Furman 8, Charleston Southern 1
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Barry Benton threw seven innings of shutout ball to lift Furman to an 8-1 win over Charleston Southern in baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Buccaneer Park.
Benton (1-3), a junior left-hander from Jacksonville, Ala., surrendered six hits and walk while striking out three in earning the victory and posting his longest outing of the season.
The win snapped a four-game losing skid for Furman, which improves to 9-11 on the year. Charleston Southern falls to 10-12 with the loss.
Marcus Rose tripled, drove in two runs, and scored three times in a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, and Matt Hemingway also had three hits, including a double, to pace Furman’s 15-hit attack.
Justin Holloway, Connor Lind, and Rob Fondu each had two hits and an RBI for the Paladins.
Tyler Thornburg and Derek Smith combined for four of Charleston Southern’s eight hits.
The Paladins scored all the runs they would need in the second on consecutive RBI singles by Holloway, Lind, and Fondu off Buccaneer starting and losing pitcher Brandon Roberts (1-1).
Furman made it 4-0 in the fourth after Rose drew a one-out walk, stole second, and scored on Reese Wade’s RBI single.
The Paladins blew the game open with four runs in the fifth, highlighted by Rose’s two-run triple.
Charleston Southern avoided the shutout with a run in the ninth off Paladin reliever Spencer Hale.
Furman returns to action on Wednesday when it entertains Presbyterian in a 6:00 p.m. game at Latham Stadium.
Appalachian State 19, North Carolina A&T 6
BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University baseball broke out of its recent offensive slump in a big way on Tuesday afternoon, setting season highs for hits and runs in a 19-6 win over North Carolina A&T at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Appalachian (8-14) came into the day averaging only three-and-a-half runs per game over its last seven outings but exploded to score in each of the first seven innings en route to the season-best 19 runs and 20 hits.
The Mountaineers scored a run in the first inning, four in the second and two in the third to grab a 7-0 lead before N.C. A&T (6-14) managed its first base runner.
A&T got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth, but ASU answered with five in the bottom of the stanza to make it 12-1.
The clubs swapped runs in the fifth before the Apps stretched the advantage to 16-2 with a three-run sixth. The Aggies broke out of their offensive doldrums with two runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Mountaineers plated three of their own in the bottom of the seventh. With the 19-6 lead in hand, the Apps didn’t put runs on the scoreboard for the first and only time in the eighth.
Nine different players recorded hits for Appalachian, led by a 4-for-5, three-RBI, three-run effort by Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory). Nick DeRose (Winston-Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds) went 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs and Jason Wallace (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) came off the bench to go 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. In addition to Harrow and DeRose, Rand Smith (Bolivia, N.C./South Brunswick), Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) and David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) also drove in three runs apiece.
Not to be overshadowed by the prowess at the plate was the effort turned in by ASU starter Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./Central) (1-1). The freshman right-hander limited N.C. A&T to two runs on four hits over six innings of work. He struck out three and needed only 58 pitches to earn his first-career win.
N.C. A&T miscues helped the Mountaineers’ cause. A&T committed two errors, threw seven wild pitches and had four passed balls on the afternoon. Starting pitcher Nick Oelker surrendered 12 runs (eight earned) on nine hits and walked six in 3.2 innings of work to fall to 0-5 on the season.
Ronald Perry led the Aggies offensively by going 2-for-3 with two RBI from the nine-hole in the lineup.
With the win, Appalachian has put together back-to-back victories for the first time since a season-opening three-game sweep of Jacksonville State. ASU looks to stretch the winning streak to three when it travels to Radford on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
Georgia Southern 4, Kennesaw State 2
STATESBORO, Ga. - Tied at 2-all in the eighth inning, Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) launched the go-ahead home run as Georgia Southern recorded a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Kennesaw State Tuesday night (March 24). The Eagles improved to 17-4 overall, 13-1 at J.I. Clements Stadium.
With one out in the eighth, Porter hammered a 0-1 fastball over the 55-foot tall batters eye in centerfield (385 feet) to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead. Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) drew a two-out walk then A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) lined a single to right field. Jordan Craft had the ball go under his glove which allowed Miller to score from first on the play.
Dexter Bobo (Cumming/Darton College) walked the first batter in the ninth but got the next two outs. Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) issued a walk but got pinch-hitter Jon White on a pop up to end the game.
