Wofford 16, No. 25 South Carolina 8
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Wofford College baseball team used a strong hitting performance to defeat South Carolina 16-8 on Thursday night at Carolina Stadium in Columbia. The Terriers out-hit the Gamecocks 17 to nine in the game as Wofford was led by Kyle Behrendt with five RBIs.
Wofford is 6-6 on the season and 1-2 in the Southern Conference. South Carolina is 10-2 overall and have not opened SEC play. The Terriers were led by Michael Gilmartin, Jake Williams, Kyle Behrendt and James Foster with three hits each. Behrendt had five RBIs while Williams and Doyle each had three. South Carolina was led by Justin Dalles with two hits and three RBIs.
In the top of the third, Alex Lee led off with a single. After a walk by Josh McKinney, Konstantine Diamaduros hit a long ball to right that was caught, but Lee was able to score on the play for a 1-0 lead. The Gamecocks answered in the bottom of the third when Scott Wingo singled, followed by a walk by Nick Ebert. Justin Dalles hit a home run to left center to clear the bases and take a 3-1 lead.
The Terriers answered in the top of the fourth with a triple from Jake Williams. He was driven in by Kyloe Behrendt on a fielder’s choice. The next batter to the plate was Mac Doyle, who launched the ball to deep left to tie the game at 3-3 with one out. Wofford loaded the bases with a hit by James Foster and two players hit by pitch, but the next two Terriers struck out.
For Wofford in the top of the fifth, Konstantine Diamaduros walked, which was followed by a double from Jake Williams. Kyle Behrendt and Mac then both hit sacrifice flies to right field to score both runners and take a 5-3 lead. South Carolina answered in the bottom of the fifth with solo home runs by DeAngleo Mack and Nick Ebert. Parker Bangs added a two-run shot to give the Gamecocks the lead at 7-5.
Wofford responded in the top of the sixth with four runs. James Foster opened the inning with a single, which was followed by singles from Josh McKinney and Michael Gilmartin. With the bases loaded, Jake Williams walked to send a runner home. Another single from Kyle Behrendt scored a run and the Terriers took a 9-7 lead.
Neither team scored in the seventh. With Wofford back at the plate in the top of the eight, Josh McKinney walked and a single by Michael Gilmartin moved McKinney to third. A base hit by Konstantine Diamaduros scored McKinney for a 10-7 lead. Wofford loaded the bases with no outs when Kyle Behrendt grounded into a double play that scored one run. Mac Doyle added a single to score Diamaduros for a 12-7 advantage.
South Carolina went one-two-three in the bottom of the eighth with Scott Summers on the mound for the Terriers. In the top of the ninth, James Foster led off with his third hit of the night. Josh McKinney and Michael Gilmartin were each hit by pitch to load the bases with one out. Jake Williams hit a single up the middle to score two runs, and an error by the outfielder scored another run and Williams made it to third. A single from Kyle Behrendt scored Williams for a 16-7 lead.
The Gamecocks added a solo home run by Casey Rihn to open the bottom of the ninth, but the Terriers turned a double-play to end the game with a 16-8 win for Wofford.
Wofford used six pitchers and combined to allow nine hits and eight runs with five strikeouts. J.D. Osborne (2-0) was credited with the win. South Carolina used seven pitchers and allowed 16 runs, 17 hits, walked four, hit seven and had nine strikeouts. Nolan Belcher (1-1) had the loss.
The sixteen runs were the most scored by Wofford in the series since moving to Division I. The last win for Wofford over an SEC team was April 25, 2007 over Tennessee (16-9).
Wofford will open a four-game series with Fordham on Friday night at 7:00 pm at Russell C. King Field. The teams will play a double-header on Saturday at 2:00 pm, followed by a single game on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
Elon 5, Wake Forest 4
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? J.D. Reichenbach allowed two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings of work to lead the Elon Phoenix to a 5-4 baseball victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from Wake Forest Baseball Park on Wednesday night. The Phoenix has won three straight to improve to 8-4 on the season. Wake Forest is now 7-5.
Cory Harrilchak drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to lead off the game for Elon, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 45 straight games. Following a Harry Austin sacrifice bunt, Bennett Davis singled through the right side to plate Harrilchak with the first run of the contest.
