UNC Greensboro 7, Cleveland State 6
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Senior Corey Overholtzer hit a two-out two-run home run over the right field wall and freshman Zach Leach drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete the comeback as UNC Greensboro defeated Cleveland State, 7-6, on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The win pushed the Spartans to 2-0 on the young season for the first time since 2005, while Cleveland State fell to 0-2.
Wes McBride pitched a scoreless ninth inning of relief to pick up the win for UNCG, while Jimmy Cowhy was credited with the loss after failing to record an out in the bottom of the ninth.
Jayjack continued his hot start as he went 2-3 with a RBI and two runs scored and Overholtzer went 2-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored to lead UNCG.
Trailing 6-0 with just six outs left, UNCG began to mount their comeback in the bottom of the eighth after Vikings starter Coty Bates was pulled after seven innings. He pitched a dominating seven innings of three-hit ball, while allowing no runs and striking out seven.
When the Spartans were finally able to get to Viking bullpen, they were able to produce some offense. With one out in the eighth, Drew Gehringer reached on an error by the third baseman and Overholtzer followed with a walk. A line-drive single to right field by Jayjack scored Gehringer from second and moved Overholtzer over to third. A walk by Lloyd Enzor loaded the bases and Overholtzer made it 6-2 after scoring on a wild pitch. Ray Quinones followed with a single up the middle to score Jayjack and Enzor to pull the Spartans within 6-4 after eight innings.
Trailing by two in the final inning, Eric Brindle delivered a double into the left field corner with one out. After a groundout made it two outs in the inning, Overholtzer took a 1-0 pitch over the right field wall to knot the game at 6-6. Cowhy then came in to pitch for Cleveland State and hit Jayjack with his first pitch. Enzor then drew a four-pitch walk and Quinones loaded the bases after drawing a walk as well. Travis Miller then came into pitch for Cowhy and Leach was able to draw a walk on a 3-2 pitch to score Jayjack from third and give UNCG the victory.
The game didn’t start well for the Spartans as Cleveland State controlled the first seven innings. Ryan Franks ran off Spartan starter Alex Shelton in the third inning after he hit a two-out home run to right field that scored Jason Haditsch and Alex Johnson to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
Cleveland State was able to extend their lead to 6-0 in the top of the sixth after reliever Blake Hassebrock lost his command. With two outs and runners on second and third, Hassebrock threw a wild pitch on a walk to Tom Carter that allowed Haditsch to score from third. Franks struck again as he delivered a double to right center that scored two.
UNCG goes for the sweep over Cleveland State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Appalachian State 11, USC Upstate 0
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - For the second-straight day, Appalachian State University baseball received sterling performances on the mound and claimed the championship of the season-opening Marriott Classic with an 11-0 win over host USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at Harley Park.
Appalachian (2-0), which had three pitchers combine for a three-hitter in Friday's season-opening win over Presbyterian, saw Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./Central), Tyler Jackson (Jonesville, N.C./Starmount), Nathan Hyatt (Brevard, N.C./Brevard) and Seth Grant (Etowah, N.C./West Henderson) shut out USC Upstate (0-1) on just six hits on Saturday.
Arrowood set the tone by striking out a career-high eight while allowing just five base-runners over five innings of work. Including last summer's 12-0 performance with the Coastal Plain League's Forest City Owls, Arrowood has won 14-straight decisions since being saddled with the loss in his collegiate debut last Feb. 24 at Wake Forest.
The game started out as a pitchers' duel, as USCU's Matt Branham matched Arrowood pitch-for-pitch through four innings. However, ASU's offense exploded for four runs in the fifth, all of which came courtesy of the long ball. Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) and Jason Wallace (Greensboro, N.C./Ragsdale) led off the frame with back-to-back homers and Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) added a two-run blast to cap the four-run fifth.
The Mountaineers erased any doubt about the final outcome when it plated seven runs in the seventh inning. Once again, Crespo delivered one of the inning's biggest blows with a two-run single. Fellow true freshman Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) also drove in two runs with a double as the Apps sent 11 men to the plate in the seven-run stanza.
