Furman 4, Ball State 3 (10 inn.)
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Reese Wade’s bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning drove home the winning run to lift Furman to a 4-3 victory over Ball State in the 2009 season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
Wade, who hit .401 and was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008, went 3-for-5 in the contest, but it was his final hit of the game, a soft line drive into short left field with the bases loaded and nobody out, that plated Connor Lind and made Furman (1-0) a winner.
Lind reached on an error to lead off the 10th and advanced to third base after Brian Harrison’s sharp ground ball single bounced off Cardinal third baseman Kolbrin Vitek. Furman’s Matt Hemingway was then walked intentionally to load the bases, and Wade followed with the game winning hit.
Furman’s work in the 10th inning made a winner of freshman left-hander Stephen Gary (1-0), who retired all four batters he faced over the final 1 1/3 innings.
Taking the loss for Ball State (0-1) in relief was Morgan Coombs (0-1).
Gary’s strong work in his collegiate debut capped a solid performance by the Paladin bullpen, which combined to limit the Cardinals to one run on four hits over the final five frames. Senior Spencer Hale hurled 2 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on two hits.
Junior right-hander Ian Parry started on the mound for the Paladins, giving up four hits, a pair of runs, and two walks while striking out six.
In addition to Wade’s productive work at the plate, the Paladins’ Brian Harrison went 2-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs. Justin Holloway also collected two hits and an RBI, including a sharp single in the second inning that scored Wade to give Furman a 1-0 lead.
Ball State took a 2-1 lead in the third after Ian Nielsen led off with a home run to left field and T.J. Baumet scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Paladins answered in the fifth on a Harrison two-run double, which scored Lind and freshman Will Miller, who had reached base with a pinch-hit single.
Ball State knotted the game at 3-3 in the sixth with a Vitek home run to left field.
The Cardinals’ came close to taking the lead in the ninth when, with two outs, Baumet tripled high off the center field fence, but Furman escaped trouble after Gary came on and induced a short pop fly to strand Baumet.
Furman stranded a pair of base runners in bottom of the ninth but didn’t miss on its chance in the 10th.
Baumet and Zach Dygert each had two hits in the eight-hit Cardinal attack, which also saw Nielsen reach base three times in his collegiate debut.
Ball State and Furman will play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Western Carolina 16, Bowling Green 8
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Using a nine-run bottom of the seventh inning, Western Carolina rallied from an five-run deficit to upend the Bowling Green Falcons Friday evening, 16-8, in the 2009 season opener at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
Western Carolina (1-0) fell behind 5-0 after half an inning, and trailed by five, 8-3, through four and a half innings. But the Catamounts chipped away with three in the home half of the fifth and one in the sixth before erupting for nine runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh to claim a lead it would never relinquish.
Six Catamounts posted multi-hit games as WCU pounded out 15 hits on the day, with five recording multiple RBI outings. Sophomore Matt Johns led the squad with a 3-for-6 outing with a double and a home run, a solo shot in the third. Junior Tyler Kirkpatrick finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three runs driven in, while classmate Nick Liles belted a lead-off solo shot in the sixth as a part of a 2-for-6, two RBI performance.
True freshman Ross Heffley, who started in left field in his first collegiate game, finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while juniors Brent Greer and Reid Rollison each tallied a pair of hits with Rollison legging out a two-bagger in the win.
Senior Mike Tavernier earned the season-opening start, working through the first four innings allowing all eight runs ? only three of which were earned ? on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks. He was lifted in the fifth in place of classmate Garrett Ozar, who worked four solid innings of scoreless relief allowing just three hits while fanning a game-high eight.
Sophomore Brandon Johnson worked a perfect ninth with a pair of ground outs and a fly ball to centerfield to end the game.
Trailing 8-6 entering the home half of the sixth inning, Liles led off with a home run, belting a 0-1 pitch over the left centerfield fence to close the deficit to within a run.
