Appalachian State 13, Niagara 4
FOREST CITY, N.C. - Matt Andress (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) struck out a career-high 12 and was backed by an explosive offensive display in Appalachian State University baseball's 13-4 rout over Niagara in the first game of the inaugural North-South Challenge on Friday afternoon at blustery McNair Field.
With the victory, Appalachian moved to 4-0 for the first time since 1996.
With temperatures in the low-40s at game time and a wind chill near freezing, Andress surrendered just one run on four hits and a walk while registering the career-best 12 Ks. He allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base in 4-of-6 innings but worked his way out of trouble nearly every time, giving up his only run on a solo homer by Matt Cramer in the second inning.
After Cramer's home run staked Niagara (0-4) to an early 1-0 lead, it was all ASU. Appalachian scored in each of the next five stanzas, highlighted by five runs in the bottom of the second inning and three in the fourth, to grab a commanding 12-1 advantage.
Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) and Doug Jones (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) both hit solo home runs during the onslaught. Jones, whose homer was the first of his career, also collected a game-high three RBI.
Dowdy, Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus), Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) and David Towarnicky (New Bern, N.C./New Bern) paced ASU's 12-hit attack with two apiece. Five of the Mountaineers' 12 hits went for extra bases.
Despite the power display, the game's defining moment came without the benefit of a base hit when Hector Crespo (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) walked to lead off the third inning, stole second, advanced to third on a ground ball to the pitcher and made a straight steal of home to account for the Apps' lone run in the of the stanza. The highlight-reel sequence headlined a 1-for-2, two-walk, two-steal, three-run effort for the true freshman from Miami.
However, as has been the case for the entire season to date, the story of the game for Appalachian was its pitching, particularly the performance turned in by Andress (2-0). The right-handed senior is just one win shy of matching his entire win total from a season ago and sports a miniscule 0.82 ERA and .132 opponents' batting average. Friday's victory was also the 19th of his career, moving him alone into fifth place on ASU's all-time wins list.
The Mountaineers continue play at the North-South Challenge on Saturday when they take on 2009 NCAA Regional participant Marist at 1 p.m. at McNair Field.
Western Carolina 11, Eastern Kentucky 4
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Western Carolina scored eight runs in the home half of the third inning en route to the fifth-straight win to open the season as the Catamounts throttled Eastern Kentucky, 11-4, Friday afternoon in nonconference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Catamount pitchers combined to record 10 strikeouts against EKU, which was playing for the first time this season.
The win, the Catamounts’ fifth-straight, gives Western Carolina its first-ever 5-0 start to a regular season in program history. Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.
A combined eight Catamounts drove in runs, including two by catcher Ollie Goulder, while three Catamounts posted multiple hits on Friday. Seniors Dylan de Graaf (2-for-5) and Tyler Kirkpatrick (2-for-5), as well as junior Austin Schultz (2-for-4), each had two base hits in the win. Schultz blasted his team-leading third home run of the season for WCU, and freshman Tyler White legged out his third double of the young season in a 1-for-5 showing.
Starter Jason Sullivan scattered five base hits over six innings for the Catamounts, surrendering four earned runs. The senior worked around a pair of walks with five strikeouts. Transfer Andrew Chilcoat worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while fanning two, and Andrew Blackwell struck out the side in the nine for the Catamounts.
Western Carolina (5-0) climbed on top in the home half of the first inning as de Graaf singled to right center to open the rally and later scored on a two-out ground ball that was booted at third for an unearned tally.
Half an inning later, Eastern Kentucky tied the game at one with a solo home run to left by Anthony Ottrando.
All eight runs in the WCU third came with one out on the board. Schultz opened the rally with a single and moved to second on an error. The next batter, Ross Heffley, drove him in with a single to right field and scored when White doubled to left. Collias added an RBI double with Goulder plating two runs with a single to right.
After the dust settled from the frame, Western led 9-1 over the Colonels.
EKU added two home runs in the top of the sixth including a two-run shot by Jayson Langfels and Ottrando’s second blast to close the gap to 9-4. Yet, WCU added a single run in the bottom of the sixth and Shultz rounded out the scoring with his solo blast in the seventh to provide the final tally.