Making his collegiate debut, Crespo led Appalachian's 11-run, 13-hit charge with a 3-for-4, three-RBI, two-run performance. Faggart also drove in three runs in a 2-for-3 effort while Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth), Doug Jones (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) and Zupcic all chipped in with two hits apiece.
On the mound, Jackson, Wyatt and Grant combined for four innings of two-hit relief to close out the gem. In all, Mountaineer pitchers surrendered just one run on nine hits during the Marriott Classic and ASU won its two contests by a combined score of 17-1.
Appalachian returns to action on Tuesday versus Gardner-Webb in the first of four-straight games at Forest City, N.C.'s McNair Field. Tuesday's affair against GWU begins at 2:30 p.m.
College of Charleston 9, Radford 1
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Junior Kolby Epley (Charlotte, N.C.) batted 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored and the College of Charleston scored five first-inning runs on the way to a 9-1 victory over visiting Radford University at Patriots Point Saturday afternoon. The Cougars improve to 2-0 on the season, while Radford falls to 0-2.
Epley plated the game's first run with a RBI single up the middle to score junior Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) and junior Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.) continued to swing his hot bat, adding a two-RBI double to right center in the opening frame.
After Radford tacked on a single run in the top of the fourth, the Cougars erupted for four more runs in the bottom of the inning. Epley roped a two-run double to left center and RBI singles by juniors Ross Hanna (Greer, S.C.) and Jesse Mesa (Miramar, Fla.) completed the scoring.
Sophomore pitcher David Peterson (Walnut Creek, Calif.) picked up the win, tossing four innings, allowing three hits and an unearned run with five strikeouts. Radford's Paul DeVito took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in one inning of work. Matt Mack led the Highlanders with two hits.
CofC returns to action tomorrow at Patriots Point in the final game of the season-opening series. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Elon 11, Ohio 4
ELON, N.C. -- Elon scored three runs in three different innings, including the first, and soared to an 11-4 victory over Ohio in Saturday action of the 2010 Elon Classic. The Phoenix victory improved the squad to 2-0 while the Bobcat loss dropped them to 0-2.
Dating back to last year, Elon has now won 16 consecutive home contests.
The Bobcats struck early as Bryan Barnes sent a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left for a leadoff homer.
Elon answered right back as Justin Hilt sent the first pitch of the bottom of the first over the wall in left. Niko Fraser followed with a triple down the right field line before Neal Pritchard walked to put runners on the corners. Mike Melillo's single through the right side gave the Phoenix a 2-1 advantage as Fraser scored. After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Ryan Adams lined a sacrifice fly to center, plating Pritchard.
In the third, Ohio's Wesley O'Neill was hit by a pitch before heading to second on a Barnes single. O'Neill headed to third when Gauntlett Eldemire grounded a ball to short, but could only erase Barnes at second. Jerod Yakubik followed with a slow grounder to short which was bobbled and all the runners advanced, including O'Neill who crossed the plate with Ohio's second run of the game. Ken Ferrer ended the threat there as he got Robert Maddox III to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Once again the Phoenix had an answer. Melillo led off the frame with a single and raced to third on an Adams double. After a pitching change, Seth Canipe singled home Melillo and ended up on second on the throw in from the outfield. Alex Swim then drove in both Adams and Canipe with a single down the left field line to push the Elon edge to 6-2.
Pritchard reached on a Bobcat error and then moved to third on Melillo's double into the left field corner. Adams drove home his second run of the game with a sac fly to center.
The Phoenix added three runs to its total in the seventh. With one out, Swim singled and went to second on a walk to pinch-hitter Matt Hinson. Harry Austin then drove in Swim with a double to right. Both pinch-runner Matt Kirchner and Austin both came across the dish when Hilt tripled to right-center as Elon's lead reached 10-2.
After both teams scored once in the eighth, the Bobcats tacked on another with two outs in the ninth when Eldemire went deep to center for a solo homer.
Ferrer (1-0) picked up the victory after allowing two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out four and walked just one.
Ryan Bores (0-1) was tagged with the loss after being roughed up for five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings.
At the plate, Hilt drove in three runs for the second straight game while posting a 2-for-6 day. Swim went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Melillo also posted a three-hit outing.