Dustin Hood reached on a one-out walk before coming around to score on Mike Murray’s double to the gap in right. On the throw to the plate, Murray took third. The Deacons took the lead when Weldon Woodall’s fly out to right allowed Murray to tag and score.
In the top of the fourth Justin Hilt walked with one out and then stole second. A bloop single to center off the bat of Greg Annarummo gave Elon runners on the corners for Scott Riddle. Riddle tapped a ball back to the Wake Forest pitcher who threw high of second which allowed Hilt to score. Neal Pritchard’s liner to right reached the wall for a double, plating Annarummo as Elon moved back on top by a 3-2 margin. The Phoenix lead improved to 4-2 on Harrilchak’s ground out that drove home Riddle.
With Ian Tomkins at first after a single, Tyler Smith doubled down the right field line putting runners on second and third with two outs before Micah Jarrett drew a walk to load the bases for Hood. Reichenbach escaped any damage though when Hood grounded a ball to short for the final out of the inning.
The Phoenix added another in the sixth when Pritchard doubled home Zeth Stone, who had singled and advanced to second on an error earlier in the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Lopez walked to start the inning before scoring when pinch-hitter Evan Ocheltree belted a 3-1 pitch from over the wall in center, closing the Wake Forest deficit to just a run at 5-4.
Reichenbach (1-0) was the winner after his second-longest career outing. After allowing two first inning runs, the junior settled in and held the Deacons scoreless for the remainder of his outing. Thomas Girdwood picked up his fourth save of the year and 14th of his career with an inning of work. Girdwood now sits in a tie for second on Elon's career saves chart.
Mark Adzick (0-1) took the loss in relief. He gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings of action.
Pritchard went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI to pace the Elon attack. Hilt was 0-for-3, snapping an 11-game hitting streak. Harrilchak's 1-for-4 night extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Ian Tomkins posted a 2-for-3 game for Wake Forest.
The Phoenix will take Thursday off before hosting Davidson in a three-game SoCon series beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday night.
The Citadel 9, Mercer 3
Charleston, S.C. ? Nick Orvin went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and Matt Talley threw 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball as The Citadel topped Mercer, 9-3, Wednesday night in front of 1,219 at Riley Park. The Citadel was propelled by a six-run first inning that witnessed the Bulldogs bat around the order to take the early lead.
Orvin’s three stolen bases are a career high and the first time a Bulldog has achieved that feat since Feb. 24, 2006 when Chance Smith stole three bases against Le Moyne.
Sonny Meade (2-for-4), David Greene (2-for-4) and Trey Thomas (2-for-3) all notched multiple hits in the game with each player scoring at least once.
The Citadel (6-6) close out their five-game home stand in grand fashion, coasting to nine runs on 11 hits while Mercer (5-8) dropped their fifth game in six tries after scoring three runs on seven hits.
Talley (2-0) earned his second win after holding the Bears scoreless while allowing two hits and striking out four. Talley held Mercer hitless through the first three innings.
Tyler Beesley (0-2) took the loss after allowing six runs on four hits in 0.1 innings pitched. Beesley walked two and did not record a strikeout.
The Citadel scored all nine runs in the first three innings of play, forcing Mercer to go to their bullpen often. Stephen Jenkins relieved Beesley on the mound in the first, only to give up three runs on five hits over the next 2.1 innings. Brandon Love’s 2.1 innings pitched for Mercer were the most productive, striking out five Bulldogs while only allowing one hit over 2.1 innings on the mound.
The Citadel returns to conference action as the Bulldogs travel to Boone, N.C. Friday to face the Appalachian State Mountaineers. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. and all of the action in the three-game Southern Conference series can be heard live on SportsRadio 1450AM in Charleston or from anywhere in the world on Bulldog Insider at CitadelSports.com.
Georgia Southern 24, Bethune-Cookman 9
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern scored in all but one inning, blowing open a close game in the middle innings for a 24-9 win over Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night (March 11) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles improved to 12-2 overall.
Junior A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) hit two home runs in a game, the sixth time in his career doing so. Senior Jonathan King (Athens, TN/Young Harris) tied a Georgia Southern record drawing four walks in the game as the Eagles held an 8-0 lead after three innings. BC-U cut it to a two-run deficit but the Eagles exploded for 14 runs from the fifth inning on.
