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Game 2: #3 Furman 10, #6 Appalachian State 8 (10 inn.)
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CHARLESTON, S.C. - Furman’s Bobby Hubbard smashed a grand slam walk-off home run as the Paladins scored five times in the bottom of the 10th inning to post a 10-8 victory over Appalachian State in the first round of the Bennett Hofford Family of Hotels Southern Conference Championship before 887 fans at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.
Furman’s Brian Harrison and Campbell Lewis drew walks with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. Jay Jackson was intentionally walked following a wild pitch to load the bases. After Connor Lind struck out, Marcus Rose walked to drive in a run setting up Hubbard’s game-winning home run heroics.
“I thought we showed a lot of resiliency today, especially after making several base running mistakes early and falling behind by three runs in the 10th inning,” Furman coach Ron Smith said.
Appalachian State had snapped a 5-5 tie by scoring three runs in the top of the 10th inning. Isaac Harrow doubled to centerfield and scored on a double by Jason Rook to break the tie and give Appalachian State a 6-5 advantage. Ryan Laboy reached on a throwing error that allowed Rook to score. After an intentional walk to David Towarnicky, Rand Smith singled up the middle to plate to score Laboy with the third run of the inning.
Both teams scored runs in the fourth inning and No. 3 seed Furman (32-22) added another run in the fifth frame to take a 2-1 lead. But the No. 6 seed Mountaineers (31-26) struck for four runs in the sixth inning. After David Rubinstein, Harrow and Rook loaded the bases, Andrew Franco singled up the middle to drive in Rubinstein. Towarnicky and Adam Beasley struck out before Harrow scored on a wild pitch. Smith singled through the left side, driving in two runs and giving the Mountaineers a 5-3 lead.
Furman struck back in the seventh inning. Rose drew a walk to open the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Hubbard’s sacrifice fly. Aaron Thompkins singled before Joey Rodgers homered to left as the Paladins scored three runs to tie the score, 5-5.
"You have to tip your hat to Furman. The made the big hit at the big moment to win the game. I'm proud of the way our guys competed," said Appalachian State coach Chris Pollard.
Furman will play No. 2 seed College of Charleston on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Appalachian State will take on Western Carolina on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
Game 1: #2 College of Charleston 5, #7 Western Carolina 4
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Jeremie Tice, the Southern Conference Player of the Year, smashed two home runs as College of Charleston downed Western Carolina, 5-4, before 949 fans in the first round of the Bennett Hofford Family of Hotels Southern Conference Championship at Joseph P. Riley Park in Charleston, S.C.
Tice homered to lead off the second inning and the Cougars plated another run when Joey Bergman singled and scored on Stuart Haywood’s sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead. The No. 2 seed Cougars added a run in the third inning when Brandon Sizemore homered to leftfield.
"I'm just seeing the ball really well right now," said Tice. "I'm going up to the plate looking for a pitch to drive and I just connected today."
But Western Carolina battled back and scored four runs in the top if the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Matt Johns singled and Nick Liles reached base on an error. Stephen Notaro walked after Johns stole home for the first Catamount run. Lyons belted a three-run home run to left center to put the No. 7 seed Catamounts ahead.
The Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 5-4 lead. Tice hit his second homer of the game to tie the score. Bergman then ripped a double to centerfield and scored on Mike Hentz’s single as the College of Charleston retook the lead.
Jesse Simpson hurled a complete game for the Cougars, yielding five hits with two walks while striking out five for the win. Western Carolina’s Mike Tavernier was tagged with the loss after allowing 11 hits in 6.2 innings and all five College of Charleston runs. He walked two and struck out three. Daniel Ottone pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Catamounts allowing one hit and striking out one.
"Jesse got better and better as the game went along," said Cougar's coach John Pawlowski. "Jesse's arm is the most resilient of our staff and we can bring him back on Sunday."
College of Charleston will play the winner of the Appalachian State-Furman game on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Western Carolina will take on the loser of the Appalachian State-Furman contest on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.