Appalachian State 9, Tennessee 7
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ? Appalachian State University baseball overcame a disastrous first inning to top Tennessee, 9-7, on Tuesday evening at blustery Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Appalachian (14-16) trailed 5-0 after one inning but outscored Tennessee (12-20) 9-2 the rest of the way to claim its first win over UT in 18 years.
ASU completed the monumental comeback with three runs in the top of the eighth. Jerod Faggart got the eighth-inning rally started with a solo home run to left center field that knotted the score at 7-7.
Later in the stanza, following back-to-back two-out singles by Wes Hobson and Isaac Harrow, Vols pitcher Stephen McCray walked three batters in a row, the final two of which forced in runs to give the Mountaineers their first lead of the game at 9-7.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth when ASU closer Zach Quate walked two of the inning’s first three batters to bring UT’s Cody Hawn, who was 4-for-4 to that point with two doubles and a homer, to the plate. However, Quate got Hawn to fly out to left field and induced a fly ball to center by Cody Brown to seal the victory.
A series of miscues in the first inning made it necessary for Appalachian to dig out of the large hole. Tennessee’s Zach Osborne led off the game by reaching base on an error by ASU shortstop Zack Briggs and advanced to second on a passed ball. The next batter also grounded to Briggs, who threw to third base to cut down Osborne but ASU botched the rundown and despite seemingly being out of the baseline, Osborne made it back to second base safely.
Following a walk and an RBI groundout, Hawn provided the big blow with a three-run home run to left that made it 4-0. The Vols added another unearned run on RBI single by Matt Ramsey to stretch the advantage to 5-0.
The Mountaineers began to chip away at the deficit in the third inning when they scored three times without the benefit of a hit to cut the UT lead to 5-3. Harrow drove in the Apps’ first run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Chris Alessandria followed with a bases-loaded walk push another run across. Nick DeRose closed out the third-inning scoring with an RBI groundout to second base.
Appalachian tied the score at 5-5 with two more runs in the top of the fourth, courtesy of an RBI single by Hobson and a run-scoring error committed at second base by UT’s Brown.
Tennessee regained the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth but ASU made it 7-6 in the fifth on an RBI single by Faggart, setting up the late-inning heroics.
Making the comeback possible was a stellar effort turned in by the ASU relief combo of Nick Daniels, Chris Patterson and Quate. The trio combined to limit the Vols to just three hits over 5.1 scoreless innings to close out the ballgame.
Patterson retired seven of the eight batters he faced in 2.1 innings to earn the win and move to 3-1 on the season while Quate allowed only one hit in two innings of work for his fourth save.
Faggart led the Apps offensively, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Hobson chipped in with a 3-for-5 effort and Rand Smith went 2-for-5 to stretch his hitting streak to 19 games, the longest by a Mountaineer since 2005.
Winners of eight of their last 10, the Mountaineers return to action this weekend when they open a five-game homestand with a three-game series versus Southern Conference-newcomer Samford. The set opens on Friday at 7 p.m. at ASU’s Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
College of Charleston 21, The Citadel 8 (Non-Conference)
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. -- Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla.) belted a pair of homers and Ryan Daniels (Victoria, Tex.) and Joash Brodin (Olympia, Wash.) also homered as College of Charleston downed The Citadel, 21-8, in a non-conference college baseball battle before 831 chilly fans at Patriots Point Stadium on Tuesday.
With the win, Charleston's fourth in a row over The Citadel, the Cougars improved to 21-8 on the season. The Bulldogs fell to 17-12. The Cougars play at Mercer at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Bulldogs play host to Charleston Southern at 6 p.m. on Wednesday
Chris McGuiness hit a two-out, three-run homer to right in the first to give The Citadel a 3-0 advantage. Daniels cut The Citadel's lead to 3-1 with a leadoff homer to right in the second inning and Bergman capped Charleston's six-run outburst with a three-run homer to right center.
Matt Mansilla's (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) RBI single, a run-producing error and a sacrifce fly by Austin Morgan (Katy, Tex.) gave Charleston a 9-3 lead after three innings. Daniels two-run single to right in the fourth inning gave Charleston an 11-3 lead.
The Citadel scored four times in the fifth to cut the margin to 11-7. Sonny Meade belted a solo homer to right, Sid Fallaw had a two-run single and Johnny Dangerfield added a sacrifce fly.
