Southern continues its six-game homestand this weekend, playing host to Appalachian State in Southern Conference play. Friday night’s (April 11) first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
THE CITADEL 7, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 4
LADSON, S.C. ? Sonny Meade went 3-for-5 with two RBI while Matt Talley recorded his first collegiate victory Tuesday as The Citadel earned a season sweep of the series against Charleston Southern with a 7-4 victory over the Bucs.
Meade’s 3-for-5 performance helped propel The Citadel (19-13, 7-5 Southern) to a season series sweep over Charleston Southern (12-18, 2-4 Big South). Kyle Jordan also posted a 3-for-5 performance, scoring once and driving in a run.
Talley (1-2) earned his first collegiate win behind a 7.0 inning performance where he allowed three runs on eight hits and only threw 71 pitches. Talley walked one and struck out two.
Stew Brase (0-2) was responsible for the loss for the Bucs as he allowed four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings while walking three.
The Citadel took a 2-0 run lead in the third as Chris Swauger led off with a double to right center, his 66th career double. After Bryan Altman drew a walk, Meade notched one of his RBI of the game after driving Swauger home on a single up the middle. Richard Jones sent Altman home on a sacrifice fly to left field to add another run to the board.
Altman drove in two runs in the fourth with a two-out single to left field to score Matt Arnold and Jordan. Meade’s second RBI of the game immediately followed with another single to center, scoring Swauger and giving The Citadel the 5-0 advantage.
Charleston Southern got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Thornburg hit an RBI double to center to score two runs. An RBI single to left in the top of the fifth inning scored Matt Arnold and The Citadel upped their lead to a 7-2 advantage in the sixth when Jones hit a solo home run ? his sixth of the season ? to right center.
CSU added runs in the seventh and ninth innings and threatened late with two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth until Mark Perry hit into a double play to end the game.
The Citadel returns home for the first time in almost two weeks when the Bulldogs host Davidson in a three-game Southern Conference series beginning Friday at 4 p.m. at Riley Park.
SOUTH CAROLINA 9, WESTERN CAROLINA 6
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The 14th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks scored four unearned runs with two outs to pull ahead in the home half of the fourth inning, holding on to down Western Carolina, 9-6, Tuesday night in mid-week, non-conference action at Sarge Frye Field.
The loss snaps Western's six-game winning streak, relegating the Catamounts to 15-16 overall on the season. USC claimed its first win in its last four games, moving to 21-10 overall.
Freshman Ryan Mathews and senior Jason Haynes each posted multiple-hit games for the Catamounts in the loss - its third-straight to USC in the overall series. Mathews was 2-for-4 with an infield single and a solo home run to right field in the fourth. Haynes was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, tallying a double and an RBI single.
Catamount sophomore Brent Greer extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a two-RBI single in the third inning, finishing 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
A two-run home run to right center field by Justin Smoaks gave the Gamecocks the early, 2-0, lead after the first inning. But Western rallied back two innings later to grab the lead, 3-2. Freshman Matt Johns drew a lead-off walk, advancing to third on a double off the wall down the left field line by Haynes. Sophomore Tyler Kirkpatrick delivered an RBI single to right field to plate Johns, with Greer looping a single into shallow left to score both Haynes and Kirkpatrick to hand WCU the advantage.
The next inning, Mathews lifted a one-out fly ball to right center which carried over the fence for his fourth homer of the season, staking the Catamounts to a two-run, 4-2, lead.
However, with two outs in the home half of the fourth, a walk and a dropped pop-up kept the frame alive for the Gamecocks putting two aboard. Catcher Kyle Enders grounded to third where Nick Liles made the stab, swiped to attempt the tag on the runner advancing to third, and could not throw on to first in time to load the bases. The next batter, leftfielder DeAngelo Mack, lined a triple to right field to drive in three, later scoring on an RBI single to center by Whit Merrifield to cap the four-run frame.
USC would add one run in the seventh, capitalizing on a Catamount dropped fly ball to pull ahead by three, 7-4.
Western rallied in the eighth, closing the gap to one by utilizing a couple Gamecock miscues. Senior catcher Blake Murphy drew his team-best 29th walk of the season, moving to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Nick Liles then singled deep into the hole at short, with a throwing error allowing Murphy to touch home and putting Liles at second. Two batters later, Haynes recorded his second hit of the night with an RBI single to left to plate Liles, pulling the score to 7-6.
Yet, the Gamecocks used back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the eight to surge back in front by three, providing the final tally of 9-6. WCU went in order in the top of the ninth with two strikeouts.
Sophomore Daniel Ottone (1-1) was saddled with the loss despite a strong outing. The Cary, N.C., native allowed six runs - only two of which were earned - in 4.2 innings, pitching around a pair of walks with four strikeouts. Juniors Drew Saberhagen and Garrett Ozar combined to work two and a third innings of two-hit relief, with Ozar giving up one unearned run. Sophomore Chris Masters surrendered the two solo homers in one inning with a strikeout.
For South Carolina, three Gamecocks posted multi-hit games as Enders and Mack each went 2-for-4 while Reese Havens was 2-for-5. Starter Sam Dyson (3-0) earned his third victory of the season after going five innings, scattering five hits and four earned runs with five strikeouts. USC pitching combined to record 12 K's on the evening.
Western Carolina returns to Southern Conference action this weekend with a three-game set at Elon. Games one and two are scheduled for first pitch at 7:00 pm, with the series finale at 1:30 pm.
