College of Charleston 8, Radford 4
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - A six-run eighth inning by the College of Charleston lifted the Cougars to an 8-4 victory over visiting Radford University in the season opener for both baseball squads at Patriots Point.
With Radford leading 3-2, the Cougars sent 12 batters to the plate scoring six runs on six hits. Junior Ross Hanna (Greer, S.C.) led off the inning with a single up the middle and pinch runner Hutson Dodds (Charleston, S.C.) advanced to second on a walk by junior Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J.). A bunt single by junior Jesse Mesa (Miramar, Fla.) loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) knotted the game at 3-3.
Junior Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.) roped a RBI single down the left-field line to score Kral and move Mesa to third, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game. After intentionally walking freshman Thomas Brittle (Cross, S.C.), junior Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) lifted a two-RBI single to left field to increase the Charleston lead to 6-3. A pair of RBI singles by senior Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, S.C.) and junior Kolby Epley (Charlotte, N.C.) rounded out the inning for the Cougars.
Rodriguez led the Cougars at the plate, batting 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the seventh and a pair of RBI. Mesa, Epley and Rakar also added a pair of hits apiece. Junior Heath Hembree (Cowpens, S.C.) picked up the win for Charleston, tossing the final 1-2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run.
Radford was led by senior Reggie Keen, who batted 3-for-5 with a RBI and sophomore Brett Mollenhauer's two hits and two RBI. Sophomore Abram Williams took the loss for the Highlanders, allowing seven runs on five hits in 1-1/3 innings.
CofC returns to action tomorrow at Patriots Point in game two of the series. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
The Citadel 4, East Tennessee State 1
Charleston, S.C. - Asher Wojciechowski struck out nine in 7.0 innings pitched to help lead the Bulldogs past East Tennessee State on Friday afternoon, 4-1, at The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House. It was the eighth win in the last 11 home openers for The Citadel, who snapped a two-year opening game losing streak.
ETSU (0-1) struck first as Bo Reeder singled in Michael Gonzalez in the top of the third inning. The lead would not last long however, as the Bulldogs immediately responded in the bottom of the frame. Legare Jones and William Ladd led off the inning with a pair of singles. After a sac bunt from Nick Orvin, Matt Simonelli hit a chopper to third to reach base and an errant throw by Reeder allowed Jones and Ladd to score. Bryan Altman continued the momentum for The Citadel as he doubled to deep center to score Simonelli and put the Bulldogs out in front, 3-1.
Wojciechowski built on his strong finish from the 2009 season and pitching for the U.S. National Team last summer, as he gave up only three hits, all singles in the third inning. The junior hurler struck out nine and walked three in 7.0 innings pitched on 99 pitches.
Simonelli scored another insurance run for the Bulldogs in the sixth after earning a leadoff walk. After advancing on a stolen base and a wild pitch, he scored from third on a sac fly by Altman. Raymond Copenhaver pitched a scoreless eighth, giving way to Drew Mahaffey who earned his eighth career save to close it out in the ninth.
The Citadel finished with nine hits, led by Simonelli who went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases. Altman added a double and went 2-for-3 with two RBI to pace the Bulldogs.
Chas Byrne took the loss for the Bucs, giving up four runs, three earned in 6.0 innings pitched. He walked one and struck out four. Reeder went 1-for-3 with an RBI for ETSU, as all six Buccaneer hits were singles.
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow in The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House as they take on Delaware. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Riley Park. Live video is available through Bulldog Insider. For information on The Citadel Baseball, visit the official site at CitadelSports.com.
Samford 9, Marshall 4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?Samford senior pitcher Jonathan Stephens gave up just one run over 6.0 innings of work in his first appearance since 2008 to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a season-opening 9-4 win over Marshall Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
“Jonathan threw a lot of strikes,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “We only walked two guys in the game, and Jonathan didn’t walk any. He did a good job and threw the ball over the plate.”
Stephens scattered six hits, struck out two batters and allowed no walks in earning the win on the mound. Stephens, who was 7-0 for Samford in 2008, missed the 2009 season after having off-season arm surgery. Sean Handlan, Tyler Vanderheiden, Rumiko Forrester and Mark Lewallyn pitched the remaining three innings to close the out the game for Samford.