"I wanted to do something special for the team. The first pitch he hung a curveball, and I told myself if he threw a fastball I wanted to make good contact. I got my pitch and hit it pretty well. That's probably the longest home run I've hit to date," said Porter.
The Owls (9-10) took advantage of two-out hitting in the first inning for a 2-0 lead, thanks to Ric Bishop's home run. Starter Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) gave up only two hits over the next five innings, walking one and striking out six in six innings of work.
Kennesaw held the Eagles in check with only one hit allowed until the sixth inning. Jonathan King (Athens, TN/Young Harris) walked to start the sixth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) walked and Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) reached on an infield single. Wirnsberger walked to bring home another run. Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Bucky Smith, who could not come up with the play allowing the tying run to score.
Both teams managed only five hits apiece. Bobo improved to 2-0, getting a strikeout on three of the five outs he recorded, while Kamppi picked up his team-leading fourth save. Charles Matthews (Athens/Spartanburg Methodist) worked a scoreless seventh inning. The GS pitchers fanned 10 Owls and allowed just three walks.
Wes Tignor (0-2) suffered the loss in relief, charged for one run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Starter Chad Jenkins pitched two scoreless then Justin Edwards was charged for two runs (one earned) on two hits in four innings. Andrew Martin had two of the team's five hits.
The Eagles travel to South Carolina on Wednesday night (March 25), first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
No. 20 Clemson 5, Elon 3 (Game 1)
CLEMSON, S.C. -- The 20th-ranked Clemson Tigers notched 13 base hits, 12 of which were singles, but held off the Elon Phoenix by a 5-3 margin in baseball action from Doug Kingsmore Stadium in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday night. The loss snapped Elon's season-long four-game winning streak.
The Tigers (15-6) started the bottom of the third with back-to-back infield singles from Brad Miller and Mike Freeman. After a sacrifice bunt moved up both runners, Kyle Parker lined a single to center to score Miller with the game's first run. A wild pitch allowed Freeman to score the second run.
Elon (12-6) responded in the top of the fourth when, following a Mike Melillo single, Chase Austin connected for his first homer of the year ? this one to left.
Miller and Freeman began the Clemson fifth with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Ben Paulsen then walked to load the bases. Parker lined into a double play before Jeff Schaus flew out to center to end the threat and keep the game even at two.
With two outs and runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, Miller singled through the right side to score Matt Sanders with the go-ahead run. On the play, Justin Hilt gunned down Addison Johnson at the plate to end the inning and keep the Phoenix deficit to just a run at 3-2.
The Phoenix threatened in the eighth, getting runners on first and second with two outs before a strikeout ended the Elon attack.
Clemson added two insurance runs in its half of the eighth when John Nester drove a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right which also plated Wilson Boyd.
Elon added one and was poised to make a run in the ninth before a fly out ended the game. The run scored on Zeth Stone's single to right as Hilt came in from third. The Phoenix had runners on the corners when the game ended.
Cory Harrilchak took the loss and fell to 0-1 on the year. Harrilchak allowed three runs on 12 hits and a walk in 6.0 innings of action on the mound. On the night, Elon pitching walked just two hitters.
Picking up the win was Clinton McKinney (1-0). McKinney three 3.0 scoreless innings for the Tigers in relief of Will Lamb. Matt Vaughn threw the ninth for his first save of the year.
Austin and Irvine both had two-hit nights for Elon while Harrilchak went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 18 games. He has also reached base safely in 51 consecutive contests. Ten of the 11 Phoenix players to record an at bat had a hit.
Clemson's Miller and Freeman each had three hits and scored once. Nester went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI.
No. 20 Clemson 8, Elon 7 (Game 2)
CLEMSON, S.C. -- Mike Melillo and Pat Irvine each homered twice, but it was not enough as the 20th-ranked Clemson Tigers rallied past the Elon Phoenix for an 8-7 baseball victory in game two of a doubleheader from Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday night. With losses in both ends of the double dip, Elon dropped back-to-back games for just the first time this year and is now 12-7 on the season. Clemson now sits at 16-6.
Elon jumped on top early in the nightcap when Melillo belted a two-out, two-run homer down the right field line in the first inning. It was the fourth home run of the year for Melillo.
The Phoenix lead stretched to 3-0 in the second. With Zeth Stone on first after a single, Cory Harrilchak singled to center. Elon should have had runners on the corners with two outs, however, the Tiger center fielder misplayed the ball which allowed Stone to score.
