Elon 8, Appalachian State 6
Elon 14, Appalachian State 10
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University baseball outscored defending Southern Conference champion Elon over 17-of-18 combined innings during Friday's doubleheader at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium, but the Phoenix plated a total of 11 runs in the top of the first inning in both games to sweep the twinbill by scores of 8-6 and 14-10.
The marathon doubleheader, which was played due to a forecast for inclement weather in the High Country this weekend, included four fog delays and took nine hours and 17 minutes to complete. The final out was recorded at 12:22 a.m. on Saturday.
The top of the first was Appalachian's downfall in both contests, as it fell into holes of 5-0 and 6-0, respectively, before its first at-bats in each game. From the bottom of the first on, the Mountaineers outscored the Phoenix 6-3 in the opener and 10-8 in the nightcap.
Offense was plentiful in the twinbill, as the teams combined for 38 runs, 49 total hits and 25 extra-base hits in the two games.
Third baseman Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) paced the Apps in Game One with a 4-for-5 performance which included two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. First baseman David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) and shortstop Nick DeRose (Winston-Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds) combined for six of the Mountaineers' 16 hits in Game Two.
Elon's Cory Harrilchak registered four doubles over the two contests, including three in Game One alone. Pat Irvine had a homer in each game and Justin Hilt went 6-for-8 with five RBI and four runs scored in the doubleheader.
On the other hand, defense was not at a premium, as the teams made eight total errors in the two contests.
Weather permitting, the series finale will be played on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Smith Stadium. Should there be weather delays, information will be available at GoASU.com.
Western Carolina 3, No. 24 Southern California 2
Los Angeles, Calif. - After surrendering its one-run lead with a two-spot in the home half of the fifth inning, Western Carolina pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh inning and held the USC Trojans scoreless the final three frames to remain perfect on the young season with a 3-2 win Friday evening in the nonconference series opener at Dedeaux Field.
Both teams managed six base hits, with Western drawing six walks against USC's three. All told, the Catamounts stranded 11 base runners in the win with the Trojans leaving six on the base paths
Western Carolina (4-0) continues its three-game series with Southern Cal on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET.
Senior right-hander - and California native - Garrett Ozar earned his second victory of the season in relief of starter Mike Tavernier, who pitched 4.2 innings of two-run, four-hit baseball in the no-decision. Ozar went 3.1 innings allowing just one hit and working around one walk with three strikeouts. Junior closer Daniel Ottone picked up his second save of the season, working a perfect bottom of the ninth inning by striking out the side.
Junior Nick Liles led the Catamounts with a 2-for-5 showing at the plate with a run scored, while true freshman Ross Heffley went 1-for-3 with a walk and his first collegiate home run. The Snellville, Ga., native belted one over the fence in right with two outs to give Western the early 1-0 lead after three and a half innings played.
Sophomore Matt Johns' lone hit of the contest drove in junior transfer Trevor Collias to tie the game in the top of the seventh, with senior J.C. Lyons lifting a sacrifice fly to left to plate Liles with the game-winning run with two gone in the same frame.
WCU loaded the bases twice against USC starter Brad Boxberger in the third and sixth innings, but could not score as he got out of both jams unscathed. Boxberger allowed just two hits in six innings but surrendered five walks with five K's.
Down one, USC (2-3) managed to take the lead in the fifth on RBI singles from Joe De Pinto and Hector Rabago before WCU pushed two across in the seventh off reliever Ryan Cabral, who suffered the loss. Johns singled to center, plating Collias from second for the tying run. Junior Brent Greer was hit by a Cabral pitch to load the bases before Lyons hit a long fly ball to left for the eventual winning run.
The Trojans' Keith Castillo singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Ottone struck out Kevin Roundtree and Alex Sherrod to secure the win for the Catamounts.
The series continues tomorrow with a 2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET start and a 1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm start on Sunday (March 1). Both games will be broadcast by a live video webcast on usctrojans.com, courtesy of TrojanTV All-Access.
The Citadel 4, Radford 2
Charleston, S.C. ? Bryan Altman went 2-for-3, including his second triple of the season, and scored three of The Citadel’s four runs Friday afternoon at Riley Park. The Bulldogs won over Radford, 4-2, in front of 917 fans in The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House.
Sonny Meade and Richard Jones both posted 2-for-4 performances as The Citadel (2-3) scored four runs off eight hits. Radford was led by Jeff Kemp’s 2-for-5 outing as the Highlanders (1-3) scored two runs off 10 hits while making two errors.
