Western Carolina 11, Davidson 10
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- For a second straight day, the Davidson Wildcats nearly completed a comeback, getting the tying run on the third in the ninth, but the Western Carolina Catamounts captured the Southern Conference series with an 11-10 win on senior night Friday at Wilson Field.
Davidson (18-28, 11-15) scored seven runs over the last four innings and went into the bottom of the ninth trailing just two runs with the heart of the order at the plate. James Cerbie and Zach Kayne worked back-to-back one-out walks from Western (33-20, 18-10) relievers Garrett Ozar and Daniel Ottone, and Drew Gadaire singled up the middle to send in a run.
But Chase FitzPatrick, who was 2-for-5 with an RBI on the night and leads the team in home runs on the season with 14, struck out on three straight pitches, and Tommy Piacenza, who hit two home runs in the game and drove in a game-high three runs, struck out to end the rally, and the game.
Mike Frongello (3-2) took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits in an inning of relief for starter Ryan Overcash, who surrendered just two runs on seven hits in four innings.
Corey Martin (7-4) earned the win for Western, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits while walking five and striking out seven in five innings. Daniel Ottone picked up his eighth save of the season, getting the pair of strikeouts to strand a pair of runners.
Davidson got on the scoreboard first as FitzPatrick took a two-out walk, and Piacenza followed with his first home run of the game.
Western cut the lead in half with a run on a pair of doubles in the third and tied the score on an RBI-groundout from Mitchell Hatley in the fourth.
The 'Cats retook the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Pat Brady led off with a base hit up the middle and stole second to get into scoring position for Gadaire. Catamount short stop Brent Greer overthrew first base, allowing Gadaire to take second and Brady to score and put Davidson back up a run.
Western, though, would take control of the game with eight runs over three innings, jumping out to a 10-5 lead through the top of the seventh.
Michael Loeb came on to strike out Stephen Notaro and strand a pair of Catamounts in the top of the seventh, and Davidson answered with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame to start the rally.
Matt Webb started the inning with an infield single, and Danny Weiss delivered a pinch-hit double into left. Brett Shore sent in both with a double that landed just inside the right field foul line, and Brady's single into center moved him to third. Each took a base for a run on a failed pickoff attempt, but the Wildcats would leave the tying run on, trailing 10-8.
Western would get an insurance run in the eighth on Dylan de Graaf's RBI-single and would need it, as Piacenza smacked his second home run of the game with one out and no one on in the bottom of the inning.
Loeb got a pair of fly outs before giving up a base hit to Greer, but Andy Bass sat down Notaro on strikes to end the inning and give Davidson a chance in the final inning.
Cerbie drew a one-out walk to bring on Ottone, but Kayne took the second free pass to put the tying run on again for the Wildcats. Gadaire singled up the middle to drive in Cerbie and put Kayne on third for the tying run, but FitzPatrick and Piacenza struck out back to back to end the game.
The Catamounts finished with 18 hits, led by Greer, who went 4-for-5 with two RBI and J.C. Lyons, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Brady led Davidson, batting 3-for-4 with an RBI, while FitzPatrick, Piacenza and Shore each had a pair of hits.
Davidson seniors Brady, Graham Chapman, Chase and Chris FitzPatrick, Kayne, Shore and Webb were honored before the game in senior-day festivities.
Davidson and Western will play the final game of the series tomorrow at 11 a.m.
UNC Greensboro 14, Furman 4
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Bradley Raynor homered and drove in four runs and UNC Greensboro pounded out a season high 18 hits on the way to a 14-4 drubbing of Furman in the second game of a Southern Conference baseball series Friday evening at Latham Stadium.
Raynor, who also scored three runs, delivered a three-run blast in the third inning to break a 3-3 tie and connected on an RBI single in the fifth to propel the Spartans (19-29, 6-21 SoCon) over the punchless Paladins (22-28, 10-19 SoCon). Despite losing for the fifth time in the last six games, Furman locked up the eighth and final seed to the Southern Conference Tournament, set for May 20-24 at Greenville’s Fluor Field following Wofford’s 11-9 loss to Georgia Southern Friday evening.