Bethune (8-7) threatened in the first, getting two singles and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. Jake Brown (Forest Hill, MD/Pitt CC) enticed a ground ball to shortstop Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell), who started an inning-ending double play.
Georgia Southern saw its first five batters in the game reach base and score. After consecutive walks to start the game, Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) and Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) lined RBI singles. Wirnsberger followed with a 3-run homer, his second of the year.
The Eagles added three more runs in the third. Will Southwell (Moultrie/Colquitt County) lined a sacrifice fly, Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) hit a RBI groundout and Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) followed with a RBI double.
The Wildcats plated four runs in the fourth but Wirnsberger responded with a 2-run shot in the bottom half of the frame. BC-U came back with another four runs in its half, an error with the bases loaded leading to three unearned runs.
Once again the Eagles responded in their half. With the bases loaded and one out, Wright lined a 2-run single up the middle. Randy Williams (Valdosta/Andrew College) ripped a 2-run double into the right field gap. Southwell greeted relief pitcher Arles Rivera with a RBI single making it 15-8.
Chris Banker (Martinez/Chattahoochee Valley CC) lined a 2-run single in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Chris Jones (Lithonia/Lake City CC) ripped a 2-run triple then Jake Ware (Statesboro/Statesboro) followed with his second career home run, capping the Eagles' scoring outburst.
"We were focused tonight and did a good job putting them away. It was a great team effort. After a tough loss last night, you have to bounce back. You're going to have games where you play like that during a season but I thought we did a tremendous job bouncing back," said Wirnsberger. "I did realize I tied my home run career-high. (Chris) Shehan asked me the other day how many 2-home run games I had. Right now I'm just trying to hit line drives and my swing feels good."
The Eagles held an 18-14 edge in hits but committed two more errors. Wirnsberger was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBI.
King tied a record done on several occasions, scoring two runs. Wright added two hits and four RBI. Miller, Williams, Southwell and Pierce also added two hits as six Eagles finished with a multi-hit game.
Brown gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits in four innings. He struck out three and did not allow a walk. Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) gave up one unearned run on one hit in two innings. He improved to 1-0 on the year.
Jose Ortiz finished 4-for-5 with two RBI. Alejandro Jimenez added three hits.
The Eagles begin Southern Conference play this weekend, part of an eight-game road trip. First pitch at UNC Greensboro Friday night (March 13) is scheduled for 7 p.m.
UNC Greensboro 4, Old Dominion 1
GREENSBORO, NC ? UNC Greensboro starter Warren Slack pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings and Ed Jayjack’s home run in the second inning help the Spartans defeat Old Dominion, 4-1, on Wednesday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Slack allowed just three hits and struck out five for the Spartans (2-8) and Greg Smith pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief to record his first save of the season.
Old Dominion starter Ben Tomchick allowed just one run on three hits for the Monarchs (3-10) to pick up the hard-luck loss.
Jayjack got the scoring started in the second inning thanks to his first home run of the season. With one out in the inning, Jayjack took the first pitch he saw off the scoreboard in right field to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead.
After neither team could plate a run in the next four innings, the Spartans pushed two runners across in the seventh thanks to a Monarch error. With one out in the inning, Michael Wall hit a single up the middle. After a line out to center field, Pedro Leon was hit by a pitch to move Wall over to second. Overholtzer followed and reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop that scored Wall from second to make the score 2-0. Ray Quinones was up next and doubled down the left field line to plate Leon from second and give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage.
The Monarchs wouldn’t go down without a fight as they responded in the top of the eighth with a two-out rally. Gerard Hall singled and then scored from first on a double by Jake McAloose to bring Old Dominion within 3-1, but Matt Parish came in and got Donnie Corsner to strike out to end the threat.
The Spartans would add an insurance run in the bottom half of the eighth inning to make the final score 4-1. Drew Gehringer led off the inning with his second double of the game. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Gehringer scored on a fielder’s choice by Ed Jayjack.
Jayjack’s chopper was stopped by the second baseman who threw home, but Gehringer alertly slid under the tag by catcher Edgar Hernandez.