Barnes tallied a three-hit day for the Bobcats. Yakubik and Maddox each added two hits to Ohio's total.
The Phoenix will play the final game of the Elon Classic at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon against the North Carolina A&T Aggies.
The Citadel 8, Delaware 7
Charleston, S.C. - The Bulldogs rallied from an early 7-2 deficit to overtake Delaware on Saturday afternoon, 8-7, in The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House.
In a wild eighth inning, Nick Orvin's single up the middle scored two runs that gave the Bulldogs an 8-7 advantage. Bryan Altman led off the inning with a hit, his third of the game. After a pair of strikeouts, Justin Mackert walked and Matt Reifsnider reached on a controversial play that brought Blue Hens' first baseman Ryan Cuneo's foot off the bag. Originally called out, the umpires convened and overturned their call giving Reifsnider the base. Ladd then singled to score Altman and re-load the bases and give way to Orvin, who put the Bulldogs ahead for the first time.
Chris Boyce had a career day for the Bulldogs as he entered in relief in the fifth inning to pitch a career-high 4.0 innings and earn his first collegiate win. The senior pitched four scoreless frames, giving up only one hit, while striking out five, also a career-high. Drew Mahaffey came in to face the final batter and struck him out to seal The Citadel victory and earn his second save of the season.
Delaware (0-2) scored early as D.J. Long's double scored two runs in the second innings, followed by Pat Dameron's double in the third that scored two more off Bulldog starter Matt Talley. The Bulldogs got on the board in the third inning off Delaware starter Brian Rorick as William Ladd registered his second career triple and would score on a groundout by Orvin. In the fourth, Altman crushed the first pitch of the inning over the left field wall to cut the lead in half and give the redshirt senior the first long ball of the year for the Bulldogs and the 20th of his career.
The Blue Hens responded however, as Dave Anderson doubled in the top of the fifth, scoring two more runs and ending Talley's afternoon. The junior went 4.2 innings, giving up eight hits, seven runs, five earned runs, with a walk and four punch outs. A wild pitch by Boyce in relief, following a passed ball, gave Delaware their seventh run of the game and pushed their lead to 7-2.
The Bulldogs responded in the bottom half of the fifth as Altman drove in Felder from second on a base hit and David Greene's triple brought in Altman and Simonelli to close the gap to 7-5.
The Citadel returns to action on Sunday in The Citadel Memorial Challenge presented by the Charleston Crab House as they face No. 34 Kansas State at 2:30 p.m. at Riley Park.
Western Carolina 6, Gardner-Webb 5 (10 inn.)
Forest City, N.C. ? Western Carolina fell behind on two occasions, but rallied back with a Cameron Dullnig double to right field as the Catamounts defeated the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, 6-5, in 10 innings at McNair Field.
With a two run deficit in the top of the ninth inning, a pair of Catamount newcomers in Austin Schultz and Forest City’s own Tyler White used a sacrifice fly and single to tie the game at 5-5. Dullnig, the left fielder in Saturday's contest, added the game-winning RBI in the tenth with a double to right center field, allowing Tyler Kirkpatrick to score the Catamount’s game-winning run. The victory gave Western Carolina (2-0) the series win over Gardner-Webb, as the Bulldogs dropped to 0-2 on the season.
White, a product of Forest City’s Chase High School, led the Cats with a 4-for-5 afternoon as the freshman picked up a double and two runs-batted-in. Shortstop Austin Schultz continued his strong weekend with a two-run homer in the top of the third and a key sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. Schultz finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
Catcher Radley Haddad filled the void for starter Stephen Notaro, who left the game due to a leg injury. Haddad went 2-for-5 with a walk. Kirkpatrick, the third baseman, also went 2-for-5 on Saturday, including scoring the game-winner in the 10th.
Junior Brandon Johnson (1-0) earned the extra-inning victory after tossing two and a third scoreless innings. Johnson, a native of Morehead City, N.C., fanned two Bulldogs including striking out Daniel Merck with two runners on base in the seventh.
Closer Daniel Ottone earned his first save of the year while striking out a batter in the tenth inning.
Gardner-Webb’s Conner Scarborough (0-1) took the loss, giving up a run on three hits in two frames tossed.
