Appalachian State 15, East Tennessee State 12
BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University baseball scored 11 runs over its final three at-bats to rally from an eight-run deficit and defeat East Tennessee State, 15-12, on Tuesday evening at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
The comeback victory extended Appalachian’s season-best winning streak to seven games and gave ASU (18-16) 12 wins in its last 14 outings.
The Mountaineers trailed 7-0 after one-and-a-half innings and 12-4 going into the bottom of the sixth but rallied for five runs in the sixth, two in the seventh and four in the eighth to come away with the improbable triumph.
After cutting the deficit to one run, Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) led off the decisive eighth inning by reaching base on a throwing error by ETSU shortstop Garrett May. Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) followed with a single to left field and David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) knotted the game at 12-12 with a single through the right side of the infield that scored Hobson from second and moved Harrow to third.
Harrow scored the go-ahead run one pitch later on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Chris Alessandria (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease). The Apps went on to load the bases and added some insurance when Bucs catcher Derek Trent allowed a passed ball and then threw the ball away after retrieving it near the first-base dugout, allowing two more runners to come across the plate.
ASU closer Zach Quate (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) made sure the 15-12 lead stood up in the ninth, as he followed a leadoff walk with a strikeout and double play to earn his seventh save of the season. In the past six games, Quate has recorded a win and five saves while surrendering just two hits and striking out nine in 6.2 innings of work.
Catcher Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) led the Mountaineers’ 15-run, 14-hit outburst by going 2-for-3 with three runs, three RBI and a two-run homer that snuck inside the right-field foul pole in the fourth inning. Right fielder Jason Wallace (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) also turned in a 2-for-3 effort with three RBI and Rand Smith (Bolivia, N.C./South Brunswick) extended his hitting streak to 23 games ? two shy of the school record ? with a two-run single in the sixth.
Nick Daniels (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) (1-2) worked a hitless eighth to earn his first win of the season.
For ETSU (14-19), Ben Allen was charged with four runs (one earned) in one-third of an inning to fall to 0-2 on the season. Allen led the Bucs offensively, however, with a 2-for-4, five-RBI performance at the plate.
The win was eerily reminiscent of last Tuesday’s 9-7 victory at Tennessee, in which Appalachian also surrendered five runs in the first inning but rallied for its first win over UT in 19 years. The triumph over ETSU snapped ASU’s five-game losing streak at the hands of its local rival.
Appalachian closes a five-game homestand and tries to extend its winning streak to eight when it hosts Gardner-Webb on Wednesday evening at Smith Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
Samford 12, Georgia State 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?Samford freshman pitcher Kyle Putkonen pitched 7.0 innings, giving up just two runs on six hits as the Bulldog baseball team claimed a 12-2 win over the Georgia State Panthers Tuesday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
“Kyle did a great job,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “He really pitched well. He had a tough first inning, but then settled in after that. It was a great outing by Kyle, and this is another step forward for what, hopefully, will be a good young arm for us.”
Putkonen walked just two batters and struck out two in earning the win and improving his record to 2-2 this season. Grant Sides and Kyle Nichols each pitched an inning of relief to close the game out.
For Samford at the plate, Bo Smith was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. David Schulze and Joe Durham had two hits each for the Bulldogs. Mason Meredeth also homered for the Bulldogs, driving in three runs in a 1-for-4 performance. The home run extends Meredeth’s current hitting streak to 21 games, the longest for the Bulldogs this season.
Georgia State’s Adam Knight pitched 5.0 innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits to take the loss and drop his record to 1-3 on the season. Nick Hogan led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4. Chase Childers and Bradley Logan each had an RBI for the Panthers.
Georgia State jumped on top first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Hogan singled to lead off the inning, and then stole second base and moved to third on a ground out. Childers then doubled to left field to drive in Hogan for the game’s first run. Logan singled to drive in Childers for a 2-0 GSU lead.
Samford tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out in the inning, Stephen Ballard singled to right field. With two outs, Schulze singled up the middle, moving Ballard to second base. Ballard then scored when Smith singled to right field to make the score 2-1. Trey Hayes then singled to right field to drive in Schulze to tie the score at 2-2.