For the Colonels (0-1), Langfels and Ottrando each posted multi-hit games that included home runs and two RBI apiece. Both of Ottrando’s two hits were home runs including a solo shot in the sixth inning after a dropped foul ball for WCU, the Catamounts’ lone error in the win.
Western Carolina is scheduled to throw sophomore right-hander Kyle Stewart (0-0, 6.35) on Saturday against EKU’s right-hander, Stephen Hefler. First pitch is at 1:00 pm.
The Citadel 10, St. Joseph’s 5
Charleston, S.C. - Eight players had at least one hit on Friday afternoon as The Citadel opened the Charleston Crab House Shootout with a 10-5 win over Saint Joseph's.
The Bulldogs (3-1) scored right away in the first as Brad Felder laced one of his two triples on the day into left field and would score on a fielder's choice by Matt Simonelli. The Hawks (0-1) would respond in the top of the second however, as Drew Smith scored on a wild pitch by Asher Wojciechowski, followed by a fielder's choice that scored Kevin Taylor.
Wojciechowski got himself out of a bases loaded jam in the third by inducing an inning-ending double play. The Citadel would put up three runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead as Nick Orvin homered to left to tie the game. Felder followed with his second triple, becoming the first Bulldog to hit two triples in a game since Chris Swauger did it on April 2, 2006 against UNC Greensboro. Singles by Matt Simonelli and Bryan Altman gave the Bulldogs two more runs to put them in front, 4-2.
"Wojo" then moved quickly through the Hawks lineup as he stuck out five straight batters over the span of the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, The Citadel would open things up by posting four runs on singles by William Ladd, Orvin, Altman and David Greene, coupled by two Saint Joseph's errors that helped put the Bulldogs in front 8-2 and knock Hawks starter Dominic Favazza out of the game.
In the fifth, Wojciechowski walked in a run, but got himself out of another jam to earn his second win on the season as he went 5.0 innings, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out nine and walking four. Legare Jones' first career home run in the bottom of the fifth scored Justin Mackert who tripled and put the Bulldogs in a commanding 10-3 lead. Dewey Oriente finished the day, 2-for-5, with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Hawks as he doubled in two runs off reliever Nick Sprowls in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 10-5. True freshman Austin Pritcher made his collegiate debut out of the bullpen, closing out the game for the Bulldogs as he pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two.
"Mackert, Felder and Jones all swung the bat extremely well tonight and that is big for our club," said head coach Fred Jordan. "We try to have six or seven guys get going every game and it was good to see them swing the bat. I thought we played pretty well in all three phases of this game this afternoon. Saint Joseph's has a very good offensive, veteran team. They competed well early and eventually Asher was able to settle in."
Favazza took the loss for Saint Joseph's as he went only 3.1 innings, giving up nine hits, six runs, four earned runs and did not walk or strike out a batter.
The Citadel returns to Riley Park tomorrow as they face Marshall at 2:30 p.m. Live stats and an internet broadcast and video coverage of the game are available.
UNC Greensboro 8, Albany 4
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro scored five runs in the bottom of the third and made its lead stand thanks to reliever Greg Smith as the Spartans defeated Albany 8-4 on Friday night at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Smith (2-0) pitched five innings of relief for the Spartans (4-1) while allowing just one run on four hits and striking out four batters. Dave Kubiak picked up the loss in the season opener for the Great Danes (0-1) after allow six runs in three innings of work.
The Spartans were led at the plate by freshman Eric Brindle who went 2-3 with four RBI and four other players also recorded an RBI. Four of UNCG’s nine hits on the evening went for doubles.
UNCG fell into a hole in the top of the second inning when Josh Nethaway singled up the middle to score Pete Eichner from second and give the Great Danes a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans fought back in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at one. Chris Barker singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. A wild pitch put him on third before Brindle drove him in with a double to right center.
With two outs in the top of the third, the Great Danes scored a pair of unearned runs to pull back ahead, 3-1.
UNCG struck big in the bottom of the third as they put five runs across the plate to take a 6-3 lead and never looked back. Cory Overholtzer led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a double by Ed Jayjack. A single through the left side by Ray Quinones scored Overholtzer and Jayjack scored after Zach Leach singled up the middle. A throwing error by the pitcher helped Quinones score from second on a fielder’s choice by Barker. Brindle came up later in the inning and hit a single up the middle to score Barker and Leach.