An inning latter, the Catamounts capitalized on back-to-back, one-out walks by Kirkpatrick and Rollison to spark the nine-run rally. Heffley drove in Kirkpatrick from second with a single, with junior transfer Trevor Collias scoring Rollison on a fielder’s choice after the first of two middle infield errors by the Falcons. With Stephen Notaro, J.C. Lyons and Greer aboard, Kirkpatrick laced a two-out, base clearing double to plate three, pushing Western’s lead to 15-8.
Rollison capped the scoring with an RBI single, scoring Kirkpatrick from second to end the onslaught and propel WCU to the season-opening victory.
For the Falcons, designated hitter David Borcherdt finished 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, while first baseman Ryan Hangbers was 2-for-5. Relief pitcher Charles Wooten was saddled with the loss after working two innings, surrendering seven runs on five hits with a pair of walks.
Game two of the three-game, season-opening series is set for 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. The Catamounts are scheduled to start junior left-hander ? and preseason All-SoCon selection ? Chris Masters. Admission all weekend is free of charge.
Wofford 11, SIU-Edwardsville 10
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team held on for an 11-10 win in the season opener on Friday evening over SIU-Edwardsville at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers had an 11-4 lead after six innings, but a five-run ninth inning by the Cougars made it close.
Wofford is now 1-0 on the season, while SIU-Edwardsville is 0-1 overall. The Terriers were led by Josh McKinney with three hits and three RBIs, while Konstantine Diamaduros and Mike McDonnell each had two hits. Scott Summers had the win with eight strikeouts in six innings. Michael Gilmartin picked up the save and also reached base all five times with a hit and four walks. SIU-E was led by Mike Hurt with three hits and three RBIs in the game.
The Terriers struck first when on the second pitch of the game Josh McKinney hit a solo-home run over the left field wall. In the second inning, Konstatine Diamaduros singled and was able to score several batters later on a balk to take a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the Cougars closed the gap as three single hits led to two runs and a tie game. Wofford answered in the bottom half of the third. A double by Kyle Behrendt scored Gilmartin from first base. Jake Williams singled to score Behrendt. Williams eventually crossed home after an error to make it a 5-2 game. David Roney added a RBI on a fly ball. Two more runs scored for Wofford on a double by Josh McKinney to give the Terriers an 8-2 advantage.
Wofford added a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Mike McDonnell. SIU-Edwardsville chipped away at the Wofford lead with two runs in the top of the fifth, including an RBI double from Josh Street. The Terriers were able to get those two runs back in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer by Mike McDonnell to center field to give Wofford an 11-4 lead.
The Cougars picked up one run in the eighth for an 11-5 score. In the top of the ninth, the Cougars had runners at first and third when a double by Mike Hurt scored one run. A double by Adam Eggemeyer added two more runs. Another double, this time by Josh Street scored a run to make it a 11-9 lead for the Terriers. Michael Gilmartin got the first out on a strikeout, which was followed by a single by Brett Keeler to score another run for a one-run game. Gilmartin closed the door by striking out the final two batters of the night.
Wofford starter Scott Summers (1-0) threw six innings with a career-high eight strikeouts with four runs allowed. Anthony Rowland went two innings with two strikeouts and one run allowed. Jordan Mickleberry gave up four runs on three hits before Michael Gilmartin came in for the final three outs and his first save of the season.
For SIU-Edwardsville, Luke Vine (0-1) went 2.1 innings with three hits, four runs and three strikeouts. Aren Cummings threw 1.2 innings with seven hits and five runs allowed. Brian Lorenz went 2.1 innings with two runs, two hits and three strikeouts. Blaise Haxel went 0.2 with a strikeout and Dustin Quattrocchi closed the game with one strikeout in the complete eighth inning.
Mike McDonnell’s home run in the sixth was the first of his career. The games are a part of the Courtyard by Marriott Classic, which is being hosted by USC Upstate and Wofford College. SIUE will play Upstate tomorrow.