Samford took the lead for good with one run in the fourth inning. Austin Allison walked with one out in the inning. Brad Moss then reached base on a bunt single, moving Allison to second base. Wayne Miller singled to left field to drive in Allison for a 3-2 Samford lead.
Samford took control of the game with four runs in the sixth inning to make the score 7-2. Durham and Allison led the inning off with back-to-back bunt singles. After moving to third base on a fielder’s choice, Durham scored the inning’s first run on a passed ball for a 4-2 Samford lead. Allison then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-2.
Ballard then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Moss for a 6-2 Samford lead. Schulze later singled to left field to drive in Miller for a five-run Samford lead.
Samford plated five runs in the eighth inning to make the final score 12-2. Meredeth homered to left field with Ballard and Miller on base to make the score 10-2. After Schulze walked, Smith homered to right field for the game’s final two runs.
Samford improves to 12-24 with the win, which ends a seven-game losing streak for the Bulldogs. Georgia State drops to 23-12 on the season with the loss.
Samford will be back in action Wednesday night when the Bulldogs play host to Alabama at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford will hold a Cash Drop, sponsored by Crane Works, following the game. A helicopter will drop money onto the field and fans will be allowed to grab the cash as it falls.
Wednesday night’s game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. The game can be viewed online via SoCon TV at www.soconsports.com.
Duke 4, Davidson 3
DURHAM, N.C. -- Nate Frieman hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift the Duke Blue Devils to a 4-3 win over the Davidson Wildcats Tuesday night at Jack Coombs Field.
Frieman went 3-for-4 and drove in all four of the Blue Devils' runs to lead Duke (25-13) at the plate. Will Piwnica-Worms and Ryan McCurdy each had two hits. The teams combined for just 15 hits.
Davidson (13-17) had six, led by third baseman Graham Chapman, who batted 2-for-3 while scoring a pair of runs and driving in one. Short stop Zach Kayne, designated hitter Pat Brady, right fielder Chase FitzPatrick and catcher Tommy Piacenza each tallied a hit. Kayne extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games and continues his streak of reaching base safely in every game this season.
Ryan Overcash started just his second career game and turned in quite a performance for the Wildcats, scattering five hits for just one run over five innings while striking out four to no walks.
Blue Devil starter Will Currier, likewise, allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits in six innings while also striking out four against no walks. Neither starter factored into the decision.
The Wildcats took an early lead with a pair of runs in the third, but Duke took the lead for good with three runs in the seventh. Mac Hunter (0-2) was tagged with the loss for the 'Cats, allowing three runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings. For Duke, Tim Sherlock (1-0) earned the win, after working a hitless seventh.
Brett Shore scored the Wildcats' first run, reaching safely on a fielding error by Currier while trying to bunt for a base hit in the third. Chapman's first hit of the game plated him, and Kayne followed with a double to score the second.
Duke got a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI-double by Frieman, but Overcash stranded a pair of runners in the fifth to hold the 2-1 lead for the Wildcats.
Hunter came on to start the sixth and faced just three batters, before Duke did its damage in the seventh. Piwnica-Worms and McCurdy singled in between strikeouts, and Frieman put the Blue Devils ahead with a three-run, two-out home run to left that proved the decider.
The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the inning, as Chapman started the frame with a base hit. With two outs, Brady singled in a run, but FitzPatrick lined out to end the inning.
Mike Frongello, who entered to record the last out of the seventh, worked a hitless eighth, but Dennis O'Grady retired three straight Wildcats to earn his second save of the season.
Davidson will travel to Georgia Southern for a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend. The Eagles, ranked 27th nationally by Collegiate Baseball, are second in the SoCon standings. Game times are 7 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
No. 18 Clemson 11, Western Carolina 1
Cullowhee, N.C. - No. 18 Clemson scored eight runs between the sixth and seventh innings, including five in the latter while striking out 16 Catamount batters to hand Western Carolina an 11-1 defeat Tuesday night in non-conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
The 10-run loss for WCU was its worst at the hands of the Tigers since falling by the same margin, 13-3, back in late March of 1996. WCU, which has split the seasonal series with Clemson each of the past three seasons, will try to make it four-in-a-row on Wednesday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium with first pitch slated for 6:30 pm.