The Spartans added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to stretch their lead out to 8-3. Quinones led off the inning with a double to center field and Leach followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Barker moved the runners to second and third and the pair both later scored on fielder’s choices.
Albany got one run in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Brian Bullard to make the final score, 8-4.
The Spartans and Great Danes meet again on Saturday afternoon for the second game of the series at 1 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Davidson 4, Mount St. Mary’s 2
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Thomas Middour and Mike Frongello allowed just two runs on five hits and combined for 14 strikeouts to pitch the Davidson Wildcat baseball team to a 4-2 win over Mount St. Mary's Friday night at Wilson Field.
Frongello (1-0) picked up the win for the Wildcats (3-2), working the final four innings and allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts. After allowing a leadoff home run to left fielder Tommy Flynn, Middour settled in to work five innings of two-hit, shutout ball with eight strikeouts.
Costa Kapothanasis made a solid start for the Mountaineers (0-1), allowing just one run on two hits with five strikeouts in five innings, but Davidson knotted up the game in the third frame. Freshman right fielder Coleman Barron legged out an infield single and took second base as third baseman Joe Kavanagh overthrew first base. He moved around the bases to tie the score on consecutive wild pitches, but Davidson would end the inning tied 1-1.
The Mountaineers took the lead in the sixth, as Frongello entered in relief of Middour and allowed a leadoff single to designated hitter Kyle Kane, who moved around to second on a throwing error by Barron. Right fielder Shane Eyler doubled in Kane in the next at-bat, but Frongello struck out Kavanagh and turned a double play on catcher Andrew Caron to end the inning.
Davidson got to Mount St. Mary's reliever Brady Fiegl (0-1) for a run in the sixth and seventh to take the 3-2 lead. Junior first baseman Danny Weiss doubled in sophomore second baseman James Cerbie (single) to tied the game in the sixth, and the 'Cats got the bases loaded in the seventh to scratch out a lead. Freshman third baseman Andrew Barna doubled to start the seventh, and senior catcher Tommy Piacenza was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat. Barron tried to sacrifice each over, but the Mountaineers eliminated lead runner Barna for the first out. Junior left fielder Sam Payne loaded the bases with a walk, before Cerbie was hit by a pitch for the go-ahead run.
The Mountaineers got a pair of runners on with no outs to start the eighth, but the 'Cats turned their second double play of the game, and Frongello coaxed a ground out out of first baseman Josh Winter to end the threat. Davidson added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning as reliever Buddy Fields surrendered a bases-loaded walk to freshman shortstop Michael Zeblo. Weiss led off the frame with his second hit of the night and was sacrificed over by junior designated hitter Will General before Barna was intentionally walked to set up the double play. The gamble failed, as Piacenza and then Zeblo took walks to give the 'Cats a final run.
Frongello retired the final three hitters to earn his first win of the season. Weiss and Barna each had two hits for the Wildcats, and Cerbie and Barron each tallied one.
The Mountaineers had just five hits, with Flynn, Darr, Kane, Eyler and second baseman Michael Foster each recording one.
Mount St. Mary's returns to action with a noon neutral-site game against Presbyterian. Davidson and Presbyterian are scheduled for a first pitch time of 3 p.m.
#14 Rice 7, Elon 2
HOUSTON, Texas -- A four-run first inning was all that the sixth-ranked Rice Owls needed as they picked up a 7-2 victory over the Elon Phoenix in the second game of the Rice Invitational. The loss was the first of the year for the Phoenix which fell to 4-1. The Owls picked up their first victory of 2010 and are now 1-4.
Jimmy Reyes suffered the first loss of his career and is now 12-1 in his time at Elon. He is 1-1 on the year after giving up seven runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings of work.
Rice's Boogie Anagnostou picked up the win, moving to 1-1. He held Elon to two runs on three hits in 5.2 innings on the mound. Jared Rogers threw 3.1 shutout innings to earn his first save of the season.
Michael Ratterree led off the bottom of the first with a single to left and moved over to second on Chad Mozingo's sacrifice bunt. Michael Fuda then singled through the left side to drive home Ratterree. After Anthony Rendon walked to put two aboard for Steven Sultzbaugh who singled down the right field line to score Fuda. Rendon went to third on the play, but the Phoenix gunned down Sultzbaugh at second for the second out. The Rice lead grew to 3-0 when Rick Hague doubled off the center field wall to plate Rendon. Jeremy Rathjen's single through the right side scored Hague with the fourth run of the inning.