Bergman's second homer was a two-run shot to right that gave Charleston a 13-7 lead in the fifth inning. The Cougars stretched their lead to 17-7 in the sixth inning. Brodin hit a two-run homer to right, Morgan had a run-producing grounder and Hutson Dodds (Charleston, S.C.) added a sacrifice fly.
Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) had an RBI single, Morgan a bases loaded walk and Dodds an RBI grounder in the seventh that extended Charleston's lead to 20-7. Charleston's Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C.) added an RBI double in the eighth inning. The Citadel's William Ladd had a sacrifice fly in the ninth for the final margin.
Charleston's Aaron Bouronich (Summerville, S.C.) picked up the win in relief and improved to 4-1. Bouronich allowed a run on just four hits with three strikeouts over the final 4 2/3 innings. Matt Talley (4-1) was the starter and loser for the Bulldogs allowing nine runs, seven earned, on seven hits over the first three innings.
Daniels finished 5-for-6 with four runs and three RBI, Bergman collected two hits and drove in five and Mansilla had four hits and scored four times. Sizemore and Brodin added three hits each as part of Charleston's 19-hit attack.
For the Bulldogs, Nick Orvin reached base five times with two hits and three walks and McGuiness scored twice and drove in three runs. Richard Jones added two hits.
Furman 6, Presbyterian 5 (Game One)
Furman 8, Presbyterian 5 (Game Two)
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Will Owens belted a leadoff home run in the fifth inning to propel Furman to an 8-5 victory over Presbyterian in game two of a Tuesday doubleheader at Latham Stadium, giving the Paladins a doubleheader sweep following a 6-5 win in the first game.
Furman, now 13-16 on the season, will play at UNC Asheville on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at McCormick Park. Presbyterian drops to 5-23 on the campaign.
Owens, a freshman infielder from Greer and Riverside High School, drilled a 3-2 pitch from PC’s Micah Black over the left fence to lead off the fifth inning to hand Furman a 6-5 lead. The Paladins then tacked on two more runs on RBI singles by Will Miller and Campbell Lewis to stretch the advantage to 8-5.
Furman reliever Jay Friedman (1-2), who came on in the fifth with Furman leading 5-4, gave up a game tying solo home run to Cory Lyda in the fifth but rallied to retire the Blue Hose in order in the sixth and seventh to secure the victory.
Miller had three of Furman’s eight hits and four RBI in the nightcap, including a two-run home run in the second that staked the Paladins to a 2-1 lead. The freshman outfielder later added an RBI double fourth.
Brian Harrison, who homered in both contests, drilled a two-run shot in the third inning to put Furman ahead 4-1 before PC rallied for three runs an inning later, highlighted by Gabe Grammer’s RBI triple, to tie the game at 4-4.
In game one Harrison’s leadoff home run in the Furman seventh forged a 5-5 tie, and the Paladins won the game when Aaron Thompkins, who was running from first base with two outs and the bases loaded, beat PC shortstop Andrew Williams to second to avoid an inning ending force play following a ground ball off Will Owens’ bat.
Furman’s comeback erased a 5-1 Blue Hose made possible by a three-run, fifth double by Nate Horton and earlier solo home runs by Jesse Harmon and Zac Rhinesmith.
Nick Karow’s pinch-hit two-run double down the right field line in the sixth ignited Furman’s comeback, and Marcus Rose followed with double down the left field line to score Karow and pull the Paladins to within a run, 5-4.
Harrison’s leadoff home run to left center field in the sixth tied the game at 5-5.
Harrison, Rose, Matt Hemingway, and Andrew Cadger had two hits each for the Paladins in the first game of the twin bill. Lyda paced PC’s nine-hit attack with a 2-for-4 performance.
Junior right-handed pitcher Kevin Gaid made his first start of the season for Furman in game one, approximately 10 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He allowed five hits and a run in three innings of work, throwing 41 pitches.
Furman’s game two starter was freshman right-hander Mike Waller, who allowed a run on two hits in an inning of work in his collegiate debut.
No. 19 Coastal Carolina 11, Elon 10
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix committed eight errors and found itself on the short end of an 11-10 non-conference baseball decision against the 19th-ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers from Latham Park on Tuesday night. Elon, which led 7-2 after three innings, had the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth, but could not score.
Elon (17-11) claimed a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Pat Irvine drove a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left for his 10th home run of the season. Riding home on the play was Chase Austin who had reached on a two-out walk.