Furman will play league regular season champion Elon in a first round game on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
Joining Raynor in UNCG’s big offensive night were Kris Richards, who also drove in four runs, and Corey Overholtzer, who tallied three RBI. Drew Geheringer, meanwhile, went 3-for-4 and reached base six times, and Rob Gilliam scored three runs as part of a 2-for-5 performance.
Junior left-handed pitcher Alex Shelton (1-6), who entered the game with an 0-6 record and 12.03 earned run average, surrendered three runs in the first inning before rallying with solid work to keep a lame Furman offense in check into the sixth. In all he worked 5 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three before departing with a 12-3 lead.
Spartan relievers Blake Hassebrock and Zach Furl combined to limit the Paladins to two hits and a run over the final 3 1/3 innings to secure the easy victory.
Handed a 3-0 lead after an innning, Furman’s Jay Friedman (2-5) couldn’t make it out of the third as UNCG torched him for nine hits and six runs, all earned, in just 2 2/3 innings.
The Spartans cut Furman’s advantage to 3-2 wiin the second and took a 6-2 lead with a four-run third, highlighted by a leadoff solo home run by Pedro Leon and Raynor’s three-run shot to left field, his second of the season.
After making it 7-2 with a run in the fith, the Spartans blew the game open with five runs in the sixth by sending 10 men to the plate. Richards’ two-run single was the big blow in the frame that included five hits and a pair of walks.
Brian Harrison had three of Furman’s nine hits, including his team leading fifth triple of the campaign.
Furman will honor its nine graduated senior players prior to Saturday’s 1:00 p.m. series finale.
Georgia Southern 11, Wofford 9
STATESBORO, Ga. - Chris Mederos (Valdosta/Gordon College) struck out 11 batters in the first seven innings, then Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) shut the door as Georgia Southern held off a late Wofford rally winning 11-9 Friday night (May 15) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Eagles improved to 36-15 overall, 18-8 in the Southern Conference, and with the loss Wofford (17-30, 7-20) was eliminated from qualifying for next week's tournament meaning Furman will earn the eighth seed.
Mederos' 11 strikeouts were not only a season-high, but marked the first time in three years an Eagle pitcher reached double-digits (Everett Teaford vs. Appalachian State on May 12, 2006). The offense supplied Mederos with plenty of run support in the early innings.
Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the second for the first run of the game. Wofford scored twice in the third when Michael Gilmartin reached on a fielding error that plated two runs, but the Eagles wasted no time in regaining the lead.
GS loaded the bases again in the third. Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) reached on a fielder's choice, Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) reached on an infield single then Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) walked. Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) worked the count full and brought home a run on another walk. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) lined a 2-run single through the left side for a 4-2 lead.
In the fourth, Georgia Southern sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs. Benedict brought home a run on a groundout then Porter lined a RBI single.
Blackburn hit a 2-run homer to centerfield - his sixth round-tripper hit in last 12 games played - then Wirnsberger followed with a towering solo shot to left field. Blackburn recorded home run number eight while Wirnsberger moved into a share of the team lead with his 11th. Roman Grimaldi (Duluth/North Florida CC) singled home the sixth run of the inning making it 10-2.
James Foster lined a RBI double in the fifth but the Eagles got that run back on Grimaldi's sacrifice fly in the sixth, making it 11-3.
Mederos struck out two batters in the seventh inning to reach double-digits, and his night was through after throwing 104 pitches. However, in the eighth Wofford made things interesting.
After a leadoff strikeout, Gilmartin doubled, Konstantine Diamaduros walked and Jake Williams singled to load the bases on Michael Hester (Evans/Greenbrier). Josh McKinney singled home a run to prompt a pitching change. Charles Matthews (Athens/Spartanburg Methodist) gave up a walk to Mac Doyle then Neil Robinette singled home another run. Pierce made a running catch on a popup to left field for the second out, but Foster walked to make it a four-run game.