Wes Wrenn (1-0) was credited with the win after 6.0 innings on the mound, allowing Radford’s two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six. Drew Mahaffey and Raymond Copenhaver each made appearances in relief and allowed a hit apiece while Matt Reifsnider (1) garnered the save after shutting down the Highlanders in the ninth.
Aerik Taylor (0-2) was responsible for the loss after allowing three runs on five hits while walking out three and striking out one.
The Citadel took the early lead in the bottom of the first as Meade singled to second to drive in Altman immediately following Altman’s triple to left center. The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the bottom of the third when Chris McGuiness hit a hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Altman. Altman had reached base on a walk and advanced to third off a single through the right side by Meade.
In the bottom of the fifth, an RBI single by Sid Fallaw sent Richard Jones across the plate to give The Citadel the 3-0 advantage.
Radford cut the deficit to a one-run Bulldog advantage in the top of the seventh by scoring two runs on three hits but a Fallaw sacrifice fly to center scored Altman to push The Citadel’s lead to 4-2. Mahaffey, Copenhaver and Reifsnider then all entered in relief to preserve the Bulldog victory.
Day two of The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House gets underway on Saturday, Feb. 28 with game times moved up one hour than originally scheduled. Action will now begin at 10 a.m. at Riley Park with The Citadel hosting Tennessee Tech (4-2). Immediately following that game, the Bulldogs will face Marshall (3-3).
With the threat of inclement weather on Saturday, please visit CitadelSports.com for the latest information regarding game times.
UNC Greensboro 6, Princeton 5
GREENSBORO, NC ? Senior Pedro Leon delivered a walk-off double off the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth to score Alex Frederick from second as UNC Greensboro defeated Princeton, 6-5, on Friday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Frederick led off the ninth inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brent O’Berry. With one out in the inning, Leon stepped to the plate and took a 0-1 pitch deep to left center that just missed leaving the yard by a few feet to knock in the winning run.
The Spartans (1-4) were led by their 3-6 hitters of Ray Quinones, Trevor Edwards, Drew Gehringer and Ed Jayjack, who combined to go 6-14 on the night with four RBI and four runs scored. Sophomore Greg Smith picked up the win for UNCG after pitching 2 1/3 innings of relief and only allowing one hit.
Matt Grabowski took the loss for the Tigers (0-1) after just pitching 1 1/3 innings in the season opener for the Tigers.
UNCG found itself in an early 2-0 hole after the top of the first inning, thanks to a Jack Murphy two-run home run. After back-to-back singles by the Tigers to lead off the game, Greg Martin got Greg Van Horn to ground into a double play. Just when it looked like Martin would get out of the inning, Murphy hit a home run to left center to give the visitors a quick 2-0 lead.
The Spartans would not go down without a fight as they quickly responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first. After Leon flew out to center field to lead off the inning, Corey Overholtzer advanced on an error to reach base. Overholtzer advanced to third on a Ray Quinones single to right center and scored on a balk by pitcher Brad Gemberling. Trevor Edwards was up next and reached base on a walk, but Quinones was thrown out on the play by the catcher after taking too large of a lead. Edwards moved to second on a single by Drew Gehringer and both runners scored on an Ed Jayjack triple to the right center gap to give UNCG a 3-2 advantage.
Martin was able to settle down in the second inning as he struck out the side for three of his five strike outs on the evening.
After striking out the first two batters in the fifth inning, Martin ran into some trouble. Derek Beckman hit a single that went off the third base bag to reach first. He advanced to third after Dan DeGeorge hit a double down the left field line and both runners scored on Van Horn’s double down the left field line.
The Spartans immediately responded again in the bottom half of the inning after freshman Trevor Edwards hit his first career home run.
With two outs, Quinones singled through the left side of the infield before Edwards hit a blast out to right center to regain the lead 5-4.
The Tigers were able to mount a response themselves in the top of the sixth inning to knot the game at 5. David Hale singled to center field with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. After Brian Berkowitz struck out, Jon Broscious doubled to deep center to score Hale from second and tie the game 5-5.
The game would stay tied until Leon’s walk-off double in the ninth inning to give UNCG the victory.
The Spartans will return to the field tomorrow afternoon as they take on Princeton at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium in the second game of the three-game series.
Georgia Southern 12, Coppin State 1 (7 inn.)
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Vince Smith’s (Kingsland, Ga.) walk-off 3-run home run clinches the game as Georgia Southern baseball (5-1) defeated Coppin State (0-2) 12-1 in seven innings at J.I. Clements Stadium.