Jason Schaus drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the second before Phil Pohl singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Chris Epps ripped a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right-center to knot the score at three. It was the first homer of the year for Epps.
Melillo struck again in the third, crushing another two-run homer. This one brought home Bennett Davis who had reached on an error. The blast gave Melillo his second career multi-homer game of his career.
The Tigers started their half of the third with a single from Mike Freeman and a RBI double off the bat of Ben Paulsen which brought Clemson within a run at 5-4. Ben Paulsen then walked before a pickoff attempt at second was muffed by Stone. The error allowed Paulsen to score the tying run. Matt Sanders' double put runners on second and third before a pitching change was made. Schaus then walked to load the bags, but Clemson was unable to push across the go-ahead run as Jared Kernodle got a double play that erased the two lead runners before getting a fly out to end the inning.
Clemson loaded the bases again in the fourth thanks to a one-out single from Brad Miller and two-out walks to Paulsen and Kyle Parker. Kernodle then fanned Sanders to keep the game even at five.
Irvine led off the Phoenix fifth with his sixth home run of the year to put Elon back on top, 6-5.
The Tigers got it tied again in the fifth when Schaus, who doubled to begin the at bat, scored on a ground ball to second. On the play pinch-hitter Will Lamb reached thanks to a throwing error. After Lamb stole second, Miller grounded a ball to second that was misplayed again and Lamb raced home with the go-ahead score.
Elon threatened in the seventh as Harrilchak walked to start the frame and moved to third on Melillo's two-out single. After Melillo stole second, Chase Austin flew out to right and the Tigers preserved their 7-6 lead.
Jason Stolz singled to begin the bottom of the seventh before heading to third on a hit-and-run single off the bat of John Nester. Epps followed with a sac fly to center to score Stolz with Clemson's eighth run of the contest.
Irvine's two-out solo shot in the ninth provided the final margin.
Tom Porter (0-1) took the loss in relief. Porter allowed one unearned run in two-thirds of an inning.
Craig Gullickson (1-0) was the winner after giving up just one run on three hits in 3.0 innings. Tomas Cruz threw the ninth to earn his first save of the year.
For Elon, Melillo was 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Irvine went 2-for-4 with two runs and two driven in. Austin finished 3-for-4 as well.
Epps led the Tiger attack with a career-best four RBI. Miller, Freeman, Paulsen and Schaus all had two hits.
The Phoenix remains on the road for a three-game SoCon series at Georgia Southern beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
N.C. State 4, UNC Greensboro 3
RALEIGH, NC ? UNC Greensboro rallied to score two runs in the top of the ninth, but potential tying run Brent O’Berry was called out at home as the Spartans fell to NC State, 4-3, on Tuesday evening at Doak Field.
Alex Sogard pitched three innings of two-hit relief for the Wolfpack (13-10) to pick up the win and Kyle Rutter escaped with his first save of the season.
UNCG starter Matt Parish picked up the loss for the Spartans (7-10) after allowing four runs in four innings of work. Freshman Zach Furl pitched great in relief, allowing just two hits in 3 2/3 innings of work.
Down 4-1 heading into the final frame, Jacob Golliday led off the inning with a single up the middle. Eric Temple came into run for Golliday and advanced to second on a Michael Wall walk. Kyle Rutter then came in to pitch for the Wolfpack and got the first batter to strike out. O’Berry followed with a walk to load the bases with only one out. Rutter got the next batter to strike out before Corey Overholtzer singled through the left side to score Temple and make the score 4-2. Ray Quinones followed with another single through the left side to score Wall from third. O’Berry was waved around third and it appeared that he might have slid under the tag at home, but the home plate umpire ruled O’Berry out to end the game.
The Wolfpack got on the board in the bottom half of the second to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. After a leadoff single by Drew Poulk, consecutive fielder’s choices left runners on first and second with one down. Wade Moore followed with a double to the gap in right center to clear the bases and give NC State a 2-0 lead. During the next at-bat, Moore stole third and scored on throwing error by the catcher.
The Spartans were able to get one of those runs back in the top of the fourth to narrow the deficit to 3-1. UNCG loaded the bases thanks to two walks and a single to lead off the inning before Wolfpack starter Zak Sinclair was relieved by Alex Sogard. Sogard came in a struck out the two batters before Pedro Leon scored from third on a passed ball to make the score 3-1. Sogard struck out the final batter of the inning to end the Spartan threat.