The Terriers will host Virginia Tech for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm. The weekend concludes with a home game against UNC Asheville on Sunday at 3:00 pm.
College of Charleston 6, Miami (Ohio) 2
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) homered and drove in three runs and new College of Charleston coach Monte Lee earned his first career victory in the Cougars' 6-2 season-opening college baseball win over Miami (OH) before 568 at Patriots Point Stadium on Friday. Game two of the three-game series is Saturday at 1:00.
"Jesse Simpson gave us a quality start and Owen Brittle came in a threw the ball really well, said Lee, who was a standout right fielder for the Cougars from 1996-99. "Joash Brodin had a big night with a two-out, two-run single and a home run. Joey Bergman swung the bat well collecting three hit, and we played error-free baseball and had only one walk as a pitching staff.
"It was exciting for our guys to come and play with a lot of energy and get the season started on a right note. It's exciting to get my first win, but more importantly to get a win on Friday night in a three-game series."
Eric Darlage's solo homer to right in the second inning staked the Redhawks (0-1) to a 1-0 lead. Charleston (1-0) tied the game in bottom of the second. Mike Hentz (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) doubled to right center and eventually scored on Joey Bergman's (Jacksonville, Fla.) double down the right field line with two outs.
Brodin delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field in the fifth inning that scored Brandon Sizemore (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Matt Mansilla (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) to give Charleston a 4-1 lead. Brodin's homer to right leading off the bottom of the eighth extended Charleston's lead to 6-2.
Jesse Simpson (1-0) (Baton Rouge, La.) picked up the win allowing two runs on six hits over the first six innings. He walked one and struck out six. Owen Brittle blanked the Redhawks over the final three innings with four strikeouts for his first save. Matt Erwood (0-1) suffered the loss allowing four runs, one earned, on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Brodin and Bergman finished with three hits each to pace Charleston 13-hit attack. Cole Rakar and Hentz (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) added two hits each for the Cougars.
The Redhawks got two hits each from Tommy Nurre and Chris Nadeau.
Davidson 8, Ohio 6
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Junior southpaw Thomas Middour allowed just four runs in five solid innings on the mound and freshman James Cerbie's two-run home run lifted the Davidson Wildcats to an 8-6 win over the Ohio Bobcats Friday afternoon on opening day at Wilson Field.
Middour allowed just six hits for four runs and struck out three in five innings, and left the game in the sixth with the Wildcats (1-0) holding a 5-3 lead. The Bobcats (0-1) knotted the game at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the seventh, but Cerbie recorded his first collegiate hit - a booming home run to left field, to lift the 'Cats to an 8-6 advantage.
Sophomore Matt Sliwiak, who finished the seventh inning, struck out two of the four batters he faced and allowed no hits to pick up his first win of the season.
Bobcat reliever Kevin Mementowski was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief for starter Chris Rigo. Rigo pitched a full five frames and surrendered five runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
The Bobcats struck first, pushing across a run in the first inning. Gauntlett Eldemire led off with a double down the left field line and scored as the next hitter, Hayden Johnston doubled into right field.
The Wildcats posted a pair of runs in the second to pull ahead, as senior left fielder Pat Brady homered into left field. Senior right fielder Chase Fitzpatrick drew a walk and moved around to third on senior catcher Tommy Piacenza's double down the right side. Both took a base on a passed ball, sending in Fitzpatrick for a run to put the 'Cats up 2-1.
Eldemire led off the third frame with a home run to right, knotting the score at 2, but Davidson answered in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore first baseman Danny Weiss sacrificed to plate senior center fielder Brett Shore, who led off with a single and took third on a failed pickoff attempt.
The Wildcats manufactured a pair of runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead, 5-2. Senior shortstop Zach Kayne started things by earning a leadoff walk and took second on a fielder's choice from Shore. Kayne moved to third on a Weiss flyout and scored when Shore was caught stealing second. Brady followed with a single into right and scored a batter later on a two-base wild pitch.