UNCG returns to the diamond on Friday evening at the Spartans kick off a three-game series with SoCon foe Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
College of Charleston 13, Charleston Southern 4
Charleston, S.C. -- Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high seven runs, and Mike Hentz (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) added a two-run homer pacing the College of Charleston to a 13-4 win over Charleston Southern in college baseball action before 221 at Buccaneer Ballpark on Wednesday.
Charleston, which improved to 11-2 with its eighth straight win, defeated the Bucs for the sixth consecutive time dating back to the 2007 season. Charleston Southern fell to 7-7. The Cougars open a three-game Southern Conference series with Western Carolina on Friday at Patriots Point Stadium. The game begins at 6 p.m.
Brodin's two-run single in the first gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Hentz's two-run shot to left center was his third of the season and gave Charleston a 4-0 first inning advantage.
Brodin's three-run homer to center in the second capped Charleston's five-run outburst and stretched the Cougars' lead to 9-0. Brodin's added an RBI single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the sixth that gave the Cougars a 12-3 lead.
Brodin's RBI total was one shy of the team's single-game record set last year by Michael Harrington. Harrington drove in eight runs in Charleston's 20-16 win over Texas-San Antonio on March 8. Brodin, who improved his club-leading RBI total to 23, had 17 runs driven in over 33 games last season
Joey Bergman's (Jacksonville, Fla.) solo homer to left center in the eighth was his third of the season and gave Charleston a 13-4 lead.
For Charleston, Brandon Sizemore (Jacksonville, Fla.) collected three hits and scored three times. Brodin and Hentz had three hits, while teammates Clay McCord (Atlanta, Ga.) and Bergman added two hits each.
Scotty Radebaugh paced Charleston Southern's 9-hit attack with four hits in five at bats. Radabaugh added pair of RBI, while Blake Hunt added a run-producing single.
Aaron Bouronich (Summerville, S.C.) improved to 2-0 on the season as he picked up the win in releif. He allowed a run on two hits over two innings. Stew Brase (0-1) was the starter and loser for Charleston Southern.
Western Carolina 6, East Tennessee State 5
Cullowhee, N.C. - Trevor Collias capped off a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with a lead-off triple in the bottom of the ninth inning and later scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by J.C. Lyons as Western Carolina scored five runs in the final three innings to rally past East Tennessee State, 6-5, Wednesday afternoon at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
Collias rapped a three-bagger to the gap in left center on a full-count pitch to get WCU started in the ninth. Hot-hitting freshman Ross Heffley and junior Brent Greer were both intentionally walked by the Bucs to load the bases with no outs ahead of Lyons. ETSU also made a substitution that brought on five infielders with just two outfielders.
Lyons then lifted a 1-0 pitch to center field which was caught but was deep enough with the outfield playing in to allow Collias to trot home without a throw for the game-winner.
Western (10-2) remains perfect at home with its eighth-straight home victory, while East Tennessee fell to 5-6 on the season.
Junior Nick Liles extended his current hitting streak to 14 games dating back to last season by also finishing 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a run both scored and driven in. The Laurinburg, N.C., native leads the team with eight doubles this season. Greer finished 2-for-3 with his first triple of the year and one RBI on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Heffley saw his 11-game hitting streak - which spanned his entire collegiate career - come to an end with a 0-for-4 showing at the plate with the one free pass.
Drama began in the top of the ninth after the Catamounts had rallied to knot the game at five. Freshman reliever Andrew Blackwell, who finished with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief work, was chased after allowing a single up the middle to open the visitor's half of the final frame. The Bucs managed to load the bases with one hit and a walk off junior closer Daniel Ottone (1-0). However, the Cary, N.C., native was able to slam the door shut with a strikeout of Derek Trent with the bases loaded to keep the game tied and eventually earn Ottone the victory after the eventful bottom of the frame.
Freshman Garrett Baker did not earn a decision in his first career start, working 5.1 innings while allowing four runs - three earned - on five base hits. He also pitched around four walks with four strikeouts.
Western trailed 4-1 entering the seventh inning before back-to-back, one-out base hits by Liles and pinch-hitter Stephen Notaro. Collias then came through with a two-RBI single down the right field line to trim the deficit to one, 4-3. Greer later pushed Collias across with his sacrifice fly to tie the game at four.