Dexter Bobo (Cumming/Darton College) came on in relief but Kyle Behrendt beat out an infield single. Bobo got Gilmartin on a called third strike to end the inning. In the ninth, Diamaduros hit a leadoff homer cutting the Eagles' lead to two. Kamppi retired the final three batters in order for his eighth save.
Mederos improved to 10-1 on the year, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits. The junior right-hander took full advantage of the offensive production.
"Anyone who goes out there we know is going to do the job," Mederos said. "I don't worry about giving up runs because my team's going to back me up no matter what. It's good pitching for this team because of that."
Wirnsberger recorded four hits in a game for the fifth time in his career. He drove in three. Blackburn matched his career-high hit total as well, finishing 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored. For the second time in a week Blackburn matched his career-high runs scored total.
Porter, Pierce and Grimaldi all tallied two hits apiece as the Eagles held a 17-13 edge. In fact, the 4-9 hitters combined for 15 hits, eight runs and 10 RBI.
Kamppi moved into a tie for sixth place on the GS career saves list, matching Steve and David Cogswell who also recorded 11 saves each.
Scott Summers (3-5) was charged for 10 runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings. He walked five and did not strike out a batter. Bobby DeLuria worked the final 4.1 innings, allowing one run on eight hits.
Behrendt finished with three hits, including two doubles. The Terriers hit five doubles in the game.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch on Saturday (May 16).
The Citadel 10, College of Charleston 4
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Facing a slim 3-2 lead with two outs in the eighth inning, The Citadel posted a seven-run rally that propelled the Bulldogs to a 10-4 win over the College of Charleston in front of 1,873 at Riley Park Friday night, clinching the series victory over the Cougars.
Kyle Jordan’s two-run double jump-started the rally that witnessed seven runs score off six hits as 12 batters stepped to the plate for The Citadel that inning. Nine consecutive batters safely reached base for the Bulldogs in an inning that saw three pitchers for the Cougars take the mound.
The win clinched the series victory for The Citadel (33-20, 19-10 SoCon) and assured the Bulldogs of finishing no lower than fourth in the SoCon race. Charleston (35-19, 17-12 SoCon) eliminated themselves for contention for third place and the Cougars are fighting to stay out of fifth place.
“We were very fortunate tonight to hold the College of Charleston to four runs,” said Bulldogs head coach Fred Jordan. “Defensively, we played extremely well. They are a great ball club and we played them well defensively and we hit the ball. They hit some tough bombs right at us, but we were able to make some great stops.”
Matt Talley (8-1) held the Cougars to only one run on three hits through six innings of work, redeeming his only loss of the year that came at the hands of the Cougars in a non-conference game at Patriots Point. Talley recorded his league-leading 10th pickoff of the season in the game, putting him six pickoffs ahead of any other Southern Conference pitcher.
“You have to give The Citadel credit,” said College of Charleston head coach Monte Lee. “They played hard and competed hard. They were the better ball club tonight. You have to give The Citadel pitchers credit also. We have been hitting well all year, but good pitchers can shut down good hitters.”
Kevin Decker (3-1) took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits but struck out career-high 10 batters in 7.2 innings on the mound.
The game was a close pitcher’s duel throughout the first seven-and-a-half innings as the Bulldogs held a 3-0 lead after scoring three in the bottom of the second. With Chris McGuiness standing on second, David Greene ripped a run-scoring single to the left. After Jordan drew a walk to put runners on first and second, Nick Orvin laced a double up the middle to drive both Greene and Jordan in.
The Cougars got on the board in the sixth inning as Brandon Sizemore laced a one-out double through the left side to score Joey Bergman, who led the Cougars with a 1-for-2 day with two runs scored and two walks.
Charleston cut the lead to a 3-2 Bulldog advantage in the top of the seventh when Drew Mahaffey hit Bergman with a pitch with bases loaded.