The Bobcats rallied in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4 and chase Middour, who left the game after giving up a pair of hits. Pinch hitter Trace Voshell got to freshman Jonathan Fisher to send in a run on ground ball to second, and Eldemaire drew a bases-loaded walk to score the second. Sophomore Ian Horkley came in to retire the final batter of the inning and preserve the lead.
Senior second baseman Graham Chapman's two-out double down the left line set up Kayne's RBI-single through the gap in the sixth, but the Bobcats tied the score with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Jeremie Rehak drew a bases-loaded walk, and after Sliwiak came in for Horkley, Brandon Besl took the second bases-loaded walk of the inning to tie the game at six.
Cerbie's two-run home run in the seventh, sending in Piacenza, who reached on a catcher's interference, proved the difference, lifting the 'Cats to an 8-6 win.
Davidson will return to action tomorrow, playing a double-header against Lafayette (3 p.m.) and Army (6 p.m.).
Georgia Southern 7, Presbyterian 1
STATESBORO, Ga. - Chris Mederos (Valdosta/Gordon College) struck out eight in 5.2 innings of work as the junior right-hander, making his Georgia Southern debut, helped the Eagles defeat Presbyterian 7-1 in the season-opener for both teams Friday night (Feb. 20) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Eagles won their season-opener for the second time in three years, thanks in large part to Mederos.
He struck out the first two batters of the game and three of the first five. Nate Horton led off the third with a single to center. Gabe Grammer followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Mederos received some help to work out of the jam.
He got a comebacker to the mound and forced Horton out at third. Senior catcher Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) then picked off Grammer between second and third base. Mederos struck out Andrew Williams to end the frame. The Eagles took advantage of a timely error by Williams during their half.
With two down in the third and runners at first and second, Benedict sent a shallow fly ball to centerfield. Williams went out from his shortstop position but had the ball glance off his glove which allowed both runners to come around for the first runs.
Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) hit a homer to start the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead. Horton responded with a solo shot in the fifth but Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) nailed a solo shot of his own also in the fifth for a 4-1 lead.
"I knew holding the other team to one or two runs, with our team we'd be able to come through. When I gave up that run I knew we would respond and Phillip got that run back with his home run," said Mederos.
He struck out his eighth batter for the second out in the sixth inning. Drew Wingo lined a single and Mederos would give way to fellow junior transfer Charles Matthews (Athens/Spartanburg Methodist). Kenny Bryant lined a shot into the left field gap but Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock), in his first action in nearly a year after recovering from a leg injury, made a diving catch to end the frame.
Benedict gave the Eagles more insurance runs in the sixth. Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell), making his 170th consecutive start, singled to start the frame. He advanced to second on Kevin Bowles' (Statesboro/Statesboro) sacrifice bunt. Two batters later Porter reached base on a fielder's choice and both came around on Benedict's 2-run single. In the eighth Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) missed a home run by inches, settling for a triple off the centerfield fence. He later scored on a wild pitch for the final margin.
Mederos gave up just five hits and walked two while throwing 89 pitches. He was excited to make his debut.
"It felt great tonight. I'm not used to this many fans and they were giving us a lot of support. I was happy to go out there and give a show," said Mederos. "I admit I was a little nervous. Usually pitchers aren't the first ones to show but today I was one of the first five guys to show up."
Porter tallied two hits and two runs scored. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul W. Bryant) also had two hits. Matthews, freshman Matt Murray (Spring City, PA/Owen Roberts) and senior Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) gave up two hits and no walks over the final 3.1 innings to close the door.
Jesse Harmon took the loss getting charged for four runs (two earned) on five hits in 4.1 innings. He walked two and struck out five. Horton and Bobby Cole had two hits apiece.