Each team added a run in the eighth to set up the ninth, tied at five apiece.
ETSU's Bo Reeder (1-2) was the tough luck loser after relieving starter Ben Andrews from his fielding position at third in the seventh. He went 2.0 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with three walks in the loss. Andrews kept the Catamounts at bay most of the afternoon, surrendering three earned runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts in the no decision.
Offensively for the Bucs, Jacob Fabry finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, two of which came on a single through the left side in the sixth inning. Garrett May also finished with a multi-hit game for ETSU with a 2-for-3 outing.
Western Carolina returns to Southern Conference action this weekend with a three-game set against the College of Charleston at Patriot's Point. Friday's first pitch is set for 6:00 pm, with Saturday and Sunday to start at 1:00 pm.
Furman 9, Gardner-Webb 8
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Matt Hemingway scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to complete a five-run Paladin comeback and lift Furman to a 9-8 victory over Gardner-Webb in baseball action Wednesday afternoon at Master’s Field.
Trailing 8-4 after seven innings, Furman (6-6) rallied for four runs in the eighth to tie the game and took the lead for good in the ninth after Hemingway led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice and to third on an infield grounder. He then came home on a wild pitch by Gardner-Webb’s Josh White.
Paladin reliever Spencer Hale (1-0), who came on in the eighth, allowed a one-out single to the Bulldogs’ Kurt Fulginit in the ninth but Fulginiti was cut down attempting to steal. Hale then retired Jon Ahearn on a groundout to end the game and earn the victory.
Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Hemingway, and added three more in the third on a run scoring triple by Brian Harrison, an RBI single by Hemingway, who later scored on a double by Justin Holloway.
Gardner-Webb answered with three-runs in the third off Paladin starting pitcher Marc DeDecker.
The Bulldogs struck roughed up Paladin reliever Bobby Lyne for four runs in the fifth, taking advantage of three hits, two hit batsmen, and a two-run single by Ty Boyles to go ahead 7-4.
Gardner-Webb plated an unearned run in the sixth to stretch its’ lead to 8-4.
In the eighth a one-out walk by Campbell Lewis, who took second on a failed run down attempt, began Furman’s comeback. Back to back singles by Justin Holloway and Aaron Thompkins off G-W’s Ben Campbell plated Lewis, and Will Owens’ pinch double down the left field line off White scored Holloway. Marcus Rose then beat out an infield chop over the mound to drive home Thompkins, and after the Bulldog middle infielders failed to pick up the ball off Rose’s bat, Owens streaked home to tie the game at 8-8.
Holloway led Furman’s 14-hit attack with a 3-for-4 performance. Hemingway went 2-for-4, scored two runs, and drove in a pair. Rose, Thompkins, and Harrison also collected a pair of hits.
Gardner-Webb (6-6) had 12 hits, including three by Brock Miller. White (0-1) was charged with the loss afer yielding four hits and two runs over the final 1 2/3 innings.
Furman returns to action on Friday when it plays host to Samford at 7:00 p.m. ini the opener of a three-game Southern Conference series.
No. 2 North Carolina 12, Appalachian State 3
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Second-ranked North Carolina broke open a close ballgame with a seven-run sixth inning and went on to hand Appalachian State University baseball a 12-3 defeat on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
North Carolina (12-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning but starting pitcher Josh Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) held UNC scoreless over the next four frames to keep Appalachian within striking distance.
Tar Heel starter Bryant Gaines held ASU hitless until the fifth, but the Mountaineers had an opportunity to cut into the two-run deficit when David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) and Chris Alessandria (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease) led off the stanza with back-to-back singles. However, a flyout and an inning-ending double play squelched the threat.
UNC sent 10 batters to the plate en route to putting the game out of reach in the sixth. The first six hitters of the frame reached base and cleanup hitter Kyle Seager, the ninth Tar Heel to bat in the inning, put an exclamation point on the seven-run stanza with two-run single to center field.
Appalachian (5-8) scored its first run when catcher Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh and added two more in the eighth on a run-scoring groundout by Towarnicky and an RBI single by Alessandria. Towarnicky and Alessandria accounted for four of ASU’s seven hits with two apiece. Rand Smith (Bolivia, N.C./South Brunswick) and Chris Trappy (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) both doubled for the Mountaineers.