The Phoenix stretched its advantage to 5-0 in the second inning. With two outs Alex Maruri singled before heading to second on a Justin Hilt single. After Cory Harrilchak walked to load the bases, Austin ripped a 3-2 pitch into the left field corner for a three-RBI double.
With two outs in the top of the third, Coastal (25-7) got things going. Rico Noel doubled to center and stole third. After Adam Rice was hit by a pitch, Tyler Bortnick grounded a ball that glanced off Tom Porter to short. The throw to first was muffed and the error allowed Rice to score the first Chanticleer run. David Anderson then doubled home Rice to pull Coastal to within three runs at 5-2.
Elon got those two runs back on one swing of the bat from Neal Pritchard. Pritchard drove an 0-1 pitch deep to left for his fourth homer of the season. This one also scored Mike Melillo who had walked.
After a scoreless fourth the Chants sent 11 men to the plate and scored six run in the fifth. Bortnick crushed a pitch to left for his sixth homer of the year, a two-run shot that also scored Rice who reached on a single. Anderson followed with a double to right before Elon's fourth error of the game allowed Jose Iglesias to reach. After a pitching change, Daniel Bowman walked to load the bases before Rich Witten walked on a 3-2 pitch to force home Anderson with the fifth Chanticleer run. After a strike out, Steve Davis ripped a double to the gap in right-center to score all three runners and put the Chants on top 8-7. On the play, the throw home was off the mark and the error allowed Davis to take third.
Bortnick added number seven to lead off the sixth inning when he sent a 2-2 pitch down the left field line and over the wall.
The Chants tacked on another two when, after a two-out walk to Bortnick, Anderson belted his 11th home run of the year to left-center.
Back-to-back doubles to start the bottom of the eighth off the bats of Melillo and Pritchard allowed Elon to close its deficit to 11-8. Pinch-hitter Dallas Tarleton then delivered Pritchard with a double off the top of the wall in right. Tarleton advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Hilt's ground out.
Elon got the tying run on in the bottom of the ninth when Irvine doubled to right-center. With two outs the Chants intentionally walked Melillo, bringing Pritchard to the dish. Pritchard, who was 2-for-3 on the night prior to his ninth inning at bat, went after the first pitch from Nick McCully and flew out to center to end the game.
Jared Kernodle (0-4) took the loss after allowing two runs on a hit and two walks in just a third of an inning. Starer J.D. Reichenbach threw two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit.
Coastal's Matt Rein (2-0) was the winning pitcher after holding Elon to two runs on five hits in 4.0 innings out of the bullpen. Starter Keith Hessler was roughed up for five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings. McCully allowed a hit and a walk, but kept the Phoenix off the board in the ninth to earn his seventh save of the year.
Irvine had three of Elon's 13 hits, going 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI. Bennett Davis finished 2-for-4 while Pritchard went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three driven in. Austin extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a 2-for-3, one-run, three-RBI day. Harrilchak's walk moved his streak of reaching base safely to 61 consecutive games.
For Coastal, Bortnick, Anderson and Davis all had three RBI. Both of Bortnick's two hits were homers. Anderson finished 3-for-5 and scored twice for Coastal Carolina.
The Phoenix gets back to SoCon action beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. against College of Charleston from Latham Park.
No. 8 Georgia Tech 8, Georgia Southern 4
ATLANTA, Ga. ? Georgia Southern jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but eighth-ranked Georgia Tech scored eight unanswered as the Eagles dropped an 8-4 decision Tuesday night (April 7). The loss drops 26th-ranked Georgia Southern to 21-8 overall.
Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) started the game doubling down the left field line. Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) dropped a sacrifice bunt down to advance Wright to third. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) singled through the left side for a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning Bowles and Benedict drew one-out walks. Eric Phillips (Carrollton/Carrollton) lined a RBI single through the left side giving the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
Luke Murton hit a fly ball to left field with two outs in the fourth. Wright timed the jump and nearly robbed the home run but Tech made it 2-1. In his longest outing of the season, sophomore Michael Hester (Evans/Greenbrier) pitched four innings, struck out a career-high four batters and left with the lead. However, that changed in the fifth.
The Yellow Jackets (20-6) scored five runs all with two outs to take the lead for good. A flyball was misplayed in right field and fell in for a RBI triple. Three batters later Murton hammered a 3-run shot to make it a 6-2 lead. Pinch-hitter Jason Garofalo pinch-hit in the sixth singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) hit a 2-run homer in the ninth with two down for the final margin. He moved into a share of the team lead nailing his fifth home run on the year.