The series continues on Saturday (Feb. 21) with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Samford 6, Kennesaw State 5
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?Samford junior third baseman Marcus Rodriguez singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to drive in Mason Meredeth to give the Bulldog baseball a season-opening 6-5 win over Kennesaw State Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
“What a heck of a way to start off the season,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “I thought our kids played great. We competed from the first pitch to the last. We had a lot of great at-bats, a lot of two-out hits and a lot of big two-strike hits.”
Samford (1-0) was led at the plated by Meredeth, going 3-for-3 with an RBI in his Samford debut. Wayne Miller and David Schulze each went 2-for-4 at the plate. Freshman catcher Brad Moss hit a two-run home run in a 1-for-3 performance in his collegiate debut.
Senior pitcher Kyle Nichols pitched the final inning to earn the win in his return to the mound after off-season surgery. Senior Michael Jarry started the game on the mound for Samford, pitching 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Junior Dayne Cutrell pitched 3.0 innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits in his first game in a Samford uniform.
“Kyle Nichols came in and got after it in the ninth inning,” Dunn said. “This was a just a great win for our guys.”
For Kennesaw State (0-1), Martin Baker was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Josh Whitaker was also 2-for-4 for the Owls. Jace Whitmer and Curtis Van Wyck each had solo home runs for KSU. Pitcher Adam Fine tossed the final two-thirds of an inning, giving up one run on two hits to take the loss for the Owls.
Kennesaw State got on the board first when Ric Bishop singled up the middle to drive in Jacob Robbins for the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. Robbins had reached base on a lead-off walk and then advanced to second base on a balk.
Samford tied the score in the bottom of the second inning when Meredeth reached base on an infield single and then scored when Matthew Bennett doubled to left-center field to make the score 1-1.
The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Meredeth walked with the bases loaded to bring in Miller, who had singled up the middle to lead off the inning.
KSU’s Baker hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning with Robbins on base to give the Owls the lead back at 3-2. Samford answered in the bottom of the sixth inning when Moss homered to left-center field with Meredeth on base to give Samford a 4-3 lead.
In the top of the eighth inning, KSU’s Whitmer and Van Wyck led the inning off with back-to-back home runs to give the Owls a 5-4 lead.
Samford, however, came back with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Schulze singled up the middle to drive in Moss, who had reached base on a walk earlier in the inning. The run tied the score at 5-5 and set the stage for the decisive ninth inning.
Samford and Kennesaw State will meet again Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. Fans can also view the game on SoCon TV at www.soconsports.com.
Appalachian State 4, Jacksonville State 3 (13 inn.)
FOREST CITY, N.C. ? Playing in his first game since 2007, junior Frankie Lewis blasted an RBI double in the bottom of the 13th inning to give Appalachian State University baseball a thrilling 4-3 victory over Jacksonville State in the season opener for both teams on Friday evening at McNair Field.
Lewis, who missed all of last season and two of the past three campaigns due to injuries, doubled to the left center field gap to bring home David Towarnicky from second base with nobody out in the 13th, capping an improbable late-inning comeback for Appalachian and ending the four-hour-and-13-minute season-opening marathon.
ASU faced a 3-2 deficit and was down to its final strike in the bottom of the ninth when senior Rand Smith started the rally with a single through the left side of the infield on a 3-2 pitch. Jason Wallace followed by beating out an infield single to put runners on first and second.
ASU head coach Chris Pollard then sent true freshman Zack Briggs to pinch-hit and Briggs looped the first pitch he saw as a collegiate player into shallow right field, bringing home Smith with the tying run.
Despite the late-inning heroics at the plate, the story of the game was the performance turned in by the Mountaineer bullpen. Four ASU relievers ? junior Chris Patterson, sophomore Taylor Miller, senior Zach Quate and freshman Andrew Webster combined to hold Jacksonville State to one run on six hits over the final eight innings of the ballgame, striking out 10 in the process. Miller was especially impressive, striking out six of the eight batters he faced in 2.2 perfect innings of relief.