The game is scheduled to be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with a 6:15 pm air time, live on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee. Fans can also catch the action on the Internet at www.WWCUFM.com.
Clemson starter Graham Stoneburner (5-3) struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings of work, scattering five base hits and only surrendering the lone run on consecutive doubles in the fourth inning. Trevor Collias, who finished 2-for-4, doubled to open the frame with Ross Heffley legging out a two-bagger to right center field to put the Catamounts on the board and pull back within two, 3-1.
However, that would be the extent of the Catamount offense as Western (20-13) stranded six base runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Tiger relievers Kyle Deese and Will Lamb combined to fan five more WCU hitters in the final two frames, allowing just one hit between them in helping hold the Catamounts to six hits on the night.
Garrett Ozar (2-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs - only three of which were earned - on seven hits through five and a third in his first start of the season. The Oak Park, Calif., native walked three and tallied three strikeouts on the night. Chris Masters made his first relief appearance of the season, pitching two-thirds of an inning of two-hit, three-run work, with Garrett Baker and Jason Sullivan tossing the final three innings.
Clemson (24-12) capitalized on the first of three Catamount errors in the top of the first inning as lead-off man Mike Freeman reached on a fielding error at second base. A pair of fly ball outs sandwiched around a one-out single should have ended the frame for Western unscathed, but an RBI single by Kyle Parker gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
A bases-loaded walk in the first by Wilson Boyd plated what would prove to be the game-winning run as Clemson led 2-0 after one before taking a 3-0 edge into the fourth when WCU was able to light the scoreboard for a single tally.
Parker, Ben Paulsen and Jeff Schaus led the way offensively on the night for Clemson, each with three-hit performances. Schaus finished 3-for-4 including a solo home run to open the five-run seventh inning, while Parker was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with two RBI while Boyd drove in three.
North Carolina State 12, Wofford 0
RALEIGH, N.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 12-0 by North Carolina State on Tuesday evening on Doak Field at Dail Park. The Wolfpack had 17 hits in the game and limited the Terrier bats to only seven hits.
Wofford is 14-16 on the season and 5-9 in the Southern Conference. N.C. State is 19-17 overall and are 7-11 in the ACC. The Terriers were led by Michael Gilmartin and Konstantine Diamaduros with two hits each. The Wolfpack was led by Drew Poulk with three hits, including two home runs and seven RBIs.
The Wolfpack opened with a single and a double in the bottom of the first, but Scott Summers struck out the next three batters. Wofford had a single from Mac Doyle and a walk to David Roney in the top of the second, but were unable to score.
In the bottom of the third, the Wolfpack had singles from Dallas Poulk and John Gianis. A ground-out by Pratt Maynard scored one run, while a single up the middle by Pat Ferguson added a run for a 2-0 lead at the end of the inning.
North Carolina State added a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple to right center by Dallas Poulk and plated another on a ground out by Devon Cartwright for a 4-0 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, back-to-back singles were followed by a home run to left center by Drew Poulk for a 7-0 lead.
Wofford had singles from Michael Gilmartin and Konstantine Diamaduros with two out in the top of the sixth, but both runners were left on base. In the top of the seventh, Neil Robinette reached on an error and David Roney added a double with one out, however both runners were left on base.
The Wolfpack loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth on a hit and two walks when Drew Poulk launched the ball to the scoreboard to take an 11-0 lead. Another run was added on an RBI single from Russell Wilson for a 12-0 score.
Wofford starter Scott Summers went the first two innings and gave up two hits and struck out four. Cash Collins (1-4) threw 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs on ten hits with two strikeouts. Anthony Rowland went one and a third with a hit and a strikeout. Mason Bradley worked the seventh and did not allow a hit with one strikeout. Reid McElveen threw the bottom of the eighth, allowing five runs on four hits with a strikeout.
For the Wolfpack, starter Jason Zinser threw the first three innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Jake Kensmoe (2-0) went three innings with three hits allowed without a run and three strikeouts. Grant Sasser threw two innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Pratt Maynard closed the game with three straight strikeouts.
The game was only the second ever meeting between Wofford and N.C. State, the first being in the 2007 NCAA Regionals. Wofford was held scoreless for the first time this season and the first since falling 10-0 to College of Charleston on May 10, 2008.