For Samford (1-0) at the plate, Stephen Ballard (2-for-4), Bo Smith (2-for-3) and Michael Johnson (2-for-2) had two hits each. Ballard drove in a run on a solo home run. Wayne Miller drove in two runs in a 1-for-5 performance. David Schulze hit a home run in a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.
Marshall (0-1) starting pitcher Ian Kadish took the loss, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up five runs on six hits. Kenny Socorro went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI for the Thundering Herd at the plate. Isaac Ballou hit a solo home run in a 1-for-5 performance. Victor Gomez went 2-for-4 for Marshall.
Samford got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. After Smith singled and Trey Hayes walked with two outs, Johnson singled to right field to drive in Smith, and Hayes scored when Johnson went to second base on a Marshall error to give Samford a 2-0 lead. Brad Moss then doubled to center field to drive in Johnson to make the score 3-0.
Marshall came back with a run in the top of the third inning to cut the Samford lead to 3-1. Ballou hit a solo home run to center field to give the Thundering Herd their first run of the game.
Samford then plated a run each in the third, fourth and fifth innings to push its lead to 6-1. In the third inning, Tripp Swann doubled to right field to drive in Mason Meredeth for a 4-1 Samford lead. In the fourth inning, Miller singled to left field to drive in Johnson for a four-run Bulldog lead. In the fifth inning, Schulze homered to center field to make the score 6-1.
Samford added two more runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to take a 9-1 lead. Johnson singled to begin the sixth inning. Johnson then moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Moss. Miller then grounded out to drive in Johnson for a 7-1 lead. Ballard then homered to left field to make the score 8-1. Samford plated its final run of the game in the seventh inning when Hayes doubled to center field to drive in Swann, who had walked to lead off the inning for a 9-1 Samford lead.
Marshall plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 9-4. Socorro drove in two runs in the inning, while Nathan Gomez drove in one for the Thundering Herd’s final three runs of the game.
The same two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Elon 8, Towson 2
ELON, N.C. -- Justin Hilt drove in three runs while Jimmy Reyes struck out six hitters in 6.0 innings of work to lead the Elon Phoenix to an 8-2 season-opening victory over the Towson Tigers in the opening game of the 2010 Elon Classic from Latham Park on Friday afternoon.
The Phoenix claimed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Chris Bresnahan laced a double to left-center, scoring Ryan Adams from third with two away. Harry Austin then sent a short fly ball into center that a sliding Kevin Collins could not collect to plate Bresnahan. After Austin stole second, the Elon advantage grew to 3-0 as Hilt's single through the left side of the infield scored Austin.
Steve Rice led off the Towson fifth with a double to right and then scored on a one-out single to left off the bat of Brian Wyman. Wyman was gunned down trying to stretch his single into a double. Nick Natoli followed with a single before Ben Winter drew a walk, but Reyes ended the threat by fanning Chris Wychock to end the inning.
After retiring the first batter in the bottom of the fifth, Towson's Charlie Cononie walked three straight Elon hitters, bringing Seth Canipe to the plate. Canipe fought a pitch off for a bloop single to right, scoring Neal Pritchard from third with the fourth Phoenix run of the contest. Mike Melillo then crossed the dish when Alex Swim grounded out to second.
A one-out single by Winter was followed by a double from Wychock before Austin Harclerode drew a two-out walk to load the bases. The Tigers were able to score one, trimming its deficit to 5-2, when Winter raced home on a wild pitch in the eighth inning.
Hilt's one-out double down the left field line in the bottom of the eight drove in two as both pinch-runner Matt Kirchner and Austin scored to build the Elon edge to 7-2. After Hilt swiped third, Niko Fraser singled through the right side of the drawn in infield to plate the Phoenix's eighth run.
Reyes (1-0) scattered six hits in his 6.0 innings. He walked two and allowed one run. John Brebbia and Kyle Webb combined to allow one run on three hits in the final 3.0 innings.
Towson's Nate Curd (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings of action.