“This was a hard fought game,” noted Catamounts head coach Bobby Moranda. “Today was a gut check. We had to overcome some adversity. It was truly a team effort.”
The Bulldogs jumped out 2-0 in the bottom of the second as O.J. McFarland’s single drove home a pair of runs. McFarland led Gardner-Webb with a 2-for-5 performance and three RBI.
Western then answered in the third inning as Dylan de Graaf walked with two outs and Schultz hammered his second round-tripper of the year.
WCU briefly took a 3-2 lead in the sixth before the Bulldogs reeled off three unanswered runs in the bottom half of the sixth and seventh innings.
The Cats’ Dullnig and de Graaf connected on a double-steal to put themselves in scoring position. It paid off as White and Schultz drove home both runners to score.
“You have to give credit to Cameron (Dullnig) and Dylan (de Graaf) for working together to make sure that double steal happened. Also, Tyler (White) had an outstanding game in front of his home crowd.”
Western Carolina starter Jason Sullivan threw five and two-third innings, fanning six batters, while surrendering four runs on six hits in the no-decision.
Western Carolina and Gardner-Webb will wrap up rubber-match of the series tomorrow at McNair Field in Forest City, N.C.
Georgia Southern 16, Tennessee Tech 9
STATESBORO, GA - Georgia Southern exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break open a tie game and beat Tennessee Tech 16-9 on Saturday night (Feb. 20) at J.I. Clements Stadium.Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) and Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) delivered back-to-back two-run singles to highlight the late-game eruption, which helped the Eagles even their season record at 1-1.
“I’m very proud of the team and their effort tonight,” said head coach Rodney Hennon. “We fought back after making some mistakes early on to overcome Tennessee Tech. It’s good to get the first win under our belt and I’m proud of the bounce back by the team.”
Roache, Roman Grimaldi (Duluth, Ga.) and A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) homered as Georgia Southern collected 15 hits off of four Tennessee Tech pitchers. The Eagles also drew eight walks and were hit by three pitches.
Roache, Randy J. Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) and Grimaldi ? the last three batters in Georgia Southern’s lineup ? were a combined 7-for-12 with eight RBIs and eight runs. Grimaldi was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs, while Roache was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs, and Williams was 2-for-4 with one RBI and three runs.
Meanwhile, Georgia Southern’s bullpen allowed only two runs (one earned) on five hits in 5.1 innings of work. Andy Moye (Alpharetta, Ga.) (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Following fellow relievers Colin Snow (Alpahretta, Ga.) and Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.), Moye allowed three hits with two strikeouts and no walks.
A crowd of 1,887 watched as the two teams traded the lead five times while combining for 29 hits and seven errors. Georgia Southern scored five unearned runs off of three Golden Eagle miscues; Tennessee Tech (1-1) posted four unearned runs off of four Eagle errors.
Georgia Southern took advantage of a two-out throwing error by Tennessee Tech’s shortstop, Chad Hayes, to score four unearned runs in the bottom of the second. After Williams stroked an RBI single, Grimaldi followed with a three-run blast over the fence in right-center field for a 4-0 lead.
Tennessee Tech’s A.J. Kirby-Jones had an RBI double in the top of the third to cut the Eagles’ lead to 4-1. But in the bottom of the inning, Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) singled and stole second base before scoring on Kyle Blackburn’s (Marietta, Ga.) groundout to put Georgia Southern up 5-1.
The Golden Eagles used a bloop double, an infield hit and two Eagle errors to score six runs and chase Georgia Southern starter Matt Murray (Spring City, Pa.) in the top of the fourth. Ben Burgess had a two-run single, Hayes had an RBI double that fell between three Eagles near the right field line, and Chad Oberacker drove in a run with a sharp comebacker that struck Murray’s leg and landed between the mound and third base.
When the half-inning ended, Tennessee Tech had sent 10 batters to the plate and assumed a 7-5 advantage, but Georgia Southern tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Roche launched a towering solo homer that almost hit the 2009 SoCon Champs banner beyond the center field fence, Williams was hit by a pitch and later scored from second on an errant pickoff attempt by the Golden Eagle catcher.