FURMAN 12, GARDNER-WEBB 10
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Ryan Lee went 4-for-5 with a home run and drove in three runs to power Furman past Gardner-Webb, 12-10, in baseball action Tuesday night at Furman Stadium.
Lee, a freshman first baseman from Carrollton, Ga., helped Furman erase a
6-1 deficit with a two-run home run in the fifth inning and capped a five-run Paladin sixth with a two-out RBI single to help Furman (17-12) notch its fifth victory in its last six games.
Joey Rodgers had two-hits, including a three-run home run in the sixth inning, and drove in a game high four runs for the Paladins, who banged out 18 hits in the contest. Jay Jackson also notched a pair of hits for Furman, including his fourth clout of the campaign, and Matt Hemingway doubled twice.
Gardner-Webb (14-16) was paced by Matt Rizzuto, who belted a three-run home run in the eighth inning to highlight a 2-for-5, three-RBI performance. Bubbie Spake, Jamall Kinard, and Josh Drewery also went deep for the Bulldogs, who finished with 12 hits.
Picking up the win for Furman in relief was Spencer Hale (1-0), who turned in 1 2/3 innings of perfect work. Ian Parry earned his first save of the season after tossing the final inning and two thirds. The sophomore right-hander was forced to work around a pair of an error and a passed ball in the ninth to close out the Bulldogs.
The loss went to Ryan Maxa (1-2), who in just 1/3 of an inning surrendered a walk and three hits, including home runs by Jackson and Rodgers in the decisive sixth frame.
A solo home run by Josh Drewery off Paladin starter Justin Holloway in the second inning helped give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.
An RBI double by Hemingway in the Furman second got the Paladins on the board, but Gardner-Webb answered with a Kinard solo blast to left field to take a 4-1 lead.
The Bulldogs upped their advantage to 6-1 in the fifth following Kinard's RBI single and a solo clout by Spake off Paladin reliever Chris Newell.
Furman began its comeback in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by Rodgers that scored J.B. Jenkins. Rodgers later scored on Lee's third home run of the spring, a high shot that carried over the right field fence to make it 6-3.
After Hale came on and retired Gardner-Webb in order in the sixth, the Paladins erupted for five runs in the bottom of the inning. Jay Jackson's line drive blast to left field opened the frame, and four batters later Rodgers deposited a one-out, three-run home run to left field to give Furman an 8-6 lead. Following a two-out Hubbard double, Lee finished the outburst with a two-out RBI single to left field to make it 9-6.
The Paladins stretched it 10-6 in the seventh after Jackson led off with a single and later scored on Marcus Rose's line drive base hit to left field.
Gardner-Webb clawed back with a Rizzuto three-run home run in the eighth off Furman's Barry Benton, but the Paladins countered with a sacrifice fly by Jackson and Wade RBI single in the eighth that made it 12-9.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the ninth with a passed ball on a swinging third strike, an error, and a walk to set up an RBI single by Spake, but Gardner-Webb's threat ended when Parry rallied to strike out Rizzuto and Drewery for the final two outs.
Furman returns to action on Wednesday when it welcomes Charlotte to Furman Stadium for a 6:00 p.m. game.
APPALACHIAN STATE 6, USC UPSTATE 4
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Appalachian State University baseball jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held on for a 6-4 triumph over USC Upstate on Tuesday evening at Harley Field.
Appalachian (16-17) scored twice in the second and third innings and once in the fourth and sixth stanzas to grab the 6-0 advantage. USC Upstate (17-17) got on the scoreboard with a run in the sixth and cut the deficit to 6-4 with another single tally in the seventh and two more in the eighth. USCU brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth, but ASU's Adam Mills (Asheboro, N.C./Southwest Randolph) induced a game-ending line drive to second base to extinguish the threat and earn his third save of the season.
Making just his third-career start on the mound, Zach Quate (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) was impressive once again for the Mountaineers. The right-handed junior limited the Spartans to just one run on four hits over six-plus innings of work to move to 3-0 on the season.
Jason Rook (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford) led the Mountaineers offensively with a 2-for-5 effort, which included a two-run single that opened the scoring in the second. David Rubinstein (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) also registered two hits and Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory), Brett Stewart (Niceville, Fla./Niceville), Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) and David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) all drove in runs.
With the victory, Appalachian snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak.
The Mountaineers will look to get back to .500 when they host Gardner-Webb on Wednesday evening at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 11, SAVANNAH STATE 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Jeremie Tice hit two homeruns and Gabe Marchant added one homer in a 10-run first inning to propel the College of Charleston Cougars to an 11-1 win over the Savannah State Tigers in front of 248 fans Tuesday night at Patriots Point Stadium.
Charleston, who opens a three-game Southern Conference series at Furman on Friday at 7:00, improved to 23-9 overall. Savannah State fell to 16-12 overall.
In the bottom of the first inning, Tice hit a three-run blast off of the scoreboard in right center to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. After the Cougars extended the lead to 6-0, Marchant stepped to the plate with two runners on and hit a homerun to left center. Next, Tice came up to the plate and hit another homerun to give the Cougars a 10-0 lead.
Charleston's 10-run first inning is a Cougar record for runs scored in the first inning. The previous mark was nine runs versus Mount Saint Mary's on March 5, 1998.
Tice's two homeruns in the first inning marked the first time a Cougar has had a multi-homerun inning. He finished the game 2-for-2 with four RBI
Clay Caulfield (3-2) struck out seven and allowed no earned runs in seven innings of work to earn the victory. Michael O'Neil received the loss for the Tigers.