NC State got that run back in the bottom half of the inning to retake a three-run lead. The Wolfpack strung together three singles in the first four at-bats of the inning to extend their lead to 4-1.
UNCG returns home Wednesday to face High Point in the final midweek game this week. The Spartans and the Panthers will meet at 6 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
No. 28 South Carolina 14, No. 30 College of Charleston 2
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- Andrew Crisp homered and drove in three runs, while teammates Nick Ebert and Kyle Enders also homered leading South Carolina to a 14-2 win over College of Charleston before 1,767 at Patriots Point Stadium on Tuesday.
The Gamecocks improved to 15-6 with the win, while the Cougars fell to 17-4. The Cougars open a three-game series with Furman on Friday at Patriots Point Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. The Gamecocks play host to Georgia Southern in a 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ebert's two-run homer in the second innning gave the Gamecocks a 6-0 lead. A hit batter and wild pitch with the bases loaded extended South Carolina's second-inning lead to 8-0.
Enders and Crisp hit back-to-back homers leading off the fourth inning to give South Carolina a 10-0 lead. Crisp added a two-run single in the fifth to give South Carolina a 13-0 lead.
Austin Morgan (Katy, Tex.) double leading off the fifth for Charleston and eventually scored on a one-out single from Clay McCord (Atlanta, Ga.). Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) added an RBI single in the eighth for Charleston. Morgan and McCord finished with two hits in three at plates.
Blake Cooper (3-2) need just 92 pitches to earn the win. Cooper surrendered one run on five hits with three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of work. Nick Osterman (Goose Creek, S.C.) suffered the loss and fell to 1-1. Osterman allowed six unearned runs on four hits over the first 1 2/3 innings.
Auburn 18, Samford 7
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?The Auburn baseball team plated nine runs, all with two outs, in the top of the sixth inning to pull away for an 18-7 win at Samford Tuesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
“From an offensive standpoint, this was a good effort,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “I felt good about what we did at the plate, especially early on. When you give up a nine spot in an inning, that takes it out of everybody.”
Samford was led at the plate by Bo Smith, going 3-for-4 with a double, and David Schulze went 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Mason Meredeth also homered in a 1-for-5 performance.
Tyler Vanderheiden pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up five runs on three hits to take the loss on the mound. Vanderheiden was one of eight pitchers used in the game by Samford.
For Auburn, Tony Caldwell went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Joseph Sanders was 2-for-3 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and six RBI. Justin Hargett was also 4-for-5 with three RBI for the Tigers.
Bradley Hendrix pitched 4.0 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits to earn the win for Auburn.
Samford entered the bottom of the fifth inning trailing by a score of 4-2. The Bulldogs plated five runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. After Wayne Miller singled to center field and stole second base, Stephen Ballard doubled to right field to drive in Miller to make the score 4-3.
Meredeth then homered to left-center field with Ballard on base to give Samford a 5-4 lead. Schulze followed Meredeth’s homer with a solo shot to center field to make the score 6-4. After Smith doubled and moved to third on a fly out, Davis Harrison reached base on a fielder’s choice and Smith scored on the play for a 7-4 Samford lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Caldwell and Kevin Patterson singled and Trent Mummey walked to load the bases with two outs. Sanders then hit a grand slam to left-center field to give Auburn the lead for good at 8-7.
The next batter after the grand slam, Ben Jones, reached base on a Samford error. Hunter Morris and Brian Fletcher then walked to load the bases again. Casey McElroy singled to right field to drive in Morris and Jones for a 10-7 Auburn lead. Caldwell then homered to right-center field to make the score 13-7.
Auburn added three runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth inning to make the final score 18-7.
Samford drops to 7-15 with the loss. Auburn improves to 16-8 with the win.
Samford will return to action on Wednesday evening when the Bulldogs play host to Belmont at 6 p.m.
Wake Forest 13, Davidson 11 (11 inn.)
DAVIDSON, N.C.-- Pat Brady's RBI-double in the bottom of the ninth scored the tying run to force extra innings, but Wake Forest's Weldon Woodall's two-run home run in the 11th proved the difference in Davidson's 13-11 loss Tuesday night at Wilson Field.
Davidson (9-10) started the comeback bid with a five-run seventh inning to pull within two, 11-9, and set the table for the ninth-inning rally. Wake Forest (10-9) though got the game-winning runs in the 11th.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Will General came through with a one-out single that got by Wake Forest second baseman Bentley Heyman to give the 'Cats a much-needed base runner, and after Graham Chapman entered to run for General, Sam Payne coaxed a two-out walk out of just-entered reliever Zach White for a second.