In the top of the fifth, a Georgia Southern error led to an RBI double by Oberacker that gave Tennessee Tech an 8-7 lead. Wirnsberger responded in the bottom of the inning drilling a home run over the scoreboard in left-center to tie the game.
The GS Eagles took a 9-8 lead on a two-out RBI single by Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) in the bottom of the sixth, but Tennessee Tech tied the game in the top of the seventh on Hayes’ second RBI double of the night.
Seth Edwards led off the top of the eighth with a line drive single to right field. When Roache failed to make a diving catch, Edwards tried to stretch the hit into a double, but Roche quickly recovered and threw him out at second base.
That set the stage for Georgia Southern’s explosion in the bottom of the eighth versus Chason Choate - the third of four Tennessee Tech pitchers. The Eagles sent 13 men to the plate, thanks to four hits, four walks and two hit batters. After Grimaldi led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.), Payne and Phillips were hit by consecutive pitches to load the bases for Blackburn, Georgia Southern’s cleanup hitter.
Blackburn coaxed a walk on a 3-2 pitch that scored Grimaldi and put the Eagles on top 10-9. Choate retired the next batter for out two before Bowles and Roache produced their two-run singles. Grimaldi added an RBI single and Payne drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the scoring.
Payne was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs while Wirnsberger was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. Blackburn was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Oberacker was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, Hayes was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run, and Kirby-Jones and Tate McMillan were both 2-for-4.
Choate (0-1) was charged with the loss. On 1.2 innings, he allowed seven runs (all earned) on four hits with one strikeout, four walks and two hit batters.
The three-game series will conclude on Sunday (Feb. 21) at 1:30 p.m.
Samford 9, Marshall 5
Marshall 5, Samford 4 (7 inn.)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?The Samford baseball team split a doubleheader with Marshall Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford won game one, 9-5, but the Bulldogs dropped the second game, a seven-inning contest, by a score of 5-4.
In the first game, Marshall jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first two innings, but Samford came back to outscore the Thundering Herd, 9-0 in the final seven innings for the 9-5 win.
Samford was led at the plate in the first game by Mason Meredeth, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Gardner Richey and Marcus Rodriguez also homered in game one for Samford. Richey went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Lex Rutledge pitched 4.0 hitless innings in relief to earn his first collegiate win. Josh Martin pitched the final 2.0 innings, giving up just one hit to earn his first save of the season.
For Marshall in game one, Victor Gomez went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI. Arik Sikula pitched 3.2 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits to take the loss.
Marshall plated three runs in the first inning and two more in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. In the first inning, Gomez hit a two-run home run for the first two runs of the game. Thor Meeks then hit a solo home run for a three-run Marshall lead. In the second inning, Gomez doubled down the left-field line to drive in Isaac Ballou and Kenny Socorro to make the score 5-0.
Samford answered with five runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the score at 5-5. Trey Hayes doubled down the left-field line to drive in Meredeth and Stephen Ballard for Samford’s first two runs of the game. Richey later homered with Hayes on base to make the score 5-4. Rodriguez then hit a solo home run to tie the score.
The game remained tied until Samford plated a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hayes doubled to center field to drive in David Schulze for the eventual game-winning run.
Samford added three runs in the eighth inning to make the score 9-5. Meredeth homered to center field with Ballard and Michael Johnson on base for the game’s final three runs.
In the second game, Samford jumped on top, 3-0 early but the Bulldogs were not able to hold the lead in suffering the 5-4 loss.
Samford was led at the plate in game two by Ballard, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Bo Smith also drove in two runs in a 1-for-2 performance. Arthur Strauss started on the mound for Samford, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up five runs, only two earned, on one hit to take the loss.
For Marshall, Meeks, Socorro and Kirby Pellant drove in a run each in the second game. Shane Farrell pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on five hits to earn the win. Austin Coan tossed the final 2.0 innings, surrendering no runs on three hits to get the save.
Samford plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. Smith drove in two runs and Ballard drove in one to give Samford the 3-0 lead.
Marshall answered with three runs in the top of the second to tie the score. Pellant and Socorro each drove in a run and Meeks scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-3.