North Carolina matched ASU’s single run in the seventh and two in the eighth to close out its 12-run, 20-hit effort. All-American Dustin Ackley led the way with a 4-for-4 performance that included two home runs, his second and third of the two-game mid-week series.
Dowdy pitched well, striking out six in five innings of work, but was saddled with the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season. The senior right-hander was out-dueled by Gaines, who allowed just three hits and didn’t issue a walk while fanning nine in six scoreless innings to move to 2-0 on the campaign.
The Mountaineers looks to snap a five-game skid when it hosts The Citadel for a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. Game times are set for 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Alabama 11, Samford 6
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.?The Samford baseball team dropped an 11-6 decision at Alabama Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
For Samford at the plate, Matthew Bennett was 2-for-5 with two RBI. David Schulze also drove in a run for the Bulldogs.
Kyle Putkonen pitched 3.0 innings, giving up six runs on nine hits to take the loss. Josh Martin, Mark Lewallyn and Kyle Nichols also saw time on the mound for Samford.
Alabama was led at the plate by Taylor Dugas, going 4-for-4 with an RBI. Kent Matthes, Cody Trotter and Ross Wilson each homered for Alabama in the game.
Nathan Kilcrease pitched 4.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits to pick up the win. Austin Evans pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn the save.
Alabama jumped on top with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Dugas walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Matthes hit a home run to center field to give the Crimson Tide a 2-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide added a run in the second inning to make the score 3-0. Dugas doubled to right-center field to drive in Jake Smith, who had singled earlier in the inning, for Alabama’s third run of the game.
Samford plated a run in the top of the third inning to cut the Alabama lead to 3-1. Stephen Ballard was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off. After moving to second base on a Mason Meredeth single, Ballard went to third base on a wild pitch and scored on an Alabama error for Samford’s first run of the game.
Alabama added three runs in the third inning to make the score 6-1. Wilson drove in one run and Smith drove in two in the inning for the Crimson Tide. Alabama added another run in the fifth inning when Trotter led the inning off with a solo home run for a 7-1 Alabama lead.
Samford added two runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Alabama lead to 7-3. Schulze and Trey Hayes scored when Brad Moss reached base on an Alabama error.
Samford plated two more runs in the top of the seventh to make the score 7-5. With the bases loaded, Bennett singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Ballard and Schulze.
Samford pulled to within one run with a run in the top of the eighth inning. Wayne Miller singled and then moved to second base on a ground out. After a walk to Meredeth, Miller scored when Schulze singled up the middle to make the score 7-6.
Alabama came back with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to push its lead to 11-6. Wilson hit a three-run home run to left field with Dugas and Josh Rutledge on base to give the Crimson Tide a four-run lead. The final run of the inning was scored when Smith singled to left field to drive in Trotter.
With the loss, Samford drops to 5-8 on the season. Alabama improves to 9-4 with the win.
Samford will return to action on Friday, when the Bulldogs open a three-game Southern Conference series at Furman in Greenville, S.C. Friday’s game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CT) start.
Yale 4, Davidson 2
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Yale Bulldogs defeated the Davidson Wildcats, 4-2, in the final game of the two-game series Wednesday night at Wilson Field.
For Yale (2-2) Brandon Jessop (1-1) limited the Wildcats to just one run on five hits and struck out seven batters in 7 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
Freshman Ryan Overcash allowed two runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings and struck out four in the start, but suffered the loss for Davidson (7-6).
Neither team could manage much offensively, until the Bulldogs got a couple of runs in the fifth on a two-run home run from Davis Stanley.
The Bulldogs managed just one hit in the next two frames, but put together three hits for two more runs in the eighth to take a 4-0 lead.
In the eighth inning, senior second baseman Zach Kayne hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season for the Wildcats first run of the game.
Davidson threatened in the bottom of the ninth, getting runners on the corners with one out. Sophomore first baseman Danny Weiss drew a leadoff walk and took third on senior designated hitter Pat Brady's single into right field. Freshman left fielder Drew Gadaire plated Weiss, but the Wildcats rally ended with a 4-2 decision.
Davidson will travel to Elon this weekend for a three-game series with a 6 p.m Friday start time and 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday.