Western Carolina 14, High Point 4
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina scored a run in each of the first six innings Tuesday evening, pounding out 15 hits en route to a 14-4 nonconference victory over the High Point Panthers in front of 589 fans at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The win was WCU's 10th-straight at home dating back to last season and improved the Catamounts to 12-4 overall on the season. High Point dropped to 5-9 overall.
Five Catamount hitters posted multi-hit games led by the 3-for-4 showing at the plate by senior J.C. Lyons. The Marietta, Ga., native legged out three doubles in the victory and accounted for five runs with two scored and three RBIs. Junior Logan Bland and true freshman Lee Murray also registered three RBI nights, both finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. It was Murray's third multi-hit game in his last three outings, adding two of Western's six stolen bases on the day.
Junior Brent Greer drove in two on a 3-for-5 outing with a double, while sophomore Matt Johns posted a 2-for-3 outing with a double and a RBI.
Senior Corey Martin (4-1) made his first relief appearance of the season to win his team-leading, fourth game of the year. The Yadkinville, N.C., native tossed 1.2 innings of hitless, scoreless relief of sophomore starter Matt Benedict, striking out two. Martin entered the game with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, but induced a 5-4-3 double-play ball on a 0-1 count to erase High Point's threat and keep the game at 5-2, Western.
True freshman - and Brevard, N.C., native - Andrew Blackwell, worked the final four innings, his career-high, scattering five base hits and two runs - only one of which was earned - to pick up his first career save. The local product also tied his career-best with four strikeouts.
All told, Western Carolina used a total of 19 players on Tuesday night.
Nick Liles got Western off to a strong start in the home half of the first inning, blasting his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The Laurinburg, N.C., native took a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left center to give WCU the early, 1-0 advantage. Liles was later ejected from the game after a close play at first as he tried to beat out a bunt to the right side with a head-first slide into the bag.
Still in the first - just two batters later - WCU had a scary moment as hot-hitting freshman Ross Heffley was hit in the batter's helmet by a pitch which sent him reeling to the dirt. He would leave the field under his own power, though, and is listed as day-to-day with a concussion.
Tied at two in the bottom of the third, Western pushed across three runs to stretch its lead to 5-2 utilizing four base hits, three of which were singles. Murray, junior Tyler Kirkpatrick singled with Murray scampering home on a RBI single through the left side by Greer. Designated hitter Stephen Notaro sacrificed two into scoring position ahead of Lyons who laced his first of three doubles down the left field line to plate two.
Western again scored three in the fifth inning with Murray driving in two, and added five in the home half of the sixth in a frame that saw three doubles (Greer, Lyons and Bland) and a sacrifice fly by Murray.
High Point managed two runs in the last two innings to provide the final tally.
Panther starter Mikel Rodenberg picked up the loss in his first decision of the season after allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out four through four innings. Rodenberg only walked one, but hit three batters. Relievers Brian Jones and Nick Lettas combined for the final four innings, allowing a combined eight runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Kyle Mahoney finished 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and was hit by a pitch to lead High Point offensively. Bill Manion was 2-for-4 and Spencer Andrews finished 2-for-5 in the loss.
Western Carolina continues its current five-game home stand on Wednesday by hosting mountain-rival, UNC Asheville, at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. UNCA will be playing its fourth game in as many days, falling to East Tennessee State Tuesday night, 3-2. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
UNC Greensboro 15, Lafayette 8
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning to cap off a late rally to defeat Lafayette, 15-8, on Tuesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Sophomore Michael Wall went 3-4 with two triples, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Spartans (3-9) at the plate and Zach Furl and Matt Parish combined to pitch 6 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to help secure the win.
Lafayette starter Ryan Hanna left the game with a four run lead after six innings for the Leopards (7-5), but the bullpen allowed 11 runs in the losing effort.
UNCG jumped out to a three run lead in the bottom of the first after the Spartans strung together five consecutive hits. With one down in the inning, Wall stepped to the plate and belted his first triple of the game on a line drive to right center. Ray Quinones followed with a single to score Wall from third. Freshman Trevor Edwards then ripped a double down the left field line to move Quinones over to third. Ed Jayjack kept the hits rolling as his single to right center scored Edwards and Quinones to make the score 3-0.
After breezing through the first two innings, UNCG starter Alex Shelton ran into trouble in the third inning. The first nine Leopard batters reached base safely as Lafayette put eight runs on the board in the inning. Only four of those runs were earned as the Leopards were aided by an error on a double play ball early in the inning. Furl came in to limit the damage and recorded the final out of the inning.
Neither team was able to score in the fourth and fifth inning, but the Spartans scored one in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 8-4. With two down, Pedro Leon was issued a walk and Wall followed that with his second triple of the game to score Leon from first.
After Hanna exited after the sixth inning, the floodgates opened for the Spartans. UNCG would go on to score 11 runs off of four Leopard pitchers in the final two innings. Those 11 runs would come off of only three hits as the Leopard bullpen would issue eight walks in those two innings.
The Spartans would push four runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game at 8 apiece. Edwards led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a balk before advancing to third on an Ed Jayjack fly out. Raymond Frias and Jacob Golliday would follow with walks to load the bases. After a fly out to left field, pinch hitter Joey Frabasile hit a grounder to the pitcher who rushed his throw and threw it down the right field line to score. That scored Edwards and Frias to pull the Spartans within 8-6. Leon followed with a single to left field to score Golliday and Frabasile to tie the game at 8.
With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, UNCG exploded for seven runs on only two hits. Edwards once again led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on Jayjack’s single through the right side. Frias was up next and advanced on a fielder’s choice as Edwards was thrown out at third. Pinch hitter Kris Richards loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and Brent O’Berry knocked in the winning run as his double scored Jayjack and Frias. Pinch hitter Brad Raynor loaded the bases once again after he was hit by a pitch. Leon followed with another to walk to score O’Berry from third. An error by the third baseman on Ray Quinone’s hit to the left side plated two more Spartans and the final run would come on a groundout to make the final score 15-8.
UNCG will turn around and face Lafayette again on Wednesday in the final game of the two-game midweek series. The Spartans and the Leopards will play at 6 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Georgia Southern 7, North Carolina A&T 3
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? For the second straight game Georgia Southern broke open a one-run game in the ninth inning, scoring three runs to defeat North Carolina A&T 7-3 on Tuesday afternoon (March 17). The Eagles improved to 14-2 on the year while the Aggies dropped to 3-9.
Up 4-3 in the ninth, Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) was hit by the first pitch of the inning. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) followed with a walk. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) lined a one-out RBI single. Randy Williams (Valdosta/Andrew College) delivered a run-scoring single then the Aggies’ third error of the game led to another run and the final margin.
Sophomore Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) allowed one run on three hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out four, improving to 3-0. Matt Murray (Spring City, PA/Owen Roberts) went the final five innings for his first collegiate save, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings. Murray struck out three without issuing a walk.
In the third Jonathan King (Athens, TN/Young Harris) drew a one-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch when Porter walked. Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) ripped a two-out, two-run double to center.
Jake Ware (Statesboro/Statesboro) added a two-out RBI single in the fourth. C.J. Beatty got one run back with a leadoff home run off Moye.
An error and two walks loaded the bases with no one out in the Eagles’ half of the fifth. Wirnsberger hit into a double play but another run scored making it 4-1.
Murray almost worked out of a two-on no one out jam, getting an infield popup and strikeout, but B.J. Curtis lined a 2-run single making it 4-3 after six innings.
Eric Phillips (Carrollton/Carrollton) had two of the Eagles’ six hits. Porter scored three runs and Williams scored twice. The Eagles also walked nine times and was hit by two pitches.
Nick Boles (1-2) allowed two runs on two hits in three innings.
The Eagles travel to Winthrop on Wednesday night (March 18), first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on Eagle 102.9 FM and via the website at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
South Carolina 6, Davidson 0
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The South Carolina Gamecocks held the Davidson Wildcats to three hits en route to a 6-0 shutout in non-conference baseball action in front of 5,655 at Carolina Stadium Tuesday night.
The Gamecock's Parker Bangs pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and striking out seven in his first career start. He also contributed to his own cause, batting 2-for-2 with an RBI.
South Carolina improves to 12-4 overall, while Davidson falls to 8-7.
Zach Kayne, Chris FitzPatrick and Seth Freeman each had a hit for the Wildcats. Chris Kennedy, on a scheduled short start, took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.
The Gamecocks scored a run in the first inning, as Adam Matthews walked, stole second and scored on an RBI-double by Whit Merrifeld. South Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the second, taking advantage of another leadoff walk and a one-out double by Matthews.
South Carolina added a pair of runs in the third, on a one-out RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Andrew Crisp. Nick Ebert and DeAngelo Mack added the final runs of the game, solo home runs in the fourth and fifth, for the final margin.
The Wildcats, 3-1 in the league, will return to Southern Conference play and head to Wofford for a three-game series this weekend. Friday's contest starts at 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday have 1 p.m. first pitches.
Belmont 8, Samford 4
NASHVILLE, Tenn.?The Samford baseball team dropped an 8-4 decision in a non-conference game at Belmont Tuesday at Shelby Park.
Wayne Miller led Samford, going 5-for-5 at the plate with a home run and two RBI. David Schulze was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Stephen Ballard was 2-for-5 at the plate.
Grant Sides pitched 4.0-plus innings, giving up four runs on four hits to take the loss on the mound. Dayne Cutrell and Mark Lewallyn also saw time on the mound for Samford.
Belmont was led at the plate by Brandon McCall, going 3-for-5 with four RBI. Dylan Craig and Derek Hamblen had two hits each for the Bruins. Nate Woods tossed 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on 10 hits to earn the win.
Belmont jumped on top first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Craig doubled to lead the inning off and later scored when McCall singled to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Samford came back to tie the score with a run in the top of the third inning. Marcus Rodriguez led the inning off with a double and then moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Brad Moss. Rodriguez then scored when Miller singled up the middle to make the score 1-1.
Samford took the lead with one run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 2-1. Schulze singled and moved to second base on a single by Matthew Bennett. Schulze then scored when Trey Hayes singled up the middle to give Samford the lead.
Belmont answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the score at 2-2. Daniel Wagner walked to lead off the inning and later scored from third base when Vinny Casha hit a sacrifice fly to center field to even the score.
Belmont regained the lead with two runs in the fifth inning. McCall singled to drive in Packy Evans for the first run of the inning. Derek Wiley later scored from third base on a wild pitch to make the score 4-2.
Samford cut the Belmont lead to 4-3 with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Mason Meredeth reached base on an infield single to lead off the inning. Schulze then doubled to right-center field to drive in Meredeth.
The Bruins pulled away with four runs in the eighth inning to make the score 8-3. Wiley and McCall drove in two runs each in the inning for Belmont.
Samford added one final run in the top of the ninth inning when Miller homered to right field to make the final score 8-4.
Samford will play again Wednesday when the Bulldogs play at Lipscomb. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start
Wake Forest 3, Appalachian State 1
BOONE, N.C. ? Wake Forest pitching limited Appalachian State University baseball to just six hits and handed Appalachian a 3-1 setback on Tuesday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Appalachian (6-11) received a strong effort from its five pitchers but managed its only run on a third-inning RBI single by Nick DeRose (Winston-Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds) en route to its sixth-consecutive loss.
Wake Forest (8-8) evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Austin Stradler and took a 2-1 lead in the sixth on what turned out to be a game-winning home run to right field by Weldon Woodall. WFU added an insurance run in the eighth when Shane Kroker led off the stanza with a triple to right center field and came across the plate two batters later on a double play.
The Mountaineers’ pitching quintet of Seth Grant (Etowah, N.C./West Henderson), Nick Daniels (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus), Chris Patterson (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County), Will Helms (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) and Andrew Webster (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) held the Demon Deacons, which came into the contest averaging seven runs a game, to just three runs on eight hits. Daniels (0-1) suffered the tough-luck loss after allowing a run on two hits in 2.2 innings of work.
WFU starter Michael Dimock scattered six hits and struck out five over 6.2 innings of work to pick up his first-career win. Zach White closed it out with 2.1 hitless innings of relief to earn his first save.
ASU’s six-game losing streak is its longest since it dropped 10 in a row early in the 2006 season.
The Apps look to snap the skid when they travel to Johnson City, Tenn. on Wednesday for a non-conference date with East Tennessee State. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Cardinal Park.