Hilt finished the day 3-for-5 with a run scored and two doubles. Austin posted a 3-for-4, two-run, one-RBI performance for the Phoenix. Swim recorded a two-hit outing in his collegiate debut.
Towson's offensive attack was paced by two-hit days from both Wychock and Rice.
On Saturday, Elon will take on Ohio in Game Three of the 2010 Elon Classic. First pitch is slated for noon.
Appalachian State 6, Presbyterian 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Matt Andress (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg), Jordan Jessup (Westfield, N.C./East Surry) and Chris Patterson (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County) combined to surrender just three hits and lead Appalachian State University baseball to a 6-1 win over Presbyterian in the season opener for both teams on Friday afternoon at USC Upstate's Harley Park.
Andress displayed the form that made him an all-Southern Conference selection two seasons ago, limiting Presbyterian to just one hit over six innings of work, striking out four in the process. The senior needed just 68 pitches to earn the 18th victory of his career, moving him into a tie for fifth in school history.
Jessup was nearly as impressive in his Appalachian debut. The junior transfer from Surry C.C. allowed just two hits while striking out six over 3.1 innings of relief. He came up just two outs shy of earning a save in his first outing for the Black and Gold.
The Mountaineers needed every bit of the efforts that they received from their pitchers, as Blue Hose starter Steven Richardson was nearly as strong as his counterparts on the mound. The left-hander held ASU to four hits over 7.1 innings of work but was the victim of two costly errors behind him and suffered the tough-luck loss.
Preseason all-America second baseman Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) sparked a two-run first inning for ASU when he followed a leadoff walk to Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and a double to the right-center field gap by Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) with a sacrifice fly to deep left field that gave the Apps a 1-0 lead before an out was recorded. Three batters later, ASU plated an unearned to take a 2-0 advantage.
Hobson extended the Appalachian lead to 3-0 in the top of the third with a towering solo home run to right field.
The score remained 3-0 until the seventh when PC shortstop Gabe Grammer's second throwing error of the afternoon opened the floodgates for a three-run inning that gave ASU a commanding 6-0 advantage.
Presbyterian spoiled the Mountaineers' shutout bid when it scored its only run of the ballgame on an RBI single by Nate Horton in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, Patterson came on to record the final two outs and seal ASU's fourth season-opening triumph in six years.
Hobson led the Apps offensively, going 1-for-2 with a home run, sacrifice fly, two RBI and two runs scored. Dowdy chipped in with a pair of doubles in a 2-for-4 performance.
Appalachian returns to action on Saturday when it plays the host of this weekend's Marriott Classic, USC Upstate. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Harley Park.
UNC Greensboro 8, Cleveland State 4
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Ed Jayjack hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give UNC Greensboro the lead for good and Lloyd Enzor added some insurance runs with a two-run homer of his own in the eighth inning as the Spartans defeated Cleveland State, 8-4, on opening day at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Greg Smith picked up the win for the Spartans as he pitch five innings of one-hit relief, while striking out seven. Joey Gradney was credited with the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, in just 2 2/3 innings of work.
Things didn’t get off to the start that the Spartans (1-0) envisioned as Cleveland State struck for four runs in the top half of the second inning. After getting the first out of the inning, the Spartans allowed five consecutive hits, one being a double, as the Vikings (0-1) pushed three runs across. A two-out single by Tom Carter gave Cleveland State its final run of the inning.
Taylor Schwarz and Eric Brindle led off the third inning with a pair of walks and a walk to Overholtzer later in the inning loaded the bases. After an infield fly, Jayjack was issued a walk to score the first run of the season for UNCG.
The Spartans continued to struggle at the plate in the early going before breaking through with four runs in the fifth inning. With one out in the inning, Drew Gehringer reached on a throwing error by Tyler Wynn. After another Overholtzer walk, Enzor delivered a double that skipped off the left field line and into the corner to allow Gehringer and Overholtzer to score and pull UNCG within 4-3. Ed Jayjack followed with a towering shot over the right field wall that scored Enzor to give the Spartans a 5-4 advantage.
UNCG pushed another run across the plate in the seventh inning as Harry Slade delivered a single to left field that scored Ray Quinones from second.