On Wednesday the Terriers will play at Duke in a game that will begin at 7:00 pm. Next weekend Wofford will host Furman for a three-game series beginning Friday night at 6:00 pm.
South Carolina 20, College of Charleston 6
Columbia, S.C. -- Bobby Haney belted a grand slam and Nick Ebert added a three-run shot and drove in five runs helping South Carolina to a 20-6 win over College of Charleston in college baseball action before 5,866 at Carolina Stadium on Tuesday.
The Cougars, who dropped to 21-13, plays host to UNC Wilmington at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The Gamecocks improved to 24-12.
Haney's grand slam gave the Gamecocks 10-3 lead in the third inning. Whit Merrifield followed with a homer to left center that increased USC's lead to 11-3.
Charleston, who had 12 hits, got homers from Justin Brewer (Greer, S.C.), Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) and Matt Mansilla (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Brewer homered leading off the second to cut South Carolina lead to 5-2. Brodin hit a two-run homer in the fourth, his 11th of the season. Mansilla belted his 14th homer of the season leading off the fifth inning.
Mansilla and Clay McCord (Atlanta, Ga.) led the Cougars with three hits each.
South Carolina, which banged out 21 hits, got five hits from Jackie Bradley, Jr. and four from Ebert. Ebert's three-run shot to left in the fifth extended USC lead to 15-6. Adam Matthews added a solo homer for the Gamecocks.
Adam Westmoreland (3-1) picked up the win in relief allowing no runs on just two hits with four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings of work. Casey Lucchese (Lexington, Ky.) was the starter and loser for the Cougars falling to 0-1.
UNC Wilmington 7, Elon 6
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- For the second time in as many meetings, the UNC Wilimington Seahawks erased a ninth inning deficit to the Elon Phoenix. On Tuesday night UNCW rallied from a 6-3 deficit to earn a 7-6 victory over the Phoenix in non-league baseball action. Elon, who had led the entire game, fell to 20-12 on the season while UNCW improved to 21-12 thanks to Matt Holt's bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth.
Elon's offense got going with one out in the first inning. Cory Harrilchak drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to extend his streak of safely reaching base to 65 games before Chase Austin was hit by a pitch. Pat Irvine followed by sending a ball inside the first base bag and into the right field corner for a double to plate Harrilchak.
Harrilchak led off the Phoenix third with an infield single and went to second as the throw from the Seahawk shortstop short-hopped the first baseman. Heads-up base running let Harrilchak take third as he tagged at second when Chase Austin fouled out to the catcher who caught the ball in the corner by the screen and UNCW dugout. Harrilchak then came home on Irvine's ground out.
Ben Thielsen started the UNCW third with a walk and went to second on Thomas Pope's one-out single to right. Thielsen raced to third when an errant throw to second from Mike Melillo ended up in center field. Cody Stanley drew a walk to load the bases before Thielsen scored the first Seahawk run on a sac fly to right off the bat of Grayson Evans.
In the fourth, Neal Pritchard singled to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games to start the frame. That was followed by a Dallas Tarleton walk before Harry Austin's infield single loaded the bags. Pritchard scored the third Elon run on a RBI ground out by Justin Hilt. With Tarleton on third and Harry Austin on second, Harrilchak lifted a fly ball to left for a sacrifice to plate Tarleton as Elon increased its lead to 4-1.
Andrew Cain began the UNCW fourth with a single to right and trotted to second on a one-out walk to Mike Rooney. Elon eliminated Rooney when Thielsen reached on a fielder's choice as a slow roller to Bennett Davis was flipped to Pritchard at second for the force. The Phoenix escaped any damage when Harrilchak got Holt to foul out to right.
With two outs in the fifth, Melillo doubled to the gap in right before coming home on Pritchard's soft single to center.
UNCW scored its second run of the night in the bottom of the seventh when Marc Locklear, who had doubled and went to third on a two-out single from Evans, came home on a wild pitch. Robby Monday then singled to the gap in right-center to drive home Evans from second, pulling the Seahawks within two at 5-3.