Tony Chisman (Conyers/Salem) suffered the loss, charged for five runs on five hits falling to 0-1. Mitchell Farmer (Conyers/Rockdale County) gave up two runs in two innings of work. Redshirt-freshman Ryan McCafferty (West Chester, PA/East) made his collegiate debut in the eighth. He gave up a single but it was erased with an inning-ending double play.
Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) paced the offense with a season-high three hits. Roman Grimaldi (Duluth/North Florida CC) recorded his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with his first collegiate stolen base. Phillips and Porter also had two hits apiece.
Brandon Cumpton (1-0) earned the win allowing two runs on eight hits in six innings. Murton finished with two hits and four RBI. The Yellow Jackets held a 12-11 edge in hits.
The Eagles will look to even up the four-game series on Wednesday afternoon (April 8), first pitch at Russ Chandler Stadium scheduled for 4 p.m.
Jacksonville State 16, Samford 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala.?The Samford baseball team dropped a 16-1 decision at Jacksonville State in a non-conference game Tuesday night at Rudy Abbott Field.
With the loss, Samford drops to 11-20 on the season. Jacksonville State improves to 17-12 with the win.
For Samford at the plate, David Schulze went 2-for-2. Bo Smith drove in Samford’s lone run of the game in a 1-for-2 performance. Dayne Cutrell, one of eight pitchers used in the game by Samford, pitched 2.0 innings, giving up two runs, both unearned, on one hit to take the loss.
Jacksonville State belted three home runs in the game. Todd Cunningham, Kyle Bluestein and Andrew Edge each homered for the Gamecocks. Jordan Beistline pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits to earn the win on the mound.
Samford jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning. Wayne Miller singled and then moved to third base on a single by Mason Meredeth. Miller scored on a sacrifice fly by Smith for a 1-0 Samford lead.
Jacksonville State plated two runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Gamecocks pushed their lead to 6-1 with three runs in the fourth inning.
Jacksonville State broke the game open with nine runs in the fifth inning to make the score 15-1. The Gamecocks sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning. Due to two Samford errors, eight of JSU’s nine runs in the inning were unearned. Cunningham and Bluestein each homered in the fifth for the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State added one final run in the sixth inning to make the final score 16-1.
For the game, Samford committed four errors and allowed 10 unearned runs.
Samford will return to action on Wednesday evening when the Bulldogs play host to the Troy Trojans. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field, and it can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. The game can also be viewed on the internet via SoCon TV at www.soconsports.com.
Kennesaw State 12, Western Carolina 10
Kennesaw, Ga. - Kennesaw State hung on to score two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Western Carolina 12-10 Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium. The Catamounts busted out 16 hits and two home runs in the lost to the Owls.
Western Carolina (18-10, 8-3 SoCon) drops the non-conference game to Kennesaw State, after coming up just short in their rally Tuesday night. The Catamounts managed to bust out 16 hits including four extra base hits in the defeat.
Western Carolina tied the ball game late when in the top of the eighth Dylan de Graaf started the inning with a single up the middle. Senior Trevor Collias followed with a massive Home Run to left center to tie the score at 10-10.
Kennesaw State took the lead for good after Buck Smith hit a Home Run to right center off Junior relief pitcher Garret Ozar to make the score 11-10. The Owls added an insurance run after a two-out double from Ric Bishop made the final score 12-10.
The Catamounts were retired in order in the top of the ninth by Kennesaw closer Kenny Faulk. Faulk came on in the top of the eighth earning the victory (3-2). Ozar (2-2) took the loss for the Catamounts.
Western Carolina had five players who had multi-hit nights with junior Brent Greer leading the way with a 4-for-5 game. Greer had two runs scored and three RBI's including a key two-run Home Run to start the rally in the top of the seventh. Freshman Ross Heffley had his team-leading 19th multiple hit game going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Senior Mitchell Hatley went 3-for-4 with three singles. Junior de Graaf finished the game 2-for-5 with an RBI. Finally Collias rounded out the multi-hit games for the Catamounts going 2-for-4 with two RBI's. Freshman Kyle Stewart started the game for the Catamounts lasting four innings allowing six hits and six earned runs.