White's failed pickoff attempt at first sailed by Demon Deacon first baseman Tyler Smith and each took a base to get into scoring position for Chase FitzPatrick, who dramatically legged out an infield single to short stop Shane Kroker, allowing Chapman to score.
With runners on the corner, cleanup hitter Brady put a 0-1 pitched into the gap in right-center field to score Payne, but FitzPatrick was thrown out cleanly at the plate to end the inning with the score knotted at 11.
Zach Kayne took the mound for the 'Cats in the 10th, facing and retiring three batters, but the 'Cats went down one-two-three in the bottom of the 10th, too.
Kayne got Evan Ocheltree to ground out for the first out of the 11th, but allowed a base hit to Kroker in the next at-bat. Woodall, then broke up the stalemate with a two-run home run over the trees in left center that proved the game-winner.
Kayne (0-1) took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing two runs on two hits in two innings of relief. Zach White (2-0) became the winner for the Deacons, allowing one run on three hits in two innings, and Michael Dimock earned the save by getting Chase FitzPatrick to foul out with two on in the bottom of the 11th to end the game.
Wake Forest got a run in the first frame as Steven Brooks hit a leadoff single into center and scored on a fielding error by Chris FitzPatrick, but Davidson reclaimed the lead with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Kayne earned the first of his three walks in the game to start the frame and scored on Payne's double into right field. Brady, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored, hit a three-run home run to give the 'Cats a 4-1 lead.
Wake would string together a couple of base hits for another run in the second and take the 10-4 lead with four runs in each the fourth and fifth inning. Brooks' RBI-single in the seventh pushed the lead to 11-4, but the Wildcats scored five runs in the bottom of the frame.
Chase FitzPatrick started the rally for the 'Cats with a single into right field and Brady took a walk, one of 11 by Wildcat batters, to put two on for Danny Weiss' home run into right center. Drew Gadaire walked, and Seth Freeman hit a one-out infield single to the short stop. Kayne took the third walk of the inning, extending the frame for Brady, who answered with a double into the gap in left field to score Gadaire and Freeman, but Chase FitzPatrick was narrowly thrown out on a ball hit to short to end the rally with the Wildcats trailing 11-9.
Davidson will travel to Gardner-Webb for a 6 p.m. contest tomorrow, before returning to host Appalachian State this weekend.
Tennessee 5, Western Carolina 1
Knoxville, Tenn. - Volunteer pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and catcher Blake Forsythe belted a three-run home run to straightaway center field as Tennessee downed Western Carolina, 5-1, Tuesday night in nonconference action at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week Stephen Notaro provided WCU's lone score of the night, hitting an opposite field home run in the sixth inning to pull the Catamounts within four following the three-run Forsythe shot. However, it was as close as WCU would close in the loss.
Western dropped to 15-6 overall on the season, while the Vols (10-12) halted a three-game slide and avenged last year's 5-2 home loss to the Catamounts.
Junior Brent Greer and freshman Ross Heffley each finished 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Catamounts with both legging out their seventh doubles of the season. Greer was the lone WCU starter not to strikeout in the losing effort.
WCU stranded nine base runners in the loss, including leaving runners on second and third base in both the second and third innings, respectively.
Corey Martin suffered his second loss of the season after working 4.1 innings in the mid-week start. The Yadkinville, N.C., native surrendered five earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts before being chased in the fifth inning following Forsythe's homer. Sophomore Matt Benedict tossed the final 3.2 innings of scoreless relief holding the Vols to two base hits with three strikeouts.
Josh Liles and Cody Brown led the Vols, both with 2-for-4 showings at the plate while Forsythe finished with three strikeouts as a part of a 1-for-4 night with the one hit plating three on the long ball to center.
Starter Ty'Relle Harris fanned eight while scattering four base hits through the first five innings to even his seasonal record at 2-2. Reliever Matt Ramsey surrendered three hits, including the solo shot to Notaro, with four strikeouts while Danny Wiltz closed out the final two innings in one-hit, scoreless relief with one strikeout.
Western Carolina returns home to host Kennesaw State - which fell 4-2 at SoCon-member Georgia Southern on Tuesday night in Statesboro - at 6:00 pm Wednesday night at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.