After Overholtzer received his fourth walk of the evening to lead off the eighth inning, Enzor hit a home run that went off the light pole in left field to make the final score, 8-4.
The Spartans and Vikings return to the diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the second game of the three-game series.
Western Carolina 14, Gardner-Webb 9
Cullowhee, N.C. - Five early runs helped catapult Western Carolina past the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs Friday afternoon, 14-9, in the 2010 season opener at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium.
The Catamounts (1-0) opened the first inning with an Austin Schultz two-run homer before Gardner-Webb (0-1) answered with a two run rally in the top of second inning. WCU then capitalized on two Bulldog errors in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-2 advantage. The Catamounts never relinquished the lead, scoring at least one run in the final five frames. In total, six Catamounts tallied multi-hit games, including a trio with multi-RBI. Overall, the Cats used a combination of six extra-base hits, four stolen bases and 13 total hits to snag the victory.
"It was great to get out there and play," said Catamount head coach Bobby Moranda. "The offense was able to string together some critical hits up the middle. There is obviously some stuff we need to work on, but this is a good start to the season."
The round-tripper by Shultz happened in his first at-bat as a Catamount. Schultz added another pair of RBI after ripping a single to center field in the second. The transfer from Young Harris College went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI. Senior Stephen Notaro also got into the homerun race with a two-bomber in the sixth inning. Notaro went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI and two walks.
Right-hander Jason Sullivan (1-0) earned the victory after fanning a career-high nine Bulldogs in five and one third innings. Sullivan, a senior from Shelbyville, Indiana, allowed four earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks in the win.
"I thought Jason gave us a solid five innings today and helped us stay ahead in this game," noted Moranda.
Right-hander Matt Benedict came on in relief, giving up one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts in an inning and two thirds of work. Brandon Johnson and Daniel Ottone closed the final two frames, allowing two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Senior Tyler Kirkpatrick hit 2-for-5 with a run scored and brought home two Catamounts with his double up the middle in the eighth inning to extend WCU's score to 14-7. Junior transfer Cameron Dullnig capitalized in the nine hole with a 2-for-3 evening and two runs scored.
Senior Dylan de Graaf tallied a team-high four runs, after a 2-for-3 evening, a RBI and two walks. Ross Heffley and Matt Johns rounded out the multi-hit parade for the Catamounts with a pair of hits each.
Gardner-Webb rallied to tie the game, 2-2, in the second after a solo home run by first baseman Josh Drewery and an unearned run scored by second baseman Daniel Merck. WCU then answered with six consecutive runs scored. A three-run second inning was capped with a pair of runs scored by Dullnig and de Graaf. Gardner-Webb added four runs in the top of the sixth before tallying another three in the final two innings. In total, GWU committed four errors that resulted in four unearned runs.
Gardner-Webb's O.J. McFarland led the squad with a 2-for-4 and two RBI performance. Drewery and Zeke Blanton also corralled a pair of hits in the contest.
Western Carolina and Gardner-Webb will play the remainder of this weekend's series at McNair Field in Forest City, N.C. Sophomore right-hander Kyle Stewart is scheduled starter for Saturday's 2:00 p.m. contest. For more information about McNair Field and directions to the stadium, visit www.forestcitybaseball.com.
Georgetown 6, Davidson 2
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Georgetown busted open a 2-1 game with a four-run seventh and a late-game Davidson rally failed to materialize, as the Hoyas spoiled the Wildcats' season-opener with a 6-2 win Friday evening at Wilson Field.
Starting pitching was the story early, as both Thomas Middour and Georgetown's Tim Adleman turned in strong performances, but Sean Lamont put the Hoyas in control with a three-run home run in the seventh.
Making the first start of the 2010 season for the Wildcats, Middour (0-1) struck out seven and scattered eight hits in six innings of work for Davidson (0-1). Georgetown (1-0) put together three hits for a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead, before taking control with a four-run seventh inning.
Adleman (1-0) was equal, allowing just one run on five hits and striking out six in six innings to earn the win.
Catcher Erick Fernandez batted 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Hoyas at the plate. Georgetown recorded 12 hits to 10 for Davidson.