The Catamounts started the scoring early in the top of the first as Junior Nick Liles laced a single through the right side to start the game. After a strikeout from Rembert Rollison, and a balk from Kennesaw State starter Wes Tignor set the Catamounts up with a runner on second with one out. Freshman Ross Heffley delivered a single through the right side to plate Liles giving Western Carolina the early 1-0 lead. Junior Brent Greer followed with a hard hit double off the center field wall to bring home Heffley to make the score 2-0 Catamounts.
Kennesaw State answered right back as Jacob Robbins laced a triple to right field to lead off the bottom of the first for the Owls. Bucky Smith followed with an RBI ground out to make the score 2-1 Catamounts after one inning.
Western Carolina added to their lead in the top of the second inning when Mitchell Hatley started things off with a single and then stole second for his third stolen base of the season. After a strikeout from Dylan de Graff, senior Trevor Collias bunted for a base hit to put runners at first and third with one out. Collias was then caught stealing but Hatley scored easily on the play to make the score 3-1 Catamounts.
The Owls responded to cut into the Catamounts lead by adding one run from a sacrifice fly from Ross Tendler to make the score 3-2 Catamounts after two innings. Western Carolina continued its hitting display in the top of the third adding two more runs on three hits to take a 5-2 lead. Greer led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a double to right field from J.C. Lyons. After a wild pitch scored Greer, Stephen Notaro grounded out to score Lyons giving the Catamounts two more runs.
The Kennesaw State Owls scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks in part to a solo Home Run off the bat of catcher Jace Whitmer. After three innings the Catamounts still held a slim advantage at 5-4.
The Owls broke open the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth on just two hits to take an 8-5 lead. The Catamounts walked three batters in the inning that led to the four runs.
The Catamounts added a run in the top of the sixth thanks to a RBI single from de Graaf to cut into the Owls lead at 8-6.
Kennesaw State took their largest lead of the game after scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth after an RBI single from Bucky Smith and an RBI groundout from Whitmer.
The Catamounts started their rally in the top of the seventh as Heffley laced a single to lead off the inning. Greer followed with a two-run blast to center field for his third of the season to make the score 10-8 eventually tying the score at 10 in the eighth. Western Carolina couldn't take the lead falling in the end 12-10.
Western Carolina drops their four straight non-conference game heading into a non-conference clash against Eastern Kentucky Wednesday night at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C.
Greenville Drive 11, Wofford 0 (Exhibition)
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 11-0 by the Greenville Drive in an exhibition game at Fluor Field in downtown Greenville. The Terriers had four hits in the game, including a triple from Josh McKinney.
The exhibition game does not count towards the Terriers record or statistics. Wofford is 13-13 on the season and 4-7 in the Southern Conference. The Greenville Drive will open the regular season on Thursday at Greensboro.
The Drive got on the board in the bottom of the first with three base hits, including an RBI single from Tim Federowicz. The Terriers had their first hit of the game in the top of the second with a single by Jake Williams. Wofford added a triple in the top of the third by Josh McKinney.
Greenville added a run on a solo shot over the right wall by David Mailman in the bottom of the third. A double from Tim Federowicz scored two more runs in the inning for a 4-0 lead. A single from Mitch Dening scored two more runs for a 6-0 lead after three innings.
Wofford had a single from Kyle Behrendt in the top of the fourth and Mike McDonnell walked. Both advanced on a double steal, but were left on base. Greenville added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a home run by Anthony Rizzo to take an 8-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Landon Bennett added a double down the right line. In the bottom of the sixth, a single with the bases loaded by Michael Almanzar scored two runs. The Drive added another run in the inning to take an 11-0 lead.
The Terriers used a total of eight pitchers in the game. Wofford starter Cash Collins gave up three hits and one run. Jordan Mickleberry pitched a one-two-three inning. Reid McElveen allowed five runs on three hits with a strikeout. Mason Bradley picked up two outs in the fourth, including a strikeout. Drew Sheridan pitched a third of an inning in the fourth. Anthony Rowland pitched a one-two-three inning in the fifth. J.D. Osborne threw the sixth with three hits and three runs allowed and one strikeout. Bobby Streisel pitched the bottom of the seventh, with one strikeout.
Drive starter Yeiper Castillo went three innings with two hits allowed and three strikeouts. Lance McClain, Armando Zerpa, Mitch Herold and Felix Ventura went the final four innings and allowed two hits with nine strikeouts.
On Thursday, the Terriers will begin a three-game series at Russell C. King Stadium against UNC Greensboro.