Elon chipped into the lead in the third. Chris Bresnahan began the inning with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Bresnahan scored on Alex Swim's double into the left field corner.
With runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the third, Rathjen got into one for a three-run homer to left and Rice pushed its lead to 7-1.
The Phoenix looked to get one back in the fourth when Mike Melillo led off with a deep blast to left, but Fuda robbed Melillo of a homer when he took the ball off the top of the wall. With two outs, Matt Hinson stepped up and crushed a pitch off the batter's eye in center for a solo homer. It was his second home run of the season.
Rice put the first two aboard in the sixth and threatened to add more when Ratterree walked and Mozingo was hit by a pitch. After Fuda reached on a fielder's choice that erased Ratterree, Rendon singled to right, but Justin Hilt threw out Mozingo who was trying to score from second. Elon escaped the inning without giving up a run when Sultzbaugh grounded out to second.
Two of Elon's four hits were recorded by Swim. Hinson and Neal Pritchard had the other two.
Rathjen drove in four runs during a 3-for-4 night while Fuda, Sultzbaugh and Hague all recorded two hits for the Owls.
The Phoenix will play at 1 p.m. Central time against the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders from Reckling Park on day two of the Rice Invitational.
Dayton 11, Wofford 9 (11 inn.)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Wofford College baseball team was defeated 11-9 in eleven innings by Dayton on Friday night at Russell C. King Field. The Flyers scored six unearned runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game and scored two runs in the top of the eleventh for the victory.
Wofford is 1-3 on the season, while Dayton is 2-2. The Terriers were led by Taylor Rozier with two hits and three RBIs, while Landon Bennett added two RBIs. Dayton was led by Cole Tyrell with three hits and three RBIs, while Dan Welch also had three hits.
The Terriers got on the board in the second inning when a single by Mike McDonnell drove in Taylor Rozier, who reached on a walk. Landon Bennett hit a home run to right center to give Wofford a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Mac Doyle hit a solo home run to right field for a 4-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, James Foster singled and then stole second and third base. Landon Bennett walked and stole second. Matt Moore reached first base on an error by the third baseman, which allowed both Bennett and Foster to score for a 6-0 lead.
For Dayton in the top of the fifth, two runners were on with two out when James Foster made a diving catch in center field to end the inning. The Terriers added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Kyle Behrendt singled, stole second and scored on a single up the left line by Taylor Rozier to extend the lead to 7-0.
Dayton scored on solo home runs by Zach Jacob and Cole Tyrell, both to left field, to cut the lead to 7-2. Wofford ended the Flyers half of the seventh with a double play. In the bottom of the seventh, Kyle Behrendt hit a lead-off double, but was out at third on a fielder’s choice. With Konstantine Diamaduros on first, Taylor Rozier hit a home run to left center to give Wofford a 9-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Dayton got one run back when Zach Jacob was hit by pitch and scored after a double by Dan Welch for a 9-3 game. Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the eighth.
Dayton had two outs and the bases loaded when Aaron Dunsmore hit a double to score two runs. Cole Tyrell added a double down the left line to score two more runs to make it a 9-7 score. After two walks, Joe Gayda hit a single to centerfield to bring in two more runs and tie the game at 9-9. All six runs scored in the inning were unearned.
Wofford left one runner on base in the bottom of the ninth. Dayton went one-two-three in the top of the tenth. Neil Robinette had a double with one out in the bottom of the tenth, but was stranded at second.
In the top of the eleventh, Dayton had runners at second and third with one out. In an attempt to intentionally walk the next Flyer batter, a wild pitch and error allowed two runs to score. Wofford went one-two-three in the bottom of the eleventh to end the game.
Wofford starter Pete Noordsy went 5.1 innings with six hits and two runs allowed. Anthony Rowland allowed only one run in 2.2 innings. Alex Wilson went 0.2 innings with five unearned runs allowed on two hits. Bobby Streisel (0-1) threw 2.1 innings with three hits and two runs allowed.