Sophomore center fielder Drew Gadaire, freshman third baseman Andrew Barna and sophomore second baseman James Cerbie each recorded a pair of hits for the Wildcats, who took a 1-0 lead in the second. Barna recorded his first collegiate hit in his first at-bat, and sophomore left fielder Jake Berman plated him in the next.
Middour allowed just two hits in the next two frames, but Georgetown got on the board in the fifth, stringing together three hits for a pair of runs to take the slight 2-1 lead. Second baseman Chip Malt legged out an infield single to the third base side and advanced to third on center fielder Tommy Lee's double into left field. Both scored on a two-out single through the left side by Fernandez.
Cerbie drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and junior designated hitter Will General got a two-out single in the seventh, but the 'Cats couldn't capitalize on either opportunity.
Middour allowed just a two-out basehit in the sixth, but surrendered a leadoff infield bunt to Lee to start the seventh. Junior Mac Hunter relieved Middour, and Lee stole second. Right fielder Andy Lentz put a pair of runners on after taking a walk, and Fernandez doubled in the next at-bat to score the first run of the inning. Lamont cleared the bases with a three-run homer over the left field wall to open up a 6-1 lead. Hunter struck out the next batter and got a groundout a batter later, but the damage was done.
Barna led off the home-half of the seventh with his second hit of the night, but Berman grounded into a double play to limit the 'Cats chances. Senior left fielder Sam Payne doubled into right to plate Cerbie, cutting the lead to 6-2, and Gadaire drew a two-out walk to keep things rolling, but Hoya reliever Bobby Kirby retired sophomore first baseman Danny Weiss to end the inning.
Junior Andy Bass worked a perfect eighth inning on the mound, retiring three straight batters, to keep Davidson in the game, and the Wildcats got two on with no outs to start the eighth. Senior catcher Tommy Piacenza singled through the left side to lead off the frame, before General drew a walk. Pablo Vinent came out of the pen for the Hoyas, though, and stifled the Wildcat rally by retiring the next three hitters.
Sophomore Brian Russell allowed just one hit in the ninth inning in relief of Bass, but the 'Cats couldn't do anything with Cerbie's leadoff ninth-inning single either, as Vinent coaxed three groundouts to close the game for Georgetown.
Davidson and Georgetown will play the second in a three-game set tomorrow at 2 p.m. The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
Tennessee Tech 5, Georgia Southern 2
STATESBORO, GA - Georgia Southern staged a ninth-inning rally that fell short as the Eagles dropped a 5-2 decision to Tennessee Tech in the season opener for both teams on Friday night (Feb. 19) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Trailing 5-0, the Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the potential game-winning run at the plate, but the Golden Eagles’ fourth pitcher of the evening ? Ryan Hopkins - recorded the final out to save the game for the visitors.
The Eagles collected seven hits, drew four walks and had two hit batsmen. However, they stranded 11 base runners, nine of them in the last four innings.
Georgia Southern starter Jake Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) allowed four earned runs on eight hits. The first of five pitchers for the Eagles, Brown struck out eight batters and issued two walks.
Georgia Southern’s offense was led by Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.), both of whom were 2-for-4. Bowles and Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) had one RBI apiece for the Eagles.
Tennessee Tech used an infield hit, a balk, a sacrifice bunt and a single to score get on the board in the top of the second. The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the fourth on a double from Tate
McMillian, a single, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.
TTU extended its lead to 4-0 in the seventh using a leadoff double to right from Chad Oberacker and a Ben Burgess sacrifice bunt to draw in the run. The Golden Eagles added a solo home run from Devin Rivers in the eighth for a 5-0 lead heading into the ninth.
After managing only four hits in the first eight innings, the Eagles’ bats came to life in the ninth. With one out, two pinch-hitters sparked the late rally for the Eagles as Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.)
reached on a passed ball and Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) singled to the right side.
A.J. Kirby-Jones fanned the next batter, but Owens followed with a slow roller down the third base line that died near the bag for an infield single that loaded the bases for GS. Bowles followed with an infield
single of his own, a slow roller to the right side that plated Cochrane for the Eagles’ first run of the game.