The Mountaineers fell into a 3-1 hole after five-and-a-half innings, due in large part to Gamecock starter and likely first-round draft pick Ben Tootle, who didn’t allow a hit in his four innings of work. In fact, the Apps didn’t record their first hit until the sixth, when they cut the deficit to 3-2 on doubles by Chris Alessandria and Towarnicky.
Towarnicky was the only ASU player with multiple hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs, including the game-winner.
In all, Appalachian pitchers struck out 15 batters. Webster pitched a flawless 13th to pick up the win in his first collegiate appearance.
Todd Cunningham led Jacksonville State with two hits and an RBI.
ASU and JSU resume their three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Auburn 5, Elon 3
AUBURN, Ala. ? Justin Haggertt’s only hit of the day was a big one as the sophomore second baseman belted a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Auburn Tigers to a 5-3 baseball victory over the visiting Elon Phoenix in the season-opener for both teams from Plainsman Park on Friday afternoon. Elon is 0-1 while Auburn is now 1-0.
Following a scoreless first inning, Elon’s Chase Austin began the second by doubling down the rightfield line and went over to third on a Mike Melillo fly out. Dallas Tarleton followed by grounding out to short, but earned the first RBI of the year for the Phoenix as Austin crossed the plate.
The Tigers responded in their half of the second. Brian Fletcher led off with a single before Casey McElroy hit a one-out double which put runners on second and third. Caleb Bowen’s ground out allowed Fletcher to score to even the game at a run apiece.
Fletcher singled through the left side of the infield to start the Auburn fourth. With one down, McElroy singled through the right side of the infield, moving Fletcher to third. Another Bowen ground out plated Fletcher to move the Tigers on top 2-1.
Auburn upped its edge to 3-1 when Joseph Sanders sent a 1-2 pitch from Phoenix starter Jimmy Reyes over the wall in left-center with one out in the fifth.
With two down in the top of the eighth, Cory Harrilchak singled to right. He then moved to second on Pat Irvine’s single to center. Harrilchak scored to close Elon’s deficit to 3-2 when a Bennett Davis grounder to third was booted. Austin followed with a single to right-center which scored Irvine with the tying run.
Kevin Patterson drew a walk to start the bottom of the ninth before heading to second on McElroy’s sacrifice bunt. Pinch-hitter Ben Jones followed by fouling out for out number two. Hargett then belted the game-winning blast with a two-run homer to center.
Jared Kernodle (0-1) took the loss in relief after surrendering two runs on one hit and a walk in an inning of action. Reyes threw 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He did not walk a hitter and fanned seven, one shy of his career-high.
Austin Hubbard (1-0) picked up the victory after not allowing a run in 1.1 innings of work. Auburn starter Grant Dayton allowed one run on five hits in 7.0 innings of work.
Harrilchak’s double to lead off the top of the sixth inning extended the senior’s streak of reaching base to 34 consecutive games dating back to last year. He finished the day 2-for-4. Austin’s second-inning double extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games dating back to last season. Austin also posted a 2-for-4 day. Justin Hilt went 2-for-4 with a double in his Elon debut.
Hargett went 1-for-4 with a run and two RBI for the Tigers while Fletcher went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Game two of this three-game set is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday afternoon.
Indiana State 12, The Citadel 8
Charleston, S.C. ? Indiana State’s five runs in the last two innings negated a dramatic seven-run seventh inning rally for The Citadel as the Bulldogs dropped a 12-8 decision Friday night.
Bryan Altman’s three-run triple in the bottom of the seventh tied the game while Trey Thomas followed with an RBI single to left to give The Citadel the lead, 8-7. But Luke Fieser’s triple that dropped in front of a diving Sonny Meade in the eighth put the Sycamores back on top for good as 712 watched the two teams on a cool night at Riley Park.
The Citadel (0-1) dropped its season opener for the second-consecutive season and for the second time in two tries a late rally has fallen short against the Sycamores (1-0).
Drew Mahaffey (0-1) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on one hit in 0.2 innings on the mound. Scott Harlan (1-0) received the win after allowing only one run on four hits while striking out two in the final 2.1 innings of the game.