A pair of one-out pitch-hit walks by Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) and Roman Grimaldi (Duluth, Ga.) set the Eagles up for a big inning in the bottom of the seventh. Smith ended the game with a pitch-hit walk-off 3-run homer giving Georgia Southern a 12-1 win in the series opener.
“I was trying not to strikeout,” said Vince Smith. “He threw a fastball inside, and I knew that I just needed to hit the ball. I was trying to hit the ball hard and put it in play.”
Chris Mederos (Valdosta, Ga.) went the distance for the Eagles, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight batters.
Brian Pierce (Roswell, Ga.) went a perfect two-for-two with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Eagles got things started early, scoring three runs in the first inning on only one hit. Matt Miller (Canton, Ga.) led off the bottom of the first with a single to right and advanced all the way to third on an error. Miller came around to score the first run of game on a pass ball. Georgia Southern scored three more runs in the inning without a hit.
Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) drove in the fourth run of the game with a RBI triple in the third inning.
Kallen Fletcher drove in Coppin State’s lone run with an infield single in the fifth.
The Eagles added two more runs in the sixth inning with a pair of sacrifice flies.
Randy Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) had a RBI double in the three-run fifth. Williams drove in a pair of runs and also scored a run on the day.
Baseball will return to action tomorrow in a doubleheader. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 11 a.m.
College of Charleston 8, St. John’s 4
GREENVILLE, N.C. - College of Charleston second baseman Brandon Sizemore (Jacksonville, Fla.) went 3-4, with two home runs and three RBI, while starter Tom Schiller (Rochester, N.Y.) threw seven strong innings, to lead the Cougars to an 8-4 win over St. John's in game four of the 2009 Keith LeClair Classic on Friday at Clark LeClair Stadium.
With the win, the Cougars improved to 4-2 on the year, while St. John's fell to 2-3. Charleston returns to action on Sunday, Mar. 1st when they close out the LeClair Classic with a game against host East Carolina beginning at approximately 2 p.m.
The Cougars got off to a fast start in the first inning, as Joash Brodin (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) hit his fourth home run of the season to left field knocking in Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla.). Mike Hentz (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) came up next and hit a 2-1 pitch over the right field wall to make the score 3-0.
Hentz's home run was his second of the season and marked the 14th time in program history that back-to-back home runs had been hit.
After St. John's plated a run in the top half of third, Charleston added two more runs in the bottom half, as Sizemore and Hentz hit RBI singles to make the score 5-1.
Sizemore hit home runs in the fifth and seventh innings, both of which were solo shots, to put the game out of St. Johns' reach. The two home run performance by the senior marked the second time in his career that he has hit two homers in a game.
On the mound, Schiller gave up just three runs (two earned) and six hits in his seven innings of work to earn the win (2-0). Corey Ashner (Kansas City, Kan.) came in relief over the final two innings, giving up just a run on three hits.
At the plate, Brodin and Hentz each went 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
For St. John's, starter Brednan Lobban (0-1) got the loss. Tim Morris led the way at the plate for the Red Storm, going 3-4 with three RBI and two home runs.
No. 11 Oklahoma State 7, College of Charleston 6
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? No. 11 Oklahoma State scored five runs in the first two innings and held off a late rally to defeat the College of Charleston, 7-6 in game one of the 2009 Keith LeClair Classic at Clark-LeClair Stadium
The Cougars, now 3-2 on the year, return to action at 7:30 p.m. tonight when they take on St. John's. Oklahoma State improved to 5-1 with the win.
After mustering one hit through five innings on Oklahoma State starter Tyler Brandford, the Cougars exploded for five runs on six hits in the top of the sixth.
The inning started when Clay McCord (Atlanta, Ga.) and Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla.) reached base with singles, then Brandon Sizemore (Jacksonville, Fla.) cracked a ground rule double to right center, knocking in McCord to make the score 6-1.
Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) then hit a three-run home run, his third of the season, to right field to cut the Oklahoma State lead to 6-4. After Mike Hentz (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) doubled off the center field wall, Austin Morgan (Katy, Texas) knocked him in with a two-out, RBI single to right center to make the score 6-5.
Oklahoma State added a single run in the bottom half of the sixth, a run that proved to be decisive. The Cougars made more one run in the top half of the ninth, after Morgan led off the inning with a double and was knocked in by a Bergman single to center.
OSU closer Randy McCurry, however, got out of the jam when he forced Sizemore into a game ending double play to earn his second save of the season.