Payne drew a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 count to score Burress, but Tennessee Tech reliever Hopkins struck out the only batter he faced to end the uprising.
Golden Eagles starter Adam Liberatore was the winning pitcher, working six scoreless innings, giving up three hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Hopkins picked up the save.
Chad Hayes was 3-for-4 to lead Tennessee Tech, which finished with 10 hits.
The three-game series will continue on Saturday (Feb. 20) with a single contest at 5 p.m. at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Pittsburgh 18, Wofford 6
Spartanburg, S.C. - The Wofford College baseball team fell in its season opener on Friday evening to Pittsburgh 18-6. Wofford is now 0-1 on the season and Pittsburg is 1-0 overall.
The Terriers were led by Konstatine Diamaduros who had two hits and two RBIs. Josh McKinney also had two hits and one RBI. Taylor Rozier had a two run home run for his first ever at bat in the second inning. Pittsburgh was led by Joe Leonard who had two hits and six RBIs.
The Pittsburgh Panthers stuck first when they grabbed two runs on four singles in the first inning. The Terriers responded when Konstatine Diamaduros hit a triple that scored Alex Lee.
In the second inning the Terriers took a 3-2 lead when Taylor Rozier hit a two run home run over the left field wall to score Josh McKinney.
The Panthers broke the game open in the third inning when six hits including a grand slam by Joe Leonard led to seven runs. The Terriers responded with a double by Konstatine Diamaduros to score Kyle Behrendt and a double by Josh McKinney to score Diamaduros. After three innings the Panthers lead was stretched to 9-5.
After a scoreless fourth inning the Panthers scored a run on two singles hits and a stolen base. In the bottom on the fifth inning the Terriers got a run when Mac Doyle hit a home run to make the score 10-6.
The Panthers added another run in the sixth inning when a leadoff double by Travis Whitmore lead to a run when Zach Duggan hit a single to score Whitmore. After two scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth the Panthers closed the game with a seven run ninth inning.
Wofford Starter Pete Noordsy (0-1) threw 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and eight runs allowed. Drew Sheridan threw 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and 6 runs allowed. Tom Dolinak came in for the final two outs and recorded one strikeout.
For Pittsburgh Corey Baker (1-0) went seven innings with nine strikeouts and five runs allowed. Cole Taylor finished the final two innings with three strikeouts and zero runs allowed.
The Terriers will host Pittsburgh on Saturday at 2:00 pm the weekend concludes with the final game versus Pittsburgh on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
Michigan State 8, Furman 6
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Bo Felt went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs to propel Michigan State to an 8-6 win over Furman in the 2010 baseball season opener for both teams Friday afternoon at the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field.
Felt drove in Michigan State’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, delivered an RBI single in the fourth, and capped a decisive five-run eighth inning with an RBI double, helping the Spartans break a 3-3 deadlock en route to the win.
Chris Roberts and Jonathan Roof each delivered three hits and an RBI for Michigan State, which pounded out 12 hits in the contest.
Furman was paced at the plate by freshman Will Muzika, whose two-run home run in the seventh inning tied the game at 3-3 before Michigan State regained the lead in the eighth.
Trey Popp (1-0), who served up Muzika’s two-run blast to left field, was the beneficiary of the Spartans’ rally, earning the victory in relief of Michigan State starter, A.J. Achter, who pitched six effective innings, allowing four hits and a run. He walked three and struck out six.
Jay Friedman (0-1) was charged with the loss after coming on in relief of Paladin starter Ian Parry to start the sixth. Friedman worked two innings, but his walk of Michigan State’s Brandon Eckerle to start the eighth led to the big frame, which included RBI doubles by Roberts, Roof, and Felt, a pair of singles, and a Furman error. Friedman’s replacement, Stephen Gary, was touched up for four of the inning’s five runs
Furman rallied from the 8-3 deficit in the ninth, bunching a hit with two walks, two passed balls, and two wild pitches, to make it an 8-6 game before the Spartans’ Kurtis Frymier recorded three consecutive outs to close the contest and earn the save.
Furman will play Miami University at 4:00 p.m. Saturday at Fluor Field.