Dayton starter Cameron Hobson went 4.0 innings with four hits and six runs allowed. Chris Beesley went an inning with one run allowed and Matt Speckman gave up one run in 1.2 innings. Trent Haughn went a third of an inning with one run allowed. Ian Gardeck had two strikeouts in an inning and Mike Hauschild (1-0) went the final 3.0 innings with only one hit allowed.
Wofford returns to King Field on Saturday for a doubleheader against Butler beginning at 1:00 pm. The first game will be seven innings, followed by a nine inning contest. Wofford and Dayton play again on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
UNC Asheville 18, College of Charleston 8
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? UNC Asheville used a seven-run seventh inning to pull away from College of Charleston on the way to a 18-8 victory over the Cougars Friday night at Patriots Point. CofC falls to 4-1 on the season, while Asheville evens their record at 2-2.
Sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage) led the Cougars with three RBIs on a three-run home run to right center, while senior 1B Justin Brewer (Greer, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) and junior OF Hutson Dodds (Charleston, S.C./Porter Gaud) added solo shots in the loss.
Asheville posted three runs in the third inning and added four more in the fourth to stake a 7-0 lead. Charleston broke through in the fifth, scoring a single run on a sacrifice fly by junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando). The Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs in the sixth to increase their lead to 9-1 and extended it to 16-1 with their seventh-inning outburst.
The Cougars showed life in the eighth inning with a six-run outburst, highlighted by round-trippers from Leeds and Dodds, as well as RBI singles by junior DH Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C./Forbush) and sophomore OF Thomas Brittle (Cross, S.C./Berkeley) to cut the deficit to 16-7. Asheville pushed across two more runs in the top of the ninth, while Brewer’s solo home run closed out the scoring for Charleston.
Asheville was led by Danny Baatz and Austin Graham, who each recorded three hits. Baatz added three RBIs, while Beau Zinman plated three runs as well. The Bulldogs collected 21 hits, including seven doubles on the evening. Ryan Dull earned the win for Asheville, tossing six innings of three-hit ball with two strikeouts.
Sophomore Aaron Bouronich (Summerville, S.C./Summerville) took the loss for the Cougars, allowing two runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of relief. Charleston’s starter, junior Josh Salay (Rock Hill, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) lasted 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with six strikeouts.
The Cougars and Asheville return to the field for game two of the series Saturday afternoon at Patriots Point. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Kennesaw State 11, Samford 6
KENNESAW, Ga.?The Samford baseball team dropped the first game of its three-game series at Kennesaw State Friday, falling by a score of 11-6.
With the loss, Samford drops to 3-3 on the season. Kennesaw State improves to 1-4 with the win.
Samford was led at the plate by Wayne Miller, going 2-for-5. Trey Hayes drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance. Andrew Jones took the loss on the mound for Samford, pitching 1.0 inning, giving up three runs on two hits.
For Kennesaw State, Josh Whitaker was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Tyler Stubblefield and Drew Fowlkes each homered for the Owls. Brad Long earned the win on the mound for KSU. Long pitched 1.2 innings, giving up just one hit.
Kennesaw State jumped on top first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Stubblefield led the inning off with a solo home run for the first run of the game. After Whitaker singled with one out, Fowlkes homered to right field for a 3-0 KSU lead.
Samford answered with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the score at 3-3. Mason Meredeth scored on a KSU error for Samford’s first run of the game. Hayes then singled up the middle to drive in Bo Smith and Tripp Swann for the game-tying runs.
Kennesaw State took the lead again with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sean McClurken singled to right-center field to drive in Bucky Smith for a 4-3 KSU lead. The Owls added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Peyton Hart singled to center field to drive in Fowlkes to make the score 5-3.
Samford came back with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-5 lead. Gardner Richey walked with the bases loaded to bring in Miller to cut the KSU lead to 5-4. Meredeth and Stephen Ballard then scored when David Schulze reached base on a KSU error to give Samford the lead.
The Owls came back with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 10-6 lead. Hart drove in three of KSU’s runs in the inning. Whitaker drove in one run and later scored on an error.
Kennesaw State added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 11-6. Whitaker singled to center field to drive in McClurken for a five-run KSU lead.
The same two teams will play again Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT). The series will conclude with a game Sunday, also at 12 p.m. (CT).