Elon came back in the eighth as Pritchard led the at bat off with a double down the left field line. Tarleton put down a sacrifce bunt to move pinch-runner Matt Kirchner to third. Ryan Adams hit a soft liner to left for a single to plate Kirchner and push the Phoenix cushion to 6-3.
Locklear led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left. After a passed ball moved Locklear to third, Stanley bounced an infield single to first to drive home the run, pulling the Seahawks within a 6-4 deficit. Evan followed with a single through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second. A ground out moved both runners up a bag for Cain who stepped into the box sporting a perfect 4-for-4 on the night. Cain grounded out to third for out number two, but Stanley scored to pull UNCW within a run. Aaron Jones came up to the dish and worked a full count before walking. That brought Mike Rooney up to bat who lined a single to left to knot the game at six apiece as Evans crossed the plate. Thielsen walked on a full count to load the bases, putting pinch-runner Tyler Stott just 90 feet away with the winning run. Holt ended the game with a line drive single to right-center.
Thomas Girdwood (0-1) took the loss after giving up a run on two hits in just a third of an inning. Harrilchak threw five innings and surrendered just one run on three hits.
Bryan Booth (2-0) picked up the win after a two-thirds of an inning performance. He did not allow a hit or a runner.
Pritchard finished the game 3-for-3 with a run and one RBI for Elon while Irvine drove in two. Chase Austin went 0-for-3 to see his career-best hitting streak snapped at 18 games.
Cain finished 4-for-5 with one RBI while Evans went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI for UNCW.
The Phoenix will be back in action at Latham Park at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
Savannah State 6, The Citadel 2
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Savannah State scored four runs in the top of the eighth and the Bulldogs couldn’t rally Tuesday night as The Citadel dropped a 6-2 decision to the Tigers in front of 935 at Riley Park. Sonny Meade led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-4 performance, scoring one run.
The Citadel (20-14) scored two runs on eight hits and committed one error while Savannah State (22-16) scored six runs on 12 hits.
Raymond Copenhaver (2-3) was credited with the loss after 0.2 innings on the mound, allowing four runs on five hits in facing seven batters. Matt Talley recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in the start, allowing only one earned run on six hits while walking one in the no decision.
Joseph Jackson (3-1) was credited with the win after allowing only one hit and walking one in 0.2 innings on the mound. Jarrel Jackson allowed two runs on six hits while earning a no decision in the start, walking three and striking out one.
David Washington led Savannah State with a 2-for-5 outing with two runs scored and an RBI while Jonathan Ross went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Washington gave the Tigers the lead in the top of the fourth, leading off with a single to short. Washington stole base before Matthew Oglesby popped up to Bulldogs catcher Sid Fallaw in foul territory. Talley walked Ross to put runners on first and second before Washington stole third and then scored on a throwing error by Fallaw, who attempted to throw him out at third.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Sonny Meade scored on a sacrifice fly by David Greene. Meade reached base on a double to left field with one out.
Savannah State took the lead again in the top of the seventh on a squeeze play as Matthew Nowacki laid down a sacrifice bunt with Ross on third and Andrew Mendez on second.
The Citadel responded in the bottom half of the seventh as Nick Orvin drove in Greene on a fielder’s choice to short.
The Tigers regained the lead for good in the eighth inning as Savannah State scored four runs on five hits in an inning where four of the top five guys in the SSU line-up reached base and the top three batters scored, all as Copenhaver started the inning. With two outs, Chris Boyce entered and Dexter Kelly was thrown out at second, attempting to steal.
The Citadel returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15 as the Bulldogs play at South Carolina at 7 p.m. in Columbia. Action can be heard on SportsRadio 1450AM in Charleston or on Bulldog Insider at CitadelSports.com with Darren Goldwater calling the play-by-play.
Eagles’ Baseball Game at North Florida Cancelled Inclement weather forces second cancellation against the Ospreys in as many weeks
STATESBORO, Ga. ? For the second time in as many weeks, Georgia Southern and North Florida will not be able to play their regularly scheduled game (Tuesday, April 14) due to weather conditions. No make up date has been set.
The Eagles’ home game against UNF two weeks ago was called in the bottom of the third inning due to lightning and rain.
The Eagles (24-9 overall) are scheduled to play host to Jacksonville on Wednesday night (April 15), first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.