Indiana State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead as Brian Jett hit a three-run home run in the top of the first that curved inside the left field foul pole with two outs. The Citadel got on the board in the bottom half of the inning when Richard Jones hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Nick Orvin from second.
Indiana State added two runs in the top of the fifth and again in the top of the seventh before The Citadel rallied to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning where the Bulldogs scored seven runs off of three hits.
With Bulldog runners on first and third, ISU brought Brendon Smith to the mound, who promptly walked Matt Simonelli to load the bases. Nick Orvin hit a 2-2 pitch to centerfield, scoring Trey Thomas from third. Following a Meade fly out to center, the Sycamores made another change on the mound as they brought in Kevin Mann to pitch.
Mann immediately threw a wild pitch allowing Kyle Jordan to score and putting runners on second and third. After Mann walked Jones to load the bases again, Mann threw another wild pitch, this time scoring Simonelli. Mann then walked Chris McGuiness before he was replaced on the mound by Harlan. Harlan gave up the three-run triple to Altman as Orvin, Jones and McGuiness all scored to tie the game, 7-7. Thomas, who led off the inning, singled through the left side to score Altman and to give The Citadel its first lead of the game.
Indiana State responded in the next half inning, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth and adding on another two in the top of the ninth to seal the 12-8 victory.
The Citadel and Indiana State will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 with a doubleheader at Riley Park starting at noon. For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, visit the official home of The Citadel Athletics at CitadelSports.com.
No. 18 Kent State 18, UNC Greensboro 2
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro dropped its season opener, 18-2, to No. 18 Kent State on Friday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Freshman Kris Richards had the best day for the Spartans (0-1), going 2-3 with a walk. Returning first-team All-MAC pitcher, Kyle Smith, recorded the win for the Golden Flashes (1-0) after pitching five
innings and only allowing one run on two hits. Kyle Hallock pitched four innings to pick up the save. Junior Rob Gilliam took the loss after allowing seven runs in two-plus innings of work.
Greg Rohan went 3-5 with two runs and two RBI to lead Kent State. Jared Bartholomew added a two-run homer in the third inning to help pace the Golden Flashes.
After a scoreless first inning, Kent State put up five runs in the second inning. It appeared Gilliam was going to get out of the inning after striking out two of the first three batters, but after a pair of walks loaded the bases. Chris Tremblay then came up and hit a bases clearing double to left center to put Kent State ahead 3-0. An Anthony Gallas RBI single and Greg Rohan's RBI single made it 5-0 in favor of the visitors.
In the third inning, Brad Winter walked to lead off the inning before Bartholomew's home run down the right field line made it a 7-0 Kent State advantage. That home run spelled the end to Rob Gilliam, who was relieved by Warren Slack.
The Spartans answered in the bottom of the third for their first run of the evening. Pedro Leon was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Ed Jayjack followed with a walk of his own. After Ray Quinones fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Michael Wall hit into his own fielder's choice, which scored Leon from third.
Kent State came right back in the top of the fourth by adding three more runs. Jimmy Rider led off the inning with a walk before Anthony Gallas lined out to left field. Greg Rohan singled to move Rider over
to second before Ben Klafczynski hit a towering double to left center to score two runs. Klafczynski later scored on a Bartholomew fielder's choice.
UNCG put another run across the plate in the sixth inning with a two out rally. Joey Frabasile hit a pinch hit double down the right field line and scored after a throwing error by Hallock on an infield single.
After putting up two more runs in the seventh inning to make it 12-2, Kent State put five runs across in the eighth. With one out in the inning, the Golden Flashes strung together two singles and a double to plate two more runners. An Anthony Gallas sacrifice fly scored Chris Tremblay from third to make it 15-2. The visitors were able to push two more across the plate after a pair of Spartan errors in the inning.
The Spartans return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. in the second game of the series between the two squads.