Samford took the lead back with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Ballard singled up the middle to drive in Wayne Miller for a 4-3 Samford lead.
Marshall came back with two runs in the top of the third inning to make the final score 5-4. Meeks singled up the middle to drive in Josh Valle to tie the score at 4-4. Meeks scored again on a wild pitch for the game-winning run.
Samford and Marshall will conclude their four-game series with a single game Sunday. The first pitch for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Miami (Ohio) 23, Furman 5
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Adam Eaton went 6-for-6, scored six runs, and collected 5 RBI and Bryce Redeker hit for the cycle as part of a 5-for-7, 7 RBI performance to power Miami University to a 23-5 blowout of Furman in baseball action Saturday afternoon at the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field.
Eaton singled three times, doubled twice, tripled, and was hit by a pitch to reach base successfully seven times for the RedHawks (1-1).
Redeker, meanwhile, homered in the first inning, delivered RBI singles in the fourth and fifth, cracked a two-run triple in his first of two at bats in the seventh, and completed the cycle later in the frame with a double to left field.
Adam Weisenburger turned in a 3-for-5 performance and drove in four runs for the RedHawks, who pounded out 22 hits against a Paladin pitching staff that issued six walks and hit five batsmen.
The RedHawks led 10-5 after six innings before sending 16 batters to plate in a 12-run seventh.
Miami jumped on top with a Redeker two-run home run in the first inning off Furman starter and losing pitcher Brian Dudzinski (0-1).
The RedHawks stretched the advantage to 5-0 with a three-run second before the Paladins answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by Brian Harrison's leadoff home run and an RBI single by Paul Nitto.
Leading 7-5 after four, Miami tacked on three runs in the fifth on the strength of a Redeker two-run single to make it 10-5.
The win went to Kyle Donawerth (1-0), who came on in the fifth tossed two innings of no-hit ball.
Furman plays Clemson on Sunday in a 2:00 p.m. game.
Georgetown 11, Davidson 8
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- With Davidson leading 8-7, the Georgetown Hoyas scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure an 11-8 win, and a series victory, Saturday afternoon at Wilson Field.
Georgetown (2-0) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead by scoring three runs in each the fourth and fifth, but Davidson (0-2) clawed back with a five-spot in the sixth and took an 8-7 lead with three more in the seventh.
The Hoyas, though, got to the Davidson bullpen in the ninth for four runs on five hits to take the 11-8 lead, and the Wildcats couldn't manage a hit in the home-half of the inning.
Junior Matt Sliwiak (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and striking out three in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Neal Dennison (1-0) worked 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief to earn the win, allowing two hits and striking out a pair. Jared Cohen earned his first save of the season by working a perfect ninth inning and retiring four batters.
Shortstop Tom Elliott led the Hoyas at the plate, batting 4-for-5 with an RBI, and designated hitter Rand Ravnaas went 3-for-4, while left fielder Billy Cupelo drove in three.
Junior right fielder Sam Payne, junior first baseman Danny Weiss and sophomore second baseman James Cerbie each had two hits for the Wildcats, and along with Weiss, sophomore center fielder Drew Gadaire drove in a pair.
Neither team managed a hit until freshman Michael Zeblo knocked a one-out single into left field to start the third inning, but he was picked off in the next play.
The Hoyas started their scoring in the fourth inning as junior Ian Horkley allowed a leadoff walk to center fielder Tommy Lee. On a failed pickoff attempt, Lee moved around to third on the two-base error and scored on a two-out base hit to left by last night's hero Sean Lamont. Elliott singled into center field to bump Lamont to third and both scored as Cupelo singled into left to give the Hoyas a 3-0 lead.
After Davidson sat down in order, Georgetown extended its lead to 6-0 with three more runs in the fifth. Ravnaas led off the frame with a single into left field, and Lee was hit by a pitch to put a pair on. Right fielder Andy Lentz attempted to sacrifice but Horkley overthrew Weiss allowing both to score. He retired the next two batters, but surrendered one more run as Elliott singled in Lentz.