The Citadel held on to that 3-2 lead until erupting in the eighth. Jordan hit a two-run double to the left field corner with the outfield shifted towards right field to give the Bulldogs a 5-2 lead. After Orvin singled up the middle, Bryan Altman hit a double down the left filed line to score Jordan and Orvin.
Sonny Meade followed with a single to left field, extending his hitting streak to 25 games ? a mark that ranks tied for eighth in Southern Conference history. Meade drove in Altman with his single. Richard Jones and Chris McGuiness both drew walks to load the bases and Matt Simonelli singled up the middle to score two more runs, giving The Citadel the 10-2 lead. David Greene flied out to right field to end the rally.
In the top of the ninth, the Cougars scored two runs on three hits but Matt Mansilla grounded out to third base to end the game.
The Citadel and the College of Charleston will square off in the finale of the three-game Southern Conference series on Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m. at Riley Park. Saturday will also be The Citadel’s Senior Day as the school will honor the team’s senior cadet-student-athletes.
Appalachian State 16, Longwood 6 (Game 1)
Appalachian State 4, Longwood 2 (Game 2)
BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University baseball closed its regular season by sweeping a rain-shortened two-game series from Longwood on Friday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. Appalachian won in the conclusion of Thursday’s suspended contest, 16-6, and took the series finale, 4-2.
With the series sweep, Appalachian won 26 of its final 31 games to close the regular season at 32-19. ASU will also carry a 16-game home winning streak into the 2010 season, as it won every game at Smith Stadium following a March 21 loss to Georgia Southern.
All of the action in the opening win came before the game was suspended due to rain on Thursday evening. ASU jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, but Longwood took a 5-4 advantage with a five-run third.
Longwood’s only lead of the series was short-lived, however, as the Mountaineers exploded for five runs in the third inning and six in the fourth to take a commanding 15-5 lead. Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./Central), Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) and Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) all homered in the fourth to highlight the Apps’ 11-run outburst.
The teams swapped runs in the fifth before the skies opened and play was halted for the evening. When the game resumed on Friday afternoon, the squads swapped three scoreless at-bats to close the ballgame.
Hobson led Appalachian’s 16-run, 21-hit performance in Game 1 by going 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. Aubrey Edens (Greenville, N.C./D.L. Conley) (6-3) earned the win on the mound and Matt Andress (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) tossed three innings of one-hit relief after the contest resumed on Friday to collect his first-career save.
Game 2 was the polar opposite of Game 1, as Hobson’s RBI double in the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the difference in the low-scoring affair.
Josh Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) (6-2) allowed two runs on just two hits in six innings to earn the win. The senior retired 14-straight Lancers at one point and matched a career high with seven strikeouts to match Edens for the team lead in victories.
The Mountaineers’ vaunted bullpen trio of Nick Daniels (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus), Chris Patterson (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County) and Zach Quate (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) worked an inning each to close out the ballgame. Quate extended his school-record single-season saves total to 11. Thanks to the stellar pitching, Game 2 was completed in just one hour and 57 minutes.
Hobson drove in two of the Apps’ four runs and David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) homered to lead the offensive charge in Game 2. Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) went 6-for-10 in the series to raise his batting average to .433 on the season and Rand Smith (Bolivia, N.C./South Brunswick) hit safely in both games to stretch his latest hitting streak to 12 games and give him a hit in 49-of-51 contests on the campaign.
David Smiy Jr. went 3-for-4 with two runs in the opener and D.J. Pomposini accounted for both Lancer runs with a two-run homer in the finale to pace Longwood (26-22).
Appalachian begins postseason play on Wednesday (May 20) when it plays its first game in the 2009 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. Sixth-seeded ASU will face off with the field’s No. 3 seed (Georgia Southern, The Citadel, College of Charleston or Western Carolina) at 1 p.m.. Visit soconsports.com for full tournament information and to buy tickets online.