For the game, Hentz, Morgan and Bergman each went 2-for-4. For Oklahoma State, Tyrone Hambly went 2-for-4 and hit a three-run home run in the first inning.
On the mound, Brandford (1-0) took the win, while Jesse Simpson (Baton Rouge, La, 1-1) took the loss.
Cincinnati 11, Davidson 10 (10 inn.)
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Wildcats rallied from a 10-6 deficit with a four-run eighth to force extra innings, but dropped an 11-10 decision in 10 innings to the Cincinnati Bearcats Friday at Wilson Field.
The Bearcats (1-3) picked up their first win of the season, while the Wildcats drop to 4-2.
Trailing 10-6 entering the eighth, the Wildcats strung together five hits for four runs to knot the score. Senior right fielder Chase Fitzpatrick hit a one-out single into left field to start the Wildcat rally and bumped around to second on a wild pitch. Senior left fielder Pat Brady legged out a triple on a ball hit into the right-center field gap to plate Fitzpatrick.
Sophomore pinch hitter Sam Payne doubled into left center field to send in Brady, and senior third baseman Chris Fitzpatrick drilled a two-out 0-0 pitch into the hole at second base to send in Payne to cut the lead to 10-9.
Senior second baseman Zach Kayne followed with a single to the first base side, and a fielding error allowed him to move to second while Fitzpatrick scored to tie the game at 10.
With the score all tied up, center fielder Cameron Satterwhite led off the extra frame with a double down the right field line, and third baseman Mike Spina walked.
Kayne took the mound in relief of sophomore Mike Frongello (0-1), who was tagged with the loss after allowing the winning run in 2/3 of an inning. Lance Durham drew a walk to load the bases, and though Kayne coaxed a pop out out of pinch hitter Beach Brooks, Satterwhite scored what proved the game-winner.
Reliever Dan Jensen (1-0) took the win for Cincinnati, after pitching a hitless 2 1/3 innings to close the game.
Chase Fitzpatrick paced the Wildcat offense, going 3-for-5 at the plate, including a pair of home runs, with three RBI and three runs scored. Kayne also finished the day batting 3-for-5 with an RBI.
The Wildcats and Bearcats will return to action tomorrow at 4 p.m. and finish the weekend with a 1 p.m. double header on Sunday.
South Florida 13, Samford 8
FORT MYERS, Fla.?The Samford baseball team dropped a 13-8 decision to the South Florida Bulls on the second day of the FGCU Classic, hosted by Florida Gulf Coast on Friday.
With the loss, Samford drops to 2-3 on the season, while USF improves to 2-3 with the win.
Samford was led at the plate by Mason Meredeth, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. David Schulze went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Grant Sides pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up four earned runs on five hits to take the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs.
For South Florida, Chris Rey went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Mike Consolmagno, Jonathan Koscso, Todd Brazeal and Trey Manz had two hits each for the Bulls.
Samford took an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Wayne Miller led the inning off with a single, Michael Johnson tripled down the left-field line to drive in Miller for the game’s first run. Meredeth then singled to right field to drive in Johnson to give Samford a 2-0 lead.
USF came back with two runs in the top of the second inning to tie the score at 2-2. Manz homered down the right-field line with Rey on base to tie the score.
After Samford took the lead with a run in the fourth inning, USF took its first lead of the game with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Rey drove in three runs and Ryan Lockwood had one RBI to give the Bulls a 6-3 lead.
Samford answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 6-6. Schulze singled to right field to drive in Meredeth for the inning’s first run. Trey Hayes and Schulze scored when Marcus Rodriguez reached base on a South Florida error to make the score 6-6.
South Florida took a 13-6 lead with two runs in the sixth inning, one run in the seventh, two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth inning.
In the sixth inning, Lockwood and Koscso drove in a run each for the Bulls. The run in the seventh inning scored when Manz hit a sacrifice fly to score Brazeal for a 9-6 USF lead. In the eighth inning, Consolmagno scored on a Samford error and Stephen Hunt singled up the middle to drive in Koscso for an 11-6 Bulls’ lead. Manz and Consolmagno drove in a run each in the ninth inning to make the score 13-6.
Samford plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final score 13-8. Johnson walked to lead off the inning and Meredeth singled through the right side of the infield. Schulze then doubled down the right-field line to drive in Meredeth and Johnson for the game’s final two runs.
Samford will continue play in the FGCU Classic on Saturday by taking on Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m.