The Wildcats made it a one-run game with five runs on three hits and several Georgetown miscues in the sixth. Freshman shortstop Michael Zeblo took a leadoff walk and bumped over to second on a passed ball. Sophomore left fielder Jake Berman reached on a fielding error by Hoya second baseman Chip Malt, and Cerbie loaded the bases with an infield single. Payne drove in Zeblo with a basehit into right, but he was eliminated on Gadaire's fielder's choice. Cerbie, though scored the 'Cats' second run, and Weiss plated Cerbie with Davidson's third hit of the inning. Senior catcher Tommy Piacenza drew a walk to load the bases and keep the rally going, and junior designated hitter Will General earned an RBI by getting hit by a pitch to keep the bases juiced. Freshman third baseman Andrew Barna's sacrifice fly scored the Wildcat's final run of the frame, pulling Davidson within a run, 6-5.
Georgetown added a run in the seventh as the speedy Lee reached on a throwing error by Barna and scored on a wild pitch, but Davidson put together two hits and an error for three runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-7 lead. Berman took first on a fielding error by Lamont at third and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Payne took a one-out walk, and Gadaire doubled in Barna for the first run of the frame. Payne scored easily from third on Weiss' second hit of the day, and Piacenza did enough to get Gadaire in on a dying groundout to short. The Wildcats would strand three on base, but Davidson carried an 8-7 lead into the ninth inning after neither team managed a run in the eighth.
The Hoyas, though, punished the Wildcat bullpen to the tune of four runs on five hits in the ninth to claim the victory. After two singles and a walk to start the inning, Cupelo hit a sacrifice fly into left to start the scoring. Georgetown first baseman Dan Capeless doubled down the left field line to drive in another run, and Malt drove in the final pair of runs on the Hoyas' fourth hit of the inning.
The two teams will play the series finale tomorrow at Wilson Field at 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh 7, Wofford 3
Spartanburg, S.C. - The Wofford College baseball team lost a hard fought game to the University of Pittsburgh 7-3 on Saturday afternoon at King Field. The loss drops the Terriers to 0-2 on the young season while the Pittsburgh Panthers are now 2-0 on the season.
Wofford was lead by Mac Doyle who had three hits and two RBIs. Kyle Behrendt chipped in two hits and an RBI for the Terriers as well. The Panthers were led by Joe Leonard who had three hits for three RBIs.
The Panthers got things started in the first inning when Joe Leonard hit a double and scored later in the inning off a single by Kevan Smith. The Terriers responded with a single by Kyle Behrendt who scored one batter later when Mac Doyle hit a two run home run into left center. The home run gave the Terriers a 2-1 lead after the first inning.
After a scoreless second inning in which Wofford starting pitcher John Cornely struck out the side. The Panthers grabbed the lead back in the third inning when a leadoff double by Danny Lopez lead to a run two batters later when Joe Leonard hit a single to drive in Lopez. Pittsburgh was able to score a second run in the inning when John Schultz scored on a passed ball from third.
Pittsburgh was able to tack on another run to their lead in the fifth inning when Danny Lopez had a leadoff double and then stole third base. Lopez scored two batters later when Joe Leonard drove the run home on a fielder’s choice. After five innings of play Pittsburgh led 4-2.
In the seventh inning the Terriers were in position for a comeback with the bases loaded when Konstatine Diamaduros came to the plate. Wofford was able to score one run when Alex Lee scored from third after Diamaduros grounded out into a double play. At the end of the seventh inning the Terriers had cut the Panther’s lead to one, 4-3. After a scoreless eighth inning, Pittsburgh got three insurance runs off of five hits in the ninth inning.
The Wofford starter John Cornely (0-1) threw 6.1 strong innings striking out six and giving up three runs. Cash Collins provided .2 innings of relief in the seventh and got the Pittsburgh batter to ground into an inning ending double play. Anthony Rowland pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Gus White closed the game for the Terriers striking out two and giving up three runs.
The Pittsburgh starter Matt Iannazzon (1-0) threw 5.1 innings striking out seven and giving up two runs. Josh Smith provided .2 innings of relief giving up one run. Kevin Dooley pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Joe Leonard closed the game providing two innings of work striking out two and allowing zero runs.
The final game of the series will be on Sunday February 21 at 1:00 pm at King Field on